| Author | Message | ||
     Whiskeytango |
I'm dreaming of winter projects and I think I would like to try a Drummer stainless on my 04 XB12S when they become available. They sound like a good combination of low end torque and overall gains but I was wondering how will they really compare to the D&D on the street? Both exhausts seem to make good gains overall and in the low/mid range, but in slightly different places. How does that actually affect the ride? Will one of the two different torque curves make certain wheelie-like behavior more likely to occur than the other? I read in some reviews and threads while I was researching Buells preceding my purchase that some people can do wheelies off the throttle. I weigh 215 and although I'm not spending a lot of time trying, I have pinned the throttle a few times and no big fat wheelies happened. I know that there is more to it than that (i.e. technique, practice, experience...), but I have only had older 600cc and smaller Japanese bikes before this and I was expecting a lot from my first "big" bike (and the nicest, newest, most expensive bike I have ever owned)! I know it's splitting hairs, but I am super-OCD and I will obsess about it in a big way until I am "sure" I make the right decision--and then I will change my mind. Right now I have the basic factory "race" setup and I want to keep the system that simple, I don't want to run a TFI or any other piggyback system and I suppose I will keep the air box intact as well, I've had it off for while and all I do is worry when it rains so I bought a new one to replace the one I butchered. Also because it is time for some factory service! I could not really tell a difference except that it was louder. I bought the bike used and it’s the only Buell I have ever ridden so I have nothing to compare it directly to, but I think I want more torque. The bike pulls strong now, but it does feel like it’s happiest at 5-6000 RPM versus the 2500-5000 where I like to ride it. I like the sound of the factory setup, but something a little louder would be cool too--the "mechanical symphony" of my first HD motor is still somewhat disconcerting and I wouldn't mind being distracted by the kind of melodious cacophony I do like--fat–assed HD noise coming from a sport-bike! Now, I don't mind louder, but my neighbors might! Is the D&D loud enough to •••• the neighborhood off at 6:30 AM? I can’t really go there because this is now my primary transportation! Is the Drummer that much louder than the Factory race can? Which exhaust would give me the best seat-of-the-pants feel for where I spend the most time--at lower revs, in the city at legal speeds, but accelerating quickly? That was a bunch of questions. Thanks for reading, WT | ||
| Hammer71 |
Whiskey... Although I personally dont have a Drummer on my bike I have heard and read most of the articles here on them. 1st off the factory race kit you have is (in my opinion) why your bike is happiest in the 5 to 6 grand range. When I put mine on it changed the whole curve.. loss of low and mid range torque and gained a whole hell of alot on the top end over 5 grand. Great if you want to haull a$$ all over the place but not what I was looking for at all. Mind you I'm on a 9r so although we have the same problems the solutions will be different. As far as the drummer is concerned.. Nothing but good thing have been said and I can attest to the fact that it is a well built item as loud as race can but a nice deeper growl to it. It also recaptures the lost low and mid range. The D&D from what I've read (havent heard one yet) is obnoxiously loud and puts the same hole in the torque curve as the race can if not more. My opinion only here but I would go with the drummer for more than these reasons. 1. still a stock can.. although modified you still have the jack point. 2. Service is outstanding..check previous posts. 3. New one will need no new front band (peace of mind) hope this helps and I know others are going to chime in too. Hopefully owners of both will throw their input in for you. | ||
| Jerseyguy |
WT - Hang fire for just a bit. Kevin is making me a new Drummer SS for my new XB12Ss. I'm taking delivery of the new bike in the next few days when the dealer has it ready. I should have some impressions on the new Drummer SS in the next few weeks. Kevin tweaked the new Drummer SS in at Tilley's HD over the weekend on a XB12s and produced the following Dyno chart. He said they made 38 Dyno runs on Sunday. This is on a 04 XB12S with 2000 miles on it, dino oil, race ECM, K&N and no other modifications. I believe this may be one of the best charts we have seen to date for a 12.  Straight up, I am a loyal Drummer user and Kevin is my good friend. I help him out with his engineering needs. I have looked at and listened to my XB9's Drummer and my friend's XB9's D&D. I've studied the Dyno charts posted here for the XB9's. In my prejudiced opinion the XB9 Drummer wins in every respect from customer service to performance, hands down. There has been heated debate on the XB12 Drummer vs D&D. In my opinion the XB12 Drummer with stock ECM, TFI and K&N beats the D&D. It appears at first glance, according to the above chart, the new Drummer SS is superior to all of the mufflers out there, by far. I'll be finding out first hand very soon. | ||
| Spatten1 |
I have a Drummer, and ditto to what Hammer said. | ||
| Buellgator |
I'll be able to give a good description of what the SS Drummer will do very soon as well. I have one here that is going on an XB12SS. I am a huge fan of the Drummer as well, and have been running one on mine for a while. The Drummer is the reason that my friends with tube framers no longer run away from me. | ||
| Tq_freak |
Jerseyguy-- Williams got in a 12SS?!?! do they have a 12X yet? I might have to take a trip back home if they do  | ||
| Xb9 |
Drummer hands down, wouldn't give it a second thought. I can't say enough about what it did to my 9 | ||
| Whiskeytango |
Awesome comments, thank you all very much! It sounds like the Drummer is what I'm after! Does anyone know if the new SS version will still require an exchange? Will the price still be in the $400 range? Thanks again, Warren | ||
| Dagwood |
D&D sounds better...Drummer performs better in the ranges you mentioned you prefer. D&D will •••• off your neighbors...and scare the crap out of everyone on the street. I own the D&D, just more my style. | ||
| Jerseyguy |
WT - there is no exchange on the new Drummer SS all parts are made from scratch. Stainless steel outer shell and CNC'd billet endcaps. A patent is pending on the rear endcap design. The SS does not have mounts for the chin spoiler. It's to trick to hide plus they would add to the cost. Maybe in the future. The regular Drummer does require a core and has the chin spoiler mounts. www.kdfab.com TQ - I will be buying it from Liberty HD. Check out this thread why: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/4062/144035.html?1126097780 Plus Erik is going to hand me the keys himself at Liberty on the 24th which is going to be a fun time. Dag - I agree with you. The sound thing is personal preference. I prefer the more mellow thump to a raspier crack. |
