| Author | Message | ||
     Electraglider_1997 |
Anybody have an idea what mods are done by the Drummer folks. I mean, why pay 400 bucks for someone to remove some baffles and remove the valve? I mean, you could have a local welding shop do that for a fraction of that 400. | ||
| Chadhargis |
You're paying for R&D, expertise, and support. If your local muffler shop butchers your exhaust, are they going to fix it? Probably not. | ||
| Speedstar |
Kevin also had the Econo Drummer that leaves the valve in place and has a more economy outlet for $199.00. I don't know how they compare in sound and performance but it is another option if the $400.00 is a stumbling block. | ||
| Flick |
Anybody have an idea what mods are done by the Buell folks...I mean, why pay 8,400 bucks for someone to stick a old Sportster motor in some fancy chassis? I mean, you could have a local welding shop do that for a fraction of that 8,400. GET REAL! People who want something for nothing...usually get NOTHING! | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I wanted less restriction out of my Electraglide's stock mufflers and a little throatier sound so I took them off and rammed a rod all the way through them. Doubled the area of the hole on either end. By making them less restrictive my mufflers give a deeper sound and caused better gas mileage. Didn't cost me a thing to do this and I did get something for a little of nothing. Yea, I'm a tightass and usually like to figure out how to save a buck in everything I do. If Drummer is just removing parts out of the muffler and charging 400 for it then I feel this is steep. It's not like you are getting a new muffler, they're modifying yours. I'd just be interested in knowing what they've done to the innards. If anyone ever smashes theirs in a accident it would be nice if they could cut it open to see what magic was done during the Drummer mods. Just curious. | ||
| Lowflyer |
Electraglider, You can modify the stock can yourself and get good sound from it. Several guys in my area have done this quite successfully on their XBs. It apparently takes about 30 minutes. If I get it done, I will document the whole process and post it in here. I am still debating the Drummer option with myself and my personal finance dept. | ||
| Chadhargis |
I'm a cheapskate too, and I like to save a buck as much as the next guy, but I think it's nice when someone develops a product for such a limited number of potential customers like Buell owners. I suspect there isn't much "magic" to the Drummer, but I'm betting there was a lot of R&D, dyno testing, road testing (like THAT'S work  ), marketing, and customer support. All of that is worth something. Is it worth $400? Evidently to some it is, but not to others. I've put aftermarket mufflers on almost all of my bikes, and I honestly couldn't tell any difference in power. Sound, yes, but tons of power no. Since the Uly will be my "touring" bike, I don't plan on putting on an aftermarket exhaust, but it's not etched in stone. For now, I'm going to keep preaching the slogan, "Loud fans save lives". | ||
| Javadog |
We need to put that on a t-shirt, loud fans... that is. From what I know, Kevin builds all the Drummer mufflers one at a time by hand with no help. There is quite a bit of welding, cutting, rewelding and painting involved. It is a proven product. If someone wants to save money and buy some cheap flimsy Chinese piece of junk stamped from an old aluminum freeway sign or cut apart and repaint their stock muffler have at it. I think the muffler is a bargain for $400. I would be surprised if he was even breaking even when you take into consideration the costs of renting a building for the shop, tools, materials, utilities, business expenses, insurance, advertising and shipping costs. | ||
| Kds1 |
Electraglider1997....I don't understand why just because I chose the stock can as a donor that you are implying that I just remove some stock tubes and there you go...I've said it before and I'll say it again, if you want your pipe just gutted, send them to me by the truckload and I'll gut yours for free and put it on the dyno and see what happens....I think you would be one to buy a full system to justify spending some cash and make as much power as my stock can conversion...If I sold it for $20 and it lost power you'd probably be ok with that.....If you think it's too much, buy something else, I'm sure that I'm not getting rich from all this, and if you like working 14hr days and working on Sundays, well take a trip to Hickory and come help me get caught up just gutting those cans... Oh the building and power are free you know where I'm from..... Kevin www.kdfab.com | ||
| Lowflyer |
Kevin, Your products must be awesome to be as popular as they are. By the looks of this rant, you are apparently a better fabricator than you are a salesman. I'll be placing my order as soon as you get caught up.  (Message edited by Lowflyer on November 18, 2005) | ||
| Dave |
Damn...looks like we got a couple candidates for Ambassador positions!  The Drummer is mighty tempting. I gotta hear one on a bike in person. DAve | ||
| Speedstar |
I was sold on Kevin before any of this. I should be getting mine on Tuesday of next week. I like to support people like him instead of some big company. | ||
| Crusty |
