Re-installed the primary muffler (cat) - the noise @ I/state speeds was not for me!

[Dasmoetorhead]

After 500 miles of testing the exhaust system with the cat delete pipe and stock muffler, I decided it wasn't for me. I gave it a pretty good try. I switched back and forth about 6 times.
What I did like was the sound at idle (no baffle), decrease in generated heat, people heard me sooner, it let the engine Rev faster, slight increase in top end, smoother shifting probably due to less back pressure.
What I didn't like was the sound at interstate speeds (too loud, no baffle), gas smell wasn't a concern, but it did stink in the garage when starting, and when parking it once home. I did not like the decrease in felt torque, and at certain RPM, the throttle seemed flat. None of this is scientific, but I actually liked the stock sound from day 1.
Someday when I want to get rowdy, I might put it back on, but I doubt it.
Changing it in and out on my F3S only takes about 10 minutes. The springs are easy to get to, and although a bit of muscle is required to remove them, I found it very easy.

 

[BoatFixx]

What brand?
Thanks

 

[Dasmoetorhead]

What brand?
Thanks

Baldwin Iron Works

 

[troop]

I use the Baldwin Iron Works cat delete in my 2022 RT STS. Started conservative (baffle-plug) > baffle only > no baffle. Keeping it no baffle. The exhaust had an odd resonance sound with the baffle installed. The OEM muffler on my 2022 RT is quite a bit bigger than the OEM muffler that was on my 2019 F3S. Sound volume is only slightly increased on my RT. I do appreciate the heat reduction..

 

[fatboy]

rls with stock can works nice

 

[ollicat]

I am getting the RLS cat delete installed next month. Right now I have the RLS muffler on and am thinking about combining the two. Thoughts?

 

[Allen42]

I am getting the RLS cat delete installed next month. Right now I have the RLS muffler on and am thinking about combining the two. Thoughts?

I believe "SpyderPops" Harvey Clark has both the RLS Crusher muffler and cat delete on his. He fired it up in the shop, and it is LOUD. His wife has the same muffler with the cat still on, and I am now very seriously considering buying one. I liked her sound, but didn't hear it under load, only at idle and her gunning it once or twice.

 

[PMK]

I use the Baldwin Iron Works cat delete in my 2022 RT STS. Started conservative (baffle-plug) > baffle only > no baffle. Keeping it no baffle. The exhaust had an odd resonance sound with the baffle installed. The OEM muffler on my 2022 RT is quite a bit bigger than the OEM muffler that was on my 2019 F3S. Sound volume is only slightly increased on my RT. I do appreciate the heat reduction..

Whenever Lamonster released his version of the bypass pipe, we got one and installed it. At that time, no baffle was included or even discussed.
Been a straight thru bypass pipe with oem muffler for probably 10 years and no regrets.

Years ago, I did cut open a stock muffler to see what was inside. Was not expecting a non baffle chambered muffler, but that is what they designed and built.

 

[Captainmal]

Buffalo Iron Works WITH their baffle.

At first we thought it was a little loud. Then quickly got used to it. I did take a small, maybe 1/8" drill and put a hole in the middle of that flat baffle end cap. Now the sound just seems right. Have not noticed any change in torque.

 

[Dasmoetorhead]

View attachment 208785

Buffalo Iron Works WITH their baffle.

At first we thought it was a little loud. Then quickly got used to it. I did take a small, maybe 1/8" drill and put a hole in the middle of that flat baffle end cap. Now the sound just seems right. Have not noticed any change in torque.

Glad you like it. I see in your picture your on my home track "the Snake". Nice choice. I ride a 70 mi portion of it at least once a week. Sometimes twice.
The heat issue for me at least was non existent, I didn't mind tbe gas fumes smell except in my garage. The idle sound was good, but that noise coming out the back directed towards my right ear at any speed above 60 didn't work for me. All in all the loss of a lot of speed and mid range torque was unsatisfactory.
I use to ride Harleys with drag pipes, and liked it. Even though it pissed a lot of people off. I don't find myself in that same category anymore at 67 yo. I'm more sport performance orientated. I totally understand why folks like the delete pipe. It's just not for me. I really did try to embrace it, but in the end I just like the stock configuration.

