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Iron Butt
Posts: 1117
Northeast Ohio | So, I am thinking of ditching my Ness Big Honkers for S1L1s. At 75+ the honkers are so damn loud, around town and less than 65 they are great. Those of you that have the S1L1s, how are they at high speeds? After an hour are you deaf?
Does anyone know if you can just buy the exhaust without the ECU reflash card to save money? I am running a VFC3, so I have no need for the reflash.
Thanks |
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Cruiser
Posts: 101
| John
Not sure if you need to, try it what is the worst than can happen ? Maybe reflash but going to the stage 1 from the honkers will be quit a change. I went with the stage 2 from the stage 1 and had the reflash and took out all the popping. Am happy with the stage 2 at 75+ hear the radio just fine and a good deeper sound and can still hear when I park it.
Bob |
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Tourer
Posts: 377
O'Neill, Nebraska | I have the S1/L1 with the Gatlin tips. I've read somewhere on this forum that this combo has the same dyno output as the S1/L2. With this set up I can hear just fine, but when I get on the bike you know it's a big V-twin and I don't have to wear ear plug due to the noise.
I know a loud bike sounds cool but if I'm going for a 2,000 mile cruise I don't want to be deaf half way through it. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 935
Rockford, IL |
Wonder if some type of baffle or cone could easily be added to the Honkers. Would be real sweet if there was a way to add an adjustable baffle setup. Before you go the route of changing out the exhuast I'd check with your dealer to see if he has any ideas to quite it down a bit or if he knows of somebody who might.
If you like the sound around town and such I think going with the S1L1 pipes you might be possibly be going to far the other way. Compared to the Honkers the S1L1 pipes are going to be A LOT QUIETER. There are sound clips of quite a few different setups at youtube.
I'm pretty positive you can not purchase new S1L1 pipes without the ECU card. But what I'm not sure of is if you could purchase the pipes with the reflash and then turn around and sell the reflash card to someone who has pruchased used S1L1 pipes?? I don't know all of the ins & outs of how the card works.
I guess the good news is if you decide to switch out the Honkers I would think they would bring some pretty good money here at the site or especially Ebay.
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1117
Northeast Ohio | Thanks for all the input guys.
My dealer just told me that he would credit me for the ECU reflash card, so I am good to go.
I actually rode my dealer bike with the S1L1s and thought it sounded good, but wanted a little more oomph. I am looking for the same tone quality as my 07 Kingpin with stage 1 exhaust had. Light easy throttle it was quiet, but get on it and it sounded great. EVERYONE commented on how nice it sounded. Now I can't seem to find that on the Vision. I heard the S1L2s on a bike the other day at Lloydz Daytona dyno and I couldn't tell the difference between the L1 and L2. I want to run gattling tips, so the L2s are out of the picture.
Spursmvp, you hit it on the head.
Lotzafun, I might check into the baffle. These can be had from a lot of the tuner fart cans you see these kids running around with on their Hondas. Good call. My only concern is that the Honkers actually end before the tip, so I would have to some how get around the bolts on the tips to get them in. Honkers are the dirtiest muffler you can put on a Vision, period. I modified mine with heater duct to eliminate the carbon leaking out the back onto the bumper and yellowing the bumper and tips.
Going to ride my dealer bike again at 75 and see how they sound. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 238
SF Bay Area | My Honkers are not that loud... I left the cats in. Well worth the .7hp loss, I can hear the stereo at freeway speeds. Strangely, with my cats I get no staining nor carbon... must be burning efficiently. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1117
Northeast Ohio | I can hear my stereo at normal highway speeds, just not at 75+ and more than 1/3 throttle. It just starts to drone is the best way to put it. I wonder if these cams are adding to this. Maybe I am just not used to it since I haven't ridden the bike in about 5 months. I left my cats in as well.
