| Author | Message | |||
     Spatten1 |
Has anyone got any advice regarding modification of XB mufflers? I've got a 2003 XB9, a yet-to-be-mounted race ECM, and a spare XB12 muffler. Assuming I mount the race ECM and do the proper intake mods, does anyone have advice on mods that would make the stock muffler flow well, and, more importantly, work well with the race ECM and intake mods? Not only am I a cheap SOB, I also enjoy tearing into things and modifying them. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Scott ps. Daves rules! Thanks again for the parts and advice. | |||
| Rooster2168  |
Well I know a way, but I really can't say without fear of being banned for advertising. Let your fears be tamed. The free exhange of technical information is what this board is ALL about. If you have such information to share, then please do so absent any irrational/unfounded "fear of being banned." Blake (BadWeB admin/custodian) (Message edited by blake on December 29, 2004) | |||
| BadS1  |
Give me a break. | |||
| Charlieboy6649  |
So E-mail eachother! Please don't. Please conduct any/all such technical discussions online here on BadWeB. That is what this board is for and the very reason for its existence.  Blake (Message edited by blake on December 29, 2004) | |||
| Glitch  |
Cut the end of the muffler off, just after where the last muffler band sits. Hollow out the muffler. Add an expanded steel screen "lining" to the inside of the muffler. Weld a flat "cap" for the part you cut off, with a hole cut at two or two and a half inches. To that hole add a piece of pipe, the same size as the hole you cut, about three inches long, pointing in the direction of your choice. There you have it, only this is for a XB9 muffler, I have no idea what the inside of an XB12 muffler looks like. Oh and by the way, I could be wrong, as usual. | |||
| Signguyxb12  |
Glitch has got the right idea...but it depends on what you want ...if sound is the only thing you after there is a quick fix http://www.bvsigns.com/pipe%20mod/Graphic1.htm | |||
| Spatten1 |
Thanks for the advice Glitch, much appreciated. Sign Guy, I need HP, sound is definitely secondary. I just want it to wheelie as easily as my X1, if that is possible. Thanks guys. Scott | |||
| Bud  |
my home mod pipe  it's al about the tuned lenght off the first pipe | |||
| Glitch |
Nice pipe Bub, looks to be too loud for me though  | |||
| Spatten1 |
Am I understanding it correctly that the correct tuned length is pretty close to right behind the back bracket, and that is why I should }weld a flat plate there? | |||
| Nxtr |
Try this,  Nick | |||
| Fullpower  |
that sure is one big heavy steel can, i am beginning to understand the concept of mass centralization here. also answers the question everyone asks "how can a bike with 52 inch wheelbase and 21 degree rake be stable?" answer: twenty-one pound steel bus muffler underslung 4 inches off the ground. | |||
| Spatten1 |
Thanks Nick. Scott | |||
| Nxtr |
Spatten1, I would do this to a XB9 can since it does not have the exhaust valve thing in it. I am sure the mod would work on a stock XB12, while still being able to take advantage of the exhaust valve during the power band. Or you could take a XB12, race kit it, and use a modified XB9 exhaust on it. (For those of you with a XB12 interested in this mod). Let me know if it works out for you. Nick | |||
| Nxtr |
Here is yet another, (For the bold only) it may not be as cheap and would require a lot more fabrication. 
Nick | |||
| Two_buells  |
 | |||
| Vegasbueller  |
I did the mod above and it works pretty good. My two complaints are that unless you enlarge the exit it sounds real "blatty" and it can deaden the bottom end a bit. But... it makes some monster power 3500 and up. I do have plans on doing the mod more along the lines of what Glitch detailed above. I'll let ya know how that one turns out. Nick | |||
| Trenchtractor  |
To Spatten1, Vagas Bueller, Two_Buells, If Spatten has already got an XB12 Muffler there is an easier way to effectively perform the mod you are describing... Simply put, the valve at the front of the muffler is spring loaded in the closed position. Just lock wire the valve in the open position and the exhaust gasses will then flow into the muffle and use the valve to bipass two out of three legs of the muffler. Spatten, then you can test this 'one leg' muffler without having to get out the angle grinder or welder... The 'one leg' stock muffler mod is not one I recommend, but at least this way you can see if you like it for the cost of half a foot of lock wire... Now I'll provide more detail, the inside of a 12 muffler consists of 3 pipes. When the valve is closed, the gass flows down the first pipe, into the back chamber up the second (forwards) and into the front chamber, then down (rearwards) the third where it bipasses the rear chamber and exits. Just like the XB9 muffler. From memory, the first pipe is inch and 3/4, halfway allong it has a portion of holes, proly a couple of dozen. The second is closer to inch and 1/2, is a complete pipe w/o holes. The third is 2 inch and once again has no holes. Obviously, the combination of the smaller pipes and the extra lenght gives the 12 the extra bottom end, when the valve opens, though, the gass can bipass the two smaller pipes and head out via the 2 inch dirrectly. | |||
| Vegasbueller |
Duhhh.. I forgot this was a 12 pipe. Mine is a 9. Sorry if I was misleading ya dude! Nick | |||
| Blake |
"Well I know a way, but I really can't say without fear of being banned for advertising." You are much more likely to be banned for ignorance. Thanks to all thoughtful folks who shared their ideas and information about modifying the stock muffler. That is what this board is all about.  | |||
| Trenchtractor |
Vagas, he is riding a 9, so that info is still pertinant, I was just pointing out he might as well bolt up the spare XB12 muffler with the valve locked open, rather than butcher a perfectly good XB12 muffler. | |||
