Muffler noise level

quawk

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Jan 1, 2024
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Will be replacing the exhaust system on my bike. Will be removing the turnout type mufflers and head pipes that the PO had installed on my Hi-Rider, as I mentioned in previous posts. Want to install "peashooter"mufflers as most guys call them. There are a number of sources for these mufflers and would like recommendations or suggestions from others about sources. Do some makers offer some decent noise reduction as opposed to straight through design? Would rather have some that are a little more quiet as opposed to louder. Also suggestions on head pipes, as I'll be needing to install ones with the up bend ahead of the mufflers as those currently on my bike are straight with no bend. Any advice would be appreciated.
 
quawk said:
Will be replacing the exhaust system on my bike. Will be removing the turnout type mufflers and head pipes that the PO had installed on my Hi-Rider, as I mentioned in previous posts. Want to install "peashooter"mufflers as most guys call them. There are a number of sources for these mufflers and would like recommendations or suggestions from others about sources. Do some makers offer some decent noise reduction as opposed to straight through design? Would rather have some that are a little more quiet as opposed to louder. Also suggestions on head pipes, as I'll be needing to install ones with the up bend ahead of the mufflers as those currently on my bike are straight with no bend. Any advice would be appreciated.
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If you want it quieter use down pipes with a balance pipe
And I have found the stainless pea shooters from RGM seem to be quieter but that might be me losing my hearing
I certainly have tinnitus these days so I have to wear plugs
 
The Peashooter internal straight through tube can be just perforated or can have forward scoops or louvres. The ones with the forward scoops are quieter than the plain perforated versions as the scoops pull more air into the outer chamber before it returns into the main flow at the end. They can also come with mutes but best avoided. Balance pipes will reduce the noise too but come with other issues. So go Peashooters, no mutes, scoops on inner tube and normal downpipes.
 
With all that you are changing, take a look at the muffler hangers also. There is a difference even between roadster and interstate. As yours sounds to be a custom exhaust, it might have hanger different from even the other two.
 
franko said:
With all that you are changing, take a look at the muffler hangers also. There is a difference even between roadster and interstate. As yours sounds to be a custom exhaust, it might have hanger different from even the other two.
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Have closely looked over the muffler hanger brackets and, at this point anyway, am convinced they are in place and correct to use roadster peashooter mufflers. The custom exhaust installed by the PO used turnout mufflers that had a simple hanger strap that used the original hanger brackets used on the Hi-Rider. Members here, correct me if I'm wrong, but to my knowlege the Hi-Rider used the same exhaust head pipes and peashooter mufflers as the roadster. Wished the PO had kept the original exhaust, or better yet, had never swapped it out in the first place.
 
Here are the Roadster Peashooters I've used with and without crossover pipes:

EMGO - Very Loud and very high quality. Most customers opt for these because they like loud, and the cost less than 1/4 of the AN price from me. They have a perforated tube down the center but no obstructions. They mount normally with Roadster pipes and mounting hardware.

AN - Quieter but not quiet.

Original - Quiet if the restrictor is left in the end.
 
kommando said:
The Peashooter internal straight through tube can be just perforated or can have forward scoops or louvres. The ones with the forward scoops are quieter than the plain perforated versions as the scoops pull more air into the outer chamber before it returns into the main flow at the end. They can also come with mutes but best avoided. Balance pipes will reduce the noise too but come with other issues. So go Peashooters, no mutes, scoops on inner tube and normal downpipes.
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Am looking over the peashooter mufflers offered by Andover Norton and all 3 styles they offer for the '73 roadster application say they have sound deadening. Can someone tell if they use something like the fiberglass packing that used to be used on all the "glass pak" mufflers of old? Or are they just perforated, slotted, or louverd interal pipe/baffle?
 
quawk said:
Am looking over the peashooter mufflers offered by Andover Norton and all 3 styles they offer for the '73 roadster application say they have sound deadening. Can someone tell if they use something like the fiberglass packing that used to be used on all the "glass pak" mufflers of old? Or are they just perforated, slotted, or louverd interal pipe/baffle?
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I don't remember for sure, but AN normally makes to original drawings. The originals I've had, had a straight through perforated tube with triangles bent into the exhaust stream - like you would do with the pointy end of a "church key". They also had a restrictor in the end which AN does not have today AFAIK.
 
quawk said:
Have closely looked over the muffler hanger brackets and, at this point anyway, am convinced they are in place and correct to use roadster peashooter mufflers. The custom exhaust installed by the PO used turnout mufflers that had a simple hanger strap that used the original hanger brackets used on the Hi-Rider. Members here, correct me if I'm wrong, but to my knowlege the Hi-Rider used the same exhaust head pipes and peashooter mufflers as the roadster. Wished the PO had kept the original exhaust, or better yet, had never swapped it out in the first place.
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I doubt the original pea shooters would be in very good shape after all these years
I've lost count how many times I've replaced mine
Well up until I bought stainless ones
 
I have peashooters - I forget who made them, but it is one of the usual suspects - on my Commando, without a balance pipe. EPCO peashooters on an airhead BMW. Neither are loud. The EPCOs are clearly better made. I understand folks have had issues with EPCO in the past (the company, not the pipes) but that wasn't my experience. I would buy them again - if the company's still around, which I don't know. FWIW/YMMV.
 
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