Quieter Cobra 6 Into 6

[RonHolly]

I know this is like beating a dead horse "butt" is there anything new for quieting down the Cobra 6 Into 6 pipes?  I did a search and there seems to be a dismal attempt by using the Quiet Baffles available.  I really like the Cobra Exhaust but the noise may be a deal breaker for the stock exhaust.  I haven't even got my new Valk in my hands yet and am already concerned that I may not like the noise level.  I watched a YouBoob video of the before and after and while very cool sounding I think I'm a little more conservative in the noise department.  It's also my understanding that open pipes will cause power loss and turn pipes blue if carbs are not re-jetted.  It's a '98 and more than likely it has been re-jetted already.

1999 Honda Valkyrie Cobra exhaust upgrade	powered by Aeva

[YoungPUP]

Here you go.  This info was given to me by 2qmedic.  I never tried it, traded my 6x6's to another member for a set of OEM pipes. Before I traded the cobra's I did pull and wrap the baffles in stainless steel wool ( Ebay) It helped some (took some of the sharp bark out of the exhaust).

1-The baffle outer edge fits into the exhaust pipe,
2-On the back end of baffle, the smaller tube sticks out (approx 1/2 inch long and 1 inch in diameter) and allows the exhaust gasses to escape.
Size the freeze plug to fit the tube (# 2 above)
Drill 3/4 inch hole in the freeze plug,
Attach (weld or bolt) freeze plug to tube (# 2 above).

[FloridaValkRyder]

I'll tell you Ron, folks either love the sound or hate it. I think it sounds great, you should hear Sherri's, Bert's wife. Sounds like a bad-ass hot rod for sure. But there is no way i could ride it all day long, or even a short time I don't think. I enjoy quiet time when I ride. I'm disappointed the PO drilled the piggies on my otherwise stock exhaust. I don't want to wear earplugs either, but, I do enjoy my earbuds with my "Bike-Riding Tunes" on the I-Pod!!

[Thunderbolt]

Here's what I did and it helps some.  I think it is tolerable now, before it was not.  I did two things to mine.  First I removed them and got some fiberglass like you use to fix your boat and wrapped each with a couple of layers and used stainless steel wire in a criss cross pattern.  That helped some.  Later someone else had done this and I tried it and it seemed to help an additional amount.  Take them out and weld a freeze plug on the front side of each baffle covering the opening.  Then drill a 9/16" hole in each one. Reinstall.
I have run mine with no baffles on occasions when I wanted to be really noisey, but couldn't take it all day for sure.

[RonHolly]

Does anyone have a pic of a Cobra baffle so I can visualize what one looks like that fits inside a Cobra exhaust?  So I'm guessing the pointed end, of the ones I've seen, goes to the rear outlet.  The open end is the inlet and has center there is a block off plate that's welded in.  Right??

[Bert AKA,Valkaholic]

Here is a Set on that is on E-Bay .

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-Valkyrie-Cobra-6X6-Exhaust-Baffles-/181263993276?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2a342d09bc&vxp=mtr

These came with a set of New Cobra 6 into 6 Pipes.

[larue]

i have cobra six with baffles , to me they sound like a porsche or something , not too loud  just enough to keep the cage drivers alert,or may be i just got used to them  . what sherrie has on her bumble bee is the two brothers they are louder than cobra 6 in my opinion...
i guess you'll have to wait and see

[RonHolly]

Are they straight thru or do they have a plate somewhere inside?

[FloridaValkRyder]

i have cobra six with baffles , to me they sound like a porsche or something , not too loud  just enough to keep the cage drivers alert,or may be i just got used to them  . what sherrie has on her bumble bee is the two brothers they are louder than cobra 6 in my opinion...
i guess you'll have to wait and see

Thanks for the clarification Larue, I didn't know the difference.

[RonHolly]

I called the seller last night and he said mine does have the baffles inside.  Why is one shorter than the other five and which pipe does it fit inside?  Are the baffles straight thru or do they have a diverter block plate somewhere inside? 

[IamGCW]

My baffles are all the same length.  It looks like Bert got a mismatched set.

Gil

[John Schmidt]

Those of you that remember Charlie The Sculptor, he modified Theresa's pipes since she couldn't stand the noise either. He bought an extra set of baffles and cut them in half, then welded the extra length on the ends of the baffles already on hand. Made a big difference, at least acceptable to Tee. Combined with the fiberglass it might just be enough for your taste. Personally, I don't care for the loud & sharp bark of the Cobras in stock form, I would also have to subdue them somehow. I recall one time when Dragon Rob pulled in the garage just as Rita walked out. He cracked the throttle and yelled "honey, I'm home." That went over like an Enchilada fart in an elevator....you could tell by the look he got. He apologized while I stifled a laugh. Sure rattled the rafters though. 

