| Author | Message | ||
     Thefleshrocket |
As you guys may have noticed, I've just registered here. I've got an '08 1125R on order and should have it in a couple weeks. I've been lurking on BWB for a while, reading up on 1125Rs. One of the only mods I plan to do is something with the exhaust. The demo 1125R I rode with a stock exhaust was just way too quiet. Unfortunately, the search engine on BWB is not terribly cooperative and while I've found a bunch of threads, I have found little bits of information here and there but nothing comprehensive. Like many of you, I'm getting my 1125R for a hell of a deal. The low price was the only way I could convince my wife to let me buy it, and since I already have four other bikes (two are up for sale, though), my budget for mods is pretty limited. Here's what I'm looking for out of an exhaust: --Louder than stock. Not ear-bleeding straight-pipe Harley loud, but with a lot more bark than stock. --Good looking. I don't like the looks of the regular sportbike mufflers that have just been attached to a Y-pipe under the bike. Eg: the Jardine, HMF, etc. --Not losing any power compared to stock. I don't care about making any more power than stock (the 1125R seems plenty quick as-is) but I don't want to go the opposite way and make it any slower either. --Reasonably priced. About $600 is the top end of my budget. The two best-looking exhausts, in my opinion, are the Remus and the D&D. Both fit within my budget. However, I've got concerns with both. I like the D&D's look the best. I've heard that it's loud, really LOUD, and while I'd prefer not to draw too much attention to myself, I'd rather have the pipe be on the louder side than the quieter side. But my biggest concern with the D&D is clearance issues. I'm not worried about scraping the pipe on the street, but I may do some track days with the 1125R and if I pitch myself off another bike at the track, I'm pretty sure my wife won't let me do track days any more. LOL But looking at the few pics of the D&D that I've seen, it doesn't really look like it sticks out any more than the sportbike-style slipon systems from Jardine or HMF. The Remus exhaust is more-reasonably priced. It looks to be around $400. (Am I right on that price? I saw a couple of different options when I was browsing the Remus website.) My two worries with that exhaust are that it might not be loud enough, even with the baffle removed, and I saw at least one thread in which someone claimed that the bike actually lost power with the Remus exhaust. So, are there ground clearance concerns with the D&D pipe? How loud is the Remus slip-on, and does it lose any power compared to stock? Lastly, I've seen that some people have modified the stock exhaust. Is there a vendor or a person on the forum who provides that service? Cutting and welding are beyond me, but if I could just send the stock muffler off and get it back sounding much better for not a great deal of money, I would probably go that route. Thanks everyone! | ||
| Speedy818 |
From my limited experience here, what I've found to be the general case is that the stock exhaust is already maximized for power. I think the Jardine & HMF with a proper tune are the only exhausts in your price range that will keep you in the same power range as the stock exhaust. You might want to save your $$$ though as the Torque Hammer seems to be the best bet for sound as well as power. Until then, just enjoy the stock exhaust. In any event - why are you so concerned about making more noise? The stock exhaust already meets all of your other criteria and you won't be an obnoxious biker on the street giving everyone a bad name. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
FMF | ||
| A_s_r |
Take a look into the FMF Apex. It sounds and looks good IMHO, and it's 20% off until March 31, 2010. http://www.fmfracing.com/Mode/Bike/2009_BUELL_1125 R http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/290 431/514164.html http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/290 431/519935.html?1259806852 | ||
| Jaimec |
If you're REALLY on a budget, leave the stocker on there. Spend the money on track days instead. | ||
| Blackflash |
It has been proven that the stock exhaust has just as much potential with that guys tune as a any slipon pipe with a tune.The jardine noise to me was annoying.It sound nothing like the I4's pipes.Really loud even at low end.Full systems are a different story if you have 1600 bucks for a full system.They sound deep and low toned.I enjoy the stock exhaust .I believe it has good engine brake when downshifting as well.And if you lay your bike on its side kiss your slipon exhaust goodbye. Stock in my eyes works great.If you want to hear the bike add some side exits but dont change/cut the pipe up. (Message edited by blackflash on December 11, 2009) (Message edited by blackflash on December 11, 2009) | ||
