Just back from South Dakota....Whats the best quiet muffler set up for

[lonegoosehonking]

a Dresser. Give me some input here. Want something that sounds good but more on the quiet side. My ears are still ringing from the Propipe. 

[Dennis The Menace]

Well, you might also try earplugs until you get some quiet muffs.  If your ears are ringing, you have actually already damaged your hearing. Trust me when I say to protect it, or the ringing WILL become permanent.  It drives me nuts sometimes.  Very annoying and I get agitated easily when its bad.  Would only wish this on terrorists, rapists and murderers--its bad.

Anyway, its not all pipes.  Wind noise is a bigger cause of the hearing problem. With a helmet or not, and often with a windshield as well.  Makes earplugs all that more beneficial.  Might give it a try.  They are cheaper than new pipes too!

menace

[Barrett]

SuperTrapps.

[hrdtail78]

Ride faster.  Leaving the sound further behind.

[HD/Wrench]

Some people are more effected by a certain frequency than others. Although the pro pipe does have some bark.  For mufflers the V&H monster ovals have a deep sound and are not loud. Super trap another,   Dont forget sound is different for everyone.  Local bike night, listen to some pipes there ask some of the owners what they think.  And I see more and more riders with ear plugs and even helmets. ( we are not required to wear them in AZ)

[RK101]

A 3/4 helmet helps on those long rides. Hard to say what is to loud or to quiet over the net. I also like the sound of the V/H monster ovals but just can't get past the look, there huge.

[Dennis The Menace]

By the way, I ride with Bub 7's with crossover tru-duals, full face helmet and custom molded plugs.  I still get ringing ears at the end of the ride, 100 miles or more.  A lot of reverberation inside the helmet.  I am looking at going to a different pipe setup, try to get quieter setup.  Maybe it requires a new 2010 RG with the 2-1 setup.  lol

I will put up with it until fall/winter, then decide to keep the bike or trade.  If I keep it, the pipes are coming off.  Many here swear by the 2-1 Supertrapps, may be my next choice.  Looks like that is what is on the 2010 RG/SG stock bikes this year, too.

menace

[HD/Wrench]

A 3/4 helmet helps on those long rides. Hard to say what is to loud or to quiet over the net. I also like the sound of the V/H monster ovals but just can't get past the look, there huge.

  HMMMM maybe that is why they call them MONSTER ovals     They are large but sound wise and tone nice on the baggers,

[hardonthemerch]

I really think that the supertrapps are some of the quieter pipes out there. Course I'm not a professional...



these are quiet too!

[Mix01FLHT]

Also helps not to ride along side another bike.  Thats where my ringing comes from, the thunderheader next to me.  Not my thunderheader.

[92flhtcu]

You did not say if you ride with earplugs, but I could not believe how much it cuts out the wind noise(which is the worst part) and actually makes the bike sound better-no more noisy cam....makes the pipes nice and deep
Dont ride without them the last three years, short, long ride doesn't matter
Rob

[akcruz]

Kind of new here so be gentle with me.Been lurking for quite awhile,this is by far the best info site anywhere. Anyway, this works very well on my Dyna. Check out www.smartpartz.com  As has been stated earlier,earplugs also for the wind.

[hotroadking]

ear plus or full helmet or 3/4 will help

My Bassani Pro Streets sound great with ear plugs LOL

[ClassicRider2002]

a Dresser. Give me some input here. Want something that sounds good but more on the quiet side. My ears are still ringing from the Propipe.

lonegoosehonking~

Well....I own a pro pipe on my FXR2....and had one on a 2003 FXDL (Dyna Low Rider) and yes my ears "ring" as well with both bikes.  I certainly have enjoyed the "performance" of the V&H HS 2-1 Pro Pipe but have always dreaded the "sound" element it seems to produce and conflict with my hearing.  On my 2002 RKC I have a 2-1 Super Trapp Super Meg with a closed end cap.  

There is no doubt in my mind that running the super trapps are the best solution for quietness.  The super trapps are very good for performance as well.  

Ear plugs as mentioned above will definitely help.  I have always ridden with ear plugs....well....ever since I originally put a V&H HS Pro Pipe 2-1 on my 2003 FXDL (Dyna Low Rider).  The day I modified the oem pipes over to the pro pipe sent me to the store for some ear plugs....and ever since I have ridden with some form of ear plugs.  The sound from the pro pipe is quite miserable for sure (for me).  A "full face" helmet in my application seems to even worsen the sound as it seems to get captured within the shell of the helmet offering a tremendous sound revirberation through it.  The revirberation created within the plastic shell will cause your ears to ring in my opinion......in fact one "might" find that wearing a "full face" helmet will make the loudness of the pipes worse than not wearing a "full face" helmet at all.  But I also agree with the fact that the worst thing for our ears comes from the wind hitting our ear drums which can leave one damaging one's ears resulting from Tinnitus.

Does Wind Noise From Riding A Motorcycle Cause Tinnitus?
By julius On January 23, 2009 Under Ringing In Ears, Tinnitus Questions, Tinnitus Relief

Tinnitus is a medical disorder characterized by an incessant buzzing, cracking, whistling and ringing in the ears.   It may be brought forth by a number of factors, ranging from frequent exposure to workplace noises and extremely loud music.  However, some are asking, does wind noise from riding a motorcycle cause tinnitus?  Motorcycle industry experts agree that, based on years of research, wind noise is a major contributor to a number of illnesses, which include tinnitus.  Wind noise is commonly referred to as the amount of noise turbulence created around the head as the motorcycle rider is in motion. Researchers have agreed that among the inherited consequences of wind noise include  irreversible hearing loss, as well as damage to the auditory canals and nerves of the inner ear, especially when a motorcycle driver fails to wear adequate protective head gear.

