6string
Silver Member
Anyone remember the 2 stroke bikes of the 60s and 70s? Take the baffles out of the pipes and it sounded like a herd of chainsaws on steroids. :thumbsup:
What is it with Harley riders?
- Thread starter npalen
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Bird
Rest in Peace
I had a 1967 Yamaha 305 but I never took the baffles out to see what it would sound like. But in the '50s a friend had a Sears Allstate motorcycle (250cc, I think, can't say for sure) and yep I've heard it with the baffles out.
TCowner
Platinum Member
I'm not sure I buy the "loud pipes saves lives" theory. If that were the case, Honda Goldwing riders would have a higher mortality rate over Harley riders. Consequently, the insurance companies would tack on a surcharge if you ride a Goldwing. Additionally, when applying for life insurance, right after they ask you if you smoke or have high blood pressure they would ask if you ride a GoldWing. Think about it, your life insurance application could be rejected if you ride a Goldwing instead of a Harley.
Harley could use information in their advertising. Sounds like a good way to sell motorcycles.
Harley could use information in their advertising. Sounds like a good way to sell motorcycles.
adirondackmtnman
Platinum Member
Not really. Harleys are pretty quiet from the factory, it's the aftermarket that produces the loud stuff.
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MossRoad
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Why yes I do.... my friend had a Kawasaki 500 two stroke triple and that got me into my Yamaha RD400 two stroke twin. I swapped the stock exhaust for SpecialistII expansion chambers, got larger carbs, swapped out the reed valves with lighter ones from a 250 so they'd open faster, had the pistons machined to open the intake and exhaust ports faster and took two teeth off the front sprocket. Made for an extremely fast little street rocket. Surprised I didn't get killed. Never dumped it. Ran like a pooch under 5000rpm, but as soon as you hit 5 it would snap you back and lift the front tire in the first three gears well up to a bazillion rpms. I had a set of wheelie bars that I could easily swap out for a day at the drag strip. Best I pulled was (as I recall, as I gave up riding it when we had kids in the early 90s), 11.92 at 119mph in the quarter. Not bad for a 25 cubic inch motor! :laughing: I still have it, but I took it apart so I couldn't ride it. It was evil. Anyone remember the movie Christine? Well, that bike is my Christine.
ovrszd
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I still have it, but I took it apart so I couldn't ride it. It was evil. Anyone remember the movie Christine? Well, that bike is my Christine.
I don't care who you are,,,,, that's funny!!!!
My Wife would roll her eyes and say "Typical Male Logic".
MossRoad
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I don't care who you are,,,,, that's funny!!!!
My Wife would roll her eyes and say "Typical Male Logic".
I'll put it back together once my last child is independent and on-track.... she's 16 now, so about 6 more years. Then I'll start drag racing again. Its fun, but I had my responsibilities to attend to and had little to no self control when I rode that thing on the street. I doubt I'll ever ride it on the street again. I would like to get a nice quite, slow, squishy ride road bike and do some trips with my wife when we retire.
Marveltone
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Why yes I do.... my friend had a Kawasaki 500 two stroke triple and that got me into my Yamaha RD400 two stroke twin. I swapped the stock exhaust for SpecialistII expansion chambers, got larger carbs, swapped out the reed valves with lighter ones from a 250 so they'd open faster, had the pistons machined to open the intake and exhaust ports faster and took two teeth off the front sprocket. Made for an extremely fast little street rocket. Surprised I didn't get killed. Never dumped it. Ran like a pooch under 5000rpm, but as soon as you hit 5 it would snap you back and lift the front tire in the first three gears well up to a bazillion rpms. I had a set of wheelie bars that I could easily swap out for a day at the drag strip. Best I pulled was (as I recall, as I gave up riding it when we had kids in the early 90s), 11.92 at 119mph in the quarter. Not bad for a 25 cubic inch motor! :laughing: I still have it, but I took it apart so I couldn't ride it. It was evil. Anyone remember the movie Christine? Well, that bike is my Christine.
My cousin had a Kawi 500 triple two stroke. Scariest thing I ever rode! :shocked: Wheelie magnet.
I like my Honda CB900 Custom. Comfy, plenty of power, handles well enough, and best of all, heavy and grounded!
As for my rather scathing post earlier, I was merely giving my riding impressions based on what I like out of a motorcycle and my personal impressions on the Heritage Softtail... just as my friend requested. My family and friends collectively ride just about every make imaginable. We ride together and give each other a little lighthearted grief around the campfire. In the end, all we care about is that you ride... and have a sense of humor.
I still like mufflers.
Joe
bandaidmd
Platinum Member
After reading through many of the threads referring to the loud pipes as if were a safety feature to save life's, I got to thinking if I have ever heard a Harley with a Horn:laughing: ( No I have'nt ) Perhaps the rev of their engines is their Horn, Rumble Rumble Beep-beep!
I have a air powered horn on my Road King pointed forward in the direction of where the danger is likely to come from.
Anyone that rides in a group learns pretty quick to dislike loud exhausts.
sd455dan
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My cousin had a Kawi 500 triple two stroke. Scariest thing I ever rode! :shocked: Wheelie magnet.
I like my Honda CB900 Custom. Comfy, plenty of power, handles well enough, and best of all, heavy and grounded!
As for my rather scathing post earlier, I was merely giving my riding impressions based on what I like out of a motorcycle and my personal impressions on the Heritage Softtail... just as my friend requested. My family and friends collectively ride just about every make imaginable. We ride together and give each other a little lighthearted grief around the campfire. In the end, all we care about is that you ride... and have a sense of humor.
I still like mufflers.
Joe
I think one of the scariest bikes sold was the Kawasaki Z1R TC - Turbo charged version of the Kz1000 around 130 horsepower when the standard kz1000s were making between 80-90hp. The real kicker was there were No chassis or engine improvements made to the bike, hit about 7000 and then all the boost would kick in. The buyer would have to sign a release voiding the warranty before taking delivery., And the ad stated the bike should only be considered by experienced riders- Had to be quite a ride...
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