 

[Captainmal]

Glad you like it. I see in your picture your on my home track "the Snake". Nice choice. I ride a 70 mi portion of it at least once a week. Sometimes twice.
The heat issue for me at least was non existent, I didn't mind tbe gas fumes smell except in my garage. The idle sound was good, but that noise coming out the back directed towards my right ear at any speed above 60 didn't work for me. All in all the loss of a lot of speed and mid range torque was unsatisfactory.
I use to ride Harleys with drag pipes, and liked it. Even though it pissed a lot of people off. I don't find myself in that same category anymore at 67 yo. I'm more sport performance orientated. I totally understand why folks like the delete pipe. It's just not for me. I really did try to embrace it, but in the end I just like the stock configuration.

BMW and Harley rider for over a million miles. My '07 FatBoy, with Reinheart 2-1 is loud. But Harley loud is a glorious sound. Spyder loud is crap and obnoxious. Yet, with the baffle IN, and that little hole drilled in the end cap, the wife and I liked the sound at idle. On the road we also did not enjoy hearing the sound, but it did tell me what gear we were in, the rpm (got used to how it ran), and it gave some feedback when shifting and accelerating. Wind noise covers up most of what we hear anyhow, and even the wife got used to it.

As for "The Snake", that was last week. We met some riders from Pennsylvania for a "Dognation" ride together. Check out Dognation Motors on Facebook. We are from South Florida, so we loaded up in the toy hauler and took two days to get to Millers RV Campground in Laural Springs. Meet-up was near there at a guy's place who restores Indian Motorcycles, old VW's, drag VW's (yes - 124 mph one) and was holding an AMCA meet there. Lots of antique bikes there.

During our days there we rode with some fast guys in the curves and discovered it was NOT POSSIBLE to stay with them. The G forces that throw you off the side of the bike were too much for my 80-year-old body and the wife's 75-year-old hanging on. Had to run a point and shoot method to keep up after lifting the right front wheel high in the air two times. Scared the bejesus out of her and got my attention. We normally spend July in Maggie Valley, and this year will do the Dragon and more on our own with this trike. M2 shock and other mods helped us but it is not enough. Still have many other bikes but RA has taken away my legs and some of my clutch hand, so this trike is the option.



Do think you could put the baffle in with a small end cap hole and see how both the performance and sound suits your preferences. That huge 'can' under the bike is stupid and a loud aftermarket muffler is a horrible noise maker, not a solution. You can't make a Harley out of a sow's ear. But you can make the sow of a Spyder a little better to the ear.

 

[Dasmoetorhead]

BMW and Harley rider for over a million miles. My '07 FatBoy, with Reinheart 2-1 is loud. But Harley loud is a glorious sound. Spyder loud is crap and obnoxious. Yet, with the baffle IN, and that little hole drilled in the end cap, the wife and I liked the sound at idle. On the road we also did not enjoy hearing the sound, but it did tell me what gear we were in, the rpm (got used to how it ran), and it gave some feedback when shifting and accelerating. Wind noise covers up most of what we hear anyhow, and even the wife got used to it.

As for "The Snake", that was last week. We met some riders from Pennsylvania for a "Dognation" ride together. Check out Dognation Motors on Facebook. We are from South Florida, so we loaded up in the toy hauler and took two days to get to Millers RV Campground in Laural Springs. Meet-up was near there at a guy's place who restores Indian Motorcycles, old VW's, drag VW's (yes - 124 mph one) and was holding an AMCA meet there. Lots of antique bikes there.

During our days there we rode with some fast guys in the curves and discovered it was NOT POSSIBLE to stay with them. The G forces that throw you off the side of the bike were too much for my 80-year-old body and the wife's 75-year-old hanging on. Had to run a point and shoot method to keep up after lifting the right front wheel high in the air two times. Scared the bejesus out of her and got my attention. We normally spend July in Maggie Valley, and this year will do the Dragon and more on our own with this trike. M2 shock and other mods helped us but it is not enough. Still have many other bikes but RA has taken away my legs and some of my clutch hand, so this trike is the option.

View attachment 208786

Do think you could put the baffle in with a small end cap hole and see how both the performance and sound suits your preferences. That huge 'can' under the bike is stupid and a loud aftermarket muffler is a horrible noise maker, not a solution. You can't make a Harley out of a sow's ear. But you can make the sow of a Spyder a little better to the ear.

Sounds like a great trip.
Due to my disabilities (100% DAV) I didn't feel comfortable on 2 wheels any longer. The 'what I call' Sportrike (not sportbike - lol) was the answer. I'm hooked. As for the sound, I like the sound of the Spyder in its stock form. I had to satisfy my curiosity with the delete pipe. I never tried the baffle.

