AeroCapDave
06-04-2011, 08:09 PM
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</td></tr> <tr><td class="msgtxt" id="msgtxt_1">Hey Folks,
I was lamenting about how the Long Shot's have a slight "tinny" or "ringing" sound to them. Those sounds are subtle, but there. I wanted to lower the tone (not the volume) of the pipes. To make them deeper.
I had an idea and thought I would indulge it.
I went to my local Home Depot and got a less-than $4.00 mini roll of fiberglass insulation (16"x48"x2"thick). I cut three-inch wide x 48" long strips from the roll. I then separated/divided the strips into 1/2" thick x 3"wide x 48" long strips. I then removed the stock Long Shot baffles and wrapped them spiral-style around the scalloped part of the baffles (start from the end with the threaded hole for the bolt to facilitate installation). Twist the insulation tight by spinning your hand around the insulation to get it tighter. You will understand when you have it in front of you.
I then put the baffles back. This part was a little tricky as I had to "screw" the baffles into the pipes as the insulation made the baffles thicker (read: fits tighter into the tubes). This means that if you are not careful you will insert the baffles stripping the insulation off the baffles while inserting them.
This is why you start wrapping at the end with the threaded hole for the bolt.
The twisting insertion of the baffles holds the insulation to the baffle (kind of like how you must wrap the threads of a pipe with Teflon tape properly to ensure it stays on when you screw the pipe into the fitting). If done carefully, the friction holds the insulation onto the baffles exterior between the baffle and the inside of the exhaust pipe itself (sandwiching the insulation).
You can see the insulation through all of the scallops of the entire baffle (from the inside) when they are inserted correctly.
Once the baffles are in past the outside of the tubes, a flat-head screwdriver (or similar) can be used to push the baffles in to the correct depth for the bolt to engage the threaded hole in the baffle. Make sure to have the hole lined up horizontally before pushing the baffles in past the end of the pipe. This will ensure you are lined up to engage the bolt once the baffle is in to the right depth. I then screwed the allen-head bolts into their respective baffle threads. The baffle will be a lot harder to remove once it is "insulated" so get it aligned up right the first time. It will save you a small headache.
Once both baffles were "insulated", I started the bike up. All I can say is "WOW!" The bike is just as loud as before, but the tone of the pipes deepened noticeably. Gone is the tinny sound. It is raining here right now, so I can not get it out on the road to try it at speed. But at idle and revving it I can tell this was a step in the right direction. The tone is much deeper now.
One roll of insulation is enough to do six or eight bikes. A really cheap, but really worthwhile mod. In total, it took fifteen minutes from start to finish to do both exhaust pipes. Simple.
Hope this helps my fellow Long Shot owners.
Sorry for no pictures. I got into the project, and before I knew it, it was done.
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</td></tr> <tr><td class="msgtxt" id="msgtxt_1">Hey Folks,
I was lamenting about how the Long Shot's have a slight "tinny" or "ringing" sound to them. Those sounds are subtle, but there. I wanted to lower the tone (not the volume) of the pipes. To make them deeper.
I had an idea and thought I would indulge it.
I went to my local Home Depot and got a less-than $4.00 mini roll of fiberglass insulation (16"x48"x2"thick). I cut three-inch wide x 48" long strips from the roll. I then separated/divided the strips into 1/2" thick x 3"wide x 48" long strips. I then removed the stock Long Shot baffles and wrapped them spiral-style around the scalloped part of the baffles (start from the end with the threaded hole for the bolt to facilitate installation). Twist the insulation tight by spinning your hand around the insulation to get it tighter. You will understand when you have it in front of you.
I then put the baffles back. This part was a little tricky as I had to "screw" the baffles into the pipes as the insulation made the baffles thicker (read: fits tighter into the tubes). This means that if you are not careful you will insert the baffles stripping the insulation off the baffles while inserting them.
This is why you start wrapping at the end with the threaded hole for the bolt.
The twisting insertion of the baffles holds the insulation to the baffle (kind of like how you must wrap the threads of a pipe with Teflon tape properly to ensure it stays on when you screw the pipe into the fitting). If done carefully, the friction holds the insulation onto the baffles exterior between the baffle and the inside of the exhaust pipe itself (sandwiching the insulation).
You can see the insulation through all of the scallops of the entire baffle (from the inside) when they are inserted correctly.
Once the baffles are in past the outside of the tubes, a flat-head screwdriver (or similar) can be used to push the baffles in to the correct depth for the bolt to engage the threaded hole in the baffle. Make sure to have the hole lined up horizontally before pushing the baffles in past the end of the pipe. This will ensure you are lined up to engage the bolt once the baffle is in to the right depth. I then screwed the allen-head bolts into their respective baffle threads. The baffle will be a lot harder to remove once it is "insulated" so get it aligned up right the first time. It will save you a small headache.
Once both baffles were "insulated", I started the bike up. All I can say is "WOW!" The bike is just as loud as before, but the tone of the pipes deepened noticeably. Gone is the tinny sound. It is raining here right now, so I can not get it out on the road to try it at speed. But at idle and revving it I can tell this was a step in the right direction. The tone is much deeper now.
One roll of insulation is enough to do six or eight bikes. A really cheap, but really worthwhile mod. In total, it took fifteen minutes from start to finish to do both exhaust pipes. Simple.
Hope this helps my fellow Long Shot owners.
Sorry for no pictures. I got into the project, and before I knew it, it was done.
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