Leo Vince vs. Akrapovic

[Buckeye56]

Do not how many of you have already seen this but it is worth reading:

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/739/11430/Motorcycle-Article/Single-Track-Mind--War-Clouds-in-the-Horizon.aspx

I believe that we can either participate and try to steer the coming changes or sit back and get run over. I am a Life Member of the AMA as I feel it gives us some clout with TPTB. I do not agree with all of their positions but a unified voice has to be better than silence.

Back on topic, I have a Leo Vinci with insert on my FZ1 and find it to be not too loud. But I am careful to not get on it in residential areas and I don't ride it to work (I leave around 5:30AM). Given the cost of the Akro I seriously doubt that I would go that route. Hopefully the aftermarket will self police themselves so government doesn't do it for them and riders will have options if they so choose.

 

[rem]

That is a most interesting article, and is worthy of a good read. I read it twice, and plan to read it again. It is well written, albeit with a dash of hyperbole and a pinch of exaggeration. Still, his point is made. I am totally unfamiliar with the situation in Europe, but I suspect he is accurate with his explanation of on-going motorcycle character assassination.


I don't sense that movement here in Canada. I don't know about the U. S. But now is the time to focus on making the biker community look good as opposed to becoming a hated and despised rowdy bunch of dipsticks. This whole notion was brought up by Norm, and he has sounded the alarm. The article goes far beyond mere sound pollution, but this is the most notable offensive characteristic of motorcyclists. This is likely the single, most easily recognized negative attribute associated with bikers. And some of them ARE too damned loud.


So, let's focus on being a non-entity. This may be an oversimplification, but if we can focus on good manners and some simple common courtesy regarding our non-motorcycling bipeds, we can make a giant leap toward NOT drawing attention to ourselves. Some common sense and common courtesy will go a very long way. Nobody else really wants to hear your bike, especially during off hours and in quiet neighborhoods. I dunno ... it doesn't seem all that difficult to me. But if you can believe this guy, bikes over there are really being targeted. And if enough people get riled up about something and get it out front, the politicians will react. Usually in a thoughtless and inappropriate manner, but they will react. Gotta keep the voters happy.


Soooo ... let's all be nice and play nice and ride nice, and people won't be offended and won't cower and lock up their children when we ride by. Might just be as simple as that .....


Damn ... I better go find a job so I don't have time to sit around and write all this crap. Sorry, boys. Ride safely and politely. R

 

[colorider]

Good comments Rem. I'm almost thinking we need a stand-alone thread over in the lounge titled "Do loud pipes save lives (or simply piss people off?)"
::017::

 

[rem]

It's a very real issue, even up here where there are few people and they are pretty tolerant. It's something that we would be well advised to get out in front of (certainly don't want to be behind a set of loud pipes) and not be afraid to promote to our biker brethren. Again, I believe it is more the biker than the bike, but excessively loud pipes certainly contribute to the problem. It's an easy fix .... we just have to recognize that it needs fixin'.


Okay, I'm climbing off the soap box now. My wife won't let me speak at all at home, so I get carried away sometimes. ::009:: Let's be quiet and polite out there. ;D R

 

[~TABASCO~]

If this is possible I agree with all of you on many levels... I have a few bikes, some not so loud and some are loud. I have always felt if im going to have loud pipes to be responsible around neighborhoods, and where obvious activities are taking place. By up shifting keeping the RPM's down and riding like a normal adult. Ive even up shifted and pulled the clutch in and coasted by just to be respectful to people I dont know. I guess Ive been some what lucky when it comes to friends or people Ive ridden with that dont like loud pipes, they say something and its no problem and we distance our selves or they take it upon them selves to ride in the front or the very back, Etc.... All in a fun respectful way. If the world was magically 100% safe I would have stock sounding pipes....

Pipes save lives....? IMOP and in my personal experience living in a big city..... HELL YES ! ! !! Over the years I have experienced people telling me " I never even saw you, but I heard you".. IMOP, I would rather someone hear the bike and know im there and stay in there own lane. And then bitch all day about loud pipes - VERSES- them not hearing me, cutting me off, not knowing a bike was there (legally in the right away) and killing me..... The people that are bitching about loud pipes (out on the road, not in this post) might not like loud pipes in the car next to me but they are talking about me and they know im there in the lane next to them..... because Ive seen it happen many times...