[Bert AKA,Valkaholic]

Are they straight thru or do they have a plate somewhere inside?

The Baffles that I have are Straight Through with a little piece of Cold Roll Steel welded across one End. They also Have Scalloped Louvers in them instead of Drilled Holes. I Do not Know Which Pipe that the Short one Goes into as I do not own a set of Cobra's.

[RonHolly]

Are they straight thru or do they have a plate somewhere inside?

The Baffles that I have are Straight Through with a little piece of Cold Roll Steel welded across one End. They also Have Scalloped Louvers in them instead of Drilled Holes. I Do not Know Which Pipe that the Short one Goes into as I do not own a set of Cobra's.

Thanks Bert!  I was wondering who would remember my question.  Thanks   Seems like if an interupter  baffle was added to the center and then wrap 1/8" hole stainless steel harware cloth, a few wraps, around the whole length would offer some sound deadening!  Could secure the wraps with some SS wire.  Constructive opinions please!   

[IamGCW]

Mine are wrapped with S/S pads from Wal-Mart.  Stretched them out and wound wire around the lot to get the baffle back into the exhaust pipe.  We ran without the baffles for a few weeks and really did not like it so loud.  Adding the baffles helped, wrapping them made it better.  If I get time to do my maintenance cycle the original piggy cut pipes will go back on.  Just to change it up some. 

Pulling the baffles is easier if you spray in carb cleaner to loosen the carbon. 

During a vacuum leak ride several backfires pushed the S/S wrapping to the rear.  Showed which cylinders actually backfired the worst.

Gil

[RonHolly]

Mine are wrapped with S/S pads from Wal-Mart.  Stretched them out and wound wire around the lot to get the baffle back into the exhaust pipe.  We ran without the baffles for a few weeks and really did not like it so loud.  Adding the baffles helped, wrapping them made it better.  If I get time to do my maintenance cycle the original piggy cut pipes will go back on.  Just to change it up some. 

Pulling the baffles is easier if you spray in carb cleaner to loosen the carbon. 

During a vacuum leak ride several backfires pushed the S/S wrapping to the rear.  Showed which cylinders actually backfired the worst.

Gil

SS pads sounds like a better idea.  Did you notice if one of your baffles was shorter than the other five?

[IamGCW]

All the same length.

Gil

[texaninsouthfl]

Maybe it comes under the category of "You like what you're used to" but my Valk had the unbaffled Cobras when I bought her. I loved the  sound the very first time I fired her up and still do. I always tell people that if the exhaust noise is too loud ... ride faster and the wind noise will take over.. 

[RonHolly]

Maybe it comes under the category of "You like what you're used to" but my Valk had the unbaffled Cobras when I bought her. I loved the  sound the very first time I fired her up and still do. I always tell people that if the exhaust noise is too loud ... ride faster and the wind noise will take over.. 

That's true, "but" why would I want to get used to the noise if I could mellow it out a bit?  I just got back from the Honda dealer and bought some exhaust packing to wrap around the baffles.  The counter guy has a Valk and said it's what he uses and it last long time.  Said that I would really like the new sound.

[RonHolly]

Has anyone found it necessary to change the jetting with their Cobra 6 into 6 pipes due to smelling rich gas and black pipes?  If you did what jet did you change and their numbers?  I'm new to Valks and am trying to figure things out.

[RonHolly]

I just found some explanation on the Main Board, Shop Talk, that explains things somewhat.  Really not going to find anything definitive and gonna think this is a guessing game to what you need on a case by case study.

[Flrider]

That went over like an Enchilada fart in an elevator....you could tell by the look he got. He apologized while I stifled a laugh. Sure rattled the rafters though. 

I was reading this while at the table, almost chocked on my coffee and my wife looked at me like crazy 

[RonHolly]

That went over like an Enchilada fart in an elevator....you could tell by the look he got. He apologized while I stifled a laugh. Sure rattled the rafters though. 

I was reading this while at the table, almost chocked on my coffee and my wife looked at me like crazy 

Wonder where he found good enchiladas at?   Always take the stairs!   

[Kylenav]

I've got the cobras and run them without the baffles. Tundra can attest that I've experienced little to no loss in power.  They are LOUD but I love the sound and my baffles won't be going back in.  Down here with all the snow birds I figure it's a safety feature.  My carbs have not been modified, but I did raise the tank a bit and run the K&N filter.

