ferroknight wrote:I'm scared to bob my exhaust, like the first time I shaved my head clean. Oh, someone hold my hand while I do this for moral comfort.
Like rearro mentioned, unlike shaving your head clean, removing the can is a modification that can be made undone.
ferroknight wrote:Anyway, I wish someone could post a sound file to hear what your can-less exhausts sound like now. Did any of you require the fitment of new exhaust gaskets?
If you really want to hear the sound, just take it off!
If you don't like the sound, put it back on.
At least you've had half an hour of quality time with your bike
There are no gaskets involved in this operation.
Can was off.....can is back on.....coupla reasons.
Don't get me wrong...she did sound nice! But...and maybe it's just me and the way I up-shift at about 6,000 and blip down at 5,000...but she sure ran rougher for me with the can off. *shrugs* I tried lower and higher revs but either way twas not as smooth as I've grown accostomed too. Put the can back on and she's smooth as silk again.
The other reason was that milady pointed out that with it off the sound of the bike seems to fade away into the background when I'm only a half a block away! With the can on she can hear me coming down the street....off...she cannot....hmmmmmm.
Hate to be a party pooper and hopefully it's just me...but has anybody else run into this?
Well, I did the Canectomy to the Rockster last night. I really like the sound. It seems to me that the vibrations are more noticeable like someone mentioned above. I think I may leave it like this for a while though. I'm gonna explore my options for various tips to put on the ugly pipe sticking out of the cat. May steal someone's ideas from here.
Another thing that I like about having the pipe off is that it really shows off the single sided swing arm. Makes the rear wheel look as if it is just hanging out there in space.
After I get a more attractive tip on the end, I'll post pics.
No matter where you go, there you are.
Boxers Rule! Umm. . . the bikes, not the underwear.
Is it too loud? Will it get police attention? I am living in CA. I know a Hog with Thunderheader pipe on the side and it was really loud!!! I just don't want to attract any inhuman cops!
¡Viva Pepe! no, its not loud at all actually. not even close. the catalytic converter must do most of that work--including heat absorbtion. i didnt want a loud bimmer. and im very happy. im sure you will be too.
right after i did the "can-can," i wanted to see if my cheapy exhaust tip would now be a burn hazard. first i touched my rubber boot sole to it. no melting. then i held it there for a few seconds. no melt marks. then i got brave and quickly touched the tip with my fingers--very quickly mind you! its fine--feels like an exhaust tip oughtta feel. great mod for this particular bike.
has anyone with a stock bike done a "can-can" before/after dyno run? very interested in seeing results. i suppose peak hp may suffer theoretically. but i've noticed a mild spike in low-end.
Speaking of removing items exhaust-related, has anyone opened up the cat and removed the cylindrical catalyst element. I wonder how the sound and low-end might improve, given the baffling effect of the chamber?
yes, a couple guys have gutted the catalytic converter. torched it open and rewelded it after removing the innards... Try searching this site... Oh heck, I'll do it for you...
Will do the experiment myself. But, before I take it off, if I don't like it without can, what's the torque limits for the two (or more) bolt? I mean how many foot pounds? Just in case, thanks!
It's not loud at all!!! The stupid catalyzers is the actual muffler, the pipe's just a friggin' JUNK! Who the hell does BMW think we are, idiots!!! My god, all that weight on my bike is a waste!!! I am gonna kick the guy who engineered the exhaust system in der FRIGGIN' NUTS!!
Anyway, the sound's great but not loud like v-twin superbikes. The Ducati superbikes are the loudest!
I rode my bike on way to Highway One then Panorama Route to Stinson Beach. My bike feels a little weird w/o the pipes. It's easy to make a right on a right curve but difficult to make a left on left curve. When I had the pipe on, it was easy both ways. I guess that heavy pipe's weight on the left compensate the weight of the right shaft drive.
Still, it wasn't so bad at all that any of us can get use to it. I could simply start look for a RT's left hard bag and get a nice pipe end tip from Autozone.