If you live a big city LA - Miami - Chicago - Dallas - NY - Houston - Atlanta.................... you know what im talking about.... For the people that just dont like loud pipes at all, come to Dallas with your bike and stock pipes... you will be cut off / bumped / run off the road / in a weeks time.... People need some pipes in traffic in this crazy town...... For the riders of any type bike with stock pipes in a big town, I wish you the very best, GOD SPEED ! ::008::

 

[3putt]

I call BULL on that Tabasco, I ride big cities all the time, including Dallas. You are very wrong. Loud pipes are not what I want to be around or be represented by when I am riding, be it on road or off road. Loud pipes do not save lives, that is just very stupid. Sure people hear you in the lane beside you and can't wait for you to go away.

This is not a personal attack, I just am very disappointed you took a stand for this.

 

[~TABASCO~]

Everyone has there own opinion... I don't take it personal....... But that's why I said "in my opinion and in my own experience"..... ::008::

Tiger, do you consider a bike to have loud pipes if they are not stock pipes ? If a Super Tenere had an Akrapovic that is very close to the DB level of stock, is that considered a loud pipe? How do YOU define "loud pipes"....

 

[rem]

I think the main thing to REMember is that we all have the capability of making a joyful sound unto the world. We can do it through the spoken word and/or through our bikes. Ultimately, it will be up to the individual to determine the nature and volume of that sound. If you feel that making some substantial vibes on the highway increases your safety in relation to other vehicles, then go for it. I think you can get away with quite a bit in a highway setting as opposed to a more suburban environment. As with most things, you choose the time and you choose the place. If you choose carefully, you are not likely to offend many people.


Otherwise, Colorider may be dispatched. He has agreed to respond to specific complaints and go kick some bad biker butt if deemed necessary. At least I think it was him ....... I confuse so easily these days. Maybe it was Troll. O Let's be safe and courteous out there. R ::003::

 

[3putt]

Everyone has there own opinion... I don't take it personal....... But that's why I said "in my opinion and in my own experience"..... ::008::

Tiger, do you consider a bike to have loud pipes if they are not stock pipes ? If a Super Tenere had an Akrapovic that is very close to the DB level of stock, is that considered a loud pipe? How do YOU define "loud pipes"....

I consider anything other than a stock muffler on a HD to be very obnoxious. On dirt bikes some are not that loud with the FMF, but I removed mine when I bought a used WR250R with the FMF bomb.

On the ST, the muffler is very quiet and an aftermarket that has the same DB level or close should be fine, but then what is the point other than saving weight, it probably is not going to help much in HP/Torque. My bike runs great, and will tear up the offroad!

I just sold 2010 Multistrata 1200, with stock mufflers you could hear me coming for over a mile, everywhere I went people were already looking from their yards to see what the noise was. Course it didn't help that I had just ran up to triple digits.

I put a remus on my Tiger 1050, was way too loud, not bad on the bike unless you took a trip then it got very tiring, so I removed it.

The problem is that we are heard when we have loud pipes, and most times that is not a good thing for motorcyclist in general. We have lost some roads (very nice roads) to ride because of this.

Thanks Rem for mediating, I'm not good at soapbox stuff, usually keep my mouth shut, but I must be getting a little looser with old age.

 

[~TABASCO~]

O' for sure... Some HD with wide open short pipes or shot gun pipes are DUMB! These dude "seem" to be the same guys that like to hit 5K RPM's in the neighbor hoods... Or think they are 'cool' going 0-70 from stop light to stop light... Not cool......

But getting back to the Super Tenere, I don't think Ive come across any pipes that are to that hot-rod DH straight pipe level... I have some REMUS on my FJR and they might be 5 DB over stock.. They are quiet.. Any who, Again, I think it has a lot to do with being responsible and respectful to your surroundings. I don't look down on people that might have this or that type of pipe, but how they ride the bike when its installed on there bike. Some obviously try to be respectful......... and some obviously are NOT.... I'm one that might have something louder than stock, but its important to me to be respectful in populated areas. You have made yourself clear on your stance on not having anything to do with safety, and that's totally cool. In my experience, the loud pipes have saved my butt many times because people could hear there was a bike around. Just my experience... I'm glad you have never had any close calls on behalf of another ding-dong driver.... Be safe out there !

 

[rem]

The problem is that we are heard when we have loud pipes, and most times that is not a good thing for motorcyclist in general.

Notwithstanding anyone's personal orientation regarding decibel emissions from motorcycles, I think the statement quoted above rings with an undisputed truth. It's pretty hard to find fault with that one. Well said. If we can keep that simple statement in mind while out expressing ourselves, it would serve us all well.


