Are custom exhausts a thing of the past?

I was admiring.the handsome, new 2022 Kymco AK550 scoot and came across this photo. 

Maybe?  Depends on enforcement of current laws.  It's not only noise but some mufflers have catalytic converters in there and removing them is a 50-state issue.  It's coming to our Rider world sooner or later. Current policies will just ban us as unsafe, risky and deadly risk to human life.  Ride On.

Mech 1 twa wrote:

Maybe?  Depends on enforcement of current laws.  It's not only noise but some mufflers have catalytic converters in there and removing them is a 50-state issue.  It's coming to our Rider world sooner or later. Current policies will just ban us as unsafe, risky and deadly risk to human life.  Ride On.

Yes, apparently, there have been Federal laws out for a while now. Enforcement is another issue all altogether. Most Silver Wings would be grandfathered in, as they are discontinued.

But I have been looking and shopping. There really is no answer to the Silver Wing. Burgman's are too fat and heavy, BMW's have similar issues. Yamaha doesn't want to play. Kymco's are great, but spendy and VERY hard to find.

Even if you spend the $10K, outside a few creature comforts and some flashy LEDs, it BARELY eclipses an FSC600, that can be had for $3k.

I guess the great thing for us, is that Honda made a vehicle that is fairly bullet, AND idiot proof. I only wish they would make more.

It's sleek, it's capable, and due to the fact they are all now second hand, it's amazingly affordable. Silver Wing really has no equal. JMHO

The latest generation of 300cc to 400cc maxis are far more interesting and better equipped than the two main large capacity maxi scooters that were once considered must haves for maxi riders over here including myself.

I've owned and toured on both the Silver Wing and the 650 Burgman, and a demo ride on the BMW C650 GT had me mentally listing it's flaws and crossing it of my replacement list within the first few miles of riding it. Which was disappointing as there's a very good BMW Motorrad dealership a few miles from my home.

The good things about downsizing to a current 300 to 400 model are you're still getting the same performance of a Silver Wing without the extra weight. Plus it's from a Euro 4 or Euro 5 engine that was designed to run happily and efficiently on ethanol fuel.

With the added bonus of all these various bits and pieces that it's currently flavour of the month to try and retro fit to Silver Wings (LED lights, hazard lights, passing switch etc) are standard fit on all these models along with a load of other features.

As for aftermarket exhausts, over here you can buy a new or used Yamaha maxi scooter from a UK dealer, and pay extra to ride it away fitted with an Akrapovič exhaust off the official Yamaha accessories list.

I have never really understood the "need for noise". Otherwise I would jump on a H-D haha. My feeling is no matter what mods one does to a Silver Wing it will NEVER be a Hayabusa... So if putting on a new exhaust gives you 5 HP and