Exhausts Slash Down or Baloney Cut?

[SteelD]

My dealer tells me that the SE Stage 1 pipes are not road legal 'cos they are too loud. I thought I saw somewhere that the later SE pipes aren't as loud as the originals. Can somebody give me some background on this? I like the idea of louder pipes but not something that is going to be totally anti-social. I'm told that the Rush pipes are quieter.

[SteelD]

Is it just for looks or does the slash down sound better because some of the sound is bounced off the tarmac or does the Baloney Cut sound louder because the sound is directed outwards?

[Ming the Merciless]

You'd be hard pressed to notice any difference due the shape of the end can. The internals of the 'silencer' are more important for that, so IMO it's best to just pick whatever you like the shape of.

[Monkeybrain]

The new SE pipes aren't as loud as those of 3 or 4 years ago. Also the new S&S slip ons are also supposed to have decreased volume.

Vance and Hines aren't quiet, nor are Samson out the box.

Its hard to get an idea of how loud a set of pipes are without finding someone whos running them and standing next to them.

Personally I'd get the bike and run in stock for a bit, get out and about to some Bike nights or rallies and take the time to find something that you can live with.
That way you'll also appreciate the changes a new exhaust and airfilter will make to your performance.

[grbrown]

Originally Posted by Monkeybrain

Personally I'd get the bike and run in stock for a bit, get out and about to some Bike nights or rallies and take the time to find something that you can live with.
That way you'll also appreciate the changes a new exhaust and airfilter will make to your performance.

Good advice!

Be aware that any pipe or muffler with an end cut an an angle is a candidate for engine running problems. Many modern custom silencers with a slash cut appearance get over this by actually having a square-cut nozzle tucked up inside, just out of sight, from which the exhaust gases actually come. If the silencers you have in mind have that nozzle feature, then buy what you fancy! If they don't, steer clear.

The explanation is that the engine depends upon the exhaust system to transmit a pulse of energy backwards to the exhaust ports, which is only achieved with a square-cut end. An old style slash cut does not do that and it is impossible to get a bike to run properly with them.

I have a custom silencer on my Firebolt, with angled outlets either side of the rear tyre. But it has a square-cut nozzle inside that ensures the engine runs properly - which it does with gusto!