Exhaust (Baffles) and Air Intake Questions

[B.A.C.A.IntelMan (ArizonaSmitty)]

It's been a while since I was on here, hope all have been well.
Here's what I have on my mind for my `97:
I was talking to another Valkyrie owner recently at a bike event here in Phoenix and I was complaining about the lack of cage notification the OEM pipes had.  That same night, I had my beast put on a Dyno just for laughs and giggles.
  92 hp / 87 ft lbs torque.  It sniffed perfectly as well.

SO?  The other owner I was talking to, complaining to him about not wanting to spend the $$$ on a set of louder pipes due to the fear of a very expensive re-jetting said:

• that he had taken a 3/4" drill on an extension and drilled down the pipes through the baffles.
• then installed a K&N without the foam element (he said he read it on a K&N white paper)
• then took those two triangle plastic wings just forward of the tank on either side and adjusted them to scoop air across the air box under the tank

  HE CLAIMS that [in his words] it turned his Valk into a rape ape .... and he didn't have to re-jet.

Opinions, suggestions, warnings would be greatly appreciated.  I am now a Patched Member of B.A.C.A. and I am really putting the miles on my baby.  This means I'm also becoming a target for all those Snow Bird cages we get this time of year.  I think being loud and obnoxious would be good and the rumble would also stop those pesky HD crew I ride with from giving me s**t.

[Daniel Meyer]

The only warning I have for ya is do not modify the airbox itself. Honda is VERY good at intake pulse scavenging and the valk produces a pretty solid pulse with it's aggressive cam. It would be very difficult to get better flow with airbox mods (as many have found out).

[The emperor has no clothes]

I think a headlight modulator would be more effective.

[98valk]

if u want to be loud and noticed just install a larger horn and tape the horn button down or install a siren with it on at all times. that way the loudest noise is outfront and not the pipes putting sound out the back after u already passed the cager.
a very high % of accidents are due to cagers pulling out in front of a biker cause they don't see the biker, loud annoying pipes do nothing except get people angry and increase hearing aid sales by bikers.

[B.A.C.A.IntelMan (ArizonaSmitty)]

Respectfully, all points well taken!
What about the process that this guy suggested, will it produce a marked increase in HP and torque without having to re-jet?

[BF]

Here's some reading for you.....

http://luiscajiga.com/Exhaustm.htm

http://luiscajiga.com/Exhaustm2.htm

Honestly, I'd STRONGLY suggest that you consider the fact that your OEM pipes are stock and unmolested only ONCE.....and to remember that they don't make them any longer.  

ALSO, once you start to modify your OEM exhaust, you will mostly introduce yourself to a phenomenon known as drone.  

If you want to drill out your baffles, you'll have to cut off your piggies to do so.  Mother Honda put those exhaust extensions on there for a reason.....to get the exhaust note out the rear of the exhaust tips.  Once you cut off the pigs, the exhaust note WILL resonate inside the exhaust tip while on it's way out the back of the exhaust tip.  

Drone doesn't effect everyone.....but it does seem to effect most....especially folks with damaged hearing and people with tinnitus, and folks that wear a helmet that covers their ears (a helmet seems to only increase and amplify the drone effect).  If you ride without a helmet, and/or without a windshield, it might not effect you.  The wind noise you'll get from the wind while riding without a windshield will drown out the drone effect from your pipes.  

If I were you, I'd do one of two things.  I'd investigate a set of MarkT's pipes...or buy a set of Cobra's and save your OEM exhaust for when you want to take the Cobra's back off for when you go deaf.    You can always take the baffles out of the Cobras if you really want to send a message.

Here's a link to Mark's site....

http://horseapple.com/Valkyrie/Valk_Products/M2W_Exhaust__System/m2w_exhaust__system.html

Cobras....

1999 Honda Valkyrie Cobra exhaust upgrade	powered by Aeva

Honda Valkyrie COBRA 6 in 6 exhaust testing	powered by Aeva

1997 Honda Valkyrie	powered by Aeva

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hewbEGe-p8

Honda Valkyrie with 12" cutdown Cobra drag pipes	powered by Aeva

Honda Valkyrie Cobra 6 into 6 Exhaust	powered by Aeva

[Jess from VA]

Performance wise (short of a blower, nitrous or turbo), all the air (bad idea) and exhaust and ignition mods that can reasonably be made might get you 8-10 horsepower (or less).  I also doubt many here could notice a 8-10 horse increase over what the bike has stock.  Ergo, why bother? 

I personally think more lights (and a white helmet) will make you safer than more noise.

Do what you want.   

[Ricky-D]

Respectfully, all points well taken!
What about the process that this guy suggested, will it produce a marked increase in HP and torque without having to re-jet?

Nope, with all the experimenting and trials the final results are yielding very small increases.

This has been the crux of most all modifications over the years.

Naturally, I've been a Honda proponent consistently, due to the fact

that Honda really got this engine wonderfully developed. And, of

course, the Valkyrie is the epitome of Honda's effort.

***

[Momz]

If you want increase your torque (thus available power for a given RPM), replace your 97 ICM with a Interstate ICM and do the "simple" ECM modification. You could cut the "piggies" and drill your first set of baffels to slightly increase motor sound. A K&N filter wouldn't hurt, and Big BF sells a chrome tank spacer that would allow a bit more air to your airbox (without a windshield or fairing).

[MarkT]

I don't think what your friend has seen is actual power improvcement, but the apparent improvement from a louder note, the feeling that he did something, and a defective butt dyno.

With a glasspack mod to your OEM exhaust we can increase ponies and torque avg around 8, and with appropriate options make it easy for you to change the sound to 1) deep & rumbly, 4X louder than stock, 2) deep & rumbly, about the same volume as stock (nice for on the road), or 3) loud and sharp sound, similar to Cobras (mainly when you are accelerating) but still retain the power improvement w/o the loss of power of Cobras (w/o rejetting).  This is w/o rejetting your carbs.  The power improvement comes from recovering the power waste the OEM exhaust has pushing the exhaust through all those baffles - the glasspacks are straight-thru for minimum backpressure - and from the introduction of "scavenging", the same phenomenen provided by sport bike exhausts, aka "many-into-one" designs. There are other options, like a crossover, 5" stacks, decorative outlets I call Organ Pipes.  If you want to read more & see pics, that's at the link above and here:

http://www.horseapple.com/Valkyrie/Valk_Products/M2W_Exhaust__System/m2w_exhaust__system.html

Now I'm gonna shut up after answering, try not to do posts that could be called advertising.