Exhaust Noise too loud & Fork Seals

[Bill H]

Hi, I live in Coppell and had a few questions to the experienced Valk people in DFW area.

I have a 1999 Tourer and I have two issues.

1)  It looks like the right front fork seals are leaking.  I've seen fluid dripping on front wheel.  I am not that much of a mechanic, so; wondering how involved that repair would be?  I imagine that you have to take quite a bit of the front wheel and fork apart to get there?  Has anyone done this themselves?  I think DFW Honda was quoting around $250.

2)  The former owner put 4" slash tips on the exhaust, but it looks like he also drilled out the baffles in the process.  It is pretty loud and gets monotonous listening to it.  I have seen some posts about using marine exhaust baffles.  Has anyone tried that and how difficult is it to install?

Looking to find some Valk friends in the DFW area.  I will be working some of the Grapevine/Coppell Motorcycle Police Rodeo next weekend, so; maybe meet some of you there?

Thanks
Mr Bill

[Valkpilot]

Hi, I live in Coppell and had a few questions to the experienced Valk people in DFW area.

I have a 1999 Tourer and I have two issues.

1)  It looks like the right front fork seals are leaking.  I've seen fluid dripping on front wheel.  I am not that much of a mechanic, so; wondering how involved that repair would be?  I imagine that you have to take quite a bit of the front wheel and fork apart to get there?  Has anyone done this themselves?  I think DFW Honda was quoting around $250.

2)  The former owner put 4" slash tips on the exhaust, but it looks like he also drilled out the baffles in the process.  It is pretty loud and gets monotonous listening to it.  I have seen some posts about using marine exhaust baffles.  Has anyone tried that and how difficult is it to install?

Looking to find some Valk friends in the DFW area.  I will be working some of the Grapevine/Coppell Motorcycle Police Rodeo next weekend, so; maybe meet some of you there?

Thanks
Mr Bill

First off, Welcome!

We just had a meeting last Thursday in Grapevine.  We meet the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm (1900 for the Gunny, one of our members.)  The location varies as we try and meet in different areas of the metromess each month.

Your leaky fork seal might be as simple as grunge lodged under the fork seal.  Taking a piece of 35mm film and working it up under the seal and running it around the fork sometimes will take care of a leak.  I've also done it by cutting a piece of blister pack and using it instead of film.

If this doesn't do the trick, a fork rebuild is probably required.   The club maintains a tool kit with all the needed specialty items required.  An upgrade to Progressive front springs is a good option when forks are rebuilt and cost for the upgrade is less than $100.  We've done them, in fact one of my bikes has the same problem and I will be doing the rebuild soon.  We may turn this into a wrench party and could do yours at the same time.

I'm not much help with the exhaust question, but once modified, they're difficult to restore.  I'm sure someone will chime in with advice.

[schid]

Hey Mr Bill -  We seem to have the same exhaust sound concern.  I just picked up a 2000 Valkyrie with stock exhaust that has been modified and is very loud.  Sounds cool, but my ears can't take it.  

I purchased the rex marine baffle and ran some sound pressure tests to see how much of a difference it would make.  I used the SAE J2825 motorcycle sound test procedure to try and quantify the sound change.  

How to Perform a SAE J2825 Motorcycle Sound Test	powered by Aeva

Surprisingly, in my test the baffle didn't make any significant sound pressure change.  I didn't hear much of a difference in sound quality either.  I did try putting in 1" of muffler packing in the baffle and that did change the timbre slightly.  Made it sound a little less harsh but didn't change the sound pressure level.  I even tried putting some steel wool in the baffle.  Don't recommend that.  It sounded choked off and still didn't change the sound pressure levels.

One thing I would like to try is moving the baffle to different locations in the pipe (I had it 3" from the end).  Possibly there is a 'sweet spot' that catches the sound wave at the right location to affect the sound pressure level?

If anyone has any suggestions on a way to quiet a modified stock exhaust system down, please let me know!

Thanks,
Scott

Here are some videos and results of the test:

2000 Honda Valkyrie modified stock exhaust sound pressure test (part 1/3)	powered by Aeva

2000 Honda Valkyrie modified stock exhaust w/Rex Marine baffle (part 2/3)	powered by Aeva

2000 Honda Valkyrie modified stock exhaust w/Rex Marine baffle + packing (part 3/3)	powered by Aeva

[Red Diamond]

Why don't you try an unmolested set of stock exhaust. There is a little bit of a drone sound at speed, but they are not loud. The stock Standards/Tourer are a bit throatier in my opinion than the I/S's, but the I/S's are pricier for a used set.

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

Eli you can"t hear it anyway. You know what my interstate pipes sound like. Straight out the back from the collector thru 4in pipe.

[Red Diamond]

The sound you have Mr B, is more representative of the beast tha't we ride, but for us loners, well you know, we tend to like it bit soft on the ears.

Ain't it about time for a Boudain run?

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

Been thinking about making a run pretty soon. Between weather and work the timing just hadn't been right.

[hotglue #43]

Let me know if ya make a boudin run....   

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

Will do Mark. I call you and let you know either way.

[Houdini]

Hey Scott, did the Rex Marine baffle reduce the highway drone?  I've been considering getting a pair for my IS that had the piggies cut.

[schid]

I haven't mounted the baffles on the bike permanently yet.  They were just slipped on for the sound test.  I'll report back when I can test them on the road.