After much waiting and much more dollars (about $720 from US delivered in 2 weeks), I finally installed my V&H Big Radius in black the other weekend on my 2012 48.

I think they look sweet as, have a very nice deep note, and I immediately noticed a performance improvement that made me want to rip around all day like a nutter (my mates reckon its just the better sound that is making me think its faster!)

Problem is, they are just WAY too fuggin LOUD!! A mate has a dB meter and reckoned  that as I rode off it was 108 dB at 6 feet.

Before you tell me to adjust my skirt, let me explain. I'm no wouser. I have big stereos with subs in my house and cars and have always put exhausts on my cars and bikes. I'm not afraid of a fair few dB past the RTA's preference. But these are ridiculous. If I ride without earplugs I get off the bike with my right ear totally ringing and I actually feel a bit dizzy. It cant be healthy.

I've had a look around the net at options for quiet baffles but the only ones making any promise to hush them down are the ThunderCity QQs, and they only suggest a 'slight' reduction.

Does anyone know of any other quiet baffles for these pipes?

I'm thinking of swapping them out for a D&D Bobcat, which was the exhaust I nearly bought in the first place. Has anyone compared the two side by side? Is the Bobcat quieter?

I would much prefer the look of the Big Radius but if I can't ride it without being arrested for EPA offences and I'm too deaf to hear Bubba coming up from behind while I'm in the cells...

I know what you mean mate, I put a quiet baffle in my V&H 2-1 after a week. Was insanely loud & just deafening on the freeway. The pipe still has the deep note but just not as loud now & a lot more rideable. The Big Radius pipes look good, have you priced the ThunderCity baffles? There is an earlier discussion I found here,

http://hdforums.com.au/Default.aspx?tabid=71&forumid=4&postid=89807&view=topic

Slap.

mate they look great.

are you serious though ? are they that loud that you have to wear earplugs ?!?

they look grouse mate (Id prefer chrome but thats me )

"I actually feel a bit dizzy"

Awesome

Hey mate, pipes look great! I have short shots on my bike with quiet baffles and I reckon they are perfect. A nice deep note, I have heard the pipes with normal baffles and they can be a bit harsh! What sort of helmet r u wearing? When I had my cheap arse m2r $70 job I use to be tone deaf getting off the bike. I have since bought a rjays strugis helmet (about $140) which is much better quality and cuts out a lot of wind and other noise and no more ringing ears.

Are you running a bigger air cleaner and tuner with those pipes? or just bolted em on?

Just bolted em on. A/C and tuner will come later when I have the cash.

Those pipes look great on ya sportie, also the black is the way to go.

As for the noise im sure if they make a baffle for that pipe, had the same problem with the little ladies sportie it was so loud I wouldn't ride behind her, we did find a set of V&H quiet baffles and then fitted them, it did make it better. Nothing worse than an over loud exhaust, especially on a long ride.

Hey sjn, this is exactly the setup I was thinking of getting when I move up to a 48. So there are no quiet baffles for these pipes then, bummer? Hmm... may have to rethink these pipes then.

I have Short Shots on my Iron and had the baffles put in, prefer the noise level and tone better now.

@undergroud: Yup, scraped them on the very first right hander lol. I'd say that are about the same scrape angle as the stock pipes though.

@evileye: definately no V&H baffles for these. I just ordered a set of theses, about $95 with delivery

http://www.smartpartz.com/SPZVHBR.html

Hope they do the trick.

Thanks for the compliments all.

Spoke with a tech at HD and he reckons the Big Radius 2-2 are less noisy than standard Short Shots! They didn't have a bike with them fitted so I couldn't compare.

Guess it can't hurt to try out the Hard Kore baffles.  Would appreciate hearing back from you once you've got 'em installed.

 

On an another point, how are you finding the Big Radius pipes when cornering? Are they touching down? I've read that it is a problem with these pipes fitted onto a 48.

^^ as sjn said a bit earlier, its around the same clearance as the stock pipes, i have the same exhaust as sjn.

@sjn, mate i cant give you a comparison but i got an SE Heavy Breather intake and Super Tuner Pro at the same time as i got the pipes. The Tuner stops any backfire on delec and clears up any fueling/air ratios issues. I think as a result they are alot quieter. my ears never get sore from how loud it is, and i dont get dizzy.
Maybe try this before the baffles? It wont make it quite by any means but i think it might stop it from hurting.

I had my V&H slip ons without the quiet baffles for a month. LOUD. A day of touring gave my ears a buzz for two days much worth than any Motörhead concert I've ever been to.

Now got the quiet baffles in and they are just perfect. Still loud but no ear bleeding pain. And a deeper sound compared to metallic before.

Sounds like a Harley.

Mate, they look great, put some quiet baffles in and you will love the note and be used to noise in no time.

Hiya, did anyone get quiet baffles fitted for their BR 2-2 pipes? Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks

Hey gents, sorry so long to get back to you. I'm still waiting on the bloody baffles to arrive. I was just about to kick up a sink when I got the emaul from USPS saying they were on the way. Cant be far off now....

Now to hijack my own thread, evileye, how did you get your hands on the Rough Crafts headlamp grill? I had a look at the web site and sent old mate a message but never got anything back. Is there a secret handshake or something??

also evileye, stop making your bike look exaclty like the one in my head I'm trying to build :-)

Looks sweet bro.

Haha, thanks sjn. I won't mention the new bars, paintjob and possibly new seat that are planned then. Lucky we live opposite ends of the country!

No secret handshake required, probably just good timing. I emailed the Rough Crafts dude, Winston, back in Dec wanting the Grill and his solo seat but he was out of stock on both. Long story short, he has the grills in stock again now! Send him a message.

The grill takes a bit to fit but nothing too major. Looks shit hot though, IMO.