new valk owner! pipes?

[zd426]

So I just bought a bone stock  98 Valkyrie. It's my first road bike. I've been riding dirt all my life.

I test drove my dads road glide, liked it but too slow and felt slow to turn. He had a yellow Valkyrie years ago and I always liked the look of it. I'm loving the Valkyrie so far. It handles great for a big bike and I love the power. My only complaint is the noise... Or lack of it. I want the bike to sound the way it looks!

Of course the first pipes I looked into were the 6x6 cobras... I'm fine with re jetting. That's a normal thing for me coming from the dirt world re jetting is standard with pipe changes.

My question is are they too loud and will I gain a little power if i re jet and get the k&n filter? Am I overlooking any other great sounding pipes? I am going to do some long distance rides on the bike. Going to pikes peak in September. I want to hear it but I don't want to go deaf.

I'll post a pic in a few.

[zd426]

[nogrey]

There are too many ways to go to mention. But, if you don't like loud, stick with the stock pipes. You must have a modified set on yours. A lot of folks remove the "piggies", drill the baffles, etc. Makes them loud. If you don't like loud, find a set of stock pipes and install them. No re-jetting required.

[sandy]

Cobras usually lose power even with rejetting. I'd suggest you just cut the piggies inside the pipe tips.

[cookiedough]

cobras are not too bad for most only loud giving it gas, but still is louder than some like while cruising longer distances.  I don't believe rejetting is needed for most opinions on her.  

If I had my way,  I'd keep a stock I/S with stock exhaust nice and quiet and a std. or tourer with cobra exhaust or MarK T's exhaust,  loud and let it roar.  

You'll get so many opinions on pipes ONLY YOU can decide really everyone is different.  

[R J]

Go to the Classified board.

There is a set of Two Brothers 6X6 pipes fpr $275 and he pays shipping.

Way way way back when MGM was a puppy, he had the Two Brothers and they were a nice sounding setup, till ya cracked the throttle a little more than normal.   Then he would talk to ya.   Passed a Blue hair in Florida on a trip who I think was snoozing.    She started into my lane, I dropped 2 gears and hit WOT.
She jumped, and swung back in her lane, and she was as white as a sheet.    I just laughed and went on down the fly way as Willow calls them.

Suggestion:          DO NOT muck with the stock set up.    Take them off and store them if you decide to go with a 6X6 set up, lose horsepower and rejetting does not bring it back.

You could also put glass packs on a stock set of pipes.

MarkT makes a beautiful set of pipes, well actually several different setups.

[BigBod]

I emailed the guy about the two brothers pipes yesterday saying I would have them. Not heard a word back.

It's his first post...worries me if it's genuine or not......

[hubcapsc]

You have a nice looking bike, I bet your OEM pipes are in good shape... if you
resist the temptation to cut them up, I bet you might be happy about it later.

After ten days in the saddle (ten minutes for me really  ) I'm glad I have
my OEM pipes...



-Mike

[The emperor has no clothes]

I emailed the guy about the two brothers pipes yesterday saying I would have them. Not heard a word back.

It's his first post...worries me if it's genuine or not......

same thing I thought

[The emperor has no clothes]

You have a nice looking bike, I bet your OEM pipes are in good shape... if you
resist the temptation to cut them up, I bet you might be happy about it later.

After ten days in the saddle (ten minutes for me really  ) I'm glad I have
my OEM pipes...



-Mike

yes don't cut up the stock pipes

[Gavin_Sons]

Cut the back baffles out and put truck stacks on them.

[Trynt]

You have a nice looking bike, I bet your OEM pipes are in good shape... if you
resist the temptation to cut them up, I bet you might be happy about it later.

After ten days in the saddle (ten minutes for me really  ) I'm glad I have
my OEM pipes...



-Mike

+2

[BF]

Cut the back baffles out and put truck stacks on them.

Cobras usually lose power even with rejetting. I'd suggest you just cut the piggies inside the pipe tips.

I'd suggest that you don't. 

You virgin stock OEM pipes are only virgin stock ONCE. 

There are other options than cutting up a set of pipes that they don't make anymore 

[Willow]

The TBRs are a good option for you.  They don't steal your horsepower and they sound nice.  I have a set on my Standard.

If the seller on the Classifieds doesn't work for you I have an extra set that's not nearly that pure.

[cma1]

take a look at cobras slashcut extentions. they replace the stock square tip and really look cool, like all the other guys, I recommend not butchering the stock pipes. when I triked mine I wanted the quiet back, too late, I had butchered mine, wasn't cheap to buy a set of un molested pipes. I ride several thousand miles a year and don't care to listen to all the noise on a 3,000+ mile ride.

[Bob E.]

Check your PM's.  I have a used set of Cobras that I'd let go pretty cheap.  I never installed them and probably never will since I decided to go with glass packs.  If you are interested, I'll dig them out and clean them up and send you some pics.  To be honest, I haven't even touched them in years, so I really don't even know what condition they are in.  They were decent, though not perfect when I got them, and I'm pretty sure they had the baffles.  So if you (or anyone else, for that matter) are interested in them, let me know.

