Sound Problems - which pipes do you like ?

[John I. Stephen]

I have a sound problem. To be more specific I am not too enamoured with the exhaust note of the R1150R – especially around 2,500-4,500 rpm. Since the sound of your bike is one its principal pleasures, do any of you have experience of alternative exhaust systems. I am aware of the Remus systems but know nothing about them, or what they sound like.
I suspect that some of you’d like to share your favourite pipes ?!

[Tripton]

General consensus ususally ends with Remus and Staintune being on top, with a few Akropovic and Leo Vince...things like that.

The remus Y-pipe and Staintune collector box can be used with a stock muffler or almost any other muffler, so long as it mounts in the stock fashion.

I dont think that you will be going in the wrong direction with anything, as anything is better than the sewing machin sound of the stock setup.

Many people also simply take off the muffler, and leave the cat. This allows you to get a better exhaust note for like 20 bucks(for a chrome exhaust tip) and also you can use full size cases on the the left side as well.

I have a staintune, and the build quality is absolutely top notch, but I do not have the collector box here yet, (Just found a good priced used one, FINALLY!!) so I cannot comment on how they sound. I have heard that they sound brilliant, we shall see. They are solid stainless steel, and can be polished to look like new at anytime, as long as there are no deep gouges or dents.

I had a Two Brothers for a while, and it was LOUD and sounded nice. Throaty and authoratative, but you need to put on the full system to use it, as the Y-pipe and muffler do not use stock position. It also managed to rattle itself apart, making the rivet holes that hold it together too large to actually hold the can together tight. I have not tried to fix it, I just took it off and started looking for staintune stuff. So far I am super impressed with the Staintune.(NO Rivets, and NO repacking)

[sebastien]

since one week my r1150r has a remus revolution carbon and it's good
the sound is really better . but i keep the catalyst . Later on i'll see for a Y remus.

[johno]

I have a full Remus Revolution system, and am more than happy with the performance, and the sound.
Deep note on normal power on, and it barks when under full noise
Mine still has the baffle in.

[John I. Stephen]

Not sure I understand the comments about mufflers / baffles in or out. I guess I imagined that one simply swaps out the entire rear exhaust system ?

Pros and cons?

[DJ Downunder]

Not sure I understand the comments about mufflers / baffles in or out. I guess I imagined that one simply swaps out the entire rear exhaust system ?

Pros and cons?

Here ya go...this might explain more.

DJ

...STAINTUNE exhausts feature a removable sound restrictor in almost every muffler they produce (when the design allows). This restrictor allows you to adjust the sound levels to your liking. The photo below shows what the restrictor looks like in the muffler and also what the restrictor looks like when removed. You can see the little set screw on the underside.

With the restrictor in place you will get an exhaust note that is just slightly louder than the stock muffler. It will be throatier under acceleration and deceleration and only the slightest bit louder under steady throttle setting like out on the highway. Think of it as a shotgun choke which reduces the diameter of the exhaust exit. It has only a very small effect on performance when installed. Its main funtion is to reduce the exhaust note to a very pleasing level. STAINTUNE pipes are actually one of the quietest aftermarket pipes you can buy. Even with the sound restrictors removed, they still come in a few decibles less than all other aftermarkets pipes. The restrictor is removed by removing 6 mm allen screw on the underside of the exhaust spigot. You then extract it with a pair of pliers.

With the restrictor removed you are now in full "Sport-Pipe" mode and the bike will be louder under all conditions (idle, acceleration and deceleration). A better way to put this whole picture in perspective is to determine how well you like your neighbours. With the restrictors in place you can attend the summer parties down the street. With the restrictors removed you can pretty much count on not getting an invitation in the mail.

[Jonny_L]

Another thing I can tell you about! sounds like you're going through all the stages I went through when I bought my bike

I've got a Staintune system on mine, Great quality, looks like it could be stock too (though doesn't look like the stock muffler), which is nice.
I've taken the baffle out of mine, since it's not that loud anyway, though for longer journeys I tend to put it back in to help my ears. It sounds great, nice and smooth, but a bit of a raspy grunt higher in the rev range.

