Torq Loopz and lowered bags

[bscrive]

The last couple of days I have been working on installing the Torq Loopz and lowering my saddle bags.  I still have to paint the metal frames tomorrow for the bags, but I finished putting on the Torq Loopz.  

All I can say about the Rush exhaust coupled with the Torq Loopz is....WOW, that exhaust sounds awesome.  I had heard the sound on Youtube on an F6B, but to hear it in person is something entirely different.  My bike now sounds like a Lambo has sex with a Hemi and produced my bike.  

Seriously, it sounds great.  When I get my bags put back on I will have to take it for a good ride to have the computer finish the fuel adjustment after I let it run awhile.  I was told by rudymsmith that I need to let it idle until the fans come on and shut off and then take it for a good 20 min ride.  I am looking forward to it, but I doubt I will get to ride it until next week some time.  

The removal of the exhaust and cutting the cats off did not take much time.  Probably 1.5 hrs in total.  It is putting the parts together, adjusting the three parts to have the covers fit back on and make sure that both exhausts are the same length.  That took about 2 hrs in total.  A lot of fiddling around to make sure I had the space between the right side pipe and the swing arm as well as the heat shields lining up on both sides.  All in all worth the time to do it.  

I lowered the bags 2", so that there wasn't too much space between the bags and the exhaust.  The bags were 4" above the exhaust and it didn't look good to me.  They are now 2" above the exhaust and look better.  The other reason I lowered them is because I would hit them with my foot every now and then getting on and off the bike.  I guess I can't lift my leg as high as I used to.  

I will post pics of the finished bike when it is all done.

Brian

[Bill Havins]

Nice work, Brian.  Looking forward to the photos.

Bill

[_Sheffjs_]

 

[goldstar903]

 

[bscrive]

I finally finished my bike and have everything back on.

The lowered bags look much better and, hopefully, I won't be kicking them any more.  The distance from the bottom of the bags to the top of the pipes are a lot more pleasing to the eye.  Mine anyways.  Who knows, maybe I need glasses.     You can compare this picture with my picture at the very bottom to see the difference.










I decided to add a strut on each side to make the bags more ridged, so that the exhaust doesn't move so much when I go down the road.  The struts really do add a lot of extra hold.  I connected them to the round bar that is in the wheel well.  The exhaust is held nice and tight now.  





I didn't take pictures of the Torq Loopz mainly because there are lots of videos of them on Youtube and pictures on the web.  It's a Goldwing, so there is no difference between our Valks, F6B or full Wing.

As you can see by the pictures it's raining like crazy here.  It's been doing that all spring and summer.  I still have to get out and take her for a ride to re-program the computer.  I just need some time and a decent evening.  I used to not care about the weather, but as I get older the less I care to drive in the rain when I don't need to.  

[Bill Havins]

To my eye, ahem, that looks much better.  The spacing is spot on.   

Nice job!

Bill

Oh, and the cruise control switches are the next thing on my list! 

[Robert]

Good job, looks great  The back looks lowered and your eye goes to the front, looks really good. Dont you hate when you catch the top of the bags with your foot.

[rudymsmith]

@bscrive - gonna love that "new" ride! 

[hungryeye]

Nice job, all you need now is powder coated silver wheels and polished aluminum valve covers! 

[_Sheffjs_]

Sweetness!  And bad a$s -- fantastic work.    

[Verismo]

I think it looks great like that. Good job!  Now it's lookin'mean AND comfortable. Nice ride.

[bscrive]

I took the bike out for a nice ride today and the sound from the exhaust is great.  When you take off and are accelerating the bike sounds like a cross between a Lambo and a Hemi.  Nice strong low tone.  When you get up to speed the sound really backs off and all I hear is the wind.  If I listen closely then I can hear the exhaust. 

This is a nice change from when I had the cats on.  I would hear the exhaust sound all the time.  It is amazing how much quieter the exhaust is without the cats at highway speed.  I guess what I was hearing was the drone.  When I get down to 40mph, I can hear the sound of the exhaust again and it is a nice low rumble.  It not obnoxious in any way.  I have had the bike up to 75mph and again, I only hear the wind. 

I am really happy with the Torq Loopz and I would recommend them to anyone who is going to put on an aftermarket exhaust.  They do take some time to put on and adjust for the covers to fit back on, but the work is totally worth it.   

I have a trip coming up in a few weeks riding through northern Ontario for a week.  I will report back on this thread after my trip about how the exhaust system performs.  Sometimes, quick drives don't give you the whole picture.  Multiple days of riding really tell you how something performs.