Triumphrat

Butcher · 01-29-2007

"It's just a matter of time before I'll get asked to leave this forum"...that's what I keep telling myself every time I start a new topic because of all the questions I come up with.
My newest dilemna has arisen regarding the exhaust mods I would like to do to my bike when I get it (Bonnie). I was told by some of you to look up the stuff on British Customs site. I saw a great kit for 770.00 that includes the airbox elimination kit (which also includes the rejet), the Predator exhaust, and the air injection elimination kit. I thought that was the thing to get, but keep getting mixed opinions on it. The Predator exhaust really looks tough, but I am just hoping they are loud enough....I can't seem to find a soundbyte for them.
Again, I am turning to you folks for some welcome advise and opinion.

sweatmachine · 01-29-2007

CLICK HERE FOR SOUNDBITE and guess what, they sound better than that in person. They are plenty loud.

If a straight piped harley is a 10, I'd say they are a 6.5-7.

I have set off plenty of car alarms (unintenionally and otherwise) with my Predators.

idaho_thrux · 01-29-2007

I looked long and hard at all the pipe options including TOR's, D&D, etc. I chose the Predators, and have never looked back. Build quality is great, and the sound is oh so sweet in person.

bmetz99 · 01-29-2007

Might save you a lot of time and headache (and money) if you just hold on a bit, join a local Triumph group, and go on some rides with them. The chances are extremely good that you'll not only run into a bunch of people with a bunch of different exhaust systems and mods, but also learn a bunch of first-hand stuff about what works and what doesn't.

Don't forget also that with anything mechanical, there will always be tradeoffs when you start modifying. True, the stock bikes come set up so lean and restricted that you can get some decent horsepower gains by simply going with an aftermarket air filter, mufflers, and a bit of rejetting. But once you start doing more drastic stuff (airbox removal, individual pod filters, etc) there's the possibility that you may get big top-end performance gains at the expense of torque or midrange horsepower.

Might be helpful to ask yourself how much time you really spend at wide open throttle, or whether maximum top speed is worth losing user-friendly power characteristics. I've got a buddy with a Harley that makes 103 horsepower. It isn't running now because it started making "funny noises", and now he's talking about buying another Harley and leaving it stock so he can have a reliable bike for distance riding, and a hot rod that he won't leave town on. :roll:

sweatmachine · 01-29-2007

Quote:

once you start doing more drastic stuff (airbox removal, individual pod filters, etc) there's the possibility that you may get big top-end performance gains at the expense of torque or midrange horsepower.

Might be helpful to ask yourself how much time you really spend at wide open throttle, or whether maximum top speed is worth losing user-friendly power characteristics. I've got a buddy with a Harley that makes 103 horsepower. It isn't running now because it started making "funny noises", and now he's talking about buying another Harley and leaving it stock so he can have a reliable bike for distance riding, and a hot rod that he won't leave town on. :roll:

Well, bonnies are more reliable than harleys, duh, and there is absolutely no power loss anywhere in the RPM range from doing the exhaust and ditching the airbox.

Marde · 01-29-2007

Butcher, I installed the kit you referenced last November on my 790. The exhaust does indeed get louder, and better in my opinion. There's a wonderful "pulse" in the sound upon decel, and those too touchy car alarms do go off in my neighdorhood. For me though, the overall volume is just about perfect. The wizzzzzing of the engine fades nicely into the background. If had the chance to step-up through the various exhausts, (stock to TORs to ......), I would have stopped at the Preds. Excellent quality and performance. The airbox elimination kit works well too, hit the rev limiter quicker than before, though the mpg's have dropped a bit.

Good luck with your choice.

poffypoffa · 01-29-2007

There is no possible way that anyone could need an exhaust louder than the Predators. They're not as loud as a Harley, but because of the natural sound of the Bonnie engine, IMHO they feel almost as loud.

I regularly set off car alarms when I start her up. In my garage, the sound is uncomfortably loud.

An old-time Bonnie rider commented the other day that there didn't appear to be very much muffle in my mufflers.

Oh, and BTW, they're freaking awesome!

d2mini · 01-30-2007

Quote:

On 2007-01-29 22:15, poffypoffa wrote:
There is no possible way that anyone could need an exhaust louder than the Predators. They're not as loud as a Harley, but because of the natural sound of the Bonnie engine, IMHO they feel almost as loud.

I regularly set off car alarms when I start her up. In my garage, the sound is uncomfortably loud.

An old-time Bonnie rider commented the other day that there didn't appear to be very much muffle in my mufflers.

Oh, and BTW, they're freaking awesome!

Ditto everything he said.

HiVel · 01-30-2007

Just buy the kit and be done with it-you can't do any better IMHO. How do I know ? I did it "my way" and wound up spending more MONEY and a lot more pain and sufffering working everything out. These BC folks have a great rep and unless you like it the hard way (I apparently do) it is a good way to go.

FattRat · 01-30-2007

About the only way you're gonna get any louder than these home made cans, is if my fish tails are added on the end:

And this first video is what they sound like sans the fish tails but with the same 'Big City Thunder' baffles via straight through pipes (with or without additional baffle at end of pipe):

Bubs:

[ This message was edited by: FattRat on 2007-01-30 00:29 ]