Stock Mufflers Back On Freewheeler And I Am Ok With That

[Bill G]

I have spent the last year of riding my Freewheeler with the D&D exaust 3 1/2" touring mufflers on it. The mufflers have worked well and sound good. But today I decided to put the stock mufflers back on.The reasons are.

* 1. On longer rides and through canyons the noise can wear on you a little (I hate ear plugs).
* 2. With California tightening up on there noise ordinance daily you never know when after market mufflers will be an issue (EPA stamp required on 2013 and later)
* 3. My Freewheeler Trike ran great stock and the stock mufflers sounded pretty darn good (much better than a lot of stock Harley mufflers). Also they did not fatigue me on longer trips.
* 4. Also there are to many Harley's running around that are way to loud and we all get a bad rap for it. My trike was reasonable sounding but I feel I need to be part of the solution and not perceived as the problem. (Note) My next statement will be taken as controversial for sure. Loud pipes don't save lives, maybe in some rare cases they do. More often than not they just piss people off. I Personaly think riding safe and being vigilant is more likely to save your life than a loud or in many cases here in California a way to loud set of pipes. I have several guys that live on my street with pipes so loud they rattle crap of the shelves and they suck and I Love Harley's and the way they sound in most cases.

Don't get me wrong here. I love the sound of a good set of tuned pipes and the sound of most of them on most Harley's. But as I get older the noise well, it's less for me.

Ride Safe All,
Bill G

 

[Keystone]

The OEM mufflers on the FLRT are the best sounding stock mufflers I've ever heard!

 

[Bill G]

The OEM mufflers on the FLRT are the best sounding stock mufflers I've ever heard!

Yes Sir, I would agree with you 100% on this. epper:

Ride Safe,
Bill G

 

[vito]

I have spent the last year of riding my Freewheeler with the D&D exaust 3 1/2" touring mufflers on it. The mufflers have worked well and sound good. But today I decided to put the stock mufflers back on.The reasons are.

* 1. On longer rides and through canyons the noise can wear on you a little (I hate ear plugs).
* 2. With California tightening up on there noise ordinance daily you never know when after market mufflers will be an issue (EPA stamp required on 2013 and later)
* 3. My Freewheeler Trike ran great stock and the stock mufflers sounded pretty darn good (much better than a lot of stock Harley mufflers). Also they did not fatigue me on longer trips.
* 4. Also there are to many Harley's running around that are way to loud and we all get a bad rap for it. My trike was reasonable sounding but I feel I need to be part of the solution and not perceived as the problem. (Note) My next statement will be taken as controversial for sure. Loud pipes don't save lives, maybe in some rare cases they do. More often than not they just piss people off. I Personaly think riding safe and being vigilant is more likely to save your life than a loud or in many cases here in California a way to loud set of pipes. I have several guys that live on my street with pipes so loud they rattle crap of the shelves and they suck and I Love Harley's and the way they sound in most cases.

Don't get me wrong here. I love the sound of a good set of tuned pipes and the sound of most of them on most Harley's. But as I get older the noise well, it's less for me.

Ride Safe All,
Bill G

Second That!! Mine is stock and will stay that way.

 

[Sunman]

I just finished putting mine back on. I had a set of Hooker Tuneable mufflers in the garage that I took off my 2005 Electraglide CVO so I thought I would try them on the FW. This is the second time I tried them on the FW ( I know, I am a slow learner). They sounded good at first but after awhile on the road they were just to loud. I guess getting old sucks. The FW stock pipes sound pretty good.

Sunman

 

[Bill G]

I just finished putting mine back on. I had a set of Hooker Tuneable mufflers in the garage that I took off my 2005 Electraglide CVO so I thought I would try them on the FW. This is the second time I tried them on the FW ( I know, I am a slow learner). They sounded good at first but after awhile on the road they were just to loud. I guess getting old sucks. The FW stock pipes sound pretty good.

Sunman

Ya like you said, I was a slow learner too it took me a little bit as stated to put the stock mufflers back on. Oh yes so true it sucks getting old.

I have plans towards the end of the year to buy me a new Harley Sportser 1200 Custom (fun solo rider commuter bike). The newer 2016 models also sound decent stock and it's going to stay that way too.

Ride Safe Friend,
Bill G

 

[screwball]

WHAT?? no more loud bike...er Trike?? One of my great pleasures is riding into a parking structure and seeing how many car alarms I can set off. So far our record is 6 alarms on 2 floors!!! L O U D pipes may not save lives, but they sure are fun.

You would think that at 70 years old I'd be over that childish stuff..... NOT

 

[Bill G]

WHAT?? no more loud bike...er Trike?? One of my great pleasures is riding into a parking structure and seeing how many car alarms I can set off. So far our record is 6 alarms on 2 floors!!! L O U D pipes may not save lives, but they sure are fun.

You would think that at 70 years old I'd be over that childish stuff..... NOT

With all due respect screwball you just made some of my points for me...