 

[Dasmoetorhead]

I decided to re visit the delete pipe. 4 rides ago I put the cat delete pipe back on. I've tried it both ways, but I think I'll keep the delete pipe on. I do miss the mid range torque, but I like the sound and the way it revs faster.

 

[Allen42]

I decided to re visit the delete pipe. 4 rides ago I put the cat delete pipe back on. I've tried it both ways, but I think I'll keep the delete pipe on. I do miss the mid range torque, but I like the sound and the way it revs faster.

Maybe a cat delete with internal baffle(s), like the one from RLS, would be the best of both worlds? (I'm actually asking, as I have one on order from RLS...)

 

[Dasmoetorhead]

Maybe a cat delete with internal baffle(s), like the one from RLS, would be the best of both worlds? (I'm actually asking, as I have one on order from RLS...)

Yes, the RLS would probably be better, but having already spent $100 on the one I have, I just can't justify (at this point) the $400 they're asking. But who knows.
I was at a motorcycle event yesterday, and when I entered the parking lot, I had to maneuver the F3S around the crowd of parked bikes. Once I'd stopped and shut down, a man and his wife (Harley riders) came over and wanted to know all about the Spyder. He said he heard me pull in and said he liked the sound. Lol. That must be a 1st.
There was a Triumph Speed Triple there with a Akropovic exhaust, and that 3 cylinder 1150 sounded just like my Spyder with the delete pipe. I'm going to keep it on. I've actually been having fun with it, especially in the mountains.

 

[Dasmoetorhead]

Still rocking the delete pipe. The sound can be intoxicating. The feel of the engine and how it revs quicker is worth it. I did it purely for sound I must admit. I didn't need to loose 16 lbs on a machine that already weighs 900 pounds, and heat was never an issue with the F3S.
The F3S has a shorter secondary muffler than other models, so it's a bit louder. In fact, I've listened to probably every exhaust sound of different exhaust combinations, and I believe the delete pipe and stock secondary muffler provides the best sound. It might be a bit loud, and the neighbors might not appreciate it as much as you do, BUT you can do like me and just ease out on & down the road a bit before hammering down.

 

[AmigoJack]

After 500 miles of testing the exhaust system with the cat delete pipe and stock muffler, I decided it wasn't for me. I gave it a pretty good try. I switched back and forth about 6 times.
What I did like was the sound at idle (no baffle), decrease in generated heat, people heard me sooner, it let the engine Rev faster, slight increase in top end, smoother shifting probably due to less back pressure.
What I didn't like was the sound at interstate speeds (too loud, no baffle), gas smell wasn't a concern, but it did stink in the garage when starting, and when parking it once home. I did not like the decrease in felt torque, and at certain RPM, the throttle seemed flat. None of this is scientific, but I actually liked the stock sound from day 1.
Someday when I want to get rowdy, I might put it back on, but I doubt it.
Changing it in and out on my F3S only takes about 10 minutes. The springs are easy to get to, and although a bit of muscle is required to remove them, I found it very easy.

My thoughts are I wouldn't remove the cat, from what I have read there is no performance increase just a sound change and volume increase.
Stock exhaust its a sleeper, want more power get a tuner, keep it quiet and then blow the socks off the sport bike riders

 

[Dasmoetorhead]

My thoughts are I wouldn't remove the cat, from what I have read there is no performance increase just a sound change and volume increase.
Stock exhaust its a sleeper, want more power get a tuner, keep it quiet and then blow the socks off the sport bike riders

Hahahaha, no matter what you do to the Spyder it won't blow the socks off a Sportbike, but it's fun to try.
I like the sound that the delete pipe gives me, but I try to keep the noise level down in neighborhoods.

 

[troop]

My thoughts are I wouldn't remove the cat, from what I have read there is no performance increase just a sound change and volume increase.
Stock exhaust its a sleeper, want more power get a tuner, keep it quiet and then blow the socks off the sport bike riders

When I had my F3S, I had a PV3 with custom tune/Pedal Commander/Two Bros full exhaust/drilled intake cover. I could do some impressive burnouts, but it wasn't a sport bike conqueror ...

 

[Jesster72]

Not on our Spyder, but on our last Victory, I had Cobra Tri-Ovals. I loved the sound on takeoff and around town - nice deep rumble. But on the interstates, man would it drone. So I can understand exactly what you mean. Just got to be too much. Our S2S exhaust is stock, and most likely going to stay that way.