Bob E.

[cma1]

LAST TIME I CHECKED, MISFIT HAD A SET IN COLORADO, oops, you don't say where your from in your profile.

[John Lane]

I did the Ragnar cut and truck stacks. Awesome sound and cheap. It is very quiet compared to my wife's vance and hines on her VT1300. When riding with my partner's VTX 1800 with straight pipes I cannot even hear mine run. Skull candy buds and tunes and the drone is gone on the freeway. I do not wear full face helmets which I have heard makes the drone worse.

John Lane
1998 black tourer

[zd426]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

I don't want to cut up my stock pipes. I'll look into The TBRs. No power loss with TBRs?

I'm from southern California. Guess I need to update all that stuff!

[Willow]

... I'll look into The TBRs. No power loss with TBRs? 

I personally think they played with the numbers in their advertising claims.  I believe there is a minimal loss due to going to six individual pipes thus eliminating all scavenging.  There is a small effective HP gain by the reduction in the weight of the pipes versus the stock mufflers.  My understanding is the rule of thumb is about 1 HP per seven pounds.

My Standard has no problem pulling away from most stock Valkyries.  Of course I'm also running a Dyna 3000 and I weigh under two hundred pounds.   

[zd426]

So those ones from the classifieds are SOLD. But I may have found another set of TBRs....

[Paxton]

zd426
If you plan to ride 500+ miles, your ears will be zoooommin' for a few days.

I live in Glendale, SoCal ... 91205. You are welcome to install my set of Jardines wrapped in truck stacks. They're seatin' in my garage shelf.
They sound like a Z28 Camaro with flowmasters. They look beautiful too.
If you'd like, I'll let you swap them to your Valk and ride around for a couple of days to get the feel for a ROBUST sound... err...
and to experience your face crakin' with a grin!

You don't have to buy them. Just do the work in my garage, while I watch.
Incidentally, my 2000 Standard (in the same garage) has the Cobra 6-into-6's so you can compare three different sounds.
(bring ear plugs and bail money.)

NOT A COMMERCIAL... Coming to think of it, I do have Valkyrie stuff that am not using which might interest you...
(i.e. Leatherlike Bags; Short Screen... chrome pieces, yada, yada...

If you want to stop by my home, send a Private Message.

Welcome to the VRCC!

[zd426]

zd426
If you plan to ride 500+ miles, your ears will be zoooommin' for a few days.

I live in Glendale, SoCal ... 91205. You are welcome to install my set of Jardines wrapped in truck stacks. They're seatin' in my garage shelf.
They sound like a Z28 Camaro with flowmasters. They look beautiful too.
If you'd like, I'll let you swap them to your Valk and ride around for a couple of days to get the feel for a ROBUST sound... err...
and to experience your face crakin' with a grin!
It
You don't have to buy them. Just do the work in my garage, while I watch.
Incidentally, my 2000 Standard (in the same garage) has the Cobra 6-into-6's so you can compare three different sounds.
(bring ear plugs and bail money.)

NOT A COMMERCIAL... Coming to think of it, I do have Valkyrie stuff that am not using which might interest you...
(i.e. Leatherlike Bags; Short Screen... chrome pieces, yada, yada...

If you want to stop by my home, send a Private Message.

Welcome to the VRCC!

Thanks! I just bought a set of TBRs. I'm going to try them out but I definitely am interested in trying out those jardines. I predict I will have a few different sets of pipes.

[hubcapsc]

I predict I will have a few different sets of pipes.

When I got my bike, the pipes were cut, drilled, dented and rusty.

Then I got some merely rusty eBay pipes for $100...

Then I got a set of dealer take off Interstate pipes with a shop-ding
in one of the headers.

Finally, I found a pristene brand new set of pipes on eBay, sans tips and covers,
for $200.

I'm "over it" when it comes to swapping pipes  ...

-Mike "I predict..."

[texaninsouthfl]

... I'll look into The TBRs. No power loss with TBRs?  

I personally think they played with the numbers in their advertising claims.  I believe there is a minimal loss due to going to six individual pipes thus eliminating all scavenging.  There is a small effective HP gain by the reduction in the weight of the pipes versus the stock mufflers.  My understanding is the rule of thumb is about 1 HP per seven pounds.

My Standard has no problem pulling away from most stock Valkyries.  Of course I'm also running a Dyna 3000 and I weigh under two hundred pounds.  

That's an exception to the rule in this group of "mature" riders. (myself included)   

[zd426]

Ok I got my pipes on the way... What's the best carb kit or jetting kit to get to open this baby up and so I don't run lean?

I found this....

Factory pro..
http://www.factorypro.com/prod_pages/prodh78.html

[zd426]

Thanks again for all the info and replies everyone. Everyone here so far is really friendly!

I updated my profile pic.... Since then I have bought a ton of gear.... Like my orange back pack? High Visibility! Untill i put my bags on and had some over the cloths pants and a light jacket thats how I rode to work.... Needed room for the change of cloths.

[zd426]

Ive done lots of searching. Lots of info and tiring discussions about cobras and power...

