Riding a sewing machine...

[Toms1100RT]

:wave

I'm loving the heck out of my 1100RT for sure. Previously I rode V-twins and found them O.K. All my riding buds are v-twin folks, even my wife for that matter.
Cut to the chase....

Is there a way to get a bit more throaty sound from a stock exhaust without going through the expense of replacing the exhaust system or even going with a new slip-on? I've done research here in the archives and on the net and have found slip ons to cost more than a complete system I had on my previous bike.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the much quieter ride, but the darn thing sounds like a Singer sewing machine. I DON'T want loud or obnoxious, just something a bit audible....:rolleyes:

Thanks in advance...

Tom:)

[GVPurvis]

I also went from a V-Twin to a RT,I miss the rumble,but love the ride..I went to the local Harley place today after a call from them to check out the 09 rides.The salesman was very kind and let me ride one for a while.Wonderful sound,nicer ride and all the goodies,BUT it ain.t a Beemer.. I might get one to ride around town,just to here the rumble,but not for the long haul. :wave

Vic
07 RT

[AliMar]

Singer? Sewing machine??? Wow. Drive it a bit harder, keep up the revs, punch the throttle, blip high and hard on downshifts well b4 4K RPM and to me it's like swarm of hornets nest just waitin' to sting yo. Control. Precision. 9 flags - more fun!!! :bmw:

[WildBil]

Well, BMW bought Husqvarna, not Singer. And just the motorcycle business.

[yngvis]

:wave

I DON'T want loud or obnoxious, just something a bit audible...

Think again before you open up for loudness:

Noise is the worlds biggest health problem because it affects so many of us.
I think BMW is doing the right thing with their sound philosophy.

I love the audible understatement of the BMW boxer at low rev's.
It gives it class and authority.

[AliMar]

I love the audible understatement of the BMW boxer at low rev's. It gives it class and authority.
+1, and is respectful to those around you.

[sidecar]

+1, and is respectful to those around you.

+2 and is respectful to those around you. It seems 90% of the bikes around here are V twins with no mufflers. I don't know how they can stand listening to that noise all day. And it not like it's a nice sound like a Ducati, it's just plain obnoxious. When I am riding mine hard, downshifting into the corners and power out, it sounds great. One thing I have noticed though is that is sounds better with ear plugs in, seems to take out the highs and let the lows be heard. Also when letting off on the gas if you open it just slightly it will give a nice crackle.

[PlaneGeek]

Think again before you open up for loudness:

Noise is the worlds biggest health problem because it affects so many of us.
I think BMW is doing the right thing with their sound philosophy.

I love the audible understatement of the BMW boxer at low rev's.
It gives it class and authority.


+3 & Amen! I have several V-Twins in my neighborhood and with the current fuel price situation the owners are now using them for commuting instead of their oversized pick up trucks. So at 5 & 6 AM they roar through the neighborhoods waking up everyone all in attempt to save a buck.

I am absolutely in love with the way my RT came out of the box. This bike is the closest thing I have found to flying on the ground. It's like having a Pitts Special or an Extra 300 ripping down a canyon. They even have the same subtle powerful sound. (You might say birds of a feather since they both have Horizontally Opposed Engines). :bike: :yeah:

In regards to the health concerns I whole heartedly agree that Noise so harsh on the body & of course hearing. When I first bought the bike one of my Co-Workers (A venerable HD driver) told me "those are great bikes but you can never hear them coming up along side of you to pass!" I thought that was a great compliment! :bmw:

[bigpapa]

Check in over here: r1150r board (http://r1150r.org/board/index.php)

Many run sans muffler, I did for years on my Rockster, it's free, not too loud, and reversible.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e181/jzdad/BMW%20Stuff/108-0895_IMG.jpg?t=1219175265

[shadowofshoe]

Not a RT rider but a LT rider.........

I love the sound of the LT at revs(5 or up please) or engine braking. I really love the fact that when riding thru a residential area or passing an Amish horse buggy in the Ohio twisties she is whisper quiet !!!!!!!!

