exhaust tone

[disonny]

My 02 RR is a great bike. But I think it needs a little stronger exhaust tone. Stock just sounds a little weak. What are you running on your bikes? I don't want something too loud, just a nice strong tone that sounds hot!

[Ansink66]

The tone from the standard BMW exhaust is perfect for me. It has a nice sound and is not too loud but not wimpy either.

No need to wake up my neightbours each time I come home late at night.


Emile

[DMM]

I, too, like the stock exhaust... for now.
Once I've got the time and money, I'll probably get a ZTechniks 3-way pipe and SS exhaust. That way, I'll lose the cat. (and about 20 lbs.) and gain an estimated 5-10 on hp and torque. Admittedly, those 20 lbs. are situated rather low on the bike and add to its low center of gravity. Not sure how that will affect handling.

[sweatmark]

Afraid those performance claims for the Ztechnik are bogus. I have the titanium Ztechnik system (y-pipe and can) and there's no discernable power/torque increase for my Rockster compared with stock system. This is without any changes in mapping, fuel pressure regulator, etc. And the exhaust note is not particularly pleasant. Only real plus is the weight reduction.

The board has MANY posts about the simplest means of improving exhaust note: removal of OE muffler, and installing cosmetic exhaust tip to the outlet of the catalytic converter/collector. The modification is nearly free, you lose about 10 lbs. of system weight, and exhaust note is deeper (but NOT obnoxiously loud) as a result. My wife's Roadster has this modification, running well for 3 years now.

[DMM]

Thanks for the tip on the ZTech can and pipes. Perhaps a new chip and remapping do improve the hp and torque; however, the whole package is a lot to spend for such a minimal increase.

My next major project will probably be to improve the suspension (WP, Wilbers, or Olins front and rear). I figure that it should be money well spent for a noticeable improvement. That said, my stock Showa suspension is performing well enough for now; again, no need to make any immediate changes.

[Flashdog]

I have a Staintune slip-on on my 02' 1150R. It has a removable piece that allows it to sound just like stock or you can remove it and it's just a bit louder and deeper.

[Airman]

My 02 RR is a great bike. But I think it needs a little stronger exhaust tone. Stock just sounds a little weak. What are you running on your bikes? I don't want something too loud, just a nice strong tone that sounds hot!

Well, I for one have to agree with you about the wimpy stock exhaust sound. I would also not be bothered in the slightest to wake the neighbors up when I come in at midnight with a little boxer rumble. Alas, it has eluded me thus far. I've tried the y-pipe and stock silencer,and the CAT alone. The y-pipe and silencer combo sound about the same as the stock setup, I am currently running the CAT only as it sounds marginally better. I would like to try the Supertrapp muffler, but hopefully I'll hear from someone who hs done it first. The experimenting could be expensive. And, while there might be rideability improvements to exhuast, chip and fuel flow management systems, I have come to the conclusion that the in the boxer engine there will be zero HP and torque gains.

[Remow2112]

I am running gutted cat and a short cosmetic pipe. Sounds good to me. It is not a loud engine. Now, if you could find a short cherry bomb/glasspack type muffler that would fit and not look awful. You might be able to deepen the exhaust note. My current setup is not particularly loud. It is almost quite compared to all the Harleys in this town.

[AirForceDirt]

Easy answer, but pricy: Buy a new system (cat removal and new can).
More work: Gut the cat, hope you can cut it open and have someone that can weld it back together as not everyone in the world has a full service machine shop in their garage.
Easiest solution: pull the stock can off, through a turn-down tip on it and ride.

[rbmitchel]

What size tip do you put on after you remove the can. What type of connector do you use? thanks.........rt

[AirForceDirt]

I believe its 1 7/8" but I'm not for certain. And I would say you could use a normal pipe-clamp similar to the stock one, minus the heat shield, to hold said tip on. People that have actually done that will have better answers. I run a full remus system on mine, not cheap, but IMHO it looks and sounds better.

[combustor777]

previous owner put a full lazer system and a "performance chip" on my '02 beakster. It also has a K&N air filter, not sure if that would matter or not. Love the sound, like a focke wulf at war emergency power above 5krpm. It used to lope at idle like a 70's muscle car (when cold especially) but replacing my 7+ year old spark plugs with shiney new ones it just putter-putters with an even cadence. All this said I sometimes wish I had the cat so I could try it sans can and show off that rear wheel! Not keen on the cat boiling my tranny oil though. Since my system was free I'll keep it, but from what I see the aftermarket exhausts going for, I think ditching the can would be my first and probably best move. Cost: about 10 minutes and $10.

[shake1150]

I also thought the stock system sounded a little weak.

so I installed a Staintune collector box and end can. sounded a little raspier... but I got backfires on deceleration which really bugged me... so I sold the Staintune setup and put the catalytic converter back on and got a Zach muffler. sounds a little louder, and defintiely bassier. I think it sounds better than the Staintune setup! and no more backfires thanks to the cat.

I like the Zach also because it is round (all other pipes I've seen are oval.... sebring, laser, remus) and it is the same diameter as the stock muffler allowing you to use the stock heat shield. it looks like a stock part IMHO.

[AirForceDirt]

previous owner put a full lazer system and a "performance chip" on my '02 beakster. It also has a K&N air filter, not sure if that would matter or not. Love the sound, like a focke wulf at war emergency power above 5krpm. It used to lope at idle like a 70's muscle car (when cold especially) but replacing my 7+ year old spark plugs with shiney new ones it just putter-putters with an even cadence. All this said I sometimes wish I had the cat so I could try it sans can and show off that rear wheel! Not keen on the cat boiling my tranny oil though. Since my system was free I'll keep it, but from what I see the aftermarket exhausts going for, I think ditching the can would be my first and probably best move. Cost: about 10 minutes and $10.

If you want my cat I'll sell it to you. I've been trying to get rid of it.

[combustor777]

I like the Zach also because it is round (all other pipes I've seen are oval.... sebring, laser, remus) and it is the same diameter as the stock muffler allowing you to use the stock heat shield. it looks like a stock part IMHO.

My Laser is round...there is a heat shield? Well my left case has never melted so I guess I'm ok