| Author | Message | ||
     Redscuell |
I reckon I'll cop some abuse over this post, but I'm a newbie so I'm sure I have it coming.  Another member was nice enough to give me a heads up on the prospect of the Drummer; and a google search turned up their website. Based on their website, and the attached pic, at least one version doesn't appear to be much more than a turbo muffler. I'd expect two in / one out, one in / two out, or single / single as in the pic, or a two by two; it can't be rocket science.  What am I missing?    | ||
| Badlionsfan |
Well first of all you're looking at a pic for an XB, not an 1125r. Kevin at Drummer is working on getting something built for 25r. His mufflers aren't "turbo" mufflers, but very specifically designed and built to get the most out of the engine. His pieces for the XB's are terrific, and I would expect no less for us 1125er's. | ||
| Redscuell |
Yup, I know that's a pic of an XB, I didn't think I'd have to state the obvious just to avoid looking dumb. And I'm using the term 'turbo' muffler in a very generic sense; there are modern straight-thru mufflers for cars, not unlike the Yoshi's design for motorbikes, that still fill the bill. Nevertheless, I don't SEE anything special there in that pic or on the website (except where they talk about gutting the factory can and packing it), and if someone KNOWS the difference, I'm sure we'd all benefit from hearing about it. Otherwise I might be tempted to have a wander over to my local muffler shop and have him give it a go for me on my as-yet-undelivered 1125 09! Slap an Aero-Tech belly pan over it, then run one or two pipes straight back past the passenger (we call 'em 'pillions' over here) pegs to get that 'horn on the back of my bike' effect. My .02. If I get enough flak, I'm likely to do actually do it (I'm an industrial designer) just out of spite.  What the heck, a guy's gotta have a little fun! | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
If your idea of fun is ruining the performance of your brand new motor bicycle, just head right down the local muffler shop. If you want to learn something about mufflers for the Buell, you might want to take a look at the XB Exhaust Test Shootout on the web site of American Sport Bike, one of our sponsors. There you will see that the Drummer muffler provides more torque at lower rpm than any other muffler. The newer models also provide more horsepower. Kevin is a very original and thoughtful designer, and a very nice fellow to boot. | ||
| 1_mike |
Very funny guys - Jon...the exhaust gasses coming from any given cylinder have NO...idea that they come from a Buell (or any other brand) engine! If one were to know anything about "any" exhaust system at all...it's the complete package...NOT, just the muffler! Tube diameters, collector type, tube lengths, etc., have the most to do with power output. If the truth be known...it's the header tube length and diameter that have more to do with the engine power than the muffler on it's own. But it is still the "system" that makes or breaks power. Mike | ||
| Fresnobuell |
If you goto the muffler shop, just do a dyno run pre and post....you might be surprised the damage you do to the power curve. There have been probably a half dozen different aftermarket muffler designs for the 1125r--I don't believe that there has been one that out-peforms the stocker. Noise and weight savings yes. | ||
| Xl1200r |
Saron and D&D both do. | ||
| Rfischer |
This point has been made, over and over. It is very difficult to improve on current OEM exhaust systems. And Buell probably does some of the very best design and engineering in this area. As Harlan says, less weight and more noise - yes; more power - not likely. Or, certainly not an improvement in the 'area under the curve' [remember Smokey..?], which is what matters. It is possible to build a dyno-queen exhaust for peak power, but that is all but meaningless on the road, or track for that matter. Trojan [Matt] will likely chime in here to disagree, but, a] he cannot provide actual track performance numbers to back up aftermarket power claims, and b] he earns his living by selling these things so can hardly be expected to agree. That's not a bad thing, just the fact[s] of the matter. At the end of the day, what probably motivates most people to buy aftermarket exhausts is personal notions of esthetics, and the visceral sound experience. Or simple bling factor. All valid reasons, but they shouldn't be cloaked in claims of material improvements to performance. | ||
| Mikellyjo |
And unless I misinterpreted the dyno results(which I have done many times in the past) for the Jardine. It does a pretty good job at topping the stock performance also. If only by a few points, at least I didn't see any major flat spots. No more than the stock has that is. And not wanting to take anything away from the Drummers...cause they sound wicked cool under the Harley V-twins. But everybody around seems to think the guy walks on water when it comes to exhaust manufacturing...Give me a break, if his exhaust ever makes it to market can we really expect it to be the wonder drug for the exhaust system? Will he be able to make it sound like a tuber??? I hate to break it to you, but it never will. It's not in the engineering of the motor. And I hope not, I didn't buy 25r hoping it would sound like a harley V-twin. Just my .02 cents...refunds are available by mail.   | ||
| Fresnobuell |
The Jardine did improve very }marginally. It also made the torque curve more wavy. | ||
| Xl1200r |
I don't think anyone expects an 1125 to sound like a Tuber. I don't know where you're getting that from. | ||
| Spectrum |
