6-6 Exhaust

[LoBug504]

Hello all! I am new here, just picked up a '99 standard with 13k on the clock. I have been looking for one in my area for a while, reasonably priced and finally found this one. I live near New Orleans Louisiana and ride about 100 miles a day commuting to work and back home. My bike is extremely loud and I cant take it any more. Are there baffles I can put in this 6-6 exhaust? I dont know if they are Cobra's or not. I found a set of stock exhaust for $200 near by that I will most likely get.

Thanks in advance for any and all advice.

[Thunderbolt]

If they curve out on the ends, they are Two Brothers Racing and you are out of luck.  If the exit straight out back, but have slash cuts toward the outside, they are probably Cobra's.  Cobra pipes have one screw per baffle that screws in from underneath each pipe.  If the screw is there, you have baffles, if no screw, no baffles.  I wrapped my Cobra baffles with some fiberglass held on with stainless steel wire.  I also welded a freeze plug on the front end and drilled a 9/16" hole in that.  It helped some with the noise, but still sounds good.

[BonS]

Nice, you've got a low mileage Valk, that's for sure. It's not your question but you can find plenty of unmolested OEM exhaust systems in the range of $350-$500. Nice and quiet. Lots of other ways to go as well that aren't as loud.

[Valhalla]

I ride a 97 standard with 6-6 pipes.  The nice thing about them is that you can test exhaust emissions on each cylinder and check adjustments on each cylinder independent.  Before swapping out that advantage, lets pause for a cause. 

I rode a Yam Roadstar with straight V&H tubes before I met my dream fatgirl, so maybe loud means something different to me.  The F6 is only 250 cc per cylinder and not a naturally loud configuration even off straight pipe.  When you say loud, I wonder if there is a timing or fuel richness issue creating some pop or afterburn...?.   Again, easy to check on 6-6 exhaust.

[Brian]

Welcome to the group. If you go back to OEM you may want to see what jets are in your carbs. 35 and 100's are stock while some have gone to 38's and 105's with the 6x6 pipes. Sounds like you better go ahead and get yourself a shop manual. If you are a wrench bender it will pay for itself many times over as well as the shoptalk section on this blog is loaded with awesome info for the valkyrie owner. You really need to remove that rear wheel to check your splines. Search rear splines here. You find all the info you need to do it yourself.

Good luck. You have an awesome ride, she does require tender loving care.

[Chrisj CMA]

Congrats on the bike.  Read up here on the tech board so you maintain it since you commute.  There are a few must do's.  Good advise so far on the pipes, but if you want quiet, just go with unmolsted OEM's

and......

[cajundood]

I'm from right up the road from you. i have the 6x6 cobras on mine and first thing i did was remove the baffles. the baffles only drop the noise approx. 20% even when they are in, so if the noise is really bothering you, you may have to go with some other pipes. If you have the cobras and want to try my baffles to see if they work good enough, you are more than welcome. I'm on the westbank of baton rouge.
 

[01cybergrey]

Bought mine 2 years ago with Cobra exhaust.  I couldn't take it anymore and found a used OEM exhaust for about $250 on this site in the classifieds.  BEST thing I ever did, I swear that mid-range power was way better.  My next project is to replace the "piggies" that almost everyone took out of the original pipes.  I get tired of the "droning" at highway speeds even now with the OEM.  That being said, it sounds great and is not so loud.

[01cybergrey]

Forgot to mention that I did nothing with the carbs after the exhaust change and all seems fine!

[97Valk_CT_Euless]

I've got cobra 6-6's and the drone used to get to me, but when I did the 4deg advance wheel the bike got much quieter. Worried me at first but performance and mileage are better and the bike is quieter. Did nothing else (well idlers and belts). Still "baffles" me.

[LoBug504]

Thanks for all the replies. I actually found a set of stock exhaust I am going to try. The comment of running poorly makes me wonder...sounds like when I am at highway speeds, 70-80 mph, one cyclinder leans out and pops a little. I have no clue if this bike has been re-jetted or has an aftermarket air filter. I plan to tear into her soon now that i need new tires. The "loudness" I am talking about is just a drone while cruising...I just cant take it, its all encompassing and tiring.

