New bike - to baffle or not to baffle.... advice requested

[TackleburyUk]

Hello chaps,

I'm after some advice on what people consider loud and what people consider antisocial...

I have just bought a MV Agusta Brutale 1078RR that has a full titanium HP Corse System fitted. I love the bike, it's got the race ECU fitted and I've been riding de-baffled, as it was when I collected it. It's loud, I mean ear split-tingly loud, people turn to see what kind of idiot thinks it's acceptable to ride such a loud motorcycle!

After a ride out today I gave in and stuck the baffles in. My brother thinks I'm mad but he isn't the one getting looked at and I really like my neighbours! I've recently moved to a lovely quiet street and all my neighbours are in their senior years!

So, what's peoples take on exhausts? On one hand I think sod it. I fire it up and leave but I've been told you can hear me coming from about 1/2 mile away! Do people just get on with it and not give a toss or should I stick to my guns, be respectable and not piss the entire village off every time I come and go?

What does the collective of PH Bikers do? Baffles or no Baffles?

[Dare2Fail]

Depends on the bike and the type of riding you are doing. I run baffles in my commuter but baffle free and stupidly loud in my fun bike.

[Piersman2]

Baffles in if it's that loud.

I fitted baffles to my straight through cans for exactly what you've described. It didn't make them quiet by any stretch, but did take off some of the edge. As much a benefit to me riding as anyone else having to listen. They don't need to be THAT loud.

[TackleburyUk]

I agree with taking the edge off. I described it to Mrs Tack as knocked off the high peaks!

The MV is a toy, no commuting, just a toy for when I'm not working.

I do love the quick shifter, never used one before and now I've got the hang of it its brilliant!

[Mastodon2]

Baffles out, just don't be a dick in towns and villages, no need to blip your downshifts approaching red lights etc. I don't run my bike with the baffle in, but it's not ridiculousky loud or raspy on start up. I've never had a problem with my cars or bikes, my neighbours just joke about them. If they wanted to get shirty, I could probably say something about people in my street mowing their lawns at 8am on a Sunday morning, which is a lot longer lasting than me starting the bike and buggering off.

[accident]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGyKBFCd_u4
you decide.

[TackleburyUk]

accident said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGyKBFCd_u4
you decide.

Brilliant!!!!!!

[vonuber]

In that there London, the only bikes I've seen been pulled over by the VOSA lot are those who blatantly don't have baffles in.

[clen666]

Do whatever you feel comfortable with.
If you are constantly worrying about upsetting others with the baffles out then stick them in so you can concentrate on riding the thing.

If you have a penis, leave them out.

[archie456]

D

clen666 said:

Do whatever you feel comfortable with.
If you are constantly worrying about upsetting others with the baffles out then stick them in so you can concentrate on riding the thing.

If you have are a penis, leave them out.

Fixed that for you.

[annsxman]

I'm not a subscriber to the "Loud pipes save lives" brigade. Most of the people you need saving from are probably half deaf and half blind OAPs who wouldn't hear you (or see you) anyway.

I'm all for having a nice exhaust note but not one that annoys everyone around.

So, OP, it's up to you to decide how loud your unbaffled pipe really is.

FWIW I've just fitted a new exhaust to my Ducati Diavel and it is annoyingly loud so we're fabricating a baffle to take the edge off it.

[Jazoli]

Baffles in for me, there's nothing worse than hearing bikes screaming up and down the road all day, also you are advertising your presence to everybody around when out of built up areas, I regularly hear bikes go flat through the gears, which tells anyone listening that you are seriously breaking the limit.

Loud pipes saves lives is bullst, and antisocial, there are enough restrictions on what we can do to begin with, why give the authorities any reason to impose further restrictions? stealth is the way ahead.

[HertsBiker]

Mastodon2 said:

Baffles out, just don't be a dick in towns and villages, no need to blip your downshifts approaching red lights etc. I don't run my bike with the baffle in, but it's not ridiculousky loud or raspy on start up. I've never had a problem with my cars or bikes, my neighbours just joke about them. If they wanted to get shirty, I could probably say something about people in my street mowing their lawns at 8am on a Sunday morning, which is a lot longer lasting than me starting the bike and buggering off.