Mike

[gbob]

When your hearing is damaged it is just gone , try to sleep with the ringing in your ears or having a conversation in a restaurant. My days on loud bikes or riding with them are over. It is more of a pain in the ass then you would imagine.
The lack of noise it one of the many things I like about BMW motorcycles

Save what hearing you have ,hearing aids are for s**t

Bob G

[AliMar]

When your hearing is damaged it is just gone , try to sleep with the ringing in your ears or having a conversation in a restaurant.
I'll +1 that one too. Constant ringing... it sucks. Any white noise (faucet running, vacuum cleaner, restaurant or any other place chatter) can over power your conversations. Think of what the deaf must have to deal with, reading lips, etc... When someone is talking to you and you can't hear them clearly, that sucks big time and it can be annoying for those talking to you. :(

[RT-Hollywood]

Gee Wiz,
I get what your trying to say. Not really a question of making the bike louder, just trying to give it a bit of soul. A sweeter tune, if you will! I do love that the bike is quiet as well but if you could get some sort of "turbine-like" wine out of it, just enough to stimulate the senses, that would be bliss in my mind. I hope this letter is making sense to everyone reading it. Remember, not louder, just a better quality of hum from the pipe. Maybe this analogy would help. Back when Mercedes was using inline six cylinders and made a truly unique product one could stand behind the car and hear a quiet, yet powerful "pulse" from the rear end. It was not loud but it left you with an impression of power. My C-55 Mercedes has it. The sound of power but without being loud or offensive. I have run across someone who changed out his pipes. The bike sounded great! More of a sporty sound. I did not hear the bike at speed. No clue as to what type of pipe it was. If someone knows of a quiet pipe that fits this description, tell us about it.

[BMWphreak]

I'll +1 that one too. Constant ringing... it sucks. Any white noise (faucet running, vacuum cleaner, restaurant or any other place chatter) can over power your conversations. Think of what the deaf must have to deal with, reading lips, etc... When someone is talking to you and you can't hear them clearly, that sucks big time and it can be annoying for those talking to you. :(


+2 on the tinnitus, but it WAS fun getting it... loud music (played in a band) and wind noise...

[Stixx]

I have a R 1150 R and it has finally after 18000 miles come into it's own voice. When you roll on the throttle from 35K to about five it has a wonderful kind of growl with no hint of blat blat between shifts. It is admittedly an acquired taste.

That said I just today shook hands on a deal to trade my R for a new sand colored RT and it sounds like a farkin tractor from a dead stop and then sounds like a freakin sewing machine after that. I'm sure I will love the bike but I'd love to have some aftermarket tube that would mellow the yellow. dig it?

All righty then.

[beartooth]

Tom,

I know what you mean. It will cost some $$ but worth it IMO. I bought a Remus muffler for my R1100RT for the very same reason you are thinking of a change. Loved the new deeper tone at idle but very normal sounding at highway speeds (a bit of a power sound without any obnoxious straight pipe Harley sound). The gal who bought my '99 RT (which I traded in on my '05 LT) was at our Beartooth Rally last year. I asked her if she got around to changing back to the original BMW pipe and she said, "no way, I really like it as is". I recommend the change if that's what you want.

Bruce :)

PS The LT sounds sweet with the factory pipe. My California buddy says they are handing out 3 tickets for bikes (Harleys) with straight pipes: emissions violation, noise violation, and illegal modification of a vehicle. More power to them, I have tinnitus and spent too many years hunting, shooting, etc. without hearing protection.

[shadowofshoe]

Gee Wiz,
I get what your trying to say. Not really a question of making the bike louder, just trying to give it a bit of soul. A sweeter tune, if you will! I do love that the bike is quiet as well but if you could get some sort of "turbine-like" wine out of it, just enough to stimulate the senses, that would be bliss in my mind. I hope this letter is making sense to everyone reading it. Remember, not louder, just a better quality of hum from the pipe. Maybe this analogy would help. Back when Mercedes was using inline six cylinders and made a truly unique product one could stand behind the car and hear a quiet, yet powerful "pulse" from the rear end. It was not loud but it left you with an impression of power. My C-55 Mercedes has it. The sound of power but without being loud or offensive. I have run across someone who changed out his pipes. The bike sounded great! More of a sporty sound. I did not hear the bike at speed. No clue as to what type of pipe it was. If someone knows of a quiet pipe that fits this description, tell us about it.

