Fellow Drifters and Roadhouse Seekers - Worked thru this interesting exhaust situation to come up with a happy ending, so thought I'd share the results.
The story starts with finding a Roadhouse exhaust from a fellow Drifter Forum member and closing the deal. Upon receipt, it was obvious the 4 inch canister had nothing in it by way of a baffle.
Result 1: It changed the sound of the engine alright...to a deep hollow unturned roar that just too much for me.
Looking around the web, I found an original advertisement for Roadhouse Exhausts that I posted on the forum, noting that the marketing indicated "removable baffles" and showed a picture of one. On that same link was a list of part numbers. From my research, there is a standard baffle, a quiet baffle and a performance baffle. Further looking resulted in finding a source with a few Roadhouse baffles left. You can find it here:
http://hellrisercustoms.com/bikes/12/category/Exhaust/subcat/Baffles#RH-OPT-CORE
When I finally ordered, all they actually had was the 2.5 inch performance baffle, so I jumped on it.
Photo RH 1 is the 2.5 inch baffle in the 4 inch canister.
The baffle came with substantial fiberglass wrapped around it. I installed it all in haste, but is was tight. Drift 1: Suggest you unwrap some of the fiberglass to reduce the outside diameter so you can freely move the baffle in and out.
Result 2: This quieted the low rumble some and changed the sound to a tuned growl, especially where it pops at shifting speeds. Now it sounded like a Roadhouse as you hear on all the U-tube videos. So, moving in the right direction, but still too many dbs both at idle and at speed, not to mention the neighbors.
Looking around the web again, I came up with another company making baffles for the baffle - Smartpartz HardKore Quiet Baffles and they make one for the 4 inch Roadhouse two into one. Here is the link to the baffle require: http://www.smartpartz.com/SPZRH4002N1SO.html
This was the quote from Chris at Smartpartz: "The baffle significantly reduce the decibel output (approx. 4-6 decibels at idle and 10-12 decibels at 2,000rpm) and increase engine back pressure resulting in a stronger mid-range - they also tidy up the sound on deceleration."
Photo RH 2 shows the Roadhouse Baffle pulled out for install; Photo RH 3 shows what you get from smartpartz and Photo RH 4 shows it installed. Interesting is that what they only sell one part and it is specifically designed for the 2.5 inch performance baffle
Result 3: The smartpartz baffle did what it said. It lowered the dbs further as advertised, took the edge off the growl where it pops when you shift and overall retained the tuned rumble. I am happy with the results. Make no mistake, there is still plenty of sound, but now instead of the higher pitched, almost whistling sound of the stock exhaust, the engine sounds like what a single crankpin V-twin should.
Thought you guys should know.
Drift 1 - If you are used to straight pipes, I think you will be happy with the 2.5 inch roadhouse baffle by itself. Let us know when you get it in.
Last observation - stock engine and intake. With this exhaust all baffled up, don't hear any unusual sounds, popping or otherwise. Performance is unaltered. So no adjustments yet. Plan is to have it sniffed when I take it in for valve adjustment, then decide on re-jetting if needed. My gut says not needed, but have no proof yet. To continue.
KW man this is a great write up ;) See you been busy searching around for that specific sound you wanted to achieve . Now am I understanding correctly , the smart partz baffle is added to the road house " performance " baffle for added decrease in db's ? How does this bolt up or is it meant to just slip on the road house baffle and bolted to the tube as 1 unit ?
I'm still waiting on my performance baffle to arrive . I'm going to give them a call this morning to see if in fact it has been shipped . It was in stock so I honestly thought I would have received it by now . I'm anxious in getting the bike back together .
Kw I'm glad you finally have that road house exhaust we both have searched countless hours for and now have it tuned to your likings 8)
Drift1: Thanks. FYI, shipping from Hell Risers was a little slow. Use the tracking link and you can see where your package is. Patience my man.
If you blow up the one photo with the box from smartpartz, you'll see the instructions, or go to the link on-line. You have to drill a 1/4 hole in the 2/5 inch stub coming out of the baffle and then put in a set screw.
Other:
- Just want to point out that Jim at Hell Risers and Chris at Smartpartz were very responsive and helpful ahead of the decision to buy. Several rounds of emails and good discussion.
- Smartpartz makes their baffle for lots of applications, in cast anyone with Long Shots or other aftermarkets you have need a little taming.
So all that's left is be next to Ratman and see how it compares to the Roadhouse with the standard 2 inch baffle.
Anyone have the Roadhouse Quiet Baffle?