| Vegasbueller |
Trench: That is an original idea. I would be interested to see how it works and hear about the sound. I am jealous of you guys right now... the weather here in the desert is cold and wet! I can only imagine that the folks in Brisbane are sitting on the patio drinking beer and eating shrimp. Seeya, Nick | |||
| Spatten1 |
Everyone, I really appreciate all of the feedback. It sounds like I might want to wire the 12 muffler valve open and see how much I lose on the bottom end as my first shot. From a combination of the comments, it sounds like over 3500 or 4000 rpm very low restriction works out great, but under that a lack of back pressure can really hurt the bottom end. If the bottom end is close to as good as stock, I'd be perfectly happy, but if it is really dead, that would be tough to deal with. Also, if the power kicks in at 3500 I'd be fine, but any higher and I run out of revs too fast on the wheelies, and don't really have the confidence to shift with the front end up. Any feedback on my understanding of the posts, especially on the effect on bottom end power, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Scott | |||
| Glitch |
but under that a lack of back pressure can really hurt the bottom end. I wouldn't call it "pressure" really. What you need to do when opening an exhaust is to make sure you diffuse to exhaust pulses. The length of the exhaust is also important for timing of when the negative pulse reaches the cams at overlap, so it will help pull the next air/gas charge in. The volume (not sound volume) of the muffler is important as well. Aaron ( think NRHS )has posted a lot of good information on how exhaust headers and mufflers work in the KV. Good reading. | |||
| M1combat  |
There are dyno's posted at ?trojan horse? with the valve locked both open and closed. Neither of them worked that well as I recall. | |||
| Roadsurfr |
Everything that I've read seems to indicate that the stock 12 exhaust can't be beat. I love the song that my M2 sings with the Buell race kit. The sound level is perfect. I've only test rode a 12, but gotta git one. How could I get more sound but not kill the performance? Thanks in advance. Butch | |||
| M1combat |
From a 12... It looks like the Drummer is the only way to gain a bit everywhere... It doesn't gain much, but you retain the nice curve and it does add torque all the way across. Also, Odie has a pipe that looks like it works well from the dyno's he's posted, but he's also done a lot more than just the pipe to the bike so... He also doesn't have sponsorship yet. | |||
| Rsohler |
Sign Guy, I'm very interested about your bigger sound mod, but I'm not sure that I understand the details.... Could you post a picture of the holes on your pipe ? and give more detail about your caution note in the attachment ? Can I drill with the pipe on the bike or, should I remove the pipe each time ? I always wanted a bigger sound on my XB12, and really didn't care for more HP...so this seems to be the solution. Thank for you help R' | |||
| Xb9r43 |
To me it looked like the Buell race can did a nice job of increasing power across the power band | |||
| Trenchtractor |
Yeah, I tried mine on the 12 with the valve locked open and locked closed, just as an experiment. Either way you loose something on the 12, top or bottom depending on wich you try, but it did sound better with the valve locked open, I just couldn't justify the loss for the sound. That's why I suggested Spatten try that rather tha butcher the muffler, it's a lot cheaper and easier way to find out you don't like it...  I'd like to see what the results from Spatten are once he tests the 12 muffler on the 9 with the valve locked open... Being that the 9 is a revvier motor anyway, it might like it more than the 12 did... Also, I think the basic design between the two mufflers is similar, however, i expect the intermediate pipe diameters are different... Hey M1, you remember we were talking about using an XB9 ECM on a 12... Well how about a stock XB12 ECM and muffler on the 9... It'd be interesting to say the least... | |||
| M1combat |
Maybe so, but I think limiting the revs to 6800 on a 984 would be a bit lack luster... I personally wouldn't see any reason to do it. | |||
| Trenchtractor |
yeah... Jeez it'd be nice to come up with a totally programmable ECM that has the valve control and an adjustable redline... Why is it we always com back to the same topic... My wife would say I'm obsessed... | |||
| M1combat |
LOL... I think the MS is the best bet for the full boat. I think the TFI will be fine for most. | |||
| Signguyxb12 |
it's hard to Photo that's why I did the drawings caution note: don't be afraid to beat on it, might foul a plug No you don't have to remove the pipe that's the beautiful thing see it's like this....the stock pipe rocks...and the only thing missing is the sound....combine it with the airbox mods and hold on. i have mod'ed a few pipes 9 's and 12 's all with good results e.i. no loss in lower end I have a new mod coming.. right side exit.... SHHHH | |||
| Xbolt12 |
Fullpower, The xb12r is still plenty stable with a TI Jardine droping almost 14 pounds off the bottom of the bike. In fact the bike handles noticeably better now and is even easier to turn in. Suprisingly you notice the difference the second you get on the bike-it just feels so much lighter an not as tippy (also when putting it on a race stand). It does change the vibration however (if you think about that big counter weight hanging off the bottom of the engine). Although that could simply be due to the crappy fit of the strap around the Jardine. Frankly I think it is a combination of both factors. xbolt12 | |||
| Lpd22 |
With a moded pipe am i going to run to lean with a stock ecm? (To lean by not running right) |
