Exhaust help

[shovellac]

Your Year and Model: 1986 Voyager XII

Do You Have Accessories Installed: No
Mechanical Skill: Basic Knowledge

List Accessories Installed:


What have you done before the problem was there?
It's technically not a problem, I'm just looking for options to make my Motorcycle louder.

What have you already tried to solve the problem?
Nothing.

Description and Message
I just bought an 86 Voyager XII with 32k on it. I like the bike very much, except for one thing... It's too quiet. Like way too quiet. I live in Northern Phoenix, Arizona and for those you who don't know our car drivers out here are crap. Absolute crap. I've ridden other Japanese bikes but they were full blown street bikes. In the case of my last one, it was basically a race bike with a head light, turn signals and a brake light.

I am a firm believer in "Loud Pipes Save Lives" and want to make the exhaust much louder without affecting the performance of the bike too much. I know the Kawasaki engineers know more about performance and engine management then I do, but this is my safety I'm talking about. Lots of soccer moms with cell phones welded to their heads where I live, I know they won't be looking for me at least maybe they'll hear me?

I'm not opposed to modifying the original exhaust and putting it back or modifying a system that's similar. I can do some Mig and Tig welding experience and have access to metal working tools (grinder, chop saw, etc.)

Suggestions?

[voyager55]

It's a touring bike, suppose to be quiet.

Install a headlight modulator to be seen more

[cranky]

... add flashing brake lights on the back and call it better than pipes.... JM2C

[triton28]

The only way I know to increase the decibel level of the exhaust system, other than cutting off the end of the muffler, is by changing to Cobra mufflers which I believe are no longer manufactured.
Sometimes they show up on eBay, but that is a rare occurrence.
Dave

[Mr Jensee]

Man don't buy into that crap that loud pipes are safer because they hear you. I worked 20 years on an ambulance that when running hot was lit up like a Christmas tree and sirens blaring. Car drivers still ignored us. For one thing the sound of loud pipes is obnoxious to most people. The sound comes out the rear of the bike so it does nothing to get the attention of anyone in front. The only people who will be forced to hear you is behind you. I have been really annoyed riding behind groups of bikers with loud pipes. Sometimes I couldn't even hear my radio. Besides the Voyager is a TOURING BIKE. It was NEVER supposed to be loud. Why would they include a radio if it was meant to be loud. I invested in a couple of bright LED driving lights which I mounted to get drivers attention. As stated before get a brake flasher, Cycle Gear sells them. And do the rest of the world a favor. Nobody but other bikers like obnoxious loud exhausts.
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jE-CeRtAtzM[/video]

[HMB Don]

As you've been reading here, not many of us are fans of loud pipes. These motorcycles were made to ride for hours on end and almost all owners have just left them stock. Someone stated about the Cobra slip-ons, if you can find them they do bark after 3,500 RPM, and have a rumble while running at low engine speeds and small throttle openings.

You Can cut the mufflers, but then you'll start losing performance. But you'll have a loud motorcycle.

Best is to sell the Voyager and buy a V-twin of any make. They'll have many options for loud exhaust.

Good Luck

[shovellac]

I'd like to thank those of you thank actually answered my question. I know it's a touring bike and it's supposed to be quiet I'm not looking for something as obnoxious as the big wheel bagger crowd with their shorty pipes and 8 subwoofers mounted in the rear saddle bags, I just wanted the bike a little louder.

I've been riding for over 13 years and in my experience having a loud bike helps from getting moved over on, head lights and tail lights do you no good if someone moves over on you from the left or the right.( ie if you happen to be in their blindspot) In the few weeks that I've owned this bike I've been forced off the road twice. By contrast my last "crotch rocket" bike with its racing exhaust was only run off the road twice in the 5 years I owned it and I rode that bike 5 days a week, providing it didn't rain.

I'll look into the cobra slip ons, or maybe removing some baffling from the stock exhaust.

[keith]

newer cars are built to be so quiet inside that you can barely hear a siren blasting when it is right next to you,when the windows are up.i drive a Toyota Avalon,if I have the windows up and the radio barely up,i can not HEAR an ambulance unless it is practically right next to me.but I sure as heck can SEE it when it is all lit up.so,i don't believe in loudness to be seen I believe in visibility,i see so many bikers out there at night especially with the more and more popular all blacked out look,all black head gear and jacket,the only thing lighting them up is the little tiny rear brake light,and the headlight.light that bike up during the day,and especially at night,and I think you will be at least seen before you will be heard.sympothise with the ambulance drivers,but like I said,cars are so noise cancelling now days that until you see them all lit up,you will barely notice all the sound they are making.And I am sure a siren produces more decibles than any bike exhaust.

[Mr Jensee]

You are right Keith. Most cars today are so insulated and a lot of younger drivers have that radio up so loud they couldn't hear a train if it was barreling down upon him. If I might give some advice to shovellac. I know you said you've been riding for 13 years but I was riding as far back as 1966. If you draw a 30 ft invisible circle around your bike when you ride, and only let a limited number within that circle you will avoid people running you off the road. I got into the habit of watching the front tires of every vehicle in the lanes next to me. If it looks like they are coming over, I immediately drop speed and let them in. I wont argue with a car. I also watch the eyes of people on side streets to see if they SEE me. In my car accident the car that hit was traveling pretty fast and I had no time to react. This happens sometimes and there is no way to prepare for it. Always be thinking when you are riding "What If". What if this car does come over, what outs do I have? What if the car in front suddenly has to stop, am I far enough back to maintain a panic stop and maintain control? What if some car doesn't see me because the driver is texting and comes up to fast from behind when I am stopped? Am I in gear and can shoot forward or did I put the bike in neutral? You have to be thinking every single moment you are on a motorcycle. It isn't like driving a car. You are small and pretty invisible. Ride like you are invisible and you are likely to stay alive. The most important thing is realize where the blind spots are of the driver next to you and say out of it all times. Make him know you are there beside him. This will do more for you than loud exhausts. I have never had a bike with loud exhausts and I am still alive today. (knock on wood)

[SgtSlag]

Late to the party, but I'd like to suggest air horns on the bike, as an alternative. A sudden blast, next to their doors, can attract a lot of attention, when needed. Mr. Jensee's advice is golden, however, and the best "solution" possible. Cheers!

[davidl]

Head and brake light modulators and air horns sound like the trick

[rdvrs49]

I agreed with the old timers! Been riding since 1978. People in cars do not see us!!! Have told countless young riders that! You have to be on the defensive at all times.
My favorite place to ride? Interstate doing 80 mph! traffic flowing with you, no intersections and the truckers are the best out there! Headlight Modulators, Led lights down low on crash bars, Led flashing brake lights, Air Horns, Paint ball gun with pepper balls?

[ghostler]

I'm a young whipper snapper, riding since 1979. Today's cage drivers seem less respectful and more oblivious to motorcycles than ever before. I've found it easier just to get behind a trucker on the interstate doing a decent speed and stay with him, than to try to keep up with the traffic.

A week ago, saw this one video news report on TV, of a motorcyclist in California kicking the door of a cage, which then the cage went out of control shortly after. The CHP has been looking for that motorcyclist since. Yet one thing I noticed is that after he kicked the door, the cage swerved attempting to hit the motorcyclist, causing the cage to crash into the median barrier. I think there is more to that story than the MSM guilty verdict faulting the motorcyclist.

Loud pipe bikes seem to have their share of accidents, which defies that argument.

One thing I have noticed is that if I dress in all black, I get more respect than if I dress in other colored riding gear. Black is the new visibility color.

[Aladinbama]

Late to the party, but I'd like to suggest air horns on the bike, as an alternative. A sudden blast, next to their doors, can attract a lot of attention, when needed. Mr. Jensee's advice is golden, however, and the best "solution" possible. Cheers!

A Wolo Bad Boy along with some extra lights up front tends to work pretty well.
FWIW, most accidents between a cage and a bike occur when the cage turns in front of or pulls out in front of the bike. The loud pipes save lives idea doesn't really work in these instances - most of the noise is rearward!
Get a good set of LED driving lights (they don't have to be ALL POWERFUL) and an air horn and don't be afraid to use it will allow you t be seen better. As soon as I see that tire Jensee referred to as moving in my direction, my finger is on the button and it doesn't come off until it retreats. If it works at 75 with a semi, it should work for most other events.
I love the quiet, it makes riding that much more enjoyable :)

[Draxxis]

I know the post is over a year old, however, I do have a set of Cobra exhaust pipes in mint condition that I didn't even use one full season. They definitely sound amazing, however, I wanted to go yet even louder.

So I am currently selling them. They are posted on the classified ads on here. I am looking for $300 plus shipping. Depending on how distant we are from one another, I would consider taking a long trip and doing a delivery.

If interested, you can always reply back to me on here, or hit up my cell phone at 716-203-1816. You will probably get a quicker response on my cell phone verses on here because I'm not on as often as I used to be.