fsufan8

OK ...then my pipes probably just need repacking. It looks like the baffles and the repacking kits are about the same price. I'm wondering what would be the better option. To repack the cans, I'll have to remove the cans, then pop out the rivets, install the packing material, and refit everything together. I don't have a rivet gun so I'd have to invest in that, too. For the baffles, it would take less time to drill a hole and install those and to boot, the baffles will last as long as the cans do whereas if I repack the cans, they'll need to be repacked again down the road. Should I go with the baffles?? As far as the fuel mileage, I was way off. I thought I was getting low 30s at best but my calculations show that I'm getting 39.33 mpg. That's great! I filled the tank up to the top, just below the lip in the tank opening, reset the trip odometer, road the bike and at 176.8 miles, I refueled the bike to the same point I filled it the first time and I filled 4.495 gallons. The fuel guage was flashing at 175 miles. What is the capacity of the fuel tank on the 02' model (I could look it up but I'm lazy I guess). I thought it was 5.5 g or so ...if that's the case, I had another 40 or so miles left before the bike was dead empty. That's good to know. Steve

Not sure on this. The guy I bought the bike from was in his 40s and told me he used the bike for longer trips here and there. He didn't appear to be the squid type of rider ...plus the bike is set up for sport touring (Heli bars, Corbin hard bags, tank bag, etc.). I asked him about the sound of the pipes when I fired her up at his place ...he didn't think they were too loud (maybe afraid to pooch the sale of the bike to me) but that he did wear ear plugs but it was b/c of the wind noise. He might have taken the packing material out. Let me ask this ...when I look down into the pipes, I see absolutely no packing material. Only a big hollow chamber. Is the packing material in-between the outer metal of the can and the inner holed piece of metal or should it be visible when you look into the can? As mentioned before, I have never had after market cans before and never really looked inside of any can I've had on my bikes so I don't know this. As far as your fuel mileage hey allen, yours sounds low to me. Has your bike been remapped or had other tunes performed on it?

OK then ..there's got to be something up with my cans then. If you have similar model cans and yours are mellow, mine should be similar to that and they are very loud ....I can post pics but I don't know how to get a sound bite. I don't have anything that can record a bite and then download it to a PC. I'll get the repacking kit then ....thanks for the link Organ Donor. I'll see if that works. I should be able to post my fuel mileage tomorrow, too, when I fill up tonight. I think my mpg is not that great for some reason ...like low 30s. Maybe it's the side bags (Corbins) adding some weight.

Thought about repacking them but the bike only had 9300 mls. on it when I first got it and the pipes were LOUD from day one. I can't believe that they need to be repacked at 9K mls ...and I'm not sure if these pipes even have that many miles on them. I don't think the previous owner installed them right after he bought the bike. Sounds like wearing ear protection is more common that I thought. Maybe I'll just keep wearing the plugs since it will save my hearing over the long haul plus it's the cheapest alternative to nothing. Your bike gets better mpg than mine. I do mostly highway commuting in San Diego on highways that are fairly hilly but not mountainous by any means, I'm not hard on the throttle, average around 80 mph, and my guage starts flashing around 175 miles on a full tank (filled to the brim nearly). I thought that was worse than expected. So it sounds like I might have another 20-25 miles once the fuel guage flashes, huh? That's good to know. Thanks for your insight! Steve You have the same thing I have then. I will say that of all the bikes I have owned, this is the first time I have had after market pipes. Maybe I'm just not use to how loud they can be. How many miles do you have on your pipes? Is repacking based on age/mileage of the pipes?

No, actually the lower the rpm, the louder the rumble. My pipes are deafing for sure ...I don't think re-gearing the bike would help, and to boot, that would cost more than baffles.

Couple of questions ...my 02' XX has Two Brothers Racing exhaust cans, C4 style (large round ports). The bike had them when I bought it. They are just too loud for my tastes and I have resorted to wearing ear plugs for the time being but it's such a hassle putting them on ...sometimes they don't fit quite right so I've had to pull over on the highway a few times to adjust them. I'd rather buy some baffles for the cans so that they have a good tone ...a bit louder than stock but much less noisy than they are now. Anyone know of some good baffles that fit my application? I've seen some on eBay but not sure they will fit. I don't mind having to drill holes but I would prefer not to have to weld baffles to the ports, if possible. Also, anyone know approx. how many miles we can get on the XXs as soon as the fuel guage indicates the fuel is nearing empty (flashing bars)? My Aprilia would get about 20-25 miles once the reserve kicked in. Thanks in advance for the info! Steve