Downside of removing muffler?

[pjones]

I'm new to the list, picking up a '02 GSA tomorrow. The previous owner had removed the muffler a few months ago to allow full-size Jesse bags on both sides. Not a big difference in sound, but I'm wondering what problems will result from leaving it off. Don't want to start any fires or harm the engine.

Thanks, Paul

[94867]

Paul, I am thinking of doing this mod and am looking forward to hearing some pros and cons. I don't know the answer to your question, but, can you tell me if the left rear half of the bike gets sprayed with exhaust "soot"? Does yours have an extension to direct exhaust in any certain direction? Thanks.

[riderR1150GSAdv]

Jesse offers a under the seat exhaust system for the GS. Just go on their website and check it out. It looks really cool. http://www.jesseluggage.com/xtender.html
Hope it helps!

[PUDGYPAINTGUY]

I'm new to the list, picking up a '02 GSA tomorrow. The previous owner had removed the muffler a few months ago to allow full-size Jesse bags on both sides. Not a big difference in sound, but I'm wondering what problems will result from leaving it off. Don't want to start any fires or harm the engine.

Thanks, Paul


There is a guy that drives around Detroit area somewhere with a chrome tip on the exit pipe of the Catalytic converter that I saw and heard. I spoke with him and he said he had run it for about a year and a half. He said aside from extra resonance he noticed no difference in power. He also said no burned pants or burn victim passengers either.

[The_Veg]

There's a guy in Fort Worth who rides a Rockster (OK not a GS but close enough) and he sawed the muffler open, removed the stuffing, cut half off the can and riveted the end back on. Sounds very mean and snarly.

[BradfordBenn]

Tom & Rosie Perry rode a GS sans muffler in the Iron Butt Rally in 2005. After talking with them they said they had no problems and it saved some weight. I like the sound of it a little better.

[greer]

My husband and I bought a couple of used 1150's last summer, his came out VA, mine out of Ohio. Neither had mufflers; we didn't know what to make of it. Turns out this a very common mod, just ask on R1150R.net or Advrider. You can run a generic tip from Autozone or have a turndown made at a muffler shop. Sarah

[Bensonhurst]

why does anybody remove the mufflers?
If I bought a bike that had no mufflers I would be suspect of what other treatment the bike had received; I would immediatly relplace the mufflers.

[Stuff2C]

why does anybody remove the mufflers?



Left side full size bag. :D

[Xaque]

I have an r1150r in which I removed the muffler as a test... (as stated before, this is a common mod with r1150r owners, especialy over in Europe)

All the back-pressure is generated from the CAT, so there is no noticable difference in power. I also tried a little turned down muffler tip from AutoZone to complete the look and direct the exhaust downward.

Pros: Full size Left side bag... when the bags are off you can see the wheel completely... turns alot of heads. When the bike first starts, a fantastic engine noise/growl... And it saves ALOT of weight... I think it's around 10 lbs.

Cons: Well.. louder. There was a noticable drone at cruising speed. Some people will like this, but it was just too loud for me (not nearly as loud as most cruisers, but louder than the sewing machine). And I care about me neighbors :hide

After riding around one day with the muffler off I put it back on on account of the noise...

It came off and on easy enough on my 1150r that it's simple to go back and forth to see which was you like the most.

-Xaque-

[knary]

according to the information I'm able to glean from the web, the difference between a standard left pannier and a full sized pannier is .22 litre, that's not enough for me to have to put up with the noise.
I hate noise.

It sure seems like a lot more than .22 liters. The noise difference isn't much. It'll still be a quiet bike as the cat does the bulk of the noise reduction.

[greer]

The difference in bags does seem like much more than .22 liters. I've never weighed my muffler, but I believe the weight savings is closer to 20 or so lbs. The bike is not at all loud, esp if you run a turndown instead of just a straight tip.

Sarah

[PUDGYPAINTGUY]

just go to the Jesse or Touratech sites and they show the diff in the two size boxes for allowance of muffler or mount outside of muffler and specs too.

[jacco]

according to the information I'm able to glean from the web, the difference between a standard left pannier and a full sized pannier is .22 litre, that's not enough for me to have to put up with the noise.
I hate noise.

It's more like 6 l, or 1.5 gallons for y'all 'mericans:
http://www.bobsbmw.com/parts_accessories/luggage/l_R1150R.html

Still not worth it for me, and hard to do on an R1100R with a one-piece muffler anyway. Bought the luggage rack instead...

[The_Veg]

I got to hear that Rockster with the empty half-can again yesterday. VERY loud when he revved it up, which was often as the guy is a renegade cafe-racer type of guy (the whole bike is flat black and has WILL RACE FOR BEER stickers). I didn't notice whether or not he'd removed the catalytic but I suspect he did.

