Vulcan Drifter Riders

DISCUSSIONS => Drifter 1500 only => Topic started by: moto on March 30, 2018, 07:35:36 AM

Title: Debaffling Drifter oem exhaust
Post by: moto on March 30, 2018, 07:35:36 AM
I take pic to my oem Drifter exhaust on the back. Does anyone have any experience, is this baffle
welded to anywhere other than just behind, as shown in the picture.

If I drill a circle around the two pipes, do I just take off the baffle with the pliers? Have any experiences?
Title: Re: Drifter oem first exhaust baffle out
Post by: chief on March 30, 2018, 11:05:37 AM
Honestly don't know. I am wondering if the exhaust is the same as the US model. Does yours have a "goat bladder" underneath the bike? I am pretty sure someone on here has done this. Sorry we don't have a mod for that specifically.
Title: Re: Drifter oem first exhaust baffle out
Post by: Troll on March 30, 2018, 17:59:52 PM
The two pipes coming out are straight through. There are no baffles, just perf core pipes with steel pack around them. If you don't believe me, stick a LONG dowel down the pipe...I have 3 of these mufflers, and they are all the same.
Title: Re: Drifter oem first exhaust baffle out
Post by: moto on March 31, 2018, 09:49:29 AM
Quote from: Troll on March 30, 2018, 17:59:52 PM
The two pipes coming out are straight through. There are no baffles, just perf core pipes with steel pack around them. If you don't believe me, stick a LONG dowel down the pipe...I have 3 of these mufflers, and they are all the same.

Ok I know. But my question is: If I drill cirle around these pipes to the end - like my picture shows- , does the first "core" released easily with pliers then?
Title: Re: Drifter oem first exhaust baffle out
Post by: Old Drifter on March 31, 2018, 10:23:22 AM
Quote from: moto on March 31, 2018, 09:49:29 AM
Ok I know. But my question is: If I drill cirle around these pipes to the end - like my picture shows- , does the first "core" released easily with pliers then?

I think what Troll was trying to tell you is that you would not be gaining much by removing those pipes. There is no baffling inside. As far as how they can be removed, I don't know either. Let us know how you finally get them out. Thanks
Title: Re: Drifter oem first exhaust baffle out
Post by: moto on April 01, 2018, 10:04:35 AM
Quote from: Old Drifter on March 31, 2018, 10:23:22 AM
I think what Troll was trying to tell you is that you would not be gaining much by removing those pipes. There is no baffling inside. As far as how they can be removed, I don't know either. Let us know how you finally get them out. Thanks

No I  fraid that I dont take this plate out before I am absolutely sure that this first plate is the only welding point.
Title: Re: Drifter oem first exhaust baffle out
Post by: Old Drifter on April 01, 2018, 11:00:30 AM
It looks like you successfully removed them. What is your next step, now that they are removed?
Title: Re: Drifter oem first exhaust baffle out
Post by: moto on April 01, 2018, 12:03:35 PM
Quote from: Old Drifter on April 01, 2018, 11:00:30 AM
It looks like you successfully removed them. What is your next step, now that they are removed?

No no.. this pic is not from my bike. Pic only shows that the left one is already removed from my bike, but the next
right one is still in place. My question is: If I drill this yellow pointed places, circle around these two
pipes and hammered circle open, so can I then take off this second part what is the picture on the right
part.
Title: Re: Drifter oem first exhaust baffle out
Post by: Old Drifter on April 02, 2018, 11:14:18 AM
That's a good question. Sorry, I don't have the answer on that one.
Title: Re: Drifter oem first exhaust baffle out
Post by: moto on April 03, 2018, 03:10:18 AM
I f we look to the picture, the right part is connected only on the plate what I need to drill out. I don't see any welding points, only this, I hope that I am right...
Title: Re: Drifter oem first exhaust baffle out
Post by: Old Drifter on April 03, 2018, 21:55:16 PM
I hope you're right too...good luck!
Title: Re: Drifter oem first exhaust baffle out
Post by: moto on April 05, 2018, 12:04:26 PM
YES! It's take off! I dont even use hammer to a vise grip. Only pull it out with it when I first drill this circle around these inner pipes.
Title: Re: Drifter oem first exhaust baffle out
Post by: Old Drifter on April 05, 2018, 20:22:01 PM
Glad to hear that it worked out. How does it sound with the pipes removed?
Title: Re: Drifter oem first exhaust baffle out
Post by: moto on April 05, 2018, 23:21:57 PM
Quote from: Old Drifter on April 05, 2018, 20:22:01 PM
Glad to hear that it worked out. How does it sound with the pipes removed?