Ride Safe Sir,
Bill G

 

[vito]

WHAT?? no more loud bike...er Trike?? One of my great pleasures is riding into a parking structure and seeing how many car alarms I can set off. So far our record is 6 alarms on 2 floors!!! L O U D pipes may not save lives, but they sure are fun.

You would think that at 70 years old I'd be over that childish stuff..... NOT

I did that by accident. We'd stopped at a motel about 8PM, after an 800 mile day, planning on a before dawn start to beat the heat next AM. But all evening and past midnight guests noisily arrived. About 2 AM things quitted down. We rose at 5 and quietly left, even backing out before starting the motor. Never the less, as we rode out, car alarms began and lights began coming on ... I found it hard not to laugh.

 

[Sunman]

I have plans towards the end of the year to buy me a new Harley Sportser 1200 Custom (fun solo rider commuter bike). The newer 2016 models also sound decent stock and it's going to stay that way too.
Ride Safe Friend,
Bill G

The 1200 Custom is a nice looking bike. I have been thinking about one myself.

Sunman

 

[HDB0B]

De-catting of head pipes bumps the noise level up a notch for stock mufflers. I love it.

Bob

 

[J.T.M.]

I am running a decated stock header pipe and stock cvo slipons. Cruising at 60 to 70 you have to listen to hear the exhaust. The wife and I like it that way. It will talk to you if you twist the throttle but still not enough to bother anyone, the idle is a soft throaty rumble.

 

[Bill G]

The 1200 Custom is a nice looking bike. I have been thinking about one myself.

Sunman

Sunman I am glad to hear your thinking the same as me on this.

I also think the 1200 Customs are a lot of bang for the buck. epper: The Sporsters look and simplicity really takes me back to why I started riding motorcycles in the first place.

Take Care Friend,

Bill G

- - - Updated - - -

De-catting of head pipes bumps the noise level up a notch for stock mufflers. I love it.

Bob

I have heard that before about de-catting the head pipe. I bet your set up sounds really nice.

Ride Safe,

Bill G

 

[Bill G]

I am running a decated stock header pipe and stock cvo slipons. Cruising at 60 to 70 you have to listen to hear the exhaust. The wife and I like it that way. It will talk to you if you twist the throttle but still not enough to bother anyone, the idle is a soft throaty rumble.

I would bet your Trike sounds great up close in person. It sounds to me like it might be just the way I like it.

Ride Safe,
Bill G

 

[missedem]

Only one part of the statement about stock pipes I disagree with:

I have been riding bikes since I was seventeen. With my stock pipes on every bike I have ever had I got cars pulling into my lane while I was beside them; left turning in front of me 10 times a day. Getting cut off and run off the road literally.

The freewheeler stock mufflers sound about as good as many pipes I have heard so no argument there. But loud pipes do save lives.

Every time I have ever changed my mufflers or added a set of performance pipes to a bike the number of times I got cut off and turned in front of decreased dramatically. Getting run off the road happens way more often with stock pipes.

I know they have done studies that say different but years of riding experience have taught me otherwise.

If you are happy with stock pipes then by all means . I just don't like getting run off the road.

Be safe and have fun !!

 

[Bill G]

Only one part of the statement about stock pipes I disagree with:

I have been riding bikes since I was seventeen. With my stock pipes on every bike I have ever had I got cars pulling into my lane while I was beside them; left turning in front of me 10 times a day. Getting cut off and run off the road literally.

The freewheeler stock mufflers sound about as good as many pipes I have heard so no argument there. But loud pipes do save lives.

Every time I have ever changed my mufflers or added a set of performance pipes to a bike the number of times I got cut off and turned in front of decreased dramatically. Getting run off the road happens way more often with stock pipes.

I know they have done studies that say different but years of riding experience have taught me otherwise.

If you are happy with stock pipes then by all means . I just don't like getting run off the road.

Be safe and have fun !!

I also have been riding on the street since I was 15 yrs old. I rode 1 year with a permit getting my license at 16 and I am now 52 years old.(Throughout all these years I have been without a bike maybe a month or two at most).

If you re-read my original post you will see I said in most cases concerning loud mufflers/pipes. One of those cases is in slower heavy traffic when coming up beside a car sometimes and I say sometimes louder exaust can be a benefit. In almost every other situations the sound is behind you. Most all motorcycle axcidents happen from the front and mufflers or loud pipes don't do much if anything for these situations.

With that said I don't much care for getting run of the road either. My many years of riding has proven for me my statements to be true. Others can and do or may have a different perceived idea of what they think works for them and that's perfectly fine with me.

Also in all my years of riding I have never had 10 situations in one ride or a day of riding were cars turned in front of me or ran me off the road ???????? I have had it happen but never ever that many times in one day of riding or for that fact ever in years and years of riding.(I don't make it a habit of riding in cars blind spots).

I still say riding safe and vigilant is your best bet for your safety.

Ride Safe,

Bill G

 

[vito]

Only one part of the statement about stock pipes I disagree with:

I have been riding bikes since I was seventeen. With my stock pipes on every bike I have ever had I got cars pulling into my lane while I was beside them; left turning in front of me 10 times a day. Getting cut off and run off the road literally.

