Vance and Hines Exhaust

[SoCalMike]

Yes it's true, BMW Motorrad did not renew its relationship with V&H for the R18 exhaust. I purchased a '22 Bagger with the black V&H exhaust (which are super cool!!!) and I wanted to purchase the chrome version, but alas, not possible. If anybody has the chrome set and wants to trade, call me...

 

[Boiled Octopus]

Yes it's true, BMW Motorrad did not renew its relationship with V&H for the R18 exhaust. I purchased a '22 Bagger with the black V&H exhaust (which are super cool!!!) and I wanted to purchase the chrome version, but alas, not possible. If anybody has the chrome set and wants to trade, call me...

Found some, but on UK Ebay at a good price, direct from BMW dealership. Shipping/customs may be a bit annoying to US though.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/176435156130

 

[Anibal]

Yes it's true, BMW Motorrad did not renew its relationship with V&H for the R18 exhaust. I purchased a '22 Bagger with the black V&H exhaust (which are super cool!!!) and I wanted to purchase the chrome version, but alas, not possible. If anybody has the chrome set and wants to trade, call me...

I don’t have a set yet but I have been on the fence for a little while now. The trouble is that I actually like the original design and for the money I need a little push to convince myself I actually need them.
If it is not too much to ask, would you be able to record the sound at start up and a gentle rev?
I have seen a few videos in YouTube but none of them convinced me. I believe for what I have heard on those videos that the sound is pretty similar to the OEM system, hence my hesitation to spend £1.25K for the hell of it.
Cheers

 

[Boiled Octopus]

I don’t have a set yet but I have been on the fence for a little while now. The trouble is that I actually like the original design and for the money I need a little push to convince myself I actually need them.
If it is not too much to ask, would you be able to record the sound at start up and a gentle rev?
I have seen a few videos in YouTube but none of them convinced me. I believe for what I have heard on those videos that the sound is pretty similar to the OEM system, hence my hesitation to spend £1.25K for the hell of it.
Cheers

Exactly the same as you re: the sound. I think I've watched all the YouTube vids with the Vance exhaust, and there seems to be little or no difference compared to the stock fishtails. In fact, watching comparisons between the two, the originals seem to sound better/louder?

 

[Anibal]

Exactly the same as you re: the sound. I think I've watched all the YouTube vids with the Vance exhaust, and there seems to be little or no difference compared to the stock fishtails. In fact, watching comparisons between the two, the originals seem to sound better/louder?

I agree. The vast majority of V&H videos on the R18 are not for the B.
Now, we all share the same engine but the muffler on the B is different to the one needed on the classic, hence if I see a video of a classic R18 with the V&H set, I can’t say for certain this is exactly how mine would sound if I were to purchase one, this is the reason why I would like to hear one actually installed on the B for a more accurate comparison.

 

[Lutke1000]

I don’t have a set yet but I have been on the fence for a little while now. The trouble is that I actually like the original design and for the money I need a little push to convince myself I actually need them.
If it is not too much to ask, would you be able to record the sound at start up and a gentle rev?
I have seen a few videos in YouTube but none of them convinced me. I believe for what I have heard on those videos that the sound is pretty similar to the OEM system, hence my hesitation to spend £1.25K for the hell of it.
Cheers

The V&H have removable baffles. The bike might sound better with the baffles removed. Like you, I'm not happy with the videos that I have heard online. I would love to hear the bike without the baffles,

 

[BER18 100]

Do the Vance and Hines contain a cat in the muffler? If not, I want a pair.

 

[Boiled Octopus]

I may be wrong, but I think the cat is located in the front part of the exhaust pipes, so these pipes would not contain the cat. Happy to be corrected!

 

[Mr. Efficiency]

Alls I know is I have the Vance and Hines on my R18 FE. I got them cheap from a dealer. I installed them and knocked the baffles out (because of California you have to do a little multi tooling). Especially above idle they sound fantastic; not quiet at all but not super annoying either. You could easily stage III gut these pipes (I left the packing because they are plenty loud and rumble with it) and they would be really loud. There are YouTube videos of the pipes unbaffled. They are not anything like the fishtails.

 

[SoCalMike]

Sorry for not replying sooner. Here in my neighborhood - local cities do not tolerate loud exhausts. They're particularly aggressive with motorcycles - especially Harley Davidsons. Originally the baffles were not installed and it sounded great. A really nice growl. But I wanted to avoid a fix-it ticket so I installed the baffles. Attached is a short MP3. Additionally - with help from the Parts Manager at Long Beach BMW Motorcycles - I was able to locate and purchase a set of chrome V&H exhaust. Once I install them, I'll probably post my black ones for sale.

 

[Anibal]

Thank you for that, just what I wanted to hear. It sounds awesome.