That being said, I think bagpipes and banjos should be allowed free reign. ::014:: R

 

[~TABASCO~]

That being said, I think bagpipes and banjos should be allowed free reign. ::014:: R

::024:: ::008:: ::018::

 

[colorider]

I have some REMUS on my FJR and they might be 5 DB over stock.. They are quiet..

It's been WAY too long since I did any kind of audio stuff, but wouldn't 5db be about 40% LOUDER than stock? Seems like a lot.....

 

[~TABASCO~]

It's been WAY too long since I did any kind of audio stuff, but wouldn't 5db be about 40% LOUDER than stock? Seems like a lot.....

LOL.... who knows... your a smart guy.... Your prolly right.... The Remus that I have sound stock to me........ ::26::

 

[rem]

I just wanted to go on record stating that I have no affiliation with REMus products. However, I'm a pretty loud guy. Had we had a female child, I would have named her Deci Belle .. R ::001::

 

[~TABASCO~]

I just wanted to go on record stating that I have no affiliation with REMus products. However, I'm a pretty loud guy. Had we had a female child, I would have named her Deci Belle .. R ::001::

U Sooooooooooooo Cr-A-zy ! ! But thats what we like about ya ..... ::008::

 

[Wanderer]

Hi,
Been away from this thread for a bit, wow! ??? I like it. Keep talking and join the AMA.
Later,
Norm

 

[DukeTen]

I just came back from my first ride after installing the Leo Vince and I am very, very happy with the results. It is not a loud pipe, in fact you can barely hear it on the freeway. It won't disturb the neighbors when you're riding in/out but it has a bite when you open the throttle. Compared to the Leo Vince I had on my FZ1 this one is definitely on the quiet side. I don't think the one I had was the EVO model though.

The engine revs up more freely then it did before and feels smoother all around. I haven't had excessive vibrations before so I don't think the slip on would be a fix, it just feels very smooth now. Torque is improved, especially at low RPM.

I still need to do a TBS this weekend but so far I really like the improvements. As I said before, peak numbers don't tell the full story. The changes in torque and power distribution are significant and produce an even more pleasant ride. More to come after the TBS...

::003::

 

[~TABASCO~]

I just came back from my first ride after installing the Leo Vince and I am very, very happy with the results. It is not a loud pipe, in fact you can barely hear it on the freeway. It won't disturb the neighbors when you're riding in/out but it has a bite when you open the throttle. Compared to the Leo Vince I had on my FZ1 this one is definitely on the quiet side. I don't think the one I had was the EVO model though.

The engine revs up more freely then it did before and feels smoother all around. I haven't had excessive vibrations before so I don't think the slip on would be a fix, it just feels very smooth now. Torque is improved, especially at low RPM.

I still need to do a TBS this weekend but so far I really like improvements. As I said before, peak numbers don't tell the full story. The changes in torque and power distribution are significant and produce an even more pleasant ride. More to come after the TBS...

::003::

X2 each piece of the puzzle makes it that much better ! Congratulations !

 

[digitalmoto]

That being said, I think bagpipes and banjos should be allowed free reign. ::014:: R

Does that mean I can play Rammstein and Manson at full tilt on my drums too? What about cranking up my Marshall half-stack with my Les Paul? It's got great tone, especially when pushed to near feedback levels. It's only a 150 watt digital head unit. > The obvious answer is, "No." I like my German/Industrial/Goth/Thrash-metal at high volumes. I don't expect everyone else will like it too. It took my wife 4 years to get used to "my" music and she likes heavy metal! So why should I assume everyone within 50 miles wants to hear the sweet melody of my motorcycle?
In my view, not pissing off the neighbors should be reasonably high on the list. If you need loud pipes to keep you safe, maybe you should take up curling or ultimate frisbee or something that doesn't require large machines or speeds above your own ability to jog. And you are being a selfish bastard if you think that your "personal choice" has no impact on all of your riding peers. Starting Jan 1, 2013 the entire State of California outlaws aftermarket exhausts that lack an EPA exhaust system sound emissions label. If we can't police ourselves, the someone else will do it for us.
http://motorcyclesafetynews.com/?p=779
Here's the other side of the coin. The National Federation of the Blind is lobbying congress to require artifical vehicle sounds on electric vehicles. They're too quite and the blind are worried about stepping out in front of one. ::010::
http://noiseoff.org/evs.php
Only in America...