Pipes

[harley1936]

I have a 2001 Kawasaki Nomad (Of course) and I have stock pipes. I want a deep throaty nice sound. Any help would be much appreciated. Does anyone know if Big City Thunder muffler baffles will work?

Thanks in advance.

Dennis

[ringadingh]

If you want a nice sound try the Vance & Hines pipes or the Cobras ( which I hear sound good). If you don't want to buy aftermarket pipes a lot of members here have done the debaffling of the stock pipes and seem quite pleased with the results.

[dogdoc]

OR buy a Harley muffler and jam it on the bike, I hear sounds ok too. I prefer the V&H IMO.

[strobe]

The V&H and Cobra pipes are both nice choices. I went with Cobra's after reading a lot of reviews and the one thing that bothered me with the V&H pipes is a lot of comments from owners that the rear header pipe heat shield is not long enough and leaves part of the header pipe exposed, looking unfinished. I definitely do not want to to start a war on pipes but that is the only thing I could find wrong with either solution. The V&H pipe comes down then back where the Cobra comes straight down.You can kind of see what I mean in this picture (look just below the rear floorboard just in front of the rear saddlebag guard):



Overall a minor thing, and less noticeable with the rear floorboard down.

[oldbikers]

Strobe you are 100% right that is the only thing I don't like about my Baggers and one day I am going to fix it.

[strobe]

Originally Posted by oldbikers

Strobe you are 100% right that is the only thing I don't like about my Baggers and one day I am going to fix it.

Was worried I was the only one that thought that at times...I posted that on another forum and was blasted for it....Minor issue and no effect on the function, just a minor thing.

[emu]

What ever you do ... Don't go with Roadhouse Dooleys ... Not only do they look good, they have a deep rich throaty sound ... and are not over the top in the loud pipe department ... They cost more. You don't want to be like me and have the only Nomad with Roadhouse pipes ... Making your bike kinda unique. Trust me ... being satisfied with a product that does everything expected of it is not all it's cracked up to be.

[caddman11]

What???????????? Dooleys should have been mentioned from the beginning. They are the most expensive, but are very high quality, they don't have head pipe cracking problems like V&H, baffles can be modified unlike the Cobras, they sound great, especially when you jump on it. You can also get different ends that are very nostalgic if that's what your looking for.

[emu]

Originally Posted by caddman11

What???????????? Dooleys should have been mentioned from the beginning. They are the most expensive, but are very high quality, they don't have head pipe cracking problems like V&H, baffles can be modified unlike the Cobras, they sound great, especially when you jump on it. You can also get different ends that are very nostalgic if that's what your looking for.

OH No ... you too ... Poor old us having to put up with really good pipes ... What were we thinking ;)

[rickmeister56]

i had 35,000 miles on my vance and hines when i traded my 05 in on a 08. wanted the faster color red/blk. i am definitely putting vance and hines back on the 08.

I have the Cobra True Duals on my '03. They are a nice pipe and the sound has grown on me. I've come to not expect to much out of them at idle. They are pretty boring when the bike is sitting still, and they are a little buzzy at the end of the rpm range. But when your rolling and have to apply throttle, particlulaly if they are down low in the rpm's, they have a nice rumble. Someday I will change out my Cobra's, and get something with a little more attitude (recently I've been thinking of fabbing a mounting bracket and adding the V&H Pro Pipe that goes on the Classic). There are other pipes on the market, but not many. I ride with a guy who has V&H on his Nomad, they are definately louder than mine, but I'm pretty sure I have a little more umph off the line with my Cobra's and a Cobra FI. I would qualify the True Duals as a "touring pipe". You know they are there, but they are great for touring because you can hear music, a passenger etc. That being said if your rolling up a 7% grade there's a nice sound to them.

[watchman]

We have the V & H Duals on our bikes and our friend Rick has the Cobra's. Both are about equal in quality and loudness. One draw back for me on the Cobra's is that if you ever plan to service the swingarm you have to remove the rear header pipe to pull the shaft out of the swingarm housing. A minor thing but an extra step that has to be done.

[timebandit]

V & H the way to go!

Lost of thing you can do to make them louder or quieter

[jd01]

I've had Vance & Hines on my 2001 for about 5 years now and love um. Great sound!

[Netnorske]

I have the V&H Baggers and did the Aluminum Flashing mod on them. After I added the flashing I put one wrap of fiberglass back over the flashing to help eliminate the tinny sound. I have to say they sound REALLY damn good... !

VulcanE just sent me a machinist's drawing for a custom made set of baffles that he swears puts even the flashing mod to shame... ! I am currently working that... !

V&H stock baffle set-up...





V&H aluminum flashing baffle mod....