Kevin, don't take the criticism to heart. It doesn't matter what you make or do, somebody's going to badmouth, critique or tell you how to do a better job. If you charge enough to break even, you'll be a rip off. If you don't charge enough, you'll go out of business and they'll call your product cheap and shoddy. A couple of years ago, the company I was working at had a Toolmaker who taught me how to use a lathe and Bridgeport mill (I'd never had access to a machine shop before), and he let me play with the machines after hours. I made myself an aluminum drain plug for my M2 to replace the cheap looking plastic piece. I liked it enough that I decided to make a bunch to give out at the 20th Anniversary as mementos. I bought a couple of 5/8" aluminum rods, and spent a couple of hours each day after work making them. A week after I got home from the 20th, I saw on for sale on ebay. Then someone had a problem with fit on one - I hadn't turned the end quite enough, and it wouldn't fit through the frame loop, so I sent him a spare that I had. Then I got a few comments and digs, and I started to get pissed. BUT most people loved them, still have them on their bikes, and most importantly, had a better time because of my effort. If you let yourself get caught up in the chicken schitte, you'll only ruin your day. | ||
| Kds1 |
Thanks for the good words....It's like this for me though, I know what I'm capable of producing and what my product will do and I have even more going on in the future, I can make it cheap with the stock can or I can start from scratch (SS) and it will cost 3 prices, so I've put the cheap version out there and I'm building the expensive one too, maybe I need to make one that has a $500 check in the box, some would still complain..... Lowflyer....you're right!!!! I never said I was a salesman, and I don't see myself being one either...I like metal and welding rods.....there's nothing like products speaking for themselves, cuts out all the bullcrap in my book.... Crusty.....It's funny, I take the criticism to the shop, sometimes the heart....I understand what you mean about the plug....just think 2yrs ago when I started this whole thing with Bubba, nobody knew my name, personality or what I was about for that matter, but after most saw what could be done using the parts you paid for on the bike to start with it started opening eyes...still some like to spend more on the same or less power, not me, I'm putting the rest in the gas tank and gear... Kevin www.kdfab.com | ||
| Windaddiction |
dood hurry up and get mine going for my uly , i cant wait it's getting cold up north here! | ||
| Windaddiction |
hey Kevin thanks for the call and update i was joking about hurring. I guess you do have good customer relation skills , thanks a lot! | ||
| Windaddiction |
sooooo excited my drummer should be here on monday then on my bike monday afternoon then dyno run maybe>???? woot! | ||
| Dave |
Do a dyno run before ... and after DAve | ||
| Windaddiction |
okay the only dyno in town..... and the won't do one on my buell becuase they've had 2 harley engines blow up? wtf is up with that? | ||
| Clayman |
hi kevin. i have been trying to get through on your web site but keeps coming back as an error. interested in the drummer. i think i will take my bike off the road soon weather is getting cold, how long usually does it takefrom me to you and back again. i am here nanaimo british columbia canada. | ||
| Windaddiction |
Hey clay I'll have mine hopefully in a few days, and don't bother sending your old one in from up here, by the time you mail it it's not worth it! | ||
| Clayman |
so what about the core i yhought he needed it | ||
| Cataract2 |
I can't wait for my Drummer to come.... | ||
| Kds1 |
Clayman, the site address is www.kdfab.com or call the shop...828-324-9991.... i have a few cans on the way so I'll get one for you...let me know when you want to get it so I can be sure and have it ready for shipping... Kevin www.kdfab.com | ||
| Ftd |
Kevin, Do you have any of those catch cans ready to sell/ship?? Frank | ||
| Clayman |
very cool kevin thanks i will call you monday. i made to your web site but it was the email that was not working. have you come up with a solution for the drummer ss with mounting the cowl. | ||
| Kds1 |
Ftd, Steve has sold every can he had on hand...we're trying to get an order together to get more... Clayman, For now I have 4 sets of brackets and they are accounted for and I'll try to get more built soon....The SS Drummers are being built and coming along nicely...they have to be right or I won't sell them... Kevin www.kdfab.com | ||
| Ftd |
Kevin, Count me in for one when the next shipment arrives. Frank | ||
| Speedstar |
I got my Drummer on just before Thanksgiving and this thing rocks. Very easy install on the Uly. You do not have to remove the idler pulley or loosen the belt. You can get to the rear muffler straps around the belt and tensioner. I have noticed that the fan seems to run less now and the power is better throughout the whole powerband but more up top. It has a very low, deep sound. I will be wearing earplugs with this one. Thanks to Kevin for great service and help with questions before hand. Anyone in the market for a good exhaust option, Kevin is your man. Thanks again, Devin | ||
| Jerseyguy |
Frank - I have one on hand right now but it is the polished version and not the black anodized.  |