The issue of hearing disorders like tinnitus are often discussed within the motorcycle industry, as well as by the firearms and aviation industries, because if the issues of hearing loss are not properly addressed, the amount of damage caused by exposure of the inner ear is by destructive sound, will further increase every time a motorcycle rider rides on his or her bike, even for only a few hours. Does wind noise from riding a motorcycle cause tinnitus? Yes it does, notes motorcycle safety experts.  These experts also argue that the constant duration of harmful levels of noise slowly makes the rider lose his or her ability to hear.

Motorcycle safety analysts agree that an average rider should only be surrounded by noise levels of around 85-90 decibels during a typical eight-hour work day.  However, when the sound levels exceed 100 decibels, then the person’s exposure to noise should be reduced to just two hours. Motorcycle safety advocates contend that typical wind noise at highway speeds usually measure up to 103 decibels, which are comparable to the noise created by a running chainsaw. When exposed to these sound levels, the motorcycle rider is not only physically fatigued from being exposed to excessive noise, but also may require the driver to wear a hearing aid later in life.

Does wind noise from riding a motorcycle cause tinnitus? If it does real harm to the rider, then what are the effective tinnitus relief methods? Health experts agree that when the driver is not wearing a helmet, the projected wind noise during highway speeds is nearly 10 times greater than when the rider wears a full-face or full-coverage helmet.

Riders should know that below 30 miles per hour, he/she is constantly exposed to machine, exhaust and environmental noises. And once the motorcycle reaches speeds of more than 30mph, and then wind noise should serve as the next threat.  It would be good if drivers wear a full-coverage helmet to help reduce the negative effects of wind noise, and regularly visit their doctor for a comprehensive audiological examination.

Regards,

"Classic"

[HotRock]

Supertrapp!!!!!     

[WVULTRA]

a Dresser. Give me some input here. Want something that sounds good but more on the quiet side. My ears are still ringing from the Propipe. 

After trying several different exhaust, I ended up with the 4" '09 CVO cans with 1.75" Fullsac baffles.  Nice mellow rumble with out being offensive.

[dr dave]

supertrapp
look at the rb racing black hole exhaust - very quiet!  but on the expensive side.   i run a set on my roadglide and everyone who hears it says it is quieter than any other exhaust system they have been around (and it's on a 113" performance engine).

[mkd]

kerker slip ons with the k -3 full lenght baffle.they are relatively quiet untill you want them to get louder.they are one step quietier than the pass a truck baffles that only go half way through the muffler core.

[Kleetus]

LG,
I had a pro pipe for a couple of years. My right ear still hurts every time I hear something loud. I replaced it with a Fat Cat and it ran good but was still too loud and tinny to suit me. I ended up with a Supertrapp 2:1 Supermeg. Runs great and doesn't blast your ears.

Kleetus

[05FLHTC]

Here are 2 very inexpensive potential solutions...

1st take out the baffle on the propipe and wrap 2 hose clamps around the baffle section closing off 2 rows of holes, ride it & see what you think.

2nd try to wrap the outer 1" edge of the propipe baffle with fiberglass muffler packing, Ive read of some that use SS pads that are used to strip floors from a buffer pad, supposed to last much longer.

The 1st solution really helped reduce the high end pitch in mine and has helped make mine much more tolerable, not to mention it picked up a few numbers on the dyno without loosing anything on the top end, a win win for me.

HTH's, might as well try it unless your hearts set on spending some dough.
05

[PoorUB]

a Dresser. Give me some input here. Want something that sounds good but more on the quiet side. My ears are still ringing from the Propipe. 

The very reason I am running the stock head pipes with stock '09 Road King slip ons, QUIET! The stock headpipes on the dressers are good pipes for the application. You will loose some HP in the higher RPM range, but on a dresser you typically don't run the engine at 4-5000 RPM, at lest not long anyway, Good old torque will get you down the road just fine. I ran a pair of SE slip ons once, for about a week, then I sold them. I will give up a few ponies for a reasonanly queit exhaust.

[flht99b]

S&S SPO mufflers.
Ed M.

[lonegoosehonking]

 Thanks for all the input. Going to check out the supertrapps and the spo's. In the meantine may try to modify the propipe baffle as suggested.

[clay_mover]

SuperTrapps.

[ViennaHog]

If you are sensitive to low frequency noise like I am stay away from the large volume cans like V&H monster ovals or the S&S SPOs. The can create reverberations with empty saddlebags/tourpack that amplify the low frequencies. I tried several exhausts on my mildly modded 08 Ultra and I cannot run any of them w/o earplugs.
Tested systems

stock: best overall for noise protection, no doubt
V&H SPOs: very deep rumble, no crackling noise. Hurts my ears due to the low frequency sensitivity. Ear plugs are inefficient in that frequency range
SE street legal: quiet idle, but unnerving mid-range full load noise, very raspy.
Supertrapp SuperElite: no raspyness (sp?), still too much  mid-range bark for me
S&S: Monster Ovals under investigation. Sound mellow at idle and mid-range, have not been on longer trips yet. Look much better than the SPOs, internal design much better.

I have a pretty bad tinnitus like many of us here and I am almost convinced that I contracted while running my previous 107 FXST with the V&H Propipe. Ringing in the ear after longer rides that I did not pay adequate attention to at the time. Live and learn...........

PS I replaced the V&H Propipe with the RB Racing Black Hole 2-1. Night and day in noise level and no street performance loss at all. Might be my final option if the MOs don't work out. For all the money I spent on exhausts over the last 5 years I could have bought a nice Honda Hornet........