Quietest Muffler With Header Swap

[scott123007]

My personal opinion is that the Arrow headers flow better compared to an OEM header, than an aftermarket muffler does compared to an OEM muffler. The reason the OEM pipe is so heavy is it is a mechanical silencer in that it has no packing and relies on a series of tubes and plates inside, (which accounts for its size) to reduce noise and preserve flow. The reason most aftermarket mufflers are so loud is not so much that they flow better, but that they are approx half the size of OEM and depend on a packing for sound suppression. There is just no way there is enough surface area in the pipe to absorb the sound, and the packing slowly deteriorates. Some come with an additional baffle, and some can have a baffle added, but most baffles are just make shift "chokes" and reduce flow. The exception to this is the Akrapovich pipe, which is much bigger than other pipes, except OEM. Its main advantage is looks, and it is a bit lighter than OEM but heavier than others. Even though it uses packing and has a baffle, its a superior design and does a great job of reducing both noise and back pressure.
The header, on the other hand, has a cat inside. I don't know for sure how much of a restriction it is, but there is a restriction none the less. The header can be cut apart, have the cat removed, and then welded back up, but unless you enjoy doing shit like that, it's better to buy the Arrow header.

 

[Sierra1]

Amazing how many riders spend money for louder exhaust and after they get it and put some miles on it they figure out it’s very annoying and put it up for sale.

Similar with the FJ: Added a Vance & Hines 4:1 exhaust. High flow OE filter, and a re-jet. Upside: sound was/is awesome and a crazy high peak HP. Downside: altered the powerband.

 

[balaurul27]

Thanks for all the good info, from which I can draw the following conclusions:
- Can't figure out why Akrapovic exhaust is so expensive for just 2kg weight reduction and +1.2Hp, while sound is not far from stock exhaust. People buy them just for looks and brand name?!
- Thinking to go initially just with Arrow headers+stock exhaust and see how that works out for me, but the following question arises: Do I need to flash again the ECU if I decide to replace the exhaust afterwards?

 

[Sierra1]

. . . . People buy them just for looks and brand name?! . . . .

Well, it works for BMW.

 

[simmons1]

Arrow Header, and Akra muffler, is very quiet on my 2012. Combined with an ECU flash and PCV it runs fantastic.

 

[balaurul27]

Arrow Header, and Akra muffler, is very quiet on my 2012. Combined with an ECU flash and PCV it runs fantastic.

So why pay so much for Akra when stock exhaust is also very quiet?!


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[simmons1]

So why pay so much for Akra when stock exhaust is also very quiet?!


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It works fantastic in concert with the Arrow Header and flash and I don't like loud bikes.

 

[balaurul27]

It works fantastic in concert with the Arrow Header and flash and I don't like loud bikes.

Yeah, I get it, but the gains are almost insignificant compared to a stock exhaust.
But then again you confirmed what I already was thinking that the Akra does not justify the price tag (for me at least).

 

[scott123007]

Arrow and OEM exhaust is your Huckleberry
No need for a reflash if you change mufflers in the future.

 

[Longdog Cymru]

Any idea how many horsepower you imagine you gained with the louder headers and muffler ?

I would think that there would be a gain whatever end can was fitted but only with a decent rolling-road session with an operator that reak
lly understands how to reprogram the ECU

 

[this is this]

I think the best combo for weight savings, performance, and noise, would be the Arrow headers and Akrapovic exhaust. The Arrow headers give a performance boost and shave a couple of pounds, and although pricey, the Akropovic muffler will keep the sound bearable, while shaving another couple pounds and another slight performance boost. Any of the other mufflers, except OEM, will most likely make it louder than you can live with, if you go with the Arrow headers. The OEM exhaust is HEAVY, but the bike is only a wee bit louder with it, and the Arrow headers. I have run the Arrow headers with OEM muffler for years, and am very happy with that combo, but would opt for the Akrapovic, if I could find a good deal on one.

What would you consider a good deal?

 

[scott123007]

What would you consider a good deal?

About a third of what a new one costs. LOL

 

[Cantab]

Yeah, I get it, but the gains are almost insignificant compared to a stock exhaust.
But then again you confirmed what I already was thinking that the Akra does not justify the price tag (for me at least).

My 16 came with a Arrow Header and stock muffler then i bought a 2nd hand Akra that has the non removeable baffle for NZ$250 (about US$160) the noise difference was bugger all, its quiet so much so that the wife hardly hears me when i arrive home on it. The sound is deep not raspy

I got the ECU flashed (NZ$550) to suit the system with less fuel cut on decel and fan on at 100C and off at 95.

The Akro muffler is a gigantic rip bought new..

 

[Jlq1969]

Decat and remove the Db Killer (U$15)…..you will have the same features and the same sound (that the arrow headers with Akra)....and you will have $500 left over to buy sildenafil and increase your HP for many nights

 

[Jlq1969]

2” diameter…..sound better than Akra

 

[balaurul27]

2” diameter…..sound better than Akra
View attachment 107624

Is that the original exhaust with db killer removed?
More info please on how to do it.

 

[Jlq1969]

Is that the original exhaust with db killer removed?
More info please on how to do it.

I bought a stainless steel curve…..I made the metal base with the shape of the original base where the DB killer goes (so as not to cut the original exhaust outlet and be able to save it)...and nothing more, I welded it with a small curve outwards so as not to burn out the turn signal….For me, it is a much better sound than an open exhaust (Akra,arrow,yoshi), because the original muffler is a resonance box….it only feels loud when you accelerate, but when You go at sustained speed, you barely feel it. If you only remove the dbkiller, it increases the sound a little, but when you put a larger diameter outlet, the sound becomes thicker...the high exhaust tones (the annoying ones, the noisy ones), those are canceled by the sound box oem. In an open silencer (with a perforated inner pipe and fiber filling)...all the tones come out from the back.

 

[Sierra1]

….it only feels loud when you accelerate. . . .

How loud is it up around 6-7K rpms.

 

[Jlq1969]

How loud is it up around 6-7K rpms.

You can only feel the sound of the exhaust when you accelerate (when the accelerator is more open than the speed you are traveling)...once you are cruising (the accelerator is equal to the speed), you can feel the engine more than the exhaust….
In the exhaust you can feel the twin cylinder…..if you can remove the dbkiller, do it and test the sound… (you will have a big hole and a thick sound)…but only a little. If you are driving for a long time, the exhaust will surely burn out your turn signal.

 

[Sierra1]

Hmmm. I was wondering how much unwanted attention I would get around town if the rpms got up there with this configuration.