Cajundood, thanks for the offer man.

01cybergrey - mid range is aweful right now, huge flat spot I have to throttle though at cruising speed.

ChrisjCMA - I dont know how to post pictures!! sorry

[BF]

Thanks for all the replies. I actually found a set of stock exhaust I am going to try. The comment of running poorly makes me wonder...sounds like when I am at highway speeds, 70-80 mph, one cyclinder leans out and pops a little. I have no clue if this bike has been re-jetted or has an aftermarket air filter. I plan to tear into her soon now that i need new tires. The "loudness" I am talking about is just a drone while cruising...I just cant take it, its all encompassing and tiring.

Cajundood, thanks for the offer man.

01cybergrey - mid range is aweful right now, huge flat spot I have to throttle though at cruising speed.

ChrisjCMA - I dont know how to post pictures!! sorry

A couple things about drone..... 

Do you have tinnitus (buzzing or ringing in your ears)?  If so, any drone from your pipes can drive you nuts.  If you ride with a helmet that covers your ears, it amplifies it and makes the drone unbearable.  Try a half helmet without a neck curtain that won't cover your ears untill you can get to work on your bike. 

Uploading pics is easy.  Most here use Photobucket.  Upload your pics from your computer to Photobucket, then load them from Photobucket to here.  Another member here has posted a youtube video of how to post pics from Photobucket to here, but I can't find it.   

[sandy]

Two words: Avon Cobras

It's like power steering for your bike.

[Len]

I am looking for a set of 6 into six, are you interested in a trade? I can let you listen to my bike with stock pipes if you are.

[Tropic traveler]

$200 for a stock exhaust, you better jump on that deal!
As far as losing mid-range power with Cobras, that's to be expected. Stock exhaust will restore the lost power & restore your hearing too. 

[Hoser]

Hello all! I am new here, just picked up a '99 standard with 13k on the clock. I have been looking for one in my area for a while, reasonably priced and finally found this one. I live near New Orleans Louisiana and ride about 100 miles a day commuting to work and back home. My bike is extremely loud and I cant take it any more. Are there baffles I can put in this 6-6 exhaust? I dont know if they are Cobra's or not. I found a set of stock exhaust for $200 near by that I will most likely get.

Thanks in advance for any and all advice.

Good buy on the stock exhaust, buy em, they are worth more than that. You can probly make a good profit if you find somebody to buy your 6x6.    Hoser 

[LoBug504]

I got the stock exhaust! At the same time the guy had a seat, different than my stock seat but still has Honda molded into the plastic underside. It has a much more pronounced butt area than the stocker. $50 bucks and its on...now to ride and check it out.

I plan to change out the exhaust when i decide what tires to go with. Was thinking of the Dark side deal but i really push this bike through turns. I am worried that a car tire miught not like such aggressive handliing.

I plan to start a new thread with pics. Thanks for all of your advice

[hubcapsc]

I got the stock exhaust! At the same time the guy had a seat, different than my stock seat but still has Honda molded into the plastic underside. It has a much more pronounced butt area than the stocker. $50 bucks and its on...now to ride and check it out.

I plan to change out the exhaust when i decide what tires to go with. Was thinking of the Dark side deal but i really push this bike through turns. I am worried that a car tire miught not like such aggressive handliing.

I plan to start a new thread with pics. Thanks for all of your advice

You might find a car tire is not for you (I don't run one) but some of our zippiest mountain
riders run certain types of car tires... most notably, though, not "the tires off grandma's
buick"...

-Mike

[Hoser]

It may seem that everyone runs a car tire, but they don't. There are more without than with car tires, I am sure.To each his own is how I feel. For example, I run bias ply MC tires, most run radials.    Hoser

[LoBug504]

It may seem that everyone runs a car tire, but they don't. There are more without than with car tires, I am sure.To each his own is how I feel. For example, I run bias ply MC tires, most run radials.    Hoser

Hoser, what tire do you run?

[Blackduck]

Most probally just a later model seat you scored, had a 98 then scored mint 01, different seat along with other minor differences you would not notice unless you had both bikes alongside each other as I did. Still kicking myself for letting the 98 go.