[RonHolly]

I've got the cobras and run them without the baffles. Tundra can attest that I've experienced little to no loss in power.  They are LOUD but I love the sound and my baffles won't be going back in.  Down here with all the snow birds I figure it's a safety feature.  My carbs have not been modified, but I did raise the tank a bit and run the K&N filter.
[/quote)

Suffered any hearing loss?????

[RonHolly]

I think my carbs are going to have to be re-jetted.  The blue pipes are now getting more blue back to where the three pipes meet.   Also I keep smelling a fuel rich exhaust and a lot of popping during deceleration.


Newbie needs opinions please!

[RonHolly]

Being I live at sea level, does anyone have any suggestions for jetting?  Will I need to change both idle and mains?  Will it matter when I wrap the baffles with sound proofing matting? 

[Mapper]

I also live by the sea (less than a mile away) in Seaside, CA.  I have Cobra 6x6 with baffles (all the same length), and used to get popping.

From what I've been told and have noticed:
  - usually you don't need to re-jet if things work fine
  - Cobra pipes blue… just the way it is.

What really seemed to help with both the sound and the popping, surprisingly, was DESMOG.

This isn't the reason I did the Desmog, but an unintended consequence was that I noticed the bike sounded smoother and a little quieter (I was a little disappointed at first).  Also, NO POPPING.  I've got a ton of hills around here, and would get popping downhill…  after the desmog, I don't get popping.

[RonHolly]

It has already been desmoged.  A recent acquaintance said he tried some gasoline that didn't have ethenol and the popping went away, as long as he wasn't using ethenol.  Still right back to the same question wheather re-jetting would do what I think it will.  Thanks for your input.

[RonHolly]

Started wrapping my baffles this evening.  Only got four of the six done before it got to dark to work.  I'll do the last two baffles in the morning.  I did start it up with only four done and it already sounds better "to me!"  Depending on how long this wrap last, I'll get some SS screen  to wrap around the matting to slow deterioration of the matting.

[FloridaValkRyder]

That's a beautiful and clean solo you have there Mapper. That's what my second Valk will be!!

[Mapper]

That's a beautiful and clean solo you have there Mapper. That's what my second Valk will be!!

Thank you!  I've had it for a year now… I've added the rack and changed the windshield (removable).  Most everything else was a product of the previous owner's care and attention to detail.  It's a '97 Tourer, she's been very well cared for over the years.  I plan to paint it black (again) once I roll the odometer

[RonHolly]

Finished up this morning, with the wrap, and all I can say is "Wow!"  It is so mellow and not that over powering loud noise.  She is still sounding good without all the overkill annoying noise.  I really like it.

The baffles were a nice brown color instead of the feared black carbon color.  That being said, on the very ends of the baffles, it was black carbon colored.

[Mapper]

Awesome!  Hopefully this helps with your popping, too.   

[RonHolly]

Awesome!  Hopefully this helps with your popping, too.   

It did help somewhat.  It still pops but am not using the engine for braking as much.  Filled up with mid-grade instead of premium to see if any difference.  It's really much more pleasurable to ride.

[Mapper]

I run mine on regular…

Glad you're happy   I'm sitting here waiting on an alternator (due in any minute).

[FloridaValkRyder]

Awesome!  Hopefully this helps with your popping, too.   

It did help somewhat.  It still pops but am not using the engine for braking as much.  Filled up with mid-grade instead of premium to see if any difference.  It's really much more pleasurable to ride.

Now this may start a side discussion but every thing I have read says Premium and Mid grade fuel is a waste of money unless compression dictates which our Valkyries do not.

[texaninsouthfl]

 

I've got the cobras and run them without the baffles. Tundra can attest that I've experienced little to no loss in power.  They are LOUD but I love the sound and my baffles won't be going back in.  Down here with all the snow birds I figure it's a safety feature.  My carbs have not been modified, but I did raise the tank a bit and run the K&N filter.

 

[Mapper]

Now this may start a side discussion but every thing I have read says Premium and Mid grade fuel is a waste of money unless compression dictates which our Valkyries do not.

I've seen some discussion on other threads in this board regarding fuel octane.  From what I can remember, most say the Valk likes pretty much whatever you give her (don't quote me).  If I had seen anything that suggested a higher octane is required, that is what I would be running right now.  However, I run 87 octane and my Valk is a beast   I've also been told that no two Valks are the same with age and mods, etc. so what is ideal for one bike might not be ideal for another.  In the end, most of us just do the best we can with the info we have

[RonHolly]

Took my longest trip today since I bought my Valk.  Wow, 120 miles round trip and almost went deaf!  Even with fiberglass packed baffles.

Has anyone noticed that when riding your Valk that people refrain from looking your way?  It's almost as if your some kind of gang member or something.   When I ride my Beemer people look and wave!  Maybe it's the evil black paint and all the noise.