Stock Harley exhausts are pretty quiet. You can make some pretty loud motorcycles thanks to right around the right stage of engine power you are at.
With the right setup, you can make your stock Harley look like an exotic or performance car! There are many ways to make stock Harley exhausts louder. This article will go over some different ways to make your motorcycle sound more like a sports car.
Many of these tips do not apply at low engine speeds, so do not worry if you are still in the morning or after lunch time! You do not need any specialized tools or equipment to start making some more pronounced noises.
How much louder you want your bike to be at this level is up to what you wanted out of it and how much money you want to spend.
Contents:
Install straight pipe exhaust
If you want the bike to sound more like a drag car or an Indy-type motorcycle, then you can install straight pipe exhaust. These are less expensive than curve pipe and extended pipe exhaust.
For those new to installing straight pipe exhaust, it can be tricky. You have to measure the location of your muffler and make sure it is compatible with the tube. You also have to remove some mounting sub-pipes and add the new one in their place.
But in return, this type of exhaust gives you more power, better gas mileage, and looks better than curve or extended pipe. It is also easier to make into an Appearance Package as there are pre-made solutions available.
Install straight pipe exhaust if you: want a more aggressive look or ride style; are a good pedestrian or bike rider; like more power or performance bikes; like loud motorcycles.
Upgrade your fuel injection system
Using a FOXX injector upgrade is an easy way to make your bike more fuel-efficient. These are commonly available and will increase your bike’s economy and performance.
They cost between $30 and $60, so it is not a large cost difference to have more tanks of gas!
Harley-Davidson engines are designed to run with the FOXX upgrades, so there is no need to purchase a new Harley-Davidson engine. Most good engine shops can install the upgrade for you!
Runnig your fuel injected motorcycle with less fuel means less power, right? Not necessarily! Look into it enough, and you might find that you cannot hear your motorcycle because of the sound deadening or suspension required. Your exhaust might become louder!
Making your exhaust sound louder will require buying some beefier pipes or investing in some add-on mufflers.
Change out your spark plugs
Changing out your spark plugs on your motorcycle is an art. You can do it at your local bike shop, or you can do it yourself! It is also best to have a Tech come to your house to teach you how to do it.
The procedure called for in changing the spark plug on your motorcycle is changing the positive and negative terminals. This varies from bike to bike, but the process is the same.
To do this yourself, find a good source of Tung oil. You will need about three quarters of a cup per gallon of oil. Make sure it is not packaged, because then it may be hard to use. Buy from a reputable store that offers this service as an add-on.
Then, find some fresh or old insulating tape and wrap the new plug around the old one and secure it with some grease or thread-lock. Finally, wrap some cotton around the other end and tie a knot to secure it.
Change out your muffler
If you’re riding a standard Harley, there are two ways to make your bike sound more sporty. The first is to change out your standard muffler for a louder one. The second is to add a spoiler or low-profile tire model.
The standard muffler can be replaced with a custom muffler made by an exhaust specialists or by adding a baffles and pipes to your existing ones.
The second way to make your bike sound more sporty is to add a spoiler or low-profile tire model.
Run a straight pipe to the end of the exhaust
If you are running a Chopper, Sprint, or Streetracing inspired bike build, you may want to skip this part.
The straight pipe required for an exhaust on a Streetracing or Chopper inspired bike is much longer than the tail end of the tank. The longer straight pipe required means more expensive pipes, too.
The shorter straight pipe necessary for an exhaust on a Standard and Cruiser inspired bike is much less expensive than the bike’s worth due to saved money in brake and drive train upgrades.
The shorter straight pipe necessary for an exhaust on a Sprint/Standard inspired bike is still less expensive than thebike’s worth due to saved money in upgrades.
Use a gain-plus plug valve with the air-control sensor disabled
When installing a plug-valve exhaust system, be sure to use the correct size gain-plus plug valve. A small one may not allow enough air in while a large one may not allow enough cold air out.
To install a gain-plus plug valve, you must first disconnect the air tube from the muffler. Then, you can connect the gain-plus plug to the muffler or rear end of the bike. You can then connect the exhaust hose to it and finally turn on the vacuum control device (VCD).
Once this is done, try riding your bike! If it sounds better than before, then you were successful.
Replace the air control valve with a manual valve
Most newer Harleys have a sophisticated air control valve located behind the throttle. This valve controls the amount of air entering the exhaust system. With this valve out, you can make your motorcycle louder!
Making your motorcycle sound more powerful is a fun way to spend some time and repair services. For example, installing a manual air control valve will cost between $30-50 and it is an easy fix.
However, keeping an advanced auto adjustment feature is also useful for tuning your vehicle to best suit your riding style. By having an auto adjustment feature with this valve, you will still be able to make changes to get the desired sound.
Bullet point lifted from article below: When looking for new exhaust systems there are some important things to watch for. The height of the pipes, how thick they are, and whether or not they are replaceable are some of them.
These pieces can be bought as separate pieces or as part of a replacement system.
Modify the stock exhaust with welds and holes
If you are looking to make your bike even louder, then you should consider adding some pipe or hole work to the exhaust. This is great for more pronounced sounds!
Many welders and car tinkerers offer tips and tricks for making your exhaust louder, so go out and try some of them out!
Some of the tips that can add sound to your bike are: Adding a piece of cloth or metal mesh between the catheter in the muffler and the rest of the pipe, adding a larger diameter pipe (to reduce clamor), and structuring the hole work such that it does not cause excessive rattle.
Bullet point stressed that these pieces must be used properly in order for them to add sound to your bike! Make sure you get help if you do not.