| Chadhargis |
I agree with Jaimec.... A new exhaust MIGHT give you a few extra HP...but it won't be much. It will make your bike lighter....but not enough to notice unless you are a professional racer. Track days, suspension, tires, etc....lots better to spend your money on. Plus, your bike will be quieter and won't draw as much attention from a LEO. | ||
| Bob_thompson |
Consider doing what Zac4mac and I did, taking his lead, originally to the stock muffler back when we first got ours in 2008. Drill out the inside of the outlets with some approximately 5/8-3/4" holes for a nice sound and no loss of the already great H.P. producing stock muffler. A search will find some pictures, details and it would probably be best to remove the muffler for easy access for drilling. I used a drill bit in steps to 5/8" and then a rotary die grinder to oblong the holes being careful not to break through the outer skin. As inexpensive as you can get for a great low key sound. Bob | ||
| Thefleshrocket |
Bob, I like your idea of drilling inside the outlets of the stock muffler. I've done stock muffler mods before on a GSX-R1000, Z1000, Vmax and SV1000S. I just didn't think there was an easy and/or cheap way to get better sound from the stock muffler like there was with those other bikes. Any recommendation as to what key words I should search for to find the thread you are talking about? I haven't had much luck with the search engine on this forum in general. Thanks! | ||
| Thefleshrocket |
The muffler on the FMF full system looks really nice--I like how it is a flattened oval shape and stays mostly under the bike. But yeah, $1600 or whatever it is for the full system is way beyond what I can justify. Now if FMF offered that muffler as a slip-on in my price range, I would be all over it. I don't like the looks of the rectangular FMF slip-ons at all. I'm something of a traditionalist when it comes to exhaust--I like how they looked a decade or more ago before carbon fiber end caps and strange shapes became the norm. This same criticism applies to the Jardine and HMF slipons as well. | ||
| Thefleshrocket |
To the guys who have suggested sticking with the stock exhaust and making other performance-oriented mods to the bike, please understand that I am not looking to make the bike any faster or handle any better. Except for my Triumph Daytona 675, the 1125R will be the best-handling bike I've ever owned, and I've owned 7 or 8. The 1125R handles, stops and accelerates plenty well for the street, and if I do decide to take it to the track (I haven't been in over a year due to a work-related injury and no time due to a now-8-month-old son), I'm sure the bike won't be the limiting factor when it comes time to improving my lap times. I do have a set of Metzeler Racetecs in my attic should I want more grip than the Corsa IIIs provide at the track. My main desire is more/better sound from the exhaust. I don't want to be that guy that you hear coming from a mile away, but I do want significantly more bark than the stock, unmodified muffler produces, and I don't want to lose any power in the process. | ||
| Johnnys999 |
What about the Free Spirit systems? I like the fact the slip on is a 2 to dual silencers. But the price again is in the $1,200 - $1,300 range since its made in Italy. The full system is awesome looking, its in the $1,850 range. The company claims excellent performance gains with either. I havn't heard the system yet. I don't like the typical underneath arrangements being offered by most mfg. (Message edited by JohnnyS999 on December 11, 2009) | ||
| A_s_r |
There's always the Drummer... http://www.kdfab.com/drummer%201125%20ss.htm | ||
| Moosestang |
I hope EBR comes out with something, because quite frankly all the aftermarket offerings look like shiot and most are to loud for the street. The exception is the FMF race system, that looks sweet. | ||
| Thefleshrocket |
The Free Spirit exhausts looks sweet, but way too rich for my budget. The same goes for the Drummer. Looking at the Drummer, I'm surprised it's $1000. Looking at the pictures, before scrolling to the bottom, I thought "hey, this looks like something that will fit in my budget". I realize that it must take a lot of time and effort to design an exhaust system and that there's not a great deal of market for exhausts for 1125Rs due to their relatively low production numbers, but I imagine the production costs for the Drummer (or any other exhaust system), once lined out, must be far, far less than the pricetag. | ||
| Thefleshrocket |