Great analogy.....sweet sound is impressive!!!!!!

Mike

[PAPAT]

Right On RT-HOLLYWOOD

[AliMar]

+2 on the tinnitus, but it WAS fun getting it... loud music (played in a band) and wind noise...
2 - 3 meters straight out from the dual 12's of a Super Twin Reverb on top of a dual 12 cab all @ 10/10 days at a time week after week for years did my ears in. Top that all off I added a quad 12 black widow cab under a 100w transistor PV head again 10/10 sitting next to the twin. Include the many concerts (all day at Knebworth (sp) England '78 (the shirts, scorpions, rundgren, zeppelin...), many open ear concerts in Europe (Genesis "when" there were 3, Hacket's solo, Gabrial's concerts, Yes, Halen (pre US release), on and on... great stuff) then back stateside front rows at many ZZ Top, Frank Zappa, Van Halen, far too many more... I certainly can't say it wasn't fun. I can say payback can be a bitch... sometimes literally :D , but that's my fault :cool:

Excellent sound from the RT's stock pipes on hard acceleration above 4500 or deceleration from 6500 or better... I can hear it, appreciate it and it's priceless!

[AliMar]

Gee Wiz,
I get what your trying to say...<snip>
Can't say I disagree entirely. Sweet, throaty, muscular, baritone, ballsy, etc, like the C55 (or any AMG for that matter) or perhaps better yet the M6's V10 (now that's a sweet sounding machine). The Ducati's too, can't say that doesn't sound awesome. But no womping thumping rock your balls off noise; that's complete BS, disrespectful, harmful...

[Toms1100RT]

I don't want to be disrespectul to those around me. I do no want loud. There is no audible understatement of my bike because there's nothing audible. Honest....If you didn't hear the valves, you'd not know it's running.
I'll take Mark's advice and run it a bit harder, maybe that's the answer!

[RTPilot]

Coincidentally, I stopped by a neighbor's house the other night (I live in a subdivision) on my bike. During our chat, he and his wife commented that it was soooooooo nice to hear my bike go quietly through the neighborhood in contrast to the big twins that my neighbors have. Personally, I like to hear the big twins crank up, even in the mornings, but I realized that it's not music to everybody's ears.

RTPilot

[integritynumber1]

Hi All,

Forgive me if i am wrong, but there is a strong suggestion here that loud equals good. If not loud, then the bike still has to exude some hint of "busy aggression". Why don't those who want this particular element just say , "if i want a bike to make some noise, i might as well get one...".

Dont get a BM.

There are lots of loud/ racey sounding bikes. Why get a BMW and complain about its exhaust note? A BM wasn't meant to be a competitor to R1's, Harleys and Buells. It was designed to fulfill a different requirement. It isnt "racey" or mean sounding, but wheres the problem there?

It does what its designed to do with great ability.

To be honest, I recently got some earplugs made to drown out what little noise the bike makes.

(If i can make a comment, custom made earplugs are the real deal!)

Kind regards to all,

Simon :)

[Stixx]

Now that I've six hundred miles on the new one I have found the best way to "experience" the audible subtle delights of the sound that is , the boxer engine. On my RT I use a Shoei Helmet that is fairly quiet but ventilated so you get some wind, also I use ear plugs. I have lost some hearing for the past abuses and wind is fatiguing on long runs like Wednesdays 500 mile run up the mountains and back. So what I've discovered is with earplugs and fine tuning the windscreen you can make the ride on smooth straight roads virtually like a sewing machine at about 35 to 38 K rpm. Nice not fatiguing pace to cruise and take in the smells and serenity of long two lane roads.

Then as the roads get twisty and head up hill lower the screen back down to bottom and as you twist the power up to four and more and the twins start to chew up some torque producing power you will hear that wonderful growl that is the RT sound. It is subtle , especially with plugs in but it is very much a tonal delight and one that inspires confidence that you can go on forever.

