Asking for opinions... used Cobra 6 into 6... buy or avoid?

[Galex]

I am very interested in putting Cobra 6 into 6 on my Valk.  New ones are just too expensive for me at this time.  I found a set that I'm going to go see today.  has anyone ever bought used one before?  any tips on what i should look for as sign of don't do it?  I will offer upto $400.  my mech says might need carb tuning/jetting but that i WILL like 6/6s.  I defer to the collective wisdom of this forum group :-)  thanks!

[Grumpy]

Personally I would make sure he has the baffles with them. They are loud, and might want to tone it down.

[Galex]

Thanks for the tip. I asked they're not baffled. I actually am looking for louder pipes to make it sound meaner more aggressive. I don't live around neighbors would complain. I want to be heard by all the cars around me. I do subscribe to the belief that louder pipes save lives.

[larue]

Make sure the headers are clean

[Bighead]

Thanks for the tip. I asked they're not baffled. I actually am looking for louder pipes to make it sound meaner more aggressive. I don't live around neighbors would complain. I want to be heard by all the cars around me. I do subscribe to the belief that louder pipes save lives.

Headaches cause less riding too
As far as being heard by cars around you they won't unless you are beside or in front of them and won't when approaching them.

[John Schmidt]

As Grumpy said, baffles are pretty much a must. Even then they're too loud for some riders but you can do as a friend once did. He picked up an extra set of baffles, cut them in half and welded them to the existing ones which cut down the sound even more. After that, mama was happy. 

[_Sheffjs_]

As above, these are way loud without the baffles.  You better define your loud. 

[Flrider]

Galex

Will you be making Rick and Kristie's Fish Fry?

There will be plenty of Valks there with different exhaust system set ups, stock, glass packs, modified glass packs, cobras 6x6 with and without baffles and if I can get the day off, I'll bring my red valk with cobras straight pipes, cut down, no baffles and very loud  

If you do end up wanting the cobras, my suggestion would be to keep your existing set up in case you ever want to go back.
Cobras will usually be blue at the headers due to the single wall as opposed to the double walled Honda OEM exhaust.
Keep looking for them and you might be able to find them cheaper, most riders decide that they are too loud for them and they just want them out of their garage. There is a set on the classifieds now for $275 plus shipping.
Check craigslist for a local pick up so you can avoid shipping and it will also give you a chance to check them out in person.

IMHO the Valk and cobras is one of the best sounds out there.
Good luck in your search  

[Galex]

thank you all for the great opinions and advice.  I got them for $300 and then are used without baffles.  I'm going to try them.  IF there are too much I will revert back to stock.  i think at the end of the day, sound is in the ear of the Beholder :-)  I've read many posts about people who put them on and then reverting back cause too loud.  the guy i bought them from lives in a retirement community who complained and he did not want to get rid of his valk hence he went to stock and sold these. and many who swear by them and say if you like the mighty roar you will love these.  I heard them on another 2003 Valk and i liked them.  maybe just a fad, maybe i will regret.  but i won't know unless i try.  :-) I'm glad I asked you all tho! TBD....

[Flrider]

thank you all for the great opinions and advice.  I got them for $300 and then are used without baffles.  I'm going to try them.  IF there are too much I will revert back to stock.  i think at the end of the day, sound is in the ear of the Beholder :-)  I've read many posts about people who put them on and then reverting back cause too loud.  the guy i bought them from lives in a retirement community who complained and he did not want to get rid of his valk hence he went to stock and sold these. and many who swear by them and say if you like the mighty roar you will love these.  I heard them on another 2003 Valk and i liked them.  maybe just a fad, maybe i will regret.  but i won't know unless i try.  :-) I'm glad I asked you all tho! TBD....

That was quick 
Great price 

You can always get baffles if you need them. Post a WTB on the classifieds or there are some new aftermarket ones that also fit.