I was in touch with a guy selling a used D&D system, but he said that it has a scrape from being touched down at the track. I guess the "rumors" of clearance issues with the D&D system aren't just rumors. Since I may well track my 1125R at some point, I can't risk ground clearance issues, so the D&D is out of the running. Which pretty much just leaves the Remus or a modified stock muffler. Or one of the ugly sportbike-style slip-ons. And apparently the Remus is also out of the running. I just double checked their website. http://www.remusexhaustshop.com/1125r-08up-p-25811 0.html I thought that the exhaust was $470. Apparently JUST THE MUFFLER is $470, and a $435 connector tube is also required. (I don't quite understand why they're priced separately, but okay.) So $900+ is also out of my budget. I guess the lesson here is that even though I can buy the whole bike for very cheap, a lot of the upgrades are still very expensive. | ||
| A_s_r |
Maybe I'm missing something here, but I don't see how this:  Looks any worse than this:  or this:  Especially when all other criteria (price, performance, max lean angle, weight, etc.) are considered. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
I actually like the look of the Remus, but that d&d is gross. It makes the bike look like it has lifted suspension or something. Bang for the buck best deal IMO is the fmf tho. | ||
| Bhillberg |
I personally am waiting to see what EBR will have to offer | ||
| Bob_thompson |
Dave, I searched all over BadWeb archives and could not find anything either but below is a cutout I believe Zac posted that I saved. It shows fairly close what pipes are drilled and opened up buy just going in through the outlets. Two pictures, mirror images. It can be done with the muffler in place by removing the rear wheel but I took mine off and was much easier. It give the bike a nice rumble without changing the flow at all. Bob  | ||
| T_man |
HPE - looks deadly - best sounding by a long shot and puts down big Hp numbers. Pricey though. | ||
| Thefleshrocket |
A_S_R, in general, I don't like the newer-style mufflers that many of the exhaust manufacturers are making for modern sport bikes--the rectangular or triangular mufflers. I like them even less on the Buell, as they look tacked on. The D&D is actually really good looking in my opinion--it looks like a cohesive piece of engineering designed for the bike, instead of some aftermarket afterthought like the FMF, HMF, etc. The Remus is, in my opinion, a close second to the D&D aesthetically. It's sort of a compromise between the stock exhaust and the D&D. Bob, it looks like there's just one hole that's supposed to be drilled by going on through the lower outlet. Should I plan on drilling a hole through the S-bend inside of both outlets? And if so, how big of a hole? Thanks! | ||
| D_adams |
Just a guess, between 5/8th's to 7/8th's holes would do it, but use extreme caution drilling there. Once you cut through, the sheetmetal skin is within 1/4" from the side of that pipe on the outside edge. Angle toward the center of the pipe as much as is possible. Also, it's a double skinned outer shell. | ||
| Blackflash |
The double skin sheetmetal is very thin as Adams stated. I don't even know how they welded it? I believe they double skinned it to make the noise less and isolate the sound. For giggles I'm making a pipe with a flowmaster muffler and cutting the collector off a scrap pipe. The flowmaster has a nice low cackle on my stang well see It also contains no packing. Just a baffle design.I'll dyno it stock tune and daves performance tune. Maybe in January .If it works good then I will vamp some nice tube up. I'm using my scraps to make this pipe so it's not a lost cause except the muffler purchase and welding supplies. | ||
| Thefleshrocket |
Translation--I'll probably screw up when drilling those holes and punch through the outside of the muffler! Probably not so good. | ||
| Blackflash |
  These were my alternative.The sound is redirected from the back to the side some so you can actually hear your bike instead of the sound going behind you. | ||
| A_s_r |
To each their own  That's why it's great to have numerous options to choose from. What's appealing to some may not be to others. Best of luck on your selection. | ||
| Blackflash |
Thats a good way to sum it up.Once you chop you cant go back. | ||
| Zip88 |
It give the bike a nice rumble without changing the flow at all. Bob i would like to hear a sound clip of the hole drilling mod. | ||
| Bob_thompson |
Zip88, Sorry, I did not make a sound clip and I do not think anyone else did either at least I never saw one on BadWeb, Maybe Youtube. Only a few us us did this. It was just a "get by" until I bought an aftermarket or made my own system, which I eventually did. It just makes for a nice rumble at idle and near stock at WFO but slightly louder. If you had not heard a stocker you might not even realize it wasn't stock. It did sound real good though with an open inner airbox. Real throaty. Also Frank, If you have lived in Maryland a long time; do you remember Ft. Holabird in Dundalk, Md? If so please e-mail me. I spent almost three years there in service in the early 60's. |
