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15,481 Posts
my 1200 makes way more noise than my 1500 and no i don't want more noise it's annoying on long rides
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23,798 Posts
I almost got stuck with that one too. Some buddies on another forum made me realize I was listening to my riding pals (mostly HD's) and looking more to their tastes rather than my own. Riding Japanese is never going to win in that circle anyway, no matter what it actually is; some tolerate but most will (not openly usually) ridicule somehow. I can see the allure in making a 'strong silent type' GL shriek like a Porsche 959 with the tap wide open (I had a custom cruiser with
shotguns) under certain conditions. The Torquemaster Exotics with a set of Torque Tuubs would do it but it's not really what a Goldwing is about. But let's see, there are removeable quiet baffles (+2db over stock) for when the Mrs. is aboard....hmmm
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23,798 Posts
If you still have the stock system the I'd say go back to it. If not, then contact Torquemaster and get a set of the baffles to tone it down a might. I've spoken with them and they're super folks. Still torn with my decision; kinda like the idea of shakin' up my Harley friends a bit. They can't catch me unless I let 'em, but it would be fun to pinch their ears for a change.
Heard What I Want
This past weekend we were taking a break at a local gas station, many bikes were in and out while several of us hung out. I heard something pulling in that caught my attention and behold it was another 08 wing just like the one I own. I have been researching exhausts so I decided to ask this owner what brand did he have, he replied Cobra. When his group pulled off several people still in the parking lot comented on how good that wing sounded. ASAP I will be adding the cobra pipes to mine.
This past weekend we were taking a break at a local gas station, many bikes were in and out while several of us hung out. I heard something pulling in that caught my attention and behold it was another 08 wing just like the one I own. I have been researching exhausts so I decided to ask this owner what brand did he have, he replied Cobra. When his group pulled off several people still in the parking lot comented on how good that wing sounded. ASAP I will be adding the cobra pipes to mine.
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23,798 Posts
So what DID it sound like? Fuller, deeper, how much louder etc? Part of the allure of the Wing is it's quiet but powerful engine. I've heard Valkrie 1500's with six-pack pipes that wail like a Porsche at full song, and it is pretty cool, but they are loud; not what I would consider tasteful on a big tourer.
Cobra Pipes
I started a thread a month or two back asking this same question. Not much out there in the way of help. I checked all I could online and even ran into a few people with different exhaust out on the road. I found the Cobra to look good and sound decent on anothers GL. I went ahead and bought the Cobras and installed on my 08 GL1800 and they sound awesome!! Quite a bit louder than stock. It was hard to tell in my garage when I started it up, but on the road you hear the difference. Going through underpasses or tunnels and you can really hear them. Now, having said that, let me also say that the resonance is quite bothersome. And since I am a little youner than the average GL rider and got off a VTX1800 with loud pipes for me to say this must mean it is worste than it sounds. But I kept the stock exhaust and have no plans on putting it back on. I have only about 300 miles on them since install and once I go on a long trip I might change my mind. So for now I say, If you bought your Wing for a nice quiet long haul cruiser, leave it alone, if you bought it for any other reason, put the aftermarket exhaust on it, just do not get rid of your stock pipes, you may still want them.
I started a thread a month or two back asking this same question. Not much out there in the way of help. I checked all I could online and even ran into a few people with different exhaust out on the road. I found the Cobra to look good and sound decent on anothers GL. I went ahead and bought the Cobras and installed on my 08 GL1800 and they sound awesome!! Quite a bit louder than stock. It was hard to tell in my garage when I started it up, but on the road you hear the difference. Going through underpasses or tunnels and you can really hear them. Now, having said that, let me also say that the resonance is quite bothersome. And since I am a little youner than the average GL rider and got off a VTX1800 with loud pipes for me to say this must mean it is worste than it sounds. But I kept the stock exhaust and have no plans on putting it back on. I have only about 300 miles on them since install and once I go on a long trip I might change my mind. So for now I say, If you bought your Wing for a nice quiet long haul cruiser, leave it alone, if you bought it for any other reason, put the aftermarket exhaust on it, just do not get rid of your stock pipes, you may still want them.
I have heard that before that loud mufflers save lives, I'm not so sure about that, but do belive the flashing head lites do.Thats just my better choice. Loud mufflers in my younger days I guess, but not any more. I prefer to just cruise in silence now.Haven't ever been knocked off your machine by a cager yet, have you?
Loud Pipes DO Save Lives!
ok, I wasn't thinking about my tail ,good thought. But I don't see any more currant drawn because of the flashing head light that I was aware of.I now for sure will change my 1157s to Leds to help. I agree with the older bikes about lacking decent amperage output. When I first got mine and drove around the city only at very low RPM for a few days, I noticed the newer battery was getting weak to start. I now put a battery tender on all the time. WA9FWT Phil
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101 Posts
I'd be looking on ebay for a good factory set on a resto
Thanks for the reply Heavy,
I've been watching eBay. I think the last decent set I saw went for $250+ The mufflers I'm looking at on J.C. are $58 each.
Rich
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101 Posts
When I was thinking resto I was thinking like a factory restoration
Yeah, I guess I should call it a refurbushing. I like to keep bikes as original as possible, but I have to consider costs and resale value. Any original exhaust will be about 30 years old and unless it's a NOS ($$$!) will likely have some rust damage. I'm not familiar with Goldwings. I bought this one (1979 because it was close. Pretty cool machine but I don't really know what I'll be able to sell it for when I get her all fixed up. I expect to have $1100 to $1500 in it. Like most of my motorcycle pojects I'll probably earn about $2.00 an hour for my labor. :-o
Rich
Rich
Run a lower gear, then. Try to keep your operating range around 3K on the tach.
And if it is discharging your battery at slow speeds, (any thing under 1700 on the tach) then I would look at the connection in the large yellow wires under the side cover with the battery. I eliminated the connector in mine, and soldered and heat-shrink wrapped the individual wire sets.
That connector will take out both your regulator and alternator. And check your ground connections to make sure they are tight.1 - 20 of 105 Posts
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