BTW, protect your hearing, ear plugs are your friends, don't ask me how I know  

[Galex]

thanks!  I do where earplugs in the form of memory foam style stereo headphones.  good to know I can get baffles if i want.  probably a good compromise.  there is some "blue-ing" at the header, I'm going to research if anything can be done to reduce or eliminate.  They can use a total cleaning.  we will see...

[larue]

There's a product on eBay called blue job, very affective and will shine them good.

[Flrider]

There's a product on eBay called blue job, very affective and will shine them good.

I am glad you proof read before you post 

[Bighead]

Could ceramic coat them then no mo blu

[Galex]

LOL.  i know my "english is not very good looking"... I proof read as best i can... as I tell my kids, "forget what i said and listen to what i meant! "  LOL

[Flrider]

LOL.  i know my "english is not very good looking"...

Ahhhhh.......... good old Celia Cruz  

BTW I was just ribbin Larue with the proof reading thing

[Tropic traveler]

We had baffled Cobras on Kim's Valk. They sounded fantastic & she loved them but.... Expect a loss of mid range power if you don't re-jet. Her Valkyrie was noticeably down on power compared to our other two glasspack equipped Valkyries. It was not re-jetted.
See you at Rick & Kristy's.  

[Tundra]

Welcome Galex,
These just showed up in the classifieds, if needed.
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,89340.0.html

[Galex]

cool.  wow, i that a fair price?  they don't look too complicated to install, looks like slide them in and screw down?  no welding?  I will show m mech and see what he says. thanks!

[98valk]

I want to be heard by all the cars around me. I do subscribe to the belief that louder pipes save lives.

Are u always under 1/2 to WOT throttle so the pipes will be loud??
since the noise is behind u and most accidents are because a car pulls out in front of a bike,
u need to installed the Quad Car Horn setup on the front of your bike and tape the horn button down! and make yourself more visible, such as the Triangle Head light setup, proven to make motorist more aware.

[Bronxboy]

I would Ceramic Coat the headers, I don't like the way the bluing looks. They also make or did make chrome covers that shield the headers.

[larue]

There's a product on eBay called blue job, very affective and will shine them good.

I am glad you proof read before you post  

You sick puppy you 

[John Schmidt]

There's a company in Orlando that does a powder coating called Ceramakrome. Check it out, looks almost like real chrome but is a ceramic powder coat. Might check the area around Tampa/St. Petersville, there might be an outfit over there that does the same thing.

http://performancekote.com/motorcycle-coatings.html

[Grumpy]

American powder coatings in N. Tampa does it. I have used them a few times.
http://www.allamericanpowdercoating.com/ceramic-coatings

[Bronxboy]

The guy I use for Powdercoat, also does Ceramic Coating.
http://www.brotherspowdercoating.com/

[Bronxboy]

Someone just listed a bunch of Cobra Baffles in the classified section, check them out.

[Galex]

I checked out the baffles listed in classifieds.  goes to show my ignorance, i didn't know there were different size options.  I wonder how difficult they are to install?  Also, when i look down the end of the pipes, i do see something inside... i wonder if they are baffled already. either way I will start with  what i've got and if need be I will get them baffled.  I plan to hold on to my stack pipes incase I ever want to return to them... my mech says i could sell them for about $600 +/- if i wanted...

[Thunderbolt]

I copied someone else's idea so not mine but I like it.  Take the baffles out and weld a freeze plug of the appropriate size on the forward end.  Drill a 9/16" hole in the freeze plug.  I also have some fiberglass from a boat repair kit wrapped around the baffles and held on with stainless steel wire.  Much more to my liking than unmodified original baffles.  I personally didn't like it without baffles.  Only time I took them out was for a bike night just to show that I could make as much noise as some of the "other" real motorcycles.

[CB]

I'd like to get my baffles out to give it a try...y'all have any suggestions on doing that? I've tried several things and they don't want to move.

[IamGCW]

Remove the screw holding them in.  Spray them with carb cleaner and they should slide out.