[CustomSarge]

No CAT, No stock muffler, Straight tube into a 24" resonator. Ride soft: just a nice throaty burble, Grab a handful: serious bark @ 3 grand+.

Season to taste, mine's a Hot Rod: it should sit up & bark. <<<)))

P.S. Remember to change your fuel mix ratio to reflect the increased airflow.

[pmdave]

Happy Trails has an exhaust elbow that allows the stock muffler to be tilted down to allow a full size left bag. BMW also has "police" elbows that do the same. The leos don't put up with mufflers in the way of bags. Tilting the muffler down keeps your bike legal and quiet, and vents the sooty exhaust behind the bike so you don't have to breathe in the CO.

Noise annoys. Some might describe a louder pipe as "throaty" or "deep tone" or "authoritative", but your neighbors might think it's "loud" or "obnoxious", and I would describe it as "illegal". Yes, I realize the majority of Hog riders use straight pipes that annoy thousands of voters on every ride. IMHO a minority is not being clever to piss off the majority.

pmdave
R1150GS with lowered stock muffler and full size HT bags.

[jacco]

Happy Trails has an exhaust elbow that allows the stock muffler to be tilted down to allow a full size left bag.

pmdave,

Just curious, will the muffler touch ground before anything else with this mod?

Thanks,
jacco

[Bensonhurst]

Happy Trails has an exhaust elbow that allows the stock muffler to be tilted down to allow a full size left bag. BMW also has "police" elbows that do the same. The leos don't put up with mufflers in the way of bags. Tilting the muffler down keeps your bike legal and quiet, and vents the sooty exhaust behind the bike so you don't have to breathe in the CO.

Noise annoys. Some might describe a louder pipe as "throaty" or "deep tone" or "authoritative", but your neighbors might think it's "loud" or "obnoxious", and I would describe it as "illegal". Yes, I realize the majority of Hog riders use straight pipes that annoy thousands of voters on every ride. IMHO a minority is not being clever to piss off the majority.

pmdave
R1150GS with lowered stock muffler and full size HT bags.



I was wrong about the difference in capacity from a full size pannier to a smaller one, it is 6 litres.
But that's not enough to make me an outlaw and annoy my neighbors. Besides, most of the time I ride with the panniers removed.
Let the HOG riders be the nuisance riders, I like be thought of as a gentleman biker.
The HOG riders say it’s a safety issue (to be heard) then they go riding without a helmet.

[robdogg]

many (most?) states require mufflers - removing yours or even modifying it in some states (removing baffles etc.) could get you ticket and a fine; as well as tick off the neighbors

you can find out here about your state
http://home.ama-cycle.org/amaccess/laws/

[robdogg]

The HOG riders say it’s a safety issue (to be heard) then they go riding without a helmet.


when they tell me that loud pipes save lives, I always tell them "a real helmet and proper riding gear save more"

[jacco]

when they tell me that loud pipes save lives, I always tell them "a real helmet and proper riding gear save more"

By the time I start to depend on the sound of my bike for my survival it's time to sell the thing.

[pmdave]

With the muffler in the "tilted down" position, it's still way above any touchdown problem. The footpegs, sidestand, centerstand, etc. would all touch down first. The HT saddlebag has the angled "canyon cut" on the lower edge, and the muffler is still tucked in tighter than the bag.

If I can find a photo of my bike, I'll post it.

pmdave

[pmdave]

'03 R1150GS with Happy Trails bag mounts, lowered muffler using "police" elbow.

[Kev95GS]

That looks nice. Too bad I can't do it with a 95 1100GS. Or does anyone know if an 1150 exhaust would work.

Kevin

[torags]

Used to be, when you took off mufflers, the bike ran hotter and burned valves. Don't know the impact on better breathing multiple valves.

[pmdave]

Call Tim Bernard at Happy Trails, and ask him. His (shorter) elbow might just fit an 1100.

www.happy-trail.com or 800 444-8770

pmdave

[Kev95GS]

Thanks. Sorry, didn't mean to Hi Jack the thread.

Kevin

[pmdave]

Police elbow on '03 R1150GS. Elbow clamps to end of cat, muffler clamps to end of elbow.

[PUDGYPAINTGUY]

Police elbow on '03 R1150GS. Elbow clamps to end of cat, muffler clamps to end of elbow.


This would most likely be good for any GS as it seems as though the tail end would be the same height as the air snorkel for the filter box anyway. One of the limiting factors for any stock GS plans for water crossings...lol.

Thanks Dave

[Bokrijder]

I bought a police elbow anticipating that lowering the stock muffler would allow the use of a full size left Jesse bag. (no muffler cutout) The lowered stock muffler interfered with the lower inside bottom corner of the bag. This may apply to all 2002 1150GSs or maybe the problem is unique to my bike.

Motard
1150GS
R50