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Buell Motorcycle Forum » Big, Bad & Dirty (Buell XB12X Ulysses Adventure Board) » BB&D Archives » Archive through August 30, 2006 » Back to stealth-mode « Previous Next »

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Fubar
Posted on Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 09:47 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

About 5K miles ago I installed a Race ECM, Air Cleaner, and Standard Drummer. It was terrific. Noticeable improvement in performance the loved the sound. Pretty loud, but did not enough annoy the wife or folks in the 'hood.

Fast-forward 4 months and many 3/4 hundred mile days. I noticed that the sound was really wearing. I wear Hearo ear plugs for anything but a short ride and even then it was uncomfortable, so I decided to go back to a standard pipe.

While it will take some time to get used to, I do prefer it. Getting less auditory feedback I find I'm going faster than I realize. The motor doesn't spin up as fast, but it seems better than before I made the change. I am also not seeing the low speed surging I saw before. I'm wondering if this is due to the Race Air Cleaner. It also seems that the much noted lack of engine braking is worse, leading me to believe that it's an ECM issue vs. the large fly wheel.

She's back to the Black Stealth Fighter mode and I like it.
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Adrian_8
Posted on Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 10:05 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I had a loud pipe on my ULY and took it off, there was very little gain, just more decibels. I like the quiet on this bike.. but each to his own.. IMHO the ULY runs fine stock..just ride it..and enjoy
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Dave
Posted on Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 11:54 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

... damn ... add my name to the list that is considering going (or has gone) back to the stock pipe, ECM, & filter.

It's not that I don't like the sound and performance, but I do miss the psuedo-stealth. The stock muffler really isn't bad. Buell did their homework.

DAve
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Stevem123
Posted on Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 12:04 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I have noticed the engine braking thing (run-on) more since I added the race kit.

For what it's worth, from my knowlege the flywheels on the Buell motors are lighter than standard Sportster motors. At least that was true during the days of the tube-frame Buells. I think now they are the same except for the heads, valves, and cams.

The run-on I believe is due to the mapping of the ECM and directly related to the timing curves. Not much we can do about that right now but try to lower the idle a little and see if that helps.

I'm almost with you on going back to the stock pipe because the gains are mostly at the top of the RPM range and I don't use it much there. I also kind of liked the stealth mode quietness. However I do like a little noise when in traffic.

BC Steve
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Fubar
Posted on Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 12:14 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Yeah... I do miss the extra presence in traffic. The only down side in my mind.

Perhaps the run-on is 'cause I'm going faster...
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Adrian_8
Posted on Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 01:41 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Buell went to a lot of trouble to design that under-slung muffler with the EXUP valve and jacking points. Several "performance" Japanese bikes have started using mufflers similar. It would have been real easy to roll up some stainless sheet metal, add a few baffles, some steel wool, then clamp it on. There was quite a bit of engineering put into into the muffler...save your money and take your S/O out to dinner.
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Birdmanrh
Posted on Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 11:50 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Last winter (good riding for us) we had a big Buell ride here. During the ride we stopped for lunch and before we headed in I had three different riders ask what mods I had because I was walking away from all of them on hills.

I replied that I had added Sirius..... : )

They all had Race ECM's and pipes.
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Xbimmer
Posted on Sunday, August 20, 2006 - 12:44 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Geez you guys, today I was just deciding on which Drummer...

Stealth may be slick and a local special person at a local BMW dealer 20 years ago used to say "You can ride faster on a quiet bike".

Made sense to me then until one day on Mulholland Hwy west of Las Virgenes, as I was hustling my 100S around a familiar righthander, I suddenly confronted a CHP unit in a basic reverse-burnout to get the H out my way since he'd decided to hang a u-turn on a blind corner which he couldn't complete and probably heard my rolled-open 40mm Bings (instead of my exhaust) to alert him he'd done something stupid... don't get me wrong I'm very pro-cop but this guy did something stupid!

As it turned out many things worked for me at that moment since I could have spit on his hood ornament as I passed by it (braking heeled over was a null and void reflex) but it has stuck with me since then that if I had the BUB's on that day he would probably have stayed parked on the turnout.

