I would like to get more sound out of my 500 also. I probably will keep it stock while it's under warranty though. But I have been doing some looking and found some generic mufflers at JC Whitney. Maybe they would increase the volume a little. I also found this on the VROC archives if anyone is interested.
Note: The following information applies to a 2000 EN 500.
Finally! After many dead-ends, trial installations, and much experimenting
I've finally found a set of mufflers that are as close to a "bolt-on
installation" as you're gonna get. These mufflers look good, sound good
(after you fix 'em) and noticeably improve acceleration. The chrome is
excellent but the packing is less than stellar (more on that later). This
mod went easier and fit better than some of the mods I've made on bikes with
the "right" parts.
Here's what you need:
1. Send a little over $100 to JC Whitney for two "Dunstall Style Megaphone
Mufflers". The internet SKU is 01ZX4804P
(
http://www.jcwhitney.com/item.jhtml?ITEMID=141885&BQ=mot). The internet SKU
is different from the catalog SKU.
2. A couple of nuts that fit the footpeg bolts.
3. A Dremel tool or a small round file.
4. Some quality baffle packing material - enough to wrap each baffle for the
last 12" (outlet end) of it's length. I used some V&H material that I had
laying around the shop. (I love loud pipes, but trust me, you need to do
this step.)
5. About an hour and fifteen minutes.
Here's what to do: (The new mufflers each come with a mounting bracket, a
clamp, and two reducers.)
1. Remove the OEM mufflers and mounting brackets. Save the footpeg mounting
bolts.
2. Remove each new mounting bracket and using a footpeg bolt as a gauge,
enlarge the oblong hole at one end of each bracket just enough to let the
footpeg mounting bolt go through and slide back and forth easily. Reinstall
each bracket to each muffler. Tighten just enough to let it slide and keep
it from falling out.
3. Remove the inside (the smaller) reducer from each muffler inlet.
4. Each side - Slide a muffler (with clamp loosely installed) over the
exhaust pipe, hold the muffler in place and re-install the footpeg bolt and
footpeg through the OEM hole. Place the new muffler bracket (using the
oblong hole you enlarged) over the footpeg bolt and loosely install a nut on
it. Making sure that the muffler is slid all of the way on to the exhaust
pipe (it will bottom out on the OEM pipe), work the muffler bracket (it
slides) in the muffler to where the muffler is lined up straight on the
exhaust pipe and the sliding channel for the mounting bracket is square with
the bracket. Turn the clamp to the inside of the bike (to hide the bolt) and
tighten securely. Tighten the sliding clamp bolt and then the footpeg bolt.
5. Remove the three nuts at the end of each muffler, slide out the baffle
and remove the cheap packing. There is hardly any packing at all and what is
there is very thin. Wrap the last 12" of the outlet end with good quality
packing material and reinstall the baffles.
6. Wipe everything off good, fire her up and ride.
bluestringer