That picture doesn't do the Drummer justice. The stainless steel drummer is a custom built and tuned pipe with a billet end cap. Aside from being one of the top performers, it's a work of art.   | ||
| Redscuell |
I appreciate the gentlemanly tone of the responses to my comments, I really do; no sarcasm intended. Some seem to have missed my point, of course: that pic of the XB on a track IS a Drummer, and the pic IS from their website; so I was just making that point. To quote Joe Biden in yesterday's debate, "let me say that again": if that's a Drummer, then maybe it's not rocket science. When it comes to an incredible feat of engineering, I'd have to say from seeing the factory muffler cutaways that IT is really something. A muffler without packing is something long dreamed of, and my hat is off to BMC for not only working out how to do it, but also getting it onto their production motorcycle. And so maybe the factory item IS rocket science Personally MY interest in alternatives is strictly reducing weight; and a handsome sound wouldn't go amiss, either ('the horn on the back of my bike"). I'm no power freak, Buell has done all that work for me with the 1125 -- why else would I plunk down $20,000 for an 09 (that's what the 1125r costs here in Oz, "on road", when the exchange rate was at parity. And the pay rates here are crap)? Kevin at Drummer was nice enough to VERY promptly give me a response to my query to him, and basically said that he has been trying to find the time even to work on the prototypes. An essential first step! | ||
| Nickcaro |
 Search these boards to see what others say about Kevin and the Drummer Owning a Buell is not for everyone and the same can be said about their accessories. When this man releases something for the 1125 I'm sure it will be amazing and I personally will not hesitate for a second to purchase it. | ||
| Ruprecht |
Did you really pay $20K for your 1125R Redscuell, or were you rounding up? That's about a grand over recommended retail inc ORC isn't it? I was hoping to screw them DOWN on rrp, but that's not likely to happen if people are paying more than retail... | ||
| Pridayr |
Another satisfied customer of KD Fab here... Had one on my Lightning. I don't have any idea what the breakdown is on which models Drummer sells more of, but for what, $199 you could get the Econo Drummer, a 9- or 10-pound weight savings, performance, and the most awe inspiring sound I have come across. STUNNING value. R | ||
| Fresnobuell |
I venture to say that Kevin will put out the best pipe to date. He seems to care about all 4 things that most of us want--power (or at least no loss of power or hits to the torque curve), sound, looks & weight savings. My only wish is that he used the stocker as a base, similar to the XB pipes. | ||
| Pridayr |
+1 Fresno! | ||
| Palerider |
I agree, that would be nice, stock looking with Drummer technology and a nice big turned out exit. | ||
| Jerseyguy |
Damn, who is that homely hillbilly posted above???  | ||
| Redscuell |
Many thanks to the poster who provided the Kawasaki ER-6N to my earlier posting searching for bikes with intake pods similar to the 1125. Because I noted that the Kwaki, too, has a fully underslung exhaust, so I went looking on eBay for exhausts and mufflers to suit.  Setting aside the stocker on the 1125, which is an engineering feat par-excellence in doing without packing that would require replacement; after looking at the Kawa stocker I continue to believe that perhaps the aftermarket exhaust folks have over-thought making up a lighter, louder (and perhaps more powerful?) one for the 1125. Here's the stock Kwaki muffler:   Looks a lot like the many turbo-style mufflers available on eBay, as I suggested earlier; and is fed by a 2-into-1 pipe from 2 pipes on the front of the engine just like the Buell is (the Kawa is an inline twin), that are equally short as on the 1125. As expected I did cop flak over my query; but I wasn't attacking the creds of either Buell or any of the aftermarket makers. I instead suggested that what turned out to be the Kawasaki system was a viable alternative -- unless someone here thinks Kawasaki does not engineer their bikes well (I've never owned one). | ||
| Kds1 |
just a little insight, the first 2 proto's almost ready to run, one brushed stainless and one will be ceramic black...the 3rd will be the revised prototype....getting a few more parts together to complete the mounting of things and Jerseyguy will get the first one to check fit and placement of everything and then one will go to Paul at Gainesville H-D to be dynoed and soon after I like it then I'll start making some....hope this helps a little till I get them ready.....no its not rocket science and no they are not turbo mufflers, if I could get by with turbo mufflers I would buy a truck load tonight.... Kevin www.kdfab.com (Message edited by kds1 on October 29, 2008) | ||
| Carbonbigfoot |
Great news, Kevin! I look forward to doing business with you again. Rob | ||
| Edmbueller |
Way to go Kevin - I was just about to order a Jardine.. perhaps I shall wait. Your Drummer on my Firebolt was a thing of beauty.... | ||
| Bearly |
Too bad Micron is getting out of the bike business! | ||
| Eddie |
I have my hammer in my hand and starting to hum. Soon I will be singing I'm going to bust you little piggy! | ||
| Nickcaro |
 | ||
| Gschuette |
I would wait for Kevin if I had an 1125. I'm glad I waited for my XB Drummer SS. Love it. | ||
| Pizzaboy |
YEAAA!!!!!! SOON ENOUGH ILL HAVE A DRUMMER ON BOTH OF MY BUELLS!!!!! | ||
| Ponti1 |
Excellent news, Kevin! Do you have any timeframe or pricing ideas at this point? I need to start tucking money away... |