Perhaps more importantly it is not going to offend anyone and induce rage on the part of motorist you legally pass when the time comes and zip on by them.

Motorcycles are going through a rise even more in popularity and loud Harley straight pipes are becoming a nuisance to those who do now share your love for the road . I know the logic of loud pipes but like many things once equilibrium is reached and there are more bikes on a mountain road than cars the noise for those who live and work in those parts is not a welcome treat. If we want to be able to ride our two wheel machines where we want to go we must address the noise issue. Already there are many places with signs "No motorcycles allowed in this (insert private park whatever here).

That is sad as I could come into a park late at night and no one would be the wiser if I was a car or bike. That is worth something in the long run .

Well this turned into a preaching' sorry about that. LOL

[Toms1100RT]

I'm not advocating "loud". I never asked for "loud". I'm not very well versed at stating my thoughts and ideas clearly it seems.


Read RT-Hollywood's post....he stated things better than my attempt.:)

[PAPAT]

:yeah:

[Stixx]

It's a fact that the written word is difficult at best to describe anything. I subscribe to a guitar forum for collectors, songwriters etc and it can be daunting to describe "tone" one to another.


That said. Bikes are no different . What lifts one person's skirt is going to sound like heck to another. Suffice it to say that I love the subtle. Beems are nothing if not subtle. Everything a Beem does is subtle and is best appreciated by those who like that sort of thing. I'm sure you could make a BMW obnoxious and do a real barn burner muffler system that would make a K sound like a bomb or a twin sound like a Guzzi with straight pipes.

I seriously doubt that anyone who buys a Beemer is looking for that. It just is not on the menu. I would also be remiss if I didn't admit that a slightly muffled ole Harley is musical in it's own way as well. Diversity is alive an well in bikes as much as anything else in this vast country so let's all keep that in mind .

If I had enough dough to persue all my fantasies on two wheels I'd no doubt have a collection of bikes which would incluce at least one HD one Guzzi for sure, and a host of variable Beemers all tuned for wonderful specific duties.,
and that would indeed be something to talk about. LOL


later

[someonehappy]

If I had enough dough to persue all my fantasies on two wheels I'd no doubt have a collection of bikes which would incluce at least one HD one Guzzi for sure, and a host of variable Beemers all tuned for wonderful specific duties.,
and that would indeed be something to talk about. LOL

later

Sounds like you're talking about collecting different kinds of guitars. :rolleyes:

To me, I like the sound of RT. I feel it sounds like the engine is punching on the ground.
I mean, other V-twins have good sound especially in the base part of the sound, especially with aftermarket exhaust, but it's more like something coming from only the engine and the mufflers.
But RT, or even F800ST, they sound like the engine is connected to the ground and produce a different kind of sound, stronger sound. Funny thing is I only expirenced this once before, when I rode my first motorbike(scooter), a yamaha majester 125, several years ago. I don't know if it's because they all viberate more than V-twins, or they all have more rigid final drive mechanisms than chains.

[wsteinborn]

I'll +1 that one too. Constant ringing... it sucks. Any white noise (faucet running, vacuum cleaner, restaurant or any other place chatter) can over power your conversations. Think of what the deaf must have to deal with, reading lips, etc... When someone is talking to you and you can't hear them clearly, that sucks big time and it can be annoying for those talking to you. :(

You bet.

My ears ring all the time (gunfire/cannonfire) and I have all those issues.

I have to use earplugs when I ride or even the wind noise will kick the ringing up a notch for a day.

I love my RT. Talked to a neighbor the day I traded my H-D for the BMW and he said, now we won't hear you go to work every morning.

Funny how most posters on the BMW sites all talk about H-Ds with loud pipe, and now we see a few BMW riders wanting louder pipes.

Here in KC I've seen a few BMWs with much louder pipes. Sportbikes too.

[ATDRS]

Only do this if you want to hear it.
Your V-twin buddies will be so far behind that they won't be able to hear it anyways. :rotf: