Do you like the sound of.............?

Question

A Harley Davidson with straight-thru exhausts.

Answer 1

David P; You've got to be kidding: to a farmer it sounds "a joke": positively
'Agricultural'!Now IF you ARE gonna run a Harley to deafen buy-standers
-then do it like A SPEED-MERCHANT!: fit an "over-the-counter"
'Solid-Lifter' ''Mild-Grind":
more exhaust-duration/more "overlap" -in valve openings-&-closings,
'hotter' camshaft.
Yes Sir! When you "GO" -you want it to rev to-produce that MAGIC-sound
[of a sheet being, ripped] in-half!
I had a friend who fitted such a cam.. and, oh, BOY!
(-You see, a Harley Evolution motor IS a sleeping-Monster
-just waiting to be "booted-up")
-WITH THE right camshaft! They (can) rev.. and, GO! -DO IT ! (-hang the expense!
Everyone'll put their necks outa-joint seein' WHERE you vannished to!)
Isn't THAT what you want? Insist on one:
at the dealership! Too easy!

When the cam IS being fitted.. but-if you (also) 'go-for' "solid lifters'', INSIST
the mechanic gives you '2-thou' (extra):
INCREASED-clearance on the INTAKE-valve
of the "first-firing cylinder".. -as that (first) 'bang' -in the V-Twins 'beat',
-under FULL acceleration- ROBS the second cylinder OF its "fair charge"
of explosive fuel/air mixture.. (Serious 300-degree-duration 'Harley' racing cams have EARLIER opening on the 2nd cyls intake-valve to 'counteract' this uneven phenomenon)..
-when you REALLY go-for [rapid acceleration].. -But widening the intake gap
-with a fairly 'hot'/"Mild" cam
-on the 'primary'/ or, 'first-to-fire cylinder' pretty-much
evens the (big) load ON pistons & con-rods, when you really ":rip into it"..
So, demand that -as you book your bike 'in' -for the 'change-over;
(i'd, myself [would go for] 'solid valve-lifters.
Man! But when you [hear the result]! Wow-ee!
-You'll be sooo glad you spent a few dollars toward, "waking, it UP" !

Answer 2

Yes, I do like the sound of drag pipes. On a properly built engine run at the proper place. Open pipes don't belong on the road. Most people who run them don't know anything about tuning them. Yes, straight pipes get tuned. Back pressure (or lack of) depends on resonance, which is set by length. This is why drag pipes only perform well at a particular throttle setting.

For the road, I like my 18" fishtails with 12" Blunderbuss baffles. Nice tone, mellow enough not to upset anyone except people who hate Harleys on principal.

Answer 3

I think a nice, loud, rumble is great for a bike. However, straight pipes with no baffles don't rumble, especially when the bike is actually moving. Some of them even whine in a really annoying way. There are lots of great exhausts available to give your bike an awesome roar, without disturbing the neighbors (too much). Either way, if you get loud pipes, avoiding blipping the throttle when you're pulling into your driveway!

Answer 4

I'm with HELL YA, There is nothing like a good sounding motor. Like nas car,circle track,or a good bike. Not like a rice grinder with a 40 lb muffler and a stock engine to cheapen up the sound of raw horsepower. As they say, If you got it flaunt it,That's the difference between the MEN and the boys.I do agree with not waking you up in the middle of the night,but I live next to a busy street that is a main access to the freeways. If I wanted quiet, I would have bought a house away from all the noise. As for loud bikes on Quiet streets, as a biker I don't go looking for them Just to p___ you off. I stay on the main roads.Talk about childhood problems, Just look at the picture with a lime green mohawk, not trying to get attention, Ya RIGHT.

Answer 5

There is nothing like the sound of a Harley whether it is sitting at a stop light, burning rubber, or rumbling down the highway. I just wish the weather would get right so I can get my knees in the breeze.....

Answer 6

Only thing better is no exhaust, not for long but what a sound. Then Little shorty pipes straight through, *** yes.

Answer 7

the sound of a free V-twin is like the growl of Conan hitting with the sword and a four-cylinder at high revs is like a chick screaming. different but both exciting.

Answer 8

Not only is that annoying loud, but you lose performance, and bad for the engine.

A nice tuned muffler with a DEEP sound is so much more "Harley" sounding than some punched out slipon mufflers or drag pipes that crack and annoy people.

Answer 9

Love em.
But, as I hate tickets, I keep it within the law.
In California, it's like 86 decibels, and my bike's 85 1/2 Db's.

Answer 10

Got 'em on mine, They have saved my life a few times.

I have since installed torque valves to get recommended back pressure,It seams to have quited them down a bit, But they can still be obnoxious.....