With the TBRs im not coming up with a lot. im thinking just a needle kit will work?

[Willow]

Ive done lots of searching. Lots of info and tiring discussions about cobras and power...

With the TBRs im not coming up with a lot. im thinking just a needle kit will work?

TBRs do not require any carb changes.  If you want to change needles for another reason you can find discussions on that.

You mentioned avoiding running lean.  Stock Valkyries normally run a little rich.

[zd426]

[/quote]

TBRs do not require any carb changes.  If you want to change needles for another reason you can find discussions on that.

You mentioned avoiding running lean.  Stock Valkyries normally run a little rich.
[/quote]

I've got my exhaust installed!!! I've been riding some this past week. I think there may be a slight loss of torque in 5th gear. I do notice my bike popping on deceleration I'm sure many Valkyries don't need re jetting but I think mine does. It runs great but I know its a little lean.

. I ordered a jet kit and a K&N filter, I'm going to sync the carbs and re jet next week.

Anyone know of a good link with pictures for hooking up the gauges for the sync?

Willow thank you so much for all of your help and pointing me toward these pipes. I LOVE the sound!

[zd426]

Also! A link to an easy to follow smog delete walk through...

I've been reading some but the Ines I've found are hard to follow.

I am realizing it may not be the jetting but the smog stuff making my bike pop. So maybe I didn't need to re jet. But I think with the k&n filter plus smog delete I will need to re jet anyway...

I'm just spewing info and thoughts right now... Thanks again Willow and everyone for your input and helping me figure out everything.... I'm learning as I go.

[cashman]

Go with the MarkT's.  They look great and sound great.  And he stands behind his product...

[wiggydotcom]

Also! A link to an easy to follow smog delete walk through...

I've been reading some but the Ines I've found are hard to follow.

I am realizing it may not be the jetting but the smog stuff making my bike pop. So maybe I didn't need to re jet. But I think with the k&n filter plus smog delete I will need to re jet anyway...

I'm just spewing info and thoughts right now... Thanks again Willow and everyone for your input and helping me figure out everything.... I'm learning as I go.

If you have vacuum lines that have cuts in them(usually close to the intake tubes)that will certainly cause popping and desmogging will eliminate that. However, if the popping only started after you changed exhausts, you could also have an exhaust leak. Did you change your exhaust gaskets(you should have) when changing pipes, and did you get all 6 of the old gaskets out?

[Jess Tolbirt]

the poping you hear is unburned gasses in the exhaust igniting,,at least it was in all my race cars,,that means we had to lean them out a tad to get max torque.

[Willow]

Also! A link to an easy to follow smog delete walk through...

I've been reading some but the Ines I've found are hard to follow.

I am realizing it may not be the jetting but the smog stuff making my bike pop. So maybe I didn't need to re jet. But I think with the k&n filter plus smog delete I will need to re jet anyway...

I'm just spewing info and thoughts right now... Thanks again Willow and everyone for your input and helping me figure out everything.... I'm learning as I go.

Honestly, mine has always popped a bit with the TBRs on decell.  It's light enough I don't actually refer to it as popping but more of a bubbling.

De-smog is almost always a good idea.  It will remove a lot of opportunity for vacuum leaks.

You've probably already looked at the De-Smog articles in the Shoptalk section but here they are.  I would ignore the references to the TBR kit.  Red Eye has a kit but you can actually do it with parts from your local auto parts store.

CA DeSmog

De-Smog by QueXpress

Let me know if you succeed in getting rid of the popping.  I may or may not follow.  I sort of like the sound.   

[zd426]

I did replace the seals and got the old ones out. Its sealed well.

I'm I'm the process of doing the smog eliminate at this moment. There may be some vacuum leaks. Oh and my original filter is BLACk with bees stuck in it... Putting on my K&n. If it is running rich then I hope the filter will lean it out a little.

Thanks for the links I'll check them out right now.

[zd426]

Done! So after revving up my bike sitting in the garage. The pop is GONE! I have not ridden it yet but so far it runs MUCH better.

[zd426]

Soooo something isn't right. I ended up running the bike out of gas but when I put gas in again it wouldn't start... No gas was going into the carbs.

So we unhooked the tube going from the bottom of the constant carb that goes into the tank and pumped air into the tank. It worked for a while and the bike ran awesome... But then after  a while the left carb bank runs out of gas and the cylenders stop firing.....

What did I do wrong??? Help please  

[The emperor has no clothes]

Soooo something isn't right. I ended up running the bike out of gas but when I put gas in again it wouldn't start... No gas was going into the carbs.

So we unhooked the tube going from the bottom of the constant carb that goes into the tank and pumped air into the tank. It worked for a while and the bike ran awesome... But then after  a while the left carb bank runs out of gas and the cylenders stop firing.....

What did I do wrong??? Help please  

I'm not sure what you mean ? Did you take the vacuum line off of #6 and pump air into it ?

[The emperor has no clothes]

Zd, you should probably post this in the tech section also. There are a lot of knowledgeable guys that don't bother with the general board.