Very informative, will file this away for reference. Like I have said only one person has ever made comments about how "loud" my system is. and that is normally at 0630 on a work morning.
I push the bike from the shed, park it on the end of the driveway the exhaust pointing east, start the bike on half choke, (PO said it always needs choke to start when cold), start it, walk back to shed lock it up, grab helmet and put it on, get on bike, adjust helmet, put gloves on, take choke off, shoulder check, and pull off.
Female neighbour (she always has something to bitch about) living to the west of me say's my exhaust is too loud. No one else has ever said it is overly loud. Everyone has said it has a really nice sound to it.
Most importantly I like it, I think the sound suits the bike and the looks of the bike, so it will remain as is. I need to learn to make a sound vid of it and post it.
Even with my pot helmets, I do not find the sound loud and hard on the ears.
SIDENOTE:
got a couple of lads with V&H longshots to ride past one day as she was sitting outside.......since then no real comments of how "loud" my pipes are anymore.
Final Notes on Roadhouse and Smartpartz:
See the photo on the Smartpartz box...didn't originally notice this...it's a Drifter, and although I got the part for the Roadhouse 2 into 1, it is clear they are marketing to and have baffles for the other aftermarket pipes.
Ratman:...note the front fender treatment on red drifter...similar or like yours in chrome.
Other: Appreciate the neighbor situation, so came across another article about Roadhouse baffles and necessity to repack them over time, because the packing deteriorates and slowly makes them louder. Again, just for info. See: http://vtwinchic.blogspot.com/2010/05/roadhouse-slip-on-repack.html
Awesome info, and thanks I have added this to my list of must save items, and the links.
QuoteRatman:...note the front fender treatment on red drifter...similar or like yours in chrome.
Took a close look that would be a 2001 Cardinal Red / Chromed Drifter 800.
The solo seat, clue #1, of course the colour and amount of chrome Clue #2, and look close on the rear fender, Chrome Fender Stay cover, 14091-1319 were not available in the 99 black out, nor in 2000 that I have found stock. clue #3.
When I wanted to do the stay covers, I have to order chrome and from a 2001, never found it for a 99 or anything earlier then 01.
As for the front fender guard, in all my research and looking I could not find that Kawasaki offered a bike standard or stock with front fender guard, engine guard, or sissy bar in North America. That being said I never really checked on the way the European market was set up.
But I did find that there were a number of companies that jumped on the band wagon for after market "stock" parts, to fill this gap for the abovementioned items. One such company was Custom Wings / Ledrie, based I think in the Netherlands, who have since gone under or closed. They had a huge variety of parts about 3 years ago. They had spot light, light bars, sissy bars, engine guards, luggage and such, in fact I got my sissy bar from them, at a very reasonable price including the shipping to my door step.
Then there is a guy on e bay called motorsloop Guido, in Belgium this guy went out of his way to help with a front engine guard, and my front fender guard. again both shipped and priced better then anyone one in the US. He still has the odd items every so often on ebay.
So with the help of these few people I have managed to keep my bike "stock" or close with parts made for that year and look of the bike. Yes D1 other then the fender stay covers but I like them.....lol....
kW I too also filed this very informative information away . This is an excellent thread on the road house exhaust and the research you've provided is outstanding , not to mention the pictures and links to boot . I for one am grateful for the well documented thread and thank you for the time spent achieving the information for others to reference . Kudo's to you KW ;)
Ratman I would never accuse you of straying away from keeping your bike stock . As much as it HURTS :P being nice you've done a fantastic job with Red . Now my bike however , is drifting further and further away from being stock .... LOL ;D
Thanks Guys - I have printed out my share of good threads on things to do and how to do it. I document all this, because I didn't see it anywhere even after I searched. So all the guys who bought these exhausts originally, perhaps had them set up right because there was support when they were still being made and maybe there was nothing to talk about. When you're piecing it together, it's a different process.
This whole evolution has been educational and I dare say a little costly. Probably could have had a custom exhaust made for the amount spent. That said, like Ratman, I'm keeping the machine stock except for the exhaust because it is a hard to find accessory that simply looks right on the Drifter.
Went out for a 35 mile run today....hi temp of 46....getting used to and like the throaty sound...the Drifter needs and deserves it.
Have one more idea to tone it down just a little more....will keep you posted.
So here's the final tune, with some adjustment left. Probably not for everyone, but worked.
There's a lot of room/space behind the baffle inside the tip, so thought I could tone it down just a little more by reducing the final diameter of the pipe out. For about $3 each, bought 2 reducers.
