Comments on: Help me with my mild Harley woes

Question: Help me with my mild Harley woes

snsranch — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 17:34:02 -0800

Harley paint and exhaust. Two part question. I've decided not to sell the pig and to at least be a weekend warrior. But my loud exhaust won't work here in this neighborhood. Read more...

The harley is a '94 with a big S&S engine and a Thunder Header open exhaust.

Part 1: is there a combo exhaust/baffle that can be quiet as I leave home but make loud again once in city traffic? I know I've seen something like that, but can't locate it.

Part 2: After an insurance job on the bike, I'm left with really flamboyant flames which were originally totally ghosty. Barely visible. What can I paint over them to make them ghosty again? The flames change color ('92 mustang or something) on deep black background. I do have painting experience but have never worked layers this will be my first time.

The exhaust is my primary concern. I love being loud in traffic only because people hear me if not see me. I'm very respectful of others with the loud pipes, but they're just too loud for this neighborhood at 5:30am.

By: paulsc

paulsc — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 18:13:32 -0800

If you want to make more usable torque across a wider power band, and semi-civilize your pig, use a 2-into-1 collector.

By: TheNewWazoo

TheNewWazoo — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 19:09:38 -0800

1) As a fellow motorcyclist, please reinstall some stock pipes, or find some quieter ones. The Hurt Report, the only comprehensive study of motorcycling safety, loud pipes have no bearing on motorcyclist safety, but do irritate cagers and make us more-responsible riders look bad.

*ahem*

2) A good bodyshop that specialises in custom paint work sould be able to advise. I'd suspect a well-applied tinted clearcoat might have the effect you seek, but without more details, I'm not able to speculate further.

By: TheNewWazoo

TheNewWazoo — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 19:16:51 -0800

I should clarify - the above link didn't contain the entire report, as I'd thought. It can be found here.

By: SciGuy

SciGuy — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 08:11:23 -0800

I agree that reasonable pipes need to be used, and I am also a fellow motorcyclist. Loud pipes don't save lives, aren't legal, and piss everyone off. They aren't cool.