Good Googly Moogly

[CamelToeJoe]

Put on a set of Cobra 6 into 6 and pulled the baffles out, just because.  

When I fired it up I about tripped over myself.  I am now in a pickle, I love the sound but no way I could put in a long day with those things screaming in my ear.  I must say I wasn't ready for how incredibly obnoxious a Valk with straight pipes can be,   who knows maybe back to stock, or wrap the baffles and stick them back.  It would be nice to figure out some type of quick change for the cobras.

[FLAVALK]

Agree. Nothing sounds better...or worse 

I once owned a Valk that had Cobras. They were definitely an attention getter but they grind on you after a while

[Thunderbolt]

I wrapped the baffles in mine first.  Then I wanted them a little more quiet.  I welded freeze plugs onto the front of the baffles and drilled a hole in the center of the freeze plug.  I think it was a 9/16" bit that I used. They have been that way for a long time now.  I would have to pull one to verify the diameter.  Someone else had done it and I copied their idea.  I believe he said that he had tried 1/2" but that was too small and affected performance.
I used fiberglass sheets from a fiberglass repair kit and then used stainless steel wire in a crossing pattern to secure the fiberglass.

[CamelToeJoe]

Thanks...

I got these pipes from my dads I/S and when I rode it with the baffles they had a droning sound that really hurt my ears.

Last night as I was driving home, the straight pipes didn't have that drone and didn't hurt my ears "too much",  then I hit the thunderstorms and had to slow to 55-60 and it wasn't bad at all.  I could easily handle the sound below 3k rpms.

My end game is definitely to wrap the baffles and figure out some type of quick change.  Was considering using neodymium magnets, or redrilling the hole on the top pipe to make it a little easier to remove that baffle.

[Pappy!]

They do sound wicked good!
At certain RPM's they sound almost exactly like a P-51 Mustang under power and thats a sound that will stick with you once heard.

[Rams]

Put on a set of Cobra 6 into 6 and pulled the baffles out, just because.  

When I fired it up I about tripped over myself.  I am now in a pickle, I love the sound but no way I could put in a long day with those things screaming in my ear.  I must say I wasn't ready for how incredibly obnoxious a Valk with straight pipes can be,   who knows maybe back to stock, or wrap the baffles and stick them back.  It would be nice to figure out some type of quick change for the cobras.

Would this be an appropriate time to say, "I told you so"?    

OK, to each their own but you do realize that you will now be leading the pack from a much greater distance.   

[Wizzard]

I have cobra's with baffles and I love them. To each their own.

[Alien]

I have a set of Cobras on the Mothership.  Never heard it with the baffles in, they're sitting on a shelf in the garage.  Weirdly, the frequency of the noise is such that I set off fewer car alarms than I did with the truck stacks.  Also, the sound on the highway is much more tolerable with the Cobras.  To each his own I guess.

Ride Safe,

Alien

[CamelToeJoe]

I am sure, the baffles will go back in eventually, I just had to weigh my options.  Plus I had never heard a Valk with Cobras and no baffles.   With the stock pipes I felt like I was riding an electric bike, nice for long long rides.  Well I have something to tinker with now.

I can hardly hear the stereo also.  So I am in search of a happy medium.  Like I said earlier, at 80-100 mph the sound is too much.  40-60 not bad at all, I hear the radio also.

[jshram]

Oh, I miss the sound of my 6x6 cobras (with baffles)!  My new Rocket, even with the huge 2300cc 3 banger doesn't come close...   the Valk was the best sounding motorcycle on the road, bar none.  Sounded like the 460 V8 in my jet boat..   wish I could get that back on this Rocket, but I don't think it is going to happen.

JH

[trout dude]

Joe  I think i seen on line where you can buy three different sets of baffles.  They each will change the tone because of the length. Short/ Med /Long Check it out this might help.
   Dennis

[Foozle]

I realize you're probably not into collecting exhausts, but you might want to try the "other" 6 x 6 pipes from 2 Brothers Racing - if you can find a used set.  The baffles aren't removable, and the sound (IMO) falls in between the Cobras with the baffles in and removed.  At idle, they're noticeable - on acceleration, they're loud.  I'm not sure about cruising @ 80 mph.  If memory serves, Carl is a big fan of these pipes (and seems to have his hearing intact); perhaps he can weigh in.  Terry

[Joevalk]

Come ride behind me

[CamelToeJoe]

So far they don't seem to bad running 60-70 mph.  I have also noticed a little power loss on the top end.  In the mid range things seem pretty close to stock.  Next up is to see the MPG comparison.   

The main thing I am looking to do is figure out a way to quickly change from running with and without baffles.  I can't see riding with out baffles on long trip for my sanity and the folks I am riding with.  Around town without baffles is just fine. There is something to be said about a quiet bike on a long ride.

[Willow]

For what it's worth the irritation you're experiencing is the sound bouncing of the huge plexiglass sail on the front of the bike.

I ride my wife's Valkyrie with Cobras and find it doesn't bother me.  My own Standard has TBR 6X6's and I'm not bothered by them.  The Interstate has stock exhausts with trimmed piggies and sometimes I wonder if the engine has stopped running.

The TBRs are superior at both ends of the spectrum.   

[CamelToeJoe]

TBRs might be better performing but they weren't free like the Cobras.

[Willow]

TBRs might be better performing but they weren't free like the Cobras.

Good perspective.     We were talking about sound but that price seals the comparison.