The freewheeler stock mufflers sound about as good as many pipes I have heard so no argument there. But loud pipes do save lives.

Every time I have ever changed my mufflers or added a set of performance pipes to a bike the number of times I got cut off and turned in front of decreased dramatically. Getting run off the road happens way more often with stock pipes.

I know they have done studies that say different but years of riding experience have taught me otherwise.

If you are happy with stock pipes then by all means . I just don't like getting run off the road.

Be safe and have fun !!

Gee, I've only been riding for 55 years - some on stock bikes and some without any mufflers at all - and I have never ever heard of a left turning cager being deterred by loud pipes. Nor have I noticed much difference in the rate of attacks between loud and quiet bikes. I have survived by riding defensively - by being alert at intersections and not riding in a cage's blind zone. Thus I have never actually been run off the road with loud or stock pipes and don't expect to be. So I am dubious about the idea that loud pipes save lives. If you are being run off the road 10 times per day I suggest you seriously examine your riding habits.

 

[Bill G]

Gee, I've only been riding for 55 years - some on stock bikes and some without any mufflers at all - and I have never ever heard of a left turning cager being deterred by loud pipes. Nor have I noticed much difference in the rate of attacks between loud and quiet bikes. I have survived by riding defensively - by being alert at intersections and not riding in a cage's blind zone. Thus I have never actually been run off the road with loud or stock pipes and don't expect to be. So I am dubious about the idea that loud pipes save lives. If you are being run off the road 10 times per day I suggest you seriously examine your riding habits.

Vito I am with ya on this 100% Brother.... That was my general point in the original posting and my follow up postings to this subject.

I agree with your point about riding habits. I was trying to be nice in making that point in my reply above.

Riding safe and vigilant is your best defense for your safety on a motorcycle.

Ride Safe,

Bill G

 

[missedem]

Only expressing an opinion. Easy boys. I choose to ride safe and vigilant and have loud pipes. Free country. What you do with your bike and how you choose to ride is your choice. I'm fine with that .

 

[Bill G]

Only expressing an opinion. Easy boys. I choose to ride safe and vigilant and have loud pipes. Free country. What you do with your bike and how you choose to ride is your choice. I'm fine with that .

No one was flaming you, only responding in opinion like you say to your words. You said you were getting cut off 10 times a day with your stock pipes, your words not anyone else's. That's excessive by any standards, again your words and your statement. Most would think at that point maybe better riding habits would be considered to help with that issue and well there is no easy way to say that to someone. So if you are offended it's on you sir and if you feel really loud pipes helped that issue more power to you.

Riding safe and vigilant is always your best bet.

Ride Safe & Have A Great Day,

Bill G

 

[missedem]

Not offended at all. Never was. Just seemed a couple of responses were a bit harsh. As you say my perception so that part is on me. When I was getting cut off like that on a daily basis I was riding in a nasty urban area that was just chaos when I was on the bike. Thankful not to experience that too much anymore.

 

[Bill G]

Not offended at all. Never was. Just seemed a couple of responses were a bit harsh. As you say my perception so that part is on me. When I was getting cut off like that on a daily basis I was riding in a nasty urban area that was just chaos when I was on the bike. Thankful not to experience that too much anymore.

No worries Brother... We all sometimes read to much or not enough into the typed words of others, have done it myself. Never meant to be harsh.

Ride Safe,
Bill G

 

[FleshWound]

Loud pipes, quiet pipes, and in between.

I attend a "biker" church service at the local Harley dealership parking lot. We have Harleys, Hondas, Indians, Victories, even a Morgan three-wheeler and even a Volkswagen trike, Any brand or kind of motorcycle you can imagine. It's called "Church in the Wind" and the preacher, Pastor T, starts the service with a countdown from 10. At zero, all the bikes crank up and rev the engines, and everyone has a big smile on their face. They don't care what you ride, but THAT you ride!!

 

[Bill G]

I attend a "biker" church service at the local Harley dealership parking lot. We have Harleys, Hondas, Indians, Victories, even a Morgan three-wheeler and even a Volkswagen trike, Any brand or kind of motorcycle you can imagine. It's called "Church in the Wind" and the preacher, Pastor T, starts the service with a countdown from 10. At zero, all the bikes crank up and rev the engines, and everyone has a big smile on their face. They don't care what you ride, but THAT you ride!!

Thats great and I love Jesus with all my heart too and that sounds awesome. A big Kudos to you guys but all of you guys, key word here (bikers) are bikers in a dealers parking lot..

In my original posting I mentioned super loud pipes piss non bikers off. With that said if you did that at a regular church with a lot of non bikers there I bet it would not go over as well. Yes the key thing for most bikers are that you ride no doubt but we have to keep in mind how our actions affect others. And as stated super super loud pipes on Harley's and other bikes today tend to rub the community in general the wrong way. That is why sound ordinance are going up left and right here in California. We as motorcyclist need to think about the consequences of our actions.

With that said keep on reving and keep on praising the Lord.

Ride Vigilant And Ride Safe,
Bill G

 

[1dn5up]

Theres a time and place for everything :Angel: