Cobra 6 into 6 pros and cons

[bigunn]

So I have an opportunity to buy a pair of used cobra 6 into 6 pipes for my 99 Honda Valkyrie and was curious as to what peoples opinions of the pros and cons were for them?  I know it will be louder and that's what I'm looking for but I don't want to loose too much in order to get the sound I want. 

Any opinions or knowledge would be greatly appreciated.

[Bighead]

Up to you but personally I think they sound like S41T!

[Gavin_Sons]

I have heard you lose about 6 hp with cobras. I like them

[Russell Rice]

I do not care for the bluing that happens to them. You can take the baffles out and make them loud. I would make sure they come with baffles. They are single wall pipes and that is why they turn blue.

[GeoffreyB]

I have them on mine (with baffles intact), and I LOVE the sound.

I may be missing 5 or 6 hp, but I'm not missing it!

Of course my bike came with them on.  Sounds like you should get them, put them on, and if you don't like it, put your stock pipes back on!

[Skinhead]

My IS came with them on.  They sound ok, but I went to glasspacks, I didn't like them on long trips, wore earplugs all the time,(still do with the glasspacks).  They are easier to install and remove than the OEM Exhaust.  I prefer glasspacks and stacks.

[wiggydotcom]

I have nothing against Cobras, but I would recommend going with a Mark T Mild2Wild setup.
You'll actually gain HP with Mark's pipes, they won't blue(uses your own double walled headers), and
Mark is a straight up guy. You can have your bike sound pretty much stock all the way to "close to" straight pipes
with the trombones in.

[rxvalk]

I like mine and love the sound. The only part I hate which occasionally has me thinking about going back to stock is the significant bluing up by the headers. I don't like the way that looks.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I like mine and love the sound. The only part I hate which occasionally has me thinking about going back to stock is hype significant bluing up by the headers. I don't like the way that looks.

I've had these on for years ... Had them ceramic coated the cost was $155.00. I love the sound of the Cobra's and I've had a Valkyrie in my life for coming on 16 years and still to this day I've not heard anything I like better on the Fat Girl.





Rivco shields ... Nolonger made and if you find them $$$









Painted with 1500 degree Stove / BBQ paint these do need touched up from time to time.

[rxvalk]

smokinjoe

How much did the ceramic coating run? Has  i held up well?? 

[Ricky-D]

Thinking that you can add a set of exhaust pipes to the Valkyrie and gain horsepower is folly.

There are no pipes presently available that will give a horsepower boost to the Valkyrie.

If one were to make a claim as such, then the simple truth would be to supply a before and

after dynamometer run to substantiate the claim.  You will find none!

Although there are some, I am sure, that will still make the increased horsepower claim.

***

[Chrisj CMA]

Cobra pipes look awesome, sound awesome and yes, the headers blue, but if you just ignore the blue, it goes away after awhile.......usually well after you have already gotten used to the bluing.....lol

If there is a HP drop, I cant notice it, and I have ridden several stock Valkyries for a fair comparison.

I dont care what a dyno says........will it hit 70, will it get there fast enough to pass a truck or escape trouble....YES

They are great!

[Bugslayer]

So I have an opportunity to buy a pair of used cobra 6 into 6 pipes for my 99 Honda Valkyrie and was curious as to what peoples opinions of the pros and cons were for them?  I know it will be louder and that's what I'm looking for but I don't want to loose too much in order to get the sound I want. 

Any opinions or knowledge would be greatly appreciated.

I'd say, get em!..... and keep your stock pipes. I'll go most of the riding season with my stock pipes. Then I'll get the itch for some rumble, so on goes the TBR's. It's nice to be able to switch back and forth when you want to.

[Ricky-D]

slipped in a caveat 

Yeah, I remember there was an exhaust pipe manufacturer that claimed a small horsepower gain and

supplied a dynamometer sheet, although there was nothing to show how the bike performed before

the modification.  And I believe it was still a thee into one configuration on each side. Seems like you

could move a kind of baffle in or out to "tune" the engine.

***

[PAVALKER]

What's a good used set of Cobra pipes run?  I see them on eBay NEW for like $679.00 delivered, which doesn't seem too bad I guess....


Would rejetting also be required with these pipes?

[Chrisj CMA]

What's a good used set of Cobra pipes run?  I see them on eBay NEW for like $679.00 delivered, which doesn't seem too bad I guess....


Would rejetting also be required with these pipes?

Mine did not need re-jetting, however, it ran rich until I switched to a K&N air filter.  Now its perfect, and I wouldnt be surprised if there was little to no HP loss at all.

[PAVALKER]

What's a good used set of Cobra pipes run?  I see them on eBay NEW for like $679.00 delivered, which doesn't seem too bad I guess....


Would rejetting also be required with these pipes?

Mine did not need re-jetting, however, it ran rich until I switched to a K&N air filter.  Now its perfect, and I wouldnt be surprised if there was little to no HP loss at all.

Do these pipes all have baffles inside?  Are they removable or repackable, say like a Vance Hines for other bikes?

[flcjr]

What's a good used set of Cobra pipes run?  I see them on eBay NEW for like $679.00 delivered, which doesn't seem too bad I guess....


Would rejetting also be required with these pipes?

I guess I gave mine away! I didn't care for the noise. I got both cobras and stock with the bike when I bought it. I sold the cobras to a member here for $100 plus the freight think it was $70. Hope he likes them just wanted them out of the garage.

[Len]

I like Cobras, had them on my first Valkyrie(97) stock length minus baffles.  My 01 came with stock pipes that I traded for a set of cut down Cobras.  I ordered baffles from Cobra to install and have been pleases by the look and sound.

I could not tell a difference after removing the stock exhaust as for a loss in power.  I wear earplugs at all times on any bike (Full Face Helmet).  Go with what pleases you in regards to sound and appearance.  As someone posted earlier, you have the option of going back to stock if you do not like them.  Droning will be a problem running Cobras without baffles.

My $0.02

[Jack B]

I also had cobra's on my I.S. They were fun in town but not on the hi way.  Then I put on a set of stock pipes that were drilled out better but still too loud for me. Now I went back to stock pipes. Now I'm happy.

[RUDE DOG - Steelers]

Ive owned almost every exhaust made for the Valkyrie, Nothing sounds better for me than Cobras.  I have mine cut down 12 inches which gives them a deeper sound. 

In reference to Ricky D's comment, wrong.  Bolt on a set of Super Trapps and tell me you didnt gain horsepower.

[MarkT]

In reference to Ricky D's comment, wrong.  Bolt on a set of Super Trapps and tell me you didnt gain horsepower.

Yep.  Ditto on that.  Ricky D is wrong.  To be polite.  All 6-2 exhausts that I know of deliver more power than the stock 6-6, and significantly more than Cobras if they weren't rejetted to recover the loss of them making the bike too lean.  Including my pipes.  The majority of the improvement over stock pipes comes from recovering the power wasted pushing against baffles inside the stock exhaust. Improvement averages around 8 ponies, and that is SIGNIFICANT as it is all delivered to the back wheel since all the parasitic internal drag (water pump, alternator, other internal friction)  is taken off the top - extra power is all delivered, it's not a fraction of the total. Most if not all 6-2 exhausts are straight-through, or have much less backpressure w/o all the baffles the stock system has.  The other power improvement comes from "scavenging" of the many-into-one configuration, not a factor with 6-6 exhausts but delivered by the new config - and all sport and racing bikes (with many-into-one pipes) I know of.

Yeah I'm sure the mis-info will be repeated to deny this.  Not only does this explanation make sense, but it's supported by butt-dyno feedback from over a thousand customers I've built exhausts for since 1999.  And ACTUAL dynos as well.  Add to that the convenience of being able to change the sound delivered, starting with the pleasing deep rumble of glasspacks, then plug in Trombones which simulate the straight pipe sound of the Cobras, or go the other way and plug in silencers to simulate the volume of stock pipes.
Then add the BIG CHROME CUSTOM look of FIVE INCH stacks that run cool - no boot melting, add a crossover to make more torque (TBR used to make a crossover exhaust but quit making pipes for the Valk around 2003), or add Organ Pipes for another custom look.

Here's an old pic I took some years ago of the Valkyrie OEM baffles - the exhaust is PUSHED through all those tiny holes.  That takes energy which is then not available to push you down the road.

[PAVALKER]

So I have an opportunity to buy a pair of used cobra 6 into 6 pipes for my 99 Honda Valkyrie and was curious as to what peoples opinions of the pros and cons were for them?  I know it will be louder and that's what I'm looking for but I don't want to loose too much in order to get the sound I want. 

Any opinions or knowledge would be greatly appreciated.

So what is the going price for a used set?  Do they come with baffles or are those add ons?

[PAVALKER]

I like mine and love the sound. The only part I hate which occasionally has me thinking about going back to stock is hype significant bluing up by the headers. I don't like the way that looks.

I've had these on for years ... Had them ceramic coated the cost was $155.00. I love the sound of the Cobra's and I've had a Valkyrie in my life for coming on 16 years and still to this day I've not heard anything I like better on the Fat Girl.

Rivco shields ... Nolonger made and if you find them $$$

Are these the shields you speak of or are you talking something else?   

http://www.ebay.com/itm/honda-valkyrie-cobra-exhaust-foot-protectors-new-/121266325394?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c3c094792&vxp=mtr

[Chrisj CMA]

What's a good used set of Cobra pipes run?  I see them on eBay NEW for like $679.00 delivered, which doesn't seem too bad I guess....


Would rejetting also be required with these pipes?

Mine did not need re-jetting, however, it ran rich until I switched to a K&N air filter.  Now its perfect, and I wouldnt be surprised if there was little to no HP loss at all.

Do these pipes all have baffles inside?  Are they removable or repackable, say like a Vance Hines for other bikes?

Cobra pipes come with baffles from Cobra.  After market you cant count on it as they are removable and people lose and or sell them.  They can be wrapped with fiberglass in an attempt to quiet them, but its not set up that way from the factory....they are just metal baffles that dont need maintenance

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I like mine and love the sound. The only part I hate which occasionally has me thinking about going back to stock is hype significant bluing up by the headers. I don't like the way that looks.

I've had these on for years ... Had them ceramic coated the cost was $155.00. I love the sound of the Cobra's and I've had a Valkyrie in my life for coming on 16 years and still to this day I've not heard anything I like better on the Fat Girl.

Rivco shields ... Nolonger made and if you find them $$$

Are these the shields you speak of or are you talking something else?   

http://www.ebay.com/itm/honda-valkyrie-cobra-exhaust-foot-protectors-new-/121266325394?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c3c094792&vxp=mtr

The shields that came from Rivco covered the entire header . If you can find them now expect to pay 400.00 to 500.00 for them used.

[PAVALKER]

I like mine and love the sound. The only part I hate which occasionally has me thinking about going back to stock is hype significant bluing up by the headers. I don't like the way that looks.

I've had these on for years ... Had them ceramic coated the cost was $155.00. I love the sound of the Cobra's and I've had a Valkyrie in my life for coming on 16 years and still to this day I've not heard anything I like better on the Fat Girl.

Rivco shields ... Nolonger made and if you find them $$$

Are these the shields you speak of or are you talking something else?   

http://www.ebay.com/itm/honda-valkyrie-cobra-exhaust-foot-protectors-new-/121266325394?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c3c094792&vxp=mtr

The shields that came from Rivco covered the entire header . If you can find them now expect to pay 400.00 to 500.00 for them used.

Joe..... Getting old and eyes are not as they once were... LOL..... So can I assume you DO NOT have Rivco Shields on any of your bikes or are there some on the Green I/S? 

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I like mine and love the sound. The only part I hate which occasionally has me thinking about going back to stock is hype significant bluing up by the headers. I don't like the way that looks.

I've had these on for years ... Had them ceramic coated the cost was $155.00. I love the sound of the Cobra's and I've had a Valkyrie in my life for coming on 16 years and still to this day I've not heard anything I like better on the Fat Girl.

Rivco shields ... Nolonger made and if you find them $$$

Are these the shields you speak of or are you talking something else?    

http://www.ebay.com/itm/honda-valkyrie-cobra-exhaust-foot-protectors-new-/121266325394?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c3c094792&vxp=mtr

The shields that came from Rivco covered the entire header . If you can find them now expect to pay 400.00 to 500.00 for them used.

Joe..... Getting old and eyes are not as they once were... LOL..... So can I assume you DO NOT have Rivco Shields on any of your bikes or are there some on the Green I/S?  

