Removal of exhaust baffles on the classic first edition straight pipes

[Lutke1000]

Hi all,
Has anybody tried to remove the baffles on the classic straight pipes or the non-fishtail pipe. Looks like there are four screws at the exhaust output of the tailpipe that would give you access to the baffles. Just wanted to see if anybody tried it and what the results were.
Thanks, Scott

 

[Rufus]

TBH Scott, as it’s a EU bike (with all the strict noise regs etc) I expect the baffles are welded in, and well too, not just a tack here & there. I’m sure it’s possible but you’d have to be brave and talented before taking it on because to replace they would be eyewateringly expensive if you make a balls of it. Maybe someone has done it or has a schematic of what’s actually inside. I know the fishtails have been examined in detail already, not sure about your set up.

 

[Lutke1000]

TBH Scott, as it’s a EU bike (with all the strict noise regs etc) I expect the baffles are welded in, and well too, not just a tack here & there. I’m sure it’s possible but you’d have to be brave and talented before taking it on because to replace they would be eyewateringly expensive if you make a balls of it. Maybe someone has done it or has a schematic of what’s actually inside. I know the fishtails have been examined in detail already, not sure about your set up.

Thank you for the insight. I wouldn't have know anything about the EU regs. Glad I asked first.

 

[emgarciax]

You should be fine.
https://www.r18forums.com/threads/r18-tc-with-drilled-out-exhaust-baffles-video.1126/post-37812

 

[emgarciax]

https://www.r18forums.com/media/drilled-baffle-center.329/

 

[kate_brett]

Goldilocks would be happy with that sound. You know you want too do it Scott.

 

[RazMan]

Actually removal of the baffles is quite easy - at least mine were. Once the end caps are removed you will see that the baffles are tack welded in place and a few minutes of Dremel action allows you to pull them out. The sound is so much better for it.

 

[Lutke1000]

You should be fine.
https://www.r18forums.com/threads/r18-tc-with-drilled-out-exhaust-baffles-video.1126/post-37812

That’s great info thank you. I’m not exactly sure if I wanna attempt it or should I just get some slip on. None of the videos that show slip on or the baffles removed Have great quality. I’m not loving any of the sounds that I hear online. I’m thinking it might just be a boxer thing that no matter what you put on it and will just sound like a Japanese V-twin trying to be a Harley.

 

[Lutke1000]

Actually removal of the baffles is quite easy - at least mine were. Once the end caps are removed you will see that the baffles are tack welded in place and a few minutes of Dremel action allows you to pull them out. The sound is so much better for it.

This is good info. None of the sounds online are great quality so I can’t get a great idea of how it’s going to sound. What I don’t want is a type of sound like a Japanese twin. They just don’t sound good to me. I’ve never really heard a box or sound good But I’ve never really heard an 1800 boxer with pipes on it either. Do you have a decent quality sound of your bike you could share?

 

[RazMan]

Sadly, I don't but I can say that with the flapper valves still working, the idle sound is much the same apart from the initial first few cycles at startup which have a bit more 'bark'. When you give it the beans the valves open fully and then it really sounds good. - reminds me of British Classics like my old Norton Commando & Bonnevilles back in the day.
I toyed with the idea of overriding the flapper valves using the Healtech kit but despite their website telling you that you need just one master unit and one slave, you actually need two master units (BM1-SW) and it becomes quite expensive to do,

 

[oldslodog]

I just did mine RazMan, I got the kit with two in for 70ish. Look on the Revzilla site. They will tell you it will not work but it does. probably rode 500 so far no lites. someone here on the forum recommended them. look back farther in the flapper delete thread. I think they say for S1000 model. I had a 2017 R nine-T I did the delete to with similar results and was not happy there either. I purchased the Akrapovic titanium header with the catalytic converter delete then it came alive. I suspect these R1800 converters do most of the muffling also.

 

[RazMan]

I just did mine RazMan, I got the kit with two in for 70ish. Look on the Revzilla site. They will tell you it will not work but it does. probably rode 500 so far no lites. someone here on the forum recommended them. look back farther in the flapper delete thread. I think they say for S1000 model. I had a 2017 R nine-T I did the delete to with similar results and was not happy there either. I purchased the Akrapovic titanium header with the catalytic converter delete then it came alive. I suspect these R1800 converters do most of the muffling also.

So do you have the handlebar switch allowing you to keep your neighbours happy when required? The 'standard' Servo Buddy keeps the flapper open all of the time so it makes the exhaust quite loud on start-up so I wanted something more neighbour friendly and switchable like the Jekyll & Hyde system.
I ordered my kit from Healtech who said that I needed an ESE-SW (master unit) and a BM1-ESE (slave). As there were no R18 specific instructions I asked their Techies and they said that it will only control the flapper valve on ONE SIDE. I would need two master units with their handlebar mounted switches to control both sides! Needless to say I returned the kit for a refund.

 

[oldslodog]

Not enough sound difference with the flappers wide open to make anybody mad unless you have no mufflers at all. I believe the most sound damping comes from converters. I rode mine with the mufflers laying on the bench, sounded terrible but not that loud. My flappers were still functional at that time though. I want to try those short little turn downs myself. I like the way it looks.