I was wondering if any one with a 3rd gen Magna had changed the exhaust. I personally would like something a little louder, little deeper. I know she will never sound like a Vtwin, but I'd like her to have a bit more attitude. I have read changing the exhaust requires rejetting the carbs, I assume to get more gas in there. Can some one shed some light to me on this? I've heard some mention of backpressure, but (at least on cars) I have heard that this is a myth...
Hey DaWood. I just changed the exhaust on my 3GMagna from some factory that the previous owner had modified to stock. The modified ones have had everything back of the main baffles removed, and they did a great job. It actually looks like it came that way from the factory!
It was WAY too loud for this old man, but who knows what anyone else would like. I have to admit it sounded extremely good, just too much for me. I don't think it had been rejetted, because it seems to run great after only changing the pipes out.
The job isn't very hard, except the bolt at the engine can be a BEAR if it has never been loosened before. I had to soak mine in rust release for about 2-3 hours to break it loose. After that it only took about 20-30 minutes total for both sides.
Of course your other option is to mod your stock pipes like Greg and others do. There's a link to how it's done on MOOT.
I plan to try selling the loud set sometime soon, so if you are interested in them or just want to try installing them on yours to see if you could live with them, let me know. I plan on asking $150 for the set when I get around to selling, but I might be interested in just trading for another unmodded set.
Cary
Daniel, I noticed on the picture you posted with your question about the "hose that was hanging down" that the exhausts on your bike appear to have had the "Mod" to make them a bit louder. It looks like there are 2 or 3 rivets missing and the other 3 have been replaced and touched up with black paint.
If that is true, your pipes should already be louder than stock, just not as loud as the ones I took off mine.
Greg has done several of the "Mod" and can speak to the change it makes in sound better than I can.
Cary
#313
>>>>>but who knows what anyone else would like.<<<<<
You said it all right there, Cary. I thought I wanted more sound, but after I heard "the mod" I personally thought it sounded like ****. It was louder but not deep enough for me. The only sound that comes close to cranking my tractor is the V&H (it's still not my ideal) and I'm not willing to spend that kind of $$. Bottom line for me is maybe this little V-4 won't make the sound I'm looking for.
In the end I elected to stay stock and I'm content. I think most folks have to listen for themselves to see if it is right for them. Even the sound files that I listened to were of no help.
Curtis
I never noticed the missing rivets till you mentioned it. If mine is louder than stock, then this bike must have been pretty quiet stock. When the vtwin guys I park with at work crank theirs up (even the metrics) you can't even tell mine is running.
The stock exhaust is pretty quiet to say the least, now as others have already said, this is a preference thing.
The V & H in my opinion have the best chrome and sound but are expensive. The Cobra's dont have as nice of chrome or sound but are good. If you like a lot of sound then drag pipes are the way to go, they are LOUD and are a little cheaper.
But if you do not wish to spend that kind of money the "muffler mod" will help give you a little more sound in the lower RPM's but at highway speeds where the loud pipes tend to wear on ya they sound almost completely stock. As also mentioned check the MOOT site under Tips/Tricks for more information on how to do this.
Hope this helps.
Daniel,
My '96 has Cobra drag pipes, K&N Air Filter and a jet kit that I believe to be Cobra.
The pipes look great to me. When they had the full baffles they were quiet when idling (for non-stock) and had a nice tuned sound when cruising and would definitely get your attention when you twist that trottle.
I took the baffles out completely for a couple of days and my ears hurt, my chest hurt - yeah, way too loud. But I knew I wanted a deeper and throatier sound so I cut the very end off of the interior part of each baffle (each end of each baffle "fits" inside the exhaust, with the shaft being narrower and leuvered).
This I liked (luckily). Take a look at the pic of my bike. Since this picture I've lowered the rear end about another 1 1/2 inches which make the long drag pipes look even better - at least in my opinion.
If you want to go for a long ride, head up to Greg's Saturday and you can hear them! Its only about 230 miles... each way!
So it looks like someone did the muffler mod on this bike. Unfortunately it seems one of the rivets must be coming loose. I noticed a strange sound coming from one of the exhaust pipes. Around the baffle and the pipe seems to be "leaking". If I put pressure on the baffle in area in question the sound disapears. The bike makes an annoying noise that sounds like metal tapping, maybe from the baffle bumping into the pipe? Got to figure out something to correct that, cause it is annoying the hell out of me. Sounds like I am riding a modified lawn mower at idle....
I would bet they used aluminum rivets instead of steel rivets. I used them on a few mods and noticed overtime they will loosen up, simply replace them with the steel and you should be good.
I took my baffles out last year & drilled 1/4 " holes in each pipe (16 or 20 per pipe). It sounded good, but not great. This year, I drilled out more holes, 1/4" again. Now the sound is BETTER than stock (could not hear them at stock levels!!!) Also, once the rivits are gone, I tapped 1/4 " holes & fitted allen head cap screws (bolts?) foir futire dis-assembly. Plus I had the ends finished in matte black powder coat. Looks good, sound great, and can be dis-assembled later if reverting to original. It IS a V-4 and not a twin. I like the sound of these pipes on decelleration (sp), and also accelerating as I shift by ear (sound?).
The Magna is a super performing bike, even tho it looks like a little 'ol cruiser, which I guess it is!
Greg
Glad you made it over here Greg, you'll add a little Canadian flair to our little corner of the 'net. Looking forward to your input and experience here.
Curtis
Curtis,
Thanks for the welcome note Buddy!
We just introduced (May this year) vanity plates in NS for motorcycles; I only found out last nite. Guess where I was today! Guess what my new number will be! V 4
Gotta love it!
Greg
PS: it may be smaller plate than my already chopped one. I like minimal things on my bike. Will send pics when installed, and my new LED lights too.
Cheers!
Greg, how did you get the allen bolts to replace the rivets? I like that idea!
Bob #69
Bob, I used 1/4" X 1/2" cap screws (thread not tapered) black finish. I tapped out the rivit holes to accept these. Easy to disassemble, and the black finish matches my new hi-temp black powder coat finish.
Greg
Stock vs other... pipes that is... My 98, when I acquired it, has a DDR jet and shim kit, K&N, and V&H Pipes... it's LOUD... or so it seems to me... but it does RUN like a scared antelope! It seems to be "tuned" just about right. The P.O. (Mike Looby) had it done professionally. The V&H pipes are loudest when you are pulling power... otherwise, they are fairly modest... But to the original question... You change one thing in the mix, you have to change them all to get it right in terms of mixtures, drivability, and smooth operation. Airbox inlet restriction, mixtures, and exhaust all have to be "tuned" correctly for things to work at their best. The DDR jets/shims, K&N, and V&H set up I have seems to be "just about right"... I'd have to have an exhaust gas analysis to tell for sure. But, she's what she is... and I'm not going to change anything.... VERRRRROOOOOOMMMMMMM!
JR
156
Lake Livingston
What size rivets are best for this application? Looking at getting a cheap rivet gun to solve this issue.
The endplates on the exhaust are 3/16th if memory serves me correctly.
Thaks Greg. That worked great. I used aluminum rivets (cause that's what the tool came with) but I put back the actual correct number. She sounds great again, no more rattley exhaust for me.
Just keep an eye on them as the aluminum is soft and will become loose, not a big deal just pick up some steel rivets and when one gets loose pop it out and replace. Will take a while before this happens though.
Enjoy!