I appreciate the tech within the stock muffler but I like a motorcycle's engine to be heard, and I don't mean like those morons who shout "Look at me, I'm a biker" with open twins or fours. Within reason, it's music from the engine IMHO.
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Electraglider_1997
Posted on Sunday, August 20, 2006 - 11:30 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

One of the things that I enjoy about my ULY is how quiet it is. Loud does not always translate to better or faster unless you can back that up with data. I'll take whisper quiet any day over the racket of these supposed higher hp loud mufflers. In fact, if I could somehow make the ULY "electric motor" quiet then I would. My neighbors certainly don't complain to me about my loud bike. If I need to warn someone about my presence then I use the horn.
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Lowflyer
Posted on Sunday, August 20, 2006 - 01:00 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I cut out a 2-inch section of the exit tube inside the aft chamber of the can. The sound is robust and throaty, but not loud at all. I don't care too much for the stock sound. It has too much of a metallic rattle to me. Sounds like an old Singer sewing machine.

I also don't like spending $300-$600 on somebody else's idea of the perfect muffler. Fuhgetaboutit.
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Dr_greg
Posted on Sunday, August 20, 2006 - 01:13 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

YAAAY!!! You may recall my "anyone else like their Uly quiet?" posting of a few months ago...I'm so pleased to hear of a few more quiet bikes.

I was on vacation at a Colorado resort last week, and a guy near me had a loud Harley...most annoying. Thankfully he was pretty well-behaved.
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Asdf
Posted on Sunday, August 20, 2006 - 01:54 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I remember that Thread.
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142838/188158.html?1146920668

More recently, I think that there was another Thread similar to yours.

I like a quiet bike. The fastest rider is the one who does not have to stop and wait to be issued a ticket and who still rides after others are forced to walk.

Loud pipes are Cop Magnets and sources of Citizen Complaints.

On the other hand, I do not mind if other folks like their loud pipes. Cops need to be "Fed". Somebody needs to be Cop Bait!

Have Fun!
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Homer
Posted on Sunday, August 20, 2006 - 05:31 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I have to say that I like to have my cake and eat it too. The Akrapovic exhaust on my Aprilia has the slip in DB killers and I really like the ability to go quiet or loud depending on where I am going and my mood that day.

I really like the Micron full system on my Uly but I do wish that Micron had a similar DB killer for when I want to run quiet.

All that said, it is nice to have a nice sounding exhaust to drown out the racket the rest of that motor makes.
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Electraglider_1997
Posted on Sunday, August 20, 2006 - 07:42 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Homer,
That is what earplugs are great for.
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Homer
Posted on Sunday, August 20, 2006 - 08:04 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Yeah, but then I would need to slow down to hand them out as I ride by : )
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Dr_greg
Posted on Sunday, August 20, 2006 - 10:42 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Hey, I have an Aprilia Mille too, and a Leo Vince pipe!! And boy, does she sound great! Just like at a WSB event. A well-tuned DOHC V-Twin pulling hard up the hill into turn 7...mama mia! That sound still sends (good) shivers up my spine.

But, somehow, the Uly struck me as a bike that should be quiet.

I always wear earplugs on any bike.

Certainly, if others think different that is their prerogative. But I do like to hear of others who think like me (don't we all!)
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Adrian_8
Posted on Sunday, August 20, 2006 - 10:51 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I have a Aprilia Tuono with the Ti race can and chip, it sounds sweet....but I still like the ULY stock.
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Fubar
Posted on Monday, August 21, 2006 - 01:12 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Dr. Greg - Yeah...saw your post and it was part of what got me thinking.
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Asdf
Posted on Monday, August 21, 2006 - 11:18 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Another "Convert":

http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/32777/221679.html?1156189888
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Electraglider_1997
Posted on Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 10:46 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

One of the nice things about that under-slung muffler is that you really would have to go out of your way to burn yourself on it. I have to park mine in tight quarters in my garage and if it was a normally mounted muffler I would be getting leg burns all the time. Thanks Erik.
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