I have seen 3 Visions with yellowed bumpers beside the exhaust and yellowed tips(two 10th Anniversary and one normal). The 10th bumpers are chrome and it too was discolored. The Volusia Motorsports wash team took care of that for them. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1484
LaPorte,Tx. | With the Gatlin tips you won't get the yellowing as you call it. With the stock tips there is exhaust leakage at the seam where it attaches to the muffler, there is none with the G/T. Also, the Gatlin tips make the Level 1 mufflers a little louder. And I have noticed the Level 1 muffler is louder now after 22000 miles. I don't have any problems hearing the radio even over 100 mph. For the carbon build up on the tips, I just use chrome polish. The carbon build-up in more in the winter it seems, during this period, the bike is running richer, and the exhaust spits out more water vapor when the motor is heating upwhich helps the carbon stick to the tips. In the warmer months and on long runs the G/Ts stay pretty clean, but not spotless. I get a lot of good comments on the Gatlin tips. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | I got to hear kenandpen S1/L1 and my S1/L2 pipes side by side the other day and I did not hear much of a difference. Maybe Ken or Pen did what do you guys think?
Everyone should have a bike they feel happy with. For me the S1L2 pipes are great and I can run 80 and hear the iPod just fine. I can leave the house and not wake up the people next door. If I am behind a car that I want to pass it is not hard to get their attention.
Ride Safe! |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1117
Northeast Ohio | VisionTex, the BHs have about a 1 inch gap on the outside of the muffler to the tip. The only seal that gets created is from the outside chrome cover. This still allows a lot of exhaust to escape from around this area to where ever it can get out, the back, where the longer shield meets the tip, right at the lower back part of the long shield, etc. I ghetto fabbed mine up with some heater duct and high temp sealed it to avoid this (I'll post pics early next week so you can see). So far it has worked out well. I can't imagine the Gattling Tips are any different from a muffler mounting perspective to help this.
I am definately getting the S1L1s for the bike. It is sad that I am actually envious of a Goldwing running whisper quite down the road. People rolled up their windows at me today on a trip from Palm Coast FL to St. Augustine! I want them to hear me, since they can't see me when they are talking or texting on their cell phone, but I am starting to develop a complex.  I feel like one of the 'others'! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 66
Harrisburg, PA | What type of Helmet are you guys wearing if any with these loud exhaust pipes. I still have the stock set up. I wear a fulface and listen to the radio on the headset. I would like to add some tone to the exhaust.
I would like to hear from some of you who wear a full face helmet with the loud exhaust pipes. Is it still to loud on the highway? |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | I have a HD friend who wears a "LOUD PIPES SAVES LIVES" sticker - and he loves my S1L1 with Gatlins.
As I do - sounds like it has SOUL but doesn't annoy me or my Co-pilot. No 'popping' or any other annoying features - just all big bike sound.
I understand that hot-rodding requires better breathing - but it's not all done with pipes. So don't expect LOUD means more POWER. OK?
Some of the discussion I have been reading here seems to indicate that some of you think that somehow spending big bucks on custom pipes will make your machine into a screamer - NOT!
Custom pipes will more likely screw up the fuel management program - and just make the bike a damned 'annoyance'. Be careful what you wish for...... |
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Tourer
Posts: 404
San Antonio, TX United States | I assume you like a good sounding bike since you bought the Big Honkers. I would highly suggest the "Stage 1 Level 2". I love mine, never deaf after riding. Have taken it out with the wife on 500 mile days and still ready to ride and no problem hearing and no tension headaches. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 935
Rockford, IL | I'm gonna toss the Atom Bombs into the suggestion box.
And also suggest you listen to the exhaust sound clips at Youtube |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1117
Northeast Ohio | I wear a pudding bowl helmet (half helmet).
I have also listened to every sound click that youtube has to offer. The problem is that these clips don't really represent what it will sound like when you are on the bike.
Lotzafun, aren't the atom bombs modified stock exhaust?
Donetracey, lobsterhunter has S1L1s and was running 12.50s the other night with his Vision. And with no baffled exhaust, I am actually giving up some torque on the bike.