Gil

[Galex]

so its a done deal, I'm having my mech install the Cobra pipes on my bike.  if I want to baffle them afterwards, I get hold of baffles and simply install them.  if I ultimately hate them, I revert back to stock pipes.  all in all, I'm enjoying the project (my wife not so much LOL). 

PS: if I do like them enuf to stick with them I will look into future ceramic coating options.  But an immediate "Blue Job" is in order, I deserve it...    hehehehe

[Galex]

I want to be heard by all the cars around me. I do subscribe to the belief that louder pipes save lives.

Are u always under 1/2 to WOT throttle so the pipes will be loud??
since the noise is behind u and most accidents are because a car pulls out in front of a bike,
u need to installed the Quad Car Horn setup on the front of your bike and tape the horn button down! and make yourself more visible, such as the Triangle Head light setup, proven to make motorist more aware.

oh and I will be looking at some VERY LOUD HORN options too.  As well as More/Brighter Lights!

[Danny McMillin]

Galex...The baffles in the Classified section shows full baffles, and baffles that have been cut in half.

I run the 1/2 baffles, and it's good for me...a little loud and irritating for the Mrs., and on group rides, I usually ride drag so everyone stays happy. No baffles were a little loud, full baffles didn't trip my trigger, and 1/2 was just right.

I have stock exhaust on number two Valk, out of consideration for Wifey. If left up to me, the other 1/2 would be used on number two!

I have always thought, and said....There are those that have them, those that wish they had them, but for whatever reason....can't have them!! That'll turn em' loose!

[Bronxboy]

oh and I will be looking at some VERY LOUD HORN options too.  As well as More/Brighter Lights!


Quad Horns are a Great Option

[98valk]

I want to be heard by all the cars around me. I do subscribe to the belief that louder pipes save lives.

Are u always under 1/2 to WOT throttle so the pipes will be loud??
since the noise is behind u and most accidents are because a car pulls out in front of a bike,
u need to installed the Quad Car Horn setup on the front of your bike and tape the horn button down! and make yourself more visible, such as the Triangle Head light setup, proven to make motorist more aware.

oh and I will be looking at some VERY LOUD HORN options too.  As well as More/Brighter Lights!

triangle light set up and why
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,89285.0.html

[Valkahuna]

Thanks for the tip. I asked they're not baffled. I actually am looking for louder pipes to make it sound meaner more aggressive. I don't live around neighbors would complain. I want to be heard by all the cars around me. I do subscribe to the belief that louder pipes save lives.

If you want to be that loud, buy a HD. Personally, loud pipes don't save lives, they just piss others off so that when another biker gets near, we all get marked with the same big "L" on our foreheads. Just be ready to not hear your sound system, and drive yourself nuts on long trips. Oh yea, also the fact you will loose performance.

To each their own. JMOYMV

[Galex]

GM All.  The one thing I love about this group is the great advise and honest opinions, all coming from real good folks.  That said, I've been listening.  Everyone is basically saying "if unbaffled, they will be TOO LOUD and most likely unpleasantly so...to everyone."  So what I'm going to do is add baffles.  The need of the many far out weighs the need of the one, and the many say "sound control".  Someone had a great suggestion that half-cut could be a happy compromise.  I ordered the used baffles that include many size so I can tune the sound accordingly.  At the end of the day, I'm working on becoming a part of a great community and I wouldn't want to compromise that!  :-)  thanks to all for the feedback. I welcome more and will keep you all posted. 

[Bronxboy]

It wouldn't matter to us how u ran your pipes. We have run with a few guy's who ran Cobras without baffles. Do as u please, it's your bike, if u love the sound then run it that way 

[sixlow]

It wouldn't matter to us how u ran your pipes. We have run with a few guy's who ran Cobras without baffles. Do as u please, it's your bike, if u love the sound then run it that way 

IDGAS 

[Flrider]

It wouldn't matter to us how u ran your pipes. We have run with a few guy's who ran Cobras without baffles. Do as u please, it's your bike, if u love the sound then run it that way 

Could not have said it any better, I agree.