That's correct... The Interstate has Rivco header shields.... The yellow bike has ceramic coated headers .... The blue bike has 1500 degree stove/bbq paint .

[rxvalk]

I'd be in for a set if they do. I bet lots of guts would buy them if the price was reasonable.

[CajunRider]

If you're interested, I've been thinking of putting a set of stock pipes on my Valk.  I currently have 6X6 Cobra pipes with the 4" baffle.  The baffles are slightly modified to quiet them a bit, but it wasn't enough. 

They do sound great... I just want quiet so the wife can hear her music on her earphones.  I want her to enjoy the ride more.    

Maybe a trade can be worked out?  I don't know what kind of shipping cost would be involved.

[Hoser]

Thinking that you can add a set of exhaust pipes to the Valkyrie and gain horsepower is folly.

There are no pipes presently available that will give a horsepower boost to the Valkyrie.

If one were to make a claim as such, then the simple truth would be to supply a before and

after dynamometer run to substantiate the claim.  You will find none!

Although there are some, I am sure, that will still make the increased horsepower claim.

***

Truck stacks open 96 HP, with grumpy's tips 99 HP

[wiggydotcom]

Thinking that you can add a set of exhaust pipes to the Valkyrie and gain horsepower is folly.

There are no pipes presently available that will give a horsepower boost to the Valkyrie.

If one were to make a claim as such, then the simple truth would be to supply a before and

after dynamometer run to substantiate the claim.  You will find none!

Although there are some, I am sure, that will still make the increased horsepower claim.

***

Truck stacks open 96 HP, with grumpy's tips 99 HP

The ball is back in your court, RickyD. Just by taking Cobras back off and putting stock pipes on...or  putting Mark Tobias's converted pipes on would be a HP boost, no?

[Ricky-D]

So, what is being proffered, is seeming to me, to be showing that results can be made, equal to stock output.

Big deal!

You want to hang your hat on that and pound your chest - go ahead.

It doesn't mean nothing to me!

***

[Chrisj CMA]

So, what is being proffered, is seeming to me, to be showing that results can be made, equal to stock output.

Big deal!

You want to hang your hat on that and pound your chest - go ahead.

It doesn't mean nothing to me!

***

I dont pound my chest over the Cobras on my bike, but I do get a comment every time I go out practically about how great they look and sound.  And I have been saying ever since I have been working on Valkyries that the hp loss complaint is overstated.  Get them and ride if thats what you like, Its a good thing

[wiggydotcom]

So, what is being proffered, is seeming to me, to be showing that results can be made, equal to stock output.

Big deal!

You want to hang your hat on that and pound your chest - go ahead.

It doesn't mean nothing to me!

***

I would have been happy to be the guinea pig and had the dyno runs you speak of before and after Mark's conversion had you sent me the dyno fees...but more importantly, are YOU going to Inzane this year since it's practically in your back yard?

[blackbird239]

I bought my Valkyrie in October . Came with Cobra pipes on it. Too loud for me but everyone else LOVES the sound.  I have  to take a few trips  to see if I want to look for a set of stock pipes.  The bike has 3000 miles on it now. I bought it with 1900 on it.  The pipes were bluing then.  I also have 1999 Blackbird ( 60,000 miles) with stock pipes.  I am just use  to a quiet ride.  I also always wear earplugs.

[Mildew]

I've had mine for years. Took the baffles out once and got over 40 mpg. Too loud without them for my liking.  That back pressure stuff is a myth.  The blued pipes give it character. Makes it look like its been ridden more and trailered less

[Bighead]

The blued pipes give it character. Makes it look like its been ridden more and trailered less

That's crazy if I wanted blue pipes I would paint em
If you want to know how much a bike has been ridden look at the speedo. My bike has been on a trailer 2 times since 1997 and those were have to cases.

[Mildew]

To each their own. The clean chrome look is much like the new breed Harley crowd that do more cleaning than riding. The ones that wear new chaps in warm weather. Bikes are too purdy these days.

[Chrisj CMA]

OK, I was with you until this statement. 

Bikes are too purdy these days.

You are probably just to lazy to clean your bike.......lmao

I have Cobras, I like the blue headers.  But, as I said earlier...........by the time you get used to them the blue actually goes away and looks pretty good.  See the one that is blue is a newer pipe