DWhite, My only reason for not going with the L2s is that I want to run the gattling tips. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 935
Rockford, IL | ScoreBo - 2009-03-06 8:59 AM I wear a pudding bowl helmet (half helmet). I have also listened to every sound click that youtube has to offer. The problem is that these clips don't really represent what it will sound like when you are on the bike. Lotzafun, aren't the atom bombs modified stock exhaust? Donetracey, lobsterhunter has S1L1s and was running 12.50s the other night with his Vision. And with no baffled exhaust, I am actually giving up some torque on the bike. DWhite, My only reason for not going with the L2s is that I want to run the gattling tips. True, the youtube clips aren't the best source as far as deciding what to go with. However they do give a general idea as to the sound level of each setup. Can get a feel as to what is louder and such. And if you think about it....what other source do you have right now  Its either youtube or attend a large Vic Meet where you can listen to and perhaps ride a few Visions with different exhuasts. The Atom Bombs are recored stocks. Link to information about them http://www.vision-riders.com/bb/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=1598&posts=63&highlight=atom&highlightmode=1 I guess one way to look at this route is that they are the cheapest, should be less than $250 with the shipping. They are louder than S1L1 & S1L2 pipes. Not sure if they are as loud as the Honkers. If you don't like them you can very easily sell them here or VMC or Ebay and probably be close to even-money or maybe a bit down. You can run the Gatlin tips. If you don't currently have a stock exhaust to use you can post an ad in the Parts Wanted forum here and the Classifieds at VMC and I'm sure someone will hook you up. The BobVic guy thats doing the recores is great to deal with, maybe a bit slow on the communication, but not too bad, takes a couple days to get back to you. He can put different diameter pipes in so you can achieve the sound you want. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1117
Northeast Ohio | I asked the woman tonight if the exhaust seemed a lot louder than last year and she agreed. Since the only performance mod that was done was Lloyds cams (best investment ever), this is what pushed it over the top.
Lotzafun, I still have my stock pipes. I'll see what BobVic can do for me. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1324
So Cal | I poked a couple of holes in the stock pipes and I'm done. With the Vision, I have been cured of the HD accessoryitis. I travel residential streets to work, dont want to annoy anyone. Ive had her up to 110, dont see a reason for more power? Just wish Victory would get up to speed with my warranty issues. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 763
Anderson, IN (48mi NE of downtown Indianapolis) | I made reservations at a beach resort in Siesta Key, Florida for an eight night stay. When the girlfriend and I arrived, we were approached by a sheriff and told "no motorcycles on the premises". I tried to explain that I have stock exhaust and it's as quiet as his car. The officer agreed and was polite about it, but he said he still has to enforce the policy of the resort. I figured I would talk to management in the morning and get things OK'd. No such luck. The lady at the front desk was on the board of directors for the resort and she wouldn't make an exception. I found I was not going to change her mind when deafening HD's were screaming up and down the highway out front while we were trying to talk. I couldn't cancel my reservations and go elsewhere because it was spring break and every place was full. My only choice was to park my Vision out on the sidewalk along the highway in the pathway of thousands of drunk springbreakers and local thieves. Fortunately nothing happened, but I was nervous for seven straight nights. My point is, people don't like loud bikes. We as motorcyclist like them, but most other people do not. When choosing your pipes, remember that noise is an issue the motorcycle community is facing. I agree that loud pipe saves lives, but annoying is annoying. Choose pipes based on perfromance and good sound not just loudness. Obnoxious bikes affect the entire motorcycle community. I was treated like an outcast because of the small percentage of motorcyclists that think louder is better. Performance far outweighs noise. Please use your head when shopping for aftermarket parts for your bike. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1436
| A company called Thunder makes baffles for most pipes. You might be able to find something to add to your BH's that will do what you want without the need to change pipes. They are on the net so a simple search should work.
Here is the link: http://www.bigcitythunder.com/pages/soundperformance.html
Edited by Teach 2009-04-17 10:05 PM
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Down Grading Exhaust