Remus is also meant to be very good, I had a Remus on my old CBR, and it was good quality. Don't know if you've seen this, but there's sound files of the Remus: Click here

I went for the Staintune mainly because I was lucky enough to get a full system off ebay for £200!!

DJ, I'm glad you posted that pic, I've been putting my baffle in the wrong way round!

[DJ Downunder]

DJ, I'm glad you posted that pic, I've been putting my baffle in the wrong way round!

Sorry for laughing..but that is funny.. ..(and embarassing)..it should look heaps better now.

DJ

[BigC]

DJ, I'm glad you posted that pic, I've been putting my baffle in the wrong way round!

Sorry for laughing..but that is funny.. ..(and embarassing)..it should look heaps better now.

DJ

Sorry after seeing the pic and comment, that was good for a chuckle It was an outy when it should have been an inny

[Jonny_L]

I always assumed that was right because I didn't want rain water to build up inside the baffle's sides. Makes sense... sort of
Thought it looked odd! A bit like an old 2 stroke exhaust really

As I say, I don't use it much anyway, probably just as well!

[bearsfolks]

I like the quiet, stock system that came on the bike. It doesn't irritate the non-motorcycling public who equate loud pipes with rowdy behavior.

[big papa]

Yeah, I'd hate to irritate the Escalade driving soccer mom, whose sucking down her Starbucks, and texting her "girlfriends", and checking her make up.

[bearsfolks]

There are a lot more non-motorcyclists than there are of us. If we P** them off they can, and do pass laws that harm our sport. Common sense tells us that is unwise. The attitude "the hell with everybody else" is short sighted.

[yjleesvrr]

Unless you have open pipes, you're not going to annoy people. My Dyna Super Glide Sport is louder than any BMW I've ever heard, but it pales in comparison to lunkheads who put straight pipes on their large-displacement v-twins.

[John I. Stephen]

Guys; may I please comment as the one who started this thread?

This question is not about db levels It's about the quality of the exhaust note. I find the standard pipe to be rather dull and a little irritating; some pipes sound gorgeous (not BMW though) but not necessarily louder.

So, quality please not louder !

Thanks chaps

[DJ Downunder]

So, quality please not louder !

Thanks chaps

John...I was about to say the same thing...there's a big difference between a good sound and a loud sound.

I was not the first here to take the can off...I read a post from some guy..I can't remember his name..he had a custom yellow paint job on his R1150R..anyway..he said he had tried the Remus..the Staintune..the Two Bros..and the best sound was with just the cat..so I thought I would try it..after first checking with a few BMW mechanics first that no damage would be done running it that way.

Taking the can off is not much louder than stock (as long as the cat is in place)..it's just a deeper sound...I like it..it sounds more like a bike should..IMO

I had my bike sound tested..at 3/4 max revs..45 deg and about one foot from the exit of the cat..and it was 93db..and easily passed our sound law.

I would love to do the test again with a stock set up..my guess would be maybe 92db...it may even be the same.

I've had my can off for more than 4yrs now..I like it..there's no weight or balance issues..IMO..and it's by far the cheapest option for getting a better sound.

DJ

[John I. Stephen]

Do you have a photo please DJ; I'm not sure I understand how this would look ?!

[Jonny_L]

I'd be interested to see what yours looks like too DJ.

John, good idea to try that first as it costs nothing and is really easy to do! It does sound nice, just a bit deeper than standard. I know what you mean about the sound, it's not about the volume, just making it sound a bit more meaty than stock (after all, it is an 1150cc bike, it should sound like one!).

As you'll probably soon find out, the stock muffler is really heavy, so you'll notice the difference either way.

[mad1150]

Guy's, check out this post from darcym:

http://r1150r.org/board/viewtopic.php?t=8776&highlight=

[Tom1150r]

I've just fitted a Leo Vince can, and I am really pleased with it. The sound is great - not too loud, but just right. It was very straight forward to fit, and not that expensive to buy. On top of that, there is a decent weight saving over the old can.