How to make Cobra 6 into 6 pipes a bit quieter?

[TomE]

My new-to-me 99 Valkyrie has Cobra 6 into 6 pipes with turn-outs on the back end. They make the Valk sound quite a bit like Detroit heavy iron.

But... They really are too loud. After a two hour ride, I can't quite hear right for a while. I am afraid that I will need to wear ear plugs or suffer hearing damage. The worst of the extra "bite" is between 2,000 and 2,400 rpm, right where I tend to keep the bike when driving around town.

I don't know the history of the pipes, they may have been modified? 

At any rate, I am thinking of ways to put a bit of extra glass in the pipes, but don't really know how to best do that.

Any advice?

[X Ring]

First check to see if you have baffles in the pipes.  If not, there's your problem.  From my understanding Cobra made two different types of baffles.  The quieter baffles have a strap across back.  Chrisj 357 used to have a pic posted of a new pipe he had to buy when one of his got damaged.  The new one had the louder baffle.  Fortunately, the baffle in the damaged pipe wasn't hurt and he was able to put it in the new pipe.

If you do have baffles, you can try wrapping them.  Do a search, there was a thread started by Young Pup about the same subject.

Marty

[9Ball]

if they're stock 6x6 pipes, then they aren't Cobra pipes.  Turnouts are Two Brothers Racing pipes and you can't remove/change baffles in them.....

[MP]

if they're stock 6x6 pipes, then they aren't Cobra pipes.  Turnouts are Two Brothers Racing pipes and you can't remove/change baffles in them.....

+1.  Cobras are straight out, with slant cut,    2bros have turnouts.  Unless the ends have been modified.

MP

[TomE]

Thanks for the replies. I went out and looked and the pipes are turned out. I don't see any names anywhere, but likely they are Two Brothers pipes, like you say.

A flashlight helped me to look up into the pipes past the turnout. There is a steel mesh welded in place across the end of the pipes, about 4 inches from the end. Since the mesh is intact, I guess the internals of the pipes are un-molested. 

Dang, it was this loud stock?

What would happen if I were to make a short, thick, tube of fiberglass matting and stick it up the back of the pipes? Worth a try? Should I do something like wrap chicken wire around the fiberglass so it will keep it's shape?

[GOOSE]

TomE.......i'd be careful about putting fiberglass in the ends of the pipes......those pipes (2-bros.) are what they are......you might cause yourself problems by doing that.  if i remember correctly, willow has been running these exact pipes on his ride for a very lomg time....get his opinion on whether or nor this modification will work or hurt.

[Brad]

Trade someone for stock pipes.

[YoungPUP]

Sent ya a pm with instructions from 2qmedic. he sent them to me. this should work on the chance that you have Cobras. I didnt try them,  I just went ahead and ditched them for stock pipes.  Much Better!!

[TomE]

Hi YoungPUP,

Thanks. From the instructions, I definitely do not have Cobras, since there is no 1 inch tube sticking out. But that does give me a few ideas. I just need a way to restrict the pipes just a bit.

On the other hand, I will be taking a run from Portland, OR, to San Jose, CA next weekend, so if anyone on that route would like to swap some quieter pipes for some pipes that sound like Detroit big iron, I am up for it.

[Willow]

TomE.......i'd be careful about putting fiberglass in the ends of the pipes......those pipes (2-bros.) are what they are......you might cause yourself problems by doing that.  if i remember correctly, willow has been running these exact pipes on his ride for a very lomg time....get his opinion on whether or nor this modification will work or hurt.

140,000 miles since I put on the TBR 6X6.  I never tried to modify them as I like the sound. 

For what it's worth, the stock exhausts are whisper pipes by comparison.

Don't mess with them.  TBR stands for Two Brothers Racing.  They build performance pipes for many makes and models.  They do what they do because they are what TBR designed.

Trade them for some OEM pipes is good advice if you want less noise.  You should have no trouble finding a trade if yours are in good condition. 

[GOOSE]

i knew willow has had the TBR pipes on for a long time.  i hope he answered your question.  i wish you were over here on the east coast.....i would make that trade you talk about happen.  good luck.

[TomE]

Thanks for the advice guys. It's all good. I will think on it. It just might be that after I get the accessories installed the sound will change a bit. No need to rush into this.  Maybe ear pads inside my helmet will do the job?

On-the-other hand, the parts guy at my local honda store showed me this before we figured out that it would not work with my pipes:

http://www.twobros.com/cgi-bin/shopper?preadd=action&key=005-P1

This, and the advice on the Cobras, makes me wonder if a slight exhaust restriction might do the job. Yaa, I might loose a few ponys. That would be a good trade off in my book. But if if messes up the re-jetting job the previous owner did, any mods would all come out. I pulled the carbs enought times when restoring my '75 Goldwing and I don't want to get started on pulling Valk carbs! They are working very well right now and I would like to keep it that way!

If nothing else, I now know that anything I try, if I try it, needs to be easily removable

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

6 hours later - The votes are in from the rest of the family. I am looking for different pipes. Anyone want to trade? Details are in the classified section.