I don't test yet
Title: Re: Drifter oem first exhaust baffle out
Post by: AZCaveman on April 11, 2018, 15:08:35 PM
Without removing the goat bladder, I doubt you
will notice any real difference.
Title: Re: Drifter oem first exhaust baffle out
Post by: moto on April 28, 2018, 14:38:41 PM
Yes, sound is good. Not too loud but perfect. I dont want to hear so loud like V&H pipes is.

Title: Re: Drifter oem first exhaust baffle out
Post by: moto on September 13, 2018, 10:43:50 AM
Well , maybe  I try to remove the second baffle out. It is the similar like first one what I took off.
The second is more deeper inside muffler and I need long drill and chisel.

If anyone has informations, is this second connected like first one, let my know, thanks.

I put pics over there when I start this second round!  ;)
Title: Re: Debaffling Drifter oem exhaust
Post by: moto on September 16, 2018, 13:50:20 PM
Ok, here is the second baffle what I must to take off.  I starting to drill first 6mm holes around these two inner pipes and 4mm drill I make those two tight sides. Before chisel second baffle I must to lower this one aligment plate edges so that is not blocking the baffle
when  I taking it off. I am not very sure, if this plate edges blocking that baffle that baffle can fit this hole.
Title: Re: Debaffling Drifter oem exhaust
Post by: drifter-paul on September 17, 2018, 04:58:36 AM
 ???
My oem was a 'fishtail' , oval shaped at the end with 2 or 3 small pipes projecting out. Held by 1 screw with no internal  baffling - very effective in muting the sound.
This was an Australian model, but  I don't think we're talking OEM, here..
:)
Title: Re: Debaffling Drifter oem exhaust
Post by: moto on September 17, 2018, 05:34:10 AM
Quote from: drifter-paul on September 17, 2018, 04:58:36 AM
???
My oem was a 'fishtail' , oval shaped at the end with 2 or 3 small pipes projecting out. Held by 1 screw with no internal  baffling - very effective in muting the sound.
This was an Australian model, but  I don't think we're talking OEM, here..
:)

This exhaust is OEM, default factory exhaust. In this photo, I am removed my fishtail tip so I can reach better to remove these two baffles out.
Title: Re: Debaffling Drifter oem exhaust
Post by: moto on September 18, 2018, 11:33:38 AM
It's done. Now this muffler is real empty, two baffles are taken off, this is last one at first picture.
Title: Re: Debaffling Drifter oem exhaust
Post by: drifter-paul on September 19, 2018, 03:11:01 AM
Yeah, coming back to me now, it was 7 tears ago I removed the exhaust and then replaced it. From memory I put a wooden stick down from the engine side and gave it a few thumps, there was only 1 tab weld holding that plate in place, after that, the whole thing was then just an empty tube.
Title: Re: Debaffling Drifter oem exhaust
Post by: moto on September 19, 2018, 13:14:26 PM
here is a video what I done:

https://youtu.be/7hvjrqzDI54

and I am verry happy of that sound, this is enough for me and my wife  ;D
Title: Re: Debaffling Drifter oem exhaust
Post by: drifter-paul on September 19, 2018, 19:36:06 PM
Lovely job, Moto. Sounds good and I love the knee tank gaurds.  :)
Title: Re: Debaffling Drifter oem exhaust
Post by: moto on September 19, 2018, 23:27:46 PM
Quote from: drifter-paul on September 19, 2018, 19:36:06 PM
Lovely job, Moto. Sounds good and I love the knee tank gaurds.  :)

Thanks Paul!  ;)
Title: Re: Debaffling Drifter oem exhaust
Post by: mittico68 on September 20, 2018, 05:28:37 AM
Well done.
And nice bike, too!  8)
Title: Re: Debaffling Drifter oem exhaust
Post by: moto on September 20, 2018, 06:42:26 AM
Quote from: mittico68 on September 20, 2018, 05:28:37 AM
Well done.
And nice bike, too!  8)

Thanks!!  :)
Title: Re: Debaffling Drifter oem exhaust
Post by: Fab on July 27, 2025, 16:02:59 PM
Quote from: moto on September 19, 2018, 13:14:26 PMhere is a video what I done:

https://youtu.be/7hvjrqzDI54

and I am verry happy of that sound, this is enough for me and my wife  ;D
Moi Jari  8)

I know this is an old post, but I was wondering if you still have the video of your OEM exhaust with the silencer removed.
The link in your post no longer works.

