Help me with my mild Harley woes

December 2, 2006 5:34 PM

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.

posted by snsranch to Travel & Transportation (4 answers total)

If you want to make more usable torque across a wider power band, and semi-civilize your pig, use a 2-into-1 collector.
posted by paulsc at 6:13 PM on December 2, 2006

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.
posted by TheNewWazoo at 7:09 PM on December 2, 2006

I should clarify - the above link didn't contain the entire report, as I'd thought. It can be found here.
posted by TheNewWazoo at 7:16 PM on December 2, 2006

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.
posted by SciGuy at 8:11 AM on December 3, 2006