I make jokes of things when they really annoy me. Probably because I like the person who I am trying to hint at, and don't wish to offend them. However if I had more bottle I'd just tell them that whatever it is is annoying me! Perhaps your neighbours actually hate your noise and don't know how to stop you....? Just saying.

I also like loud exhausts but you must consider other people first.

[Mastodon2]

HertsBiker said:

I make jokes of things when they really annoy me. Probably because I like the person who I am trying to hint at, and don't wish to offend them. However if I had more bottle I'd just tell them that whatever it is is annoying me! Perhaps your neighbours actually hate your noise and don't know how to stop you....? Just saying.

I also like loud exhausts but you must consider other people first.

I trust them enough to speak up if they've got a problem. I'm not an unapproachable sort. As I say, if they wanted to have a moan there things I could give them grief about, but I don't as part of living around other people is putting up the things they do.

[jackh707]

Its not going to ruin the bike for you putting baffles in. Overly loud bikes are seriously naff, tasteful noise is good and I'll tolerate it like most members of the public.

In all seriousness, put them in go for a ride... if you don't like it, take them out ?? it takes 30 seconds and your own opinion is far better than that of a load of people on the internet who haven't heard your bike.

[clen666]

archie456 said:

D

clen666 said:

If you have are a penis, leave them out.

Fixed that for you.

I blame last nights level of intoxication for that statement!

I don't have a baffle in my Akrapovic on my zx6r, but it's only the slip on so the cat will be keeping it more quiet than a straight through system would be.

[TackleburyUk]

Thanks for the replies chaps.

For info it's straight through without baffles. I love the overrun sounds but even 30 mph at constant throttle it's loud, let alone almost full bore acceleration!

I've taken it to work this afternoon and with baffles in it's certainly more sociable, maybe too much now! The overrun is dulled which is disappointing.

I guess I'll see how it goes with baffles for now.

I'll have a word with the neighbours and see what their thoughts are. I'm pleased I've fitted them as I finish at 2230 tonight!

[HertsBiker]

BTW induction noise follows the bike and can sound really cool. Zorst noise carries... Mastodon, no offence but I have neighbours I despise but feel powerless to complain to. In the ideal,world I'd man up and have a go. In this world, I make jokes about their crap parking or late night noise. I don't want bother, so I tolerate their st. Funny though how they complain to me. Maybe I do need to grow some. Interesting thread, makes me feel like I'm being accommodating yet they take the piss!

[Mastodon2]

HertsBiker said:

BTW induction noise follows the bike and can sound really cool. Zorst noise carries... Mastodon, no offence but I have neighbours I despise but feel powerless to complain to. In the ideal,world I'd man up and have a go. In this world, I make jokes about their crap parking or late night noise. I don't want bother, so I tolerate their st. Funny though how they complain to me. Maybe I do need to grow some. Interesting thread, makes me feel like I'm being accommodating yet they take the piss!

It's give and take though, you probably do something that irritates them without you knowing about it. My bike is loud, it's not ridiculous though - I actually wouldn't want it too loud as if the exhaust overpowered the amazing induction noise I'd be disappointed. If I had a bike for commuting and did a lot of early mornings and late nights I'd keep the baffles in for the week, and take them out for the weekend. As it is, I only ride for fun, when the weather is nice. I rarely do early mornings, and if it is early and dry, there is usually at least one person out in the street doing their lawn or washing their cars. I try to be discreet, I don't race out of my estate at 50mph in second gear, I just pop the baffle in, fire it up, put my gloves and helmet on and once it's warmed, pull the baffle out and ride off. It's handy to have the baffle in the garage as just sitting it in the can while the bike is warming and I'm putting my gear on takes a lot of the bass woofle away. Not so important for FI bikes as they are better for just thumbing the starter and riding off.

There is a bloke on my estate who has a Respol Fireblade with some loud can on it. When he leaves on it, he keeps the baffle in to the end of the street, then pulls over, whips the baffle out and rides off. Coming home, he stops at the entrance of the estate, puts the baffle in and the rides back to his garage. He probably thinks he is doing everyone a favour, but by fannying about with it, he just generates a longer lasting disturbance than if he just kept the baffle out all the time.

[TackleburyUk]

I've pondered the baffle in and out theory...

Having fitted it though, mine is very tight and gets bloody hot bloody quick!