Photo 1 shows a 2.5 inch to 2 inch reducer, picking up the same set screw holding the Smartpartz baffle, followed by a 2 inch to 1.5 inch reducer slipped on the end - friction fit. So still larger then the 1.25 inch final pipe size in the stock muffler.
Photos 2, 3 and 4 shows it all fits within the tip, so not visible.
Results: Dbs just slightly more than the stock exhaust, but with the deeper tone of the Roadhouse. No whistling wrrrrr of the stock pipes.
Done for me now. For incrementally more sound, I can remove the final 2 inch to 1.5 inch reducer. So diameter plays a part too. Ride on.
well if we are showing off tail ends here is mine......
Thanks for the photo Ratman.
It confirms something Chris at Smartpartz told me yesterday. Although the internal baffle pipes are different sizes on the Roadhouse baffles, the exiting pipe stub is the same on all at 2.5 inches. That means their part fits all Roadhouse Exhausts with the 2 into 1 canister.
So the difference between your baffle and mine is the inner pipe on the standard baffle is 2 inch, while the performance baffle is 2.5 inch all the way thru. You can see that by comparing your photo with my RH 1 photo.
Great thread. Now I have something else to buy if I can ever find a tip to my roadhouse exhaust (things previous owners do that tick you off...).
Quotethings previous owners do that tick you off
now having read the other thread and putting them togather,
so much anger in one so young.......lol....
one of the issues in buying used sometimes you get the other persons mistakes or screwups.
Quote from: CDNRatMan on March 11, 2014, 11:14:56 AM
now having read the other thread and putting them togather,
so much anger in one so young.......lol....
one of the issues in buying used sometimes you get the other persons mistakes or screwups.
The things I deal with to get the model I want lol. The good news is I still have roadhouse exhaust. Now I just need to find the parts to make it a complete exhaust.
And my temper has gotten slightly better >:(
ok let us know what you need and we can help you hunt them down........
So I went back to Smartpartz as a courtesy after two of you told me you had 2 inch stub pipes coming out of your baffles. For info, they gave me this link to their product that fits the 2 inch pipe: http://www.smartpartz.com/SPZCB200DP.html
They confirmed the part size but note the directions on the link show they are marketed for a Cobra 2 inch exhaust.
Again just sharing info.
kw you are one nice person, thanks for your time and efforts in this endeavour
Awesome info! Thanks for doing all the hard work for us.
No problem....who wants the right looking pipes with the wrong sound? It was a problem I unfortunately was forced to solve. So, just presented a few options so you guys can keep your winter work lists full.
BTW, now that I have the dbs where I want them, I can hear those valves again...so that's up next.
KW I was finally able to get MA-DEUCE out of hibernation tonight . Man is she throaty , but quite compared to my old pipes . I can actually hear the bike now ... LOL ... Were expecting rain tomorrow morning , but SUPPOSE to clear up so I'll take some pictures and take her for a longer test run as I was only able to get 10 miles in today .
I really like the RH pipes compared to the Hard Krome pipes, a lot more then the stock pipes. The RH are like you said throaty and enough to let people know you are there and around, but not enough to cause an ear bleed.
Ratman my exhaust I just replaced with the road house were definitely ear bleed material . I myself would like the roadhouse a tad louder , but am liking the fact I can hear the bike now .
A tad louder?....really?.....man am I getting old!
I guess if you are used to or like open pipes, it's all relative....I was coming up on it the other way from the very quiet stock exhaust.
So I hope that means you are happy you did it....it sure looks good.
KW I'm definitely very pleased with this mod . I'm loving the nice throaty rumble .
I tried the stock system on and it was really quiet,
Tried the Hard Chrome, made my ears bleed, not my style,
RH has that really nice throaty sound which does not bother the rest of the world to hating me....
Very true Ratman . One more thing I forgot to mention , which is a big plus for myself . the vibration is GONE . This along with the new grips , and less noise should be a most comfortable ride this year :)
ok what vibration, with the RH I never had a noticeable vibration, I did have some buzzing from the wind screen and using rubber washers I got rid of the buzz. I also have installed the IOS grips and can not wait to try them on a long ride.
Didn't realize how much vibration I had , being the pipes were on the bike when purchased from po . It's smooth now with the road house exhaust . Ratman what a big difference with the new grips as well . Think your really going to like these .
Drift1 - glad this is working out. I like to hear the engine and other things on the bike instead of get overblown by the exhaust note. "Throaty" is a good description of the sound....and it does roar as you put the rpm to it. Definitely better than and not the stock sound.