Kiitoksia!

Title: Re: Debaffling Drifter oem exhaust
Post by: Fab on October 18, 2025, 05:10:32 AM
I just found this video of a Drifter 1500 with what appears to be a stock exhaust (incl. its "goat bladder") that seems to produce a louder, deeper sound.

Would this be the sound you get when you remove the internal mufflers but leave the goat bladder intact?
Or is it simply the way the camera's microphone recorded the sound (i.e., with boosted low frequencies)?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MMj0VYjU7M (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MMj0VYjU7M)

Thanks!
Title: Re: Debaffling Drifter oem exhaust
Post by: Troll on October 18, 2025, 11:28:47 AM
This is going to come as a surprise to you, but the stock 1500 muffler has no internal baffles. The pipes are perf core with steel packing. I have had several stock mufflers over the years, and they are all the same. The muffler I currently have  on the bike is a '99. The combination of the steel pack and the restricted air intake system create the muffled sound. Opening up the intake will increase the sound by a lot.
Title: Re: Debaffling Drifter oem exhaust
Post by: Fab on October 18, 2025, 15:52:55 PM
Thanks Troll!

I'm not surprised at all, since @moto sent me some photos of the work he did to gut his stock exhaust at the time. As you wrote, each of the two pipes inside the muffler contains a smaller diameter perforated pipe. Stainless steel wool is sandwiched between each pipe and its perforated pipe.

Apparently, this simple setup manages to muffle the exhaust sound quite a bit.

Unfortunately, @moto no longer has the video he shared in this thread, but he told me the difference in sound was very noticeable.

Title: Re: Debaffling Drifter oem exhaust
Post by: Fab on October 31, 2025, 18:02:46 PM
Quote from: Troll on October 18, 2025, 11:28:47 AMThis is going to come as a surprise to you, but the stock 1500 muffler has no internal baffles. The pipes are perf core with steel packing. I have had several stock mufflers over the years, and they are all the same. The muffler I currently have  on the bike is a '99. The combination of the steel pack and the restricted air intake system create the muffled sound. Opening up the intake will increase the sound by a lot.
Somehow I just discovered that not all exhausts are created equal...

To cut a long story short, a young guy who got his driving license a month ago t-boned me while reversing. I wasn't hurt—which is the most important thing—but the bike fell on its right side. Minor damage: the front brake lever was bent, there were a few scratches on the crash guards, and the exhaust was scuffed, especially the fishtail.

Now, while the brake lever and guards are easy to replace with new spare parts, it's another matter with the original exhaust fishtail.

I couldn't believe my luck when I found a fishtail from a '99 Drifter 1500 on eBay from Belgium and ordered it right away.
I received it today and it's in good condition.

But now comes the "but"... When I placed the newly received tailpipe next to the scuffed one, I immediately noticed an important difference: the holes through which the internal pipes of the silencer pass are smaller in the fishtail that arrived today.

I then tried to attach the fishtail to the muffler, but the two internal pipes are larger (32 mm) than the holes inside the fishtail.

Does anyone know of any differences between the exhausts on a J and an R Drifter 1500?
Or differences in exhausts between North American and European models?

Mine is a 2001 US Drifter (R model), while the fishtail comes from a 1999 EU Drifter (J model).

Take a look at the attached photo comparing the two fishtails.

What do you recommend? Shall I find a way to enlarge the two holes?

JR_fishtail.jpg
Title: Re: Debaffling Drifter oem exhaust
Post by: Fab on November 01, 2025, 13:47:29 PM
This morning, I told myself that I had two options.

1. Gut the muffler and remove the internal silencer pipes (as described by @moto ). This way, the size of the two holes inside the fishtail would not be relevant.

2. Take a coaxial grinder, add a good dose of elbow grease, and enlarge the two holes inside the fishtail.

I chose a simple solution for a simple problem and opted for the coaxial grinder method.  8)