DB killers

[G Beale]

Does anyone use these inserts in their tail cans to keep the noise down a bit ? Are they any good ? do they sap any power ? do they actually work ? do they rattle around once fitted ? Will I be left with a gaping hole in my cans from the bolt that holds them in place when I remove them ?
I actually love the noise my bike makes but with a trip to Germany looming & my cans not being E marked I don't want to draw any unwanted attention & I'm guessing after 1k miles I will either be very deaf or very sick of the noise.
Found these on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0106429267
They're all around the same price (cheap) which is what's worrying me.

[trixynut]

Graham,

I use them in my cans and they work good. Mine are loud Renegade race cans, but with the baffle inserts in theyre still nice and fruity but not over the top. Also passed MOT with them in (but with a 'caution' ticket!)

You do need to drill a small (3mm?) hole for the bolt, but the inserts I have don't rattle around once in.

I got them off ebay for iirc £15 for the pair, but mine are the type with a bend in the end to follow the line of the pipe, like this...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/UNIVERAL-REMOVABL ... %26ps%3D54

No noticable power sap at all if you've got a standard motor.

Dave

[G Beale]

Thanks for that Dave. I have just done 412 miles around Wales today & the noise is getting to be a bit of a pain. Think I will buy a pair of the straight ones (can't find any with the bend in cheap enough).

[dandywarhol]

Got Akras on my TDM900 and fitted Staintune DB killers. No sapping of power, they're only about 100mm long and take off the bark nicely at low throttle openings.

[zod]

Got the same db-killers for my shark cans, but they didn't make much of a difference. The sound got a bit sharper, but that was hardly what I where looking for
Killerwhale gave me a tip that cans that didn't react to dbkillers, most likely needed a repack.

[ekoja]

Dear Mr Beale.
Have you considered getting a set of standard mufflers for such occasions as you have described.
You will find that they are generally easily obtainable off e-bay,
At the end of a trip of any distance, you will find that your ears are not buzzing for hours after.
The authorities will display not interest in you whatsoever re noise.
They are easily changed to a more noisy pipe if you so desire.
The whole riding experience to my mind is enhanced.
They may be a lot heavier, but honestly, I could not notice the difference, but having said that, being old and slow and dottery
any part that affects the performance of the motorbicycle is probably wasted on me

[Jak]

@ ekoja

I'm guessing after 1k miles I will either be very deaf or very sick of the noise.

Perhaps you should consider earplugs

[Glyn]

Have you considered getting a set of standard mufflers for such occasions as you have described.

I followed this route but the standard ones are so quiet you may as well be on a sewing machine, I have MTC cans which are very small and very loud, I will give the dB killers a go I think.

as an aside to this I had loud cans on so I changed them for std ones for the MOT, which it promptly failed due to leaking exhaust joint, when I said to the bloke at the garage what I had done, he said that as long as the loud cans had BS marks on them they didn't test the noise level at all.

[Mincehead]

Nope,there`s no noise testing or limits that the ministry quote it`s all down to the discretion of the MOT tester.
None of my bikes are baffled/quiet,I love a bike to be loud but then I`m lucky to have a `tame` MOT tester,bit like the Stig but uglier.
The BSAU thing is not always required either,I heard somewhere that it`s now not required in the UK but hey,who cares my pipes are loud and lairy,no-one doesn`t hear me approaching unless it`s rat kids burning thousands of watts of music power in tacky cars with blacked out windows and galvanised dustbins masquerading as exhausts.

[Jak]

None of my bikes are baffled/quite,I love a bike to be loud but then I`m lucky to have a `tame` MOT tester

Ditto. Last year I suggested I took the standard cans in and he could swap them over for me to do the MOT, then swap them back ... he just laughed and said he couldn't be bothered, "consider it done and the cans have passed"

It's actually off for it's MOT later, complete with baffle-less Scorpions which have a few scuffs on the back where it used to have some annoying words ... something about "Not for ..."

[Mincehead]

`Road use` Jak?
Ah well,happy MOT day,you`ve got the weather for it at least.
My tester is more interested in knowing what new mods I`ve carried out on it,the whole test is a conversation with a few breaks to check the lights work and the wheel,swingarm and head bearings are ok!

[Jak]

`Road use` Jak?

Oh is that what it said ... I didn't notice

[G Beale]

I still have my standard exhaust system but none of it is interchangeable (big word for this week) with the system on the bike. I just thought that stuffing a tube down the end of each can would be a quick & easy fix as long as they work.
What's the score regards re-packing my cans ? If I fluff the packing up & put less of it in loose does this absorb some of the gases or am I talking rubbish ? I have re-sleeved my carbon cans & the packing is stuffed in very tight so maybe the gases aren't finding their way into the can & just coming straight out, noise & all ???
I do use ear plug (sometimes) but I'm normally 5 or 6 miles from my house when I realise I've forgot them (again). Maybe I should carry spares & offer them to the German police if they don't like the noise ?
I looked at the short inserts but couldn't see them having much effect. Having read zod's post I think the full length ones will be my only option now. Neither of my cans have any markings on them at all so if I can shut them up a bit I will be a bit more relaxed whilst riding. The last thing I want is to get to the Nurburgring in August & have them turn me away. There is a 100db limit around there I'm told.
Thanks for all your input people, much appreciated.

[Mincehead]

If you`re really worried and have near EIGHT HUNDRED quid + VAT! To throw about with abandon you could invest in a pair of Over`s solutions:

http://www.overracing.com/shop/GENERAL- ... 29901.html

Cheeky barstewards stole an idea I made years ago,mine was crude,used a brass throttle butterfly with phosphor bronze bearings and a sturmey archer push bike gear change quadrant and cable.Worked fine,though the cable had a habit of melting it`s plastic sleeving.
Over have obviously utilised ceramics and heat resisting plastics in the OVERly expensive design.
A licence to print money wll come next I`m sure.

[idl1975]

Yes, but the Over racing item has a special doomsday feature in case the worst happens and you're stopped by the filth.

If you lift the bamboo toggle cover and press the big red button with the rising sun on it, the super-strong titanium valve closes completely and a few seconds later your headers explode in a shower of shrapnel, taking you and the Babylon straight to hell. But at least you don't get a "producer".

Ever wonder what happened to all those cashiered Fast Bikes magazine journos from back in the day? Now you know...

Edit: but do you really want an Over product anyway? This is what they have to say about the TRX exhaust system:

"Feel the noise! At 99db you won't miss a piston beat! Nothing sounds like a big twin, especially when the crank pins are set at 180 degrees. Performance is improved, looks are improved and sound is unforgettable. "

If you`re really worried and have near EIGHT HUNDRED quid + VAT! To throw about with abandon you could invest in a pair of Over`s solutions:

http://www.overracing.com/shop/GENERAL- ... 29901.html

Cheeky barstewards stole an idea I made years ago,mine was crude,used a brass throttle butterfly with phosphor bronze bearings and a sturmey archer push bike gear change quadrant and cable.Worked fine,though the cable had a habit of melting it`s plastic sleeving.
Over have obviously utilised ceramics and heat resisting plastics in the OVERly expensive design.
A licence to print money wll come next I`m sure.