Baffled the Big Shots

[diver165]

I installed my Big Shots with the intentions of putting in "quiet baffles". I never did because on my Big Shots there isn't a hole in the heat shield to easily remove the screw holding the baffle in place. Only option is to remove the pipes and that is a PITA!!!!

Well I bought the new baffles and they sat on top my tool box. I forgot about them actually. That was until the wife and I came back from a 130mile ride. It was our first real ride together in a while as she has been laid up following knee surgery. (It was good to see her back on her bike without problems) But I noticed everyone in the group was wanting to ride in front of me or waaaay behind. LOL Seems the Big Shots were a bit loud. LOL

I admit the loud pipes thing did get a little old. I started to feel bad lighting up the bike and trying to be quiet while riding through the neighborhood. I guess the turning point was my new neighbor. He bought the house across the street and he has this big honkin Dodge diesel pickup. It sounds like a freakin tractor trailer when he starts that thing up. WAYYY louder than any diesel pickup truck normally would sound. And he drives it like he's pulling 48000lbs through the neighborhood spewing black coal smoke out these huge chrome stacks coming up through the bed. LOL!!!!! I laugh now because it just made me realize how loud my bike was to some. So I put the baffles in the my pipes. No I'm not going the other way towards the "shuush scooter" category. And nobody but Helen Keller will ever say "is that thing running?"
But I'm now ladies and gentlemen...officially baffled... LOL

[RichLockyer]

How big of a difference did it make?
I actually get a lot of compliments on my Bigshots, and never noticed anyone wanting to be in front of me or hanging back... in fact, I generally have someone pretty close to my tail.

[Thullan]

I put Quiet Baffles in the Straightshots on my VN800A and the sound improvement was huge. I don't know what the Bigshots with standard baffles would sound like on a Meanie though.

The Quiet Baffles took away the "hard" and obnoxious tones of the standard baffles, and gave a much deeper and more impressive sound. They are not that much quieter, but it gives a loud and pleasant sound instead of just being loud and making noises. I also believe they give more torque on lower RPM's.

The cost is like USD 26 each on Cruisercustomizing.com so go and get them!

[honestlyinsane]

anybody try modifying there existing baffles vs the quiet baffles. I saw some of the mods on gadgets site and I have previously thought about the fender washer one before.... I was just wondering about performance and which would be quieter or say less obnoxious . I would hate to spend 50 bucks to find out it really isnt that much better. I have yet to ride my bike with the bigshots on but I am thinking about the future.

[Idaho]

I've the big shots on mine and they don't seem excessively loud to me. I am very happy with them. But I don't have neighbors to be concerned about and I have never had anyone else ride my bike so that I can hear what it sounds like as it passes by. I had thought about cutting a section out of the middle of the baffles but I am growing less fond of doing that because the heat shields have to be removed to get to that little screw.

[RichLockyer]

Ya, I tried drilling the HS to clear that screw but couldn't get the bit started... but I was in a hurry and didn't try doing it right with a centerpunch or drill press.

[diver165]

The quieter baffles knock down the harsh tones. They still are loud if I want them to be. But no where near the harshness of the stock baffles. They still sound great IMHO. The meanie sounds more like a sports car idling at a stop light now. LOL