There's no performance increase at all but you can go a little faster without the weight of the pipe. Vibs just a little notable.
I rode my bike on way to Highway One then Panorama Route to Stinson Beach. My bike feels a little weird w/o the pipes. It's easy to make a right on a right curve but difficult to make a left on left curve. When I had the pipe on, it was easy both ways. I guess that heavy pipe's weight on the left compensate the weight of the right shaft drive.
I think it may be your imagination or maybe you were just used to it the way it was because the R1100S does not have a can with its underseat setup but still has the shaft on the other side without any balance issues...just a thought.
The only negative thing I am feeling is that the vibes are felt more in the footpegs. I guess the mass of that giant muffler being attached to the converter helped to soak up some vibration. I wouldn't think that the +-10lbs the muffler weighs would change the handling though. Maybe at very low speeds. I haven't noticed any strange handling. I'll pay more attention to that.
My plans are to leave the can off for around town posing and shorter rides and put the can back on for longer tours and if I take the bike back to the dealership for anything.
Oh yeah, I have noticed that different tips make a slightly different exhaust note. More or less farty or raspy sounding. Haven't quite decided on what tip I want yet.
No matter where you go, there you are.
Boxers Rule! Umm. . . the bikes, not the underwear.
I haven't noticed any handling issues at low speeds or high. I will look closer at that today and try to "feel" if there are any differances. I love the new sound and it really isn't loud at all. All I ahve really noticed is the engine sound for gear changes but that is getting more normal day by day.
motozark wrote:I haven't noticed any handling issues at low speeds or high. I will look closer at that today and try to "feel" if there are any differances. I love the new sound and it really isn't loud at all. All I ahve really noticed is the engine sound for gear changes but that is getting more normal day by day.
My handling is unaffected as well, as is my fuel consumption. In fact the bike doesn't seem to have noticed at all! After 2 weeks I have got used to the sound, seems quiet again but my wife says she knows when I'm coming up the hill now on my way home. Before I could park it up in the garage without her knowing I was home! I'd put the can back but how would I know if the motor was running anymore....
OK, I got out last night a little on the bike with the can removed. I've mostly been just commuting to work on it this week since removing the can. I rode about 100 miles in various road/load conditions and here are a few observations.
The bike definitely vibrates more. It used to be near silky smooth cruising at 60-65 mph in top gear. It has more vibes in that range for sure.
No effect in handling whatsoever. Seems to turn in and stay planted in turns just as it did before.
Gas mileage seems to be unaffected, but that may take a few tanks worth of petrol to be sure. I think I hit about 150 miles and the fuel light still has not come on. I didn't fill the tank as high as I do on extended rides last time either.
It has made a difference in power delivery. I seem to have lost a little grunt below 4k-4.5k rpm's, but the old gal really gets up and goes like Rosanne running to the all you can eat buffet from 4.5k- redline. Seems to have gained in upper rpm's but lost a little in lower revs. That is pretty consistent with what I have noticed in the past with other bikes or cars.
The bike seems quieter now. I'm getting used to the extra db's I suppose.
I like it both ways, but think that I'll generally leave the can off. I really need a full size case for that side now. Looks even worse than before when looking at thte rear of the bike. Just a big empty space.
No matter where you go, there you are.
Boxers Rule! Umm. . . the bikes, not the underwear.
If you haven't done it, do it. I read all the posts and thought I'd give it a try. It didn't take 15 minutes and I couldn't stop smiling for awhile. In fact, I looked really goofy with all that smiling. It's not too loud at all, but the growl is much more noticeable.
cworley5150 wrote:
The bike definitely vibrates more. It used to be near silky smooth cruising at 60-65 mph in top gear. It has more vibes in that range for sure
Of course it will vibrate more............we must remember that sound is vibration - therefore more sound will equal more vibration!
I have been reading these threads with great interest, although I must confess I personally would not do it, yet clearly, with the amount of correspondence it would seem that I am in the minority! Good luck to each and every one of you
With the can on she can hear me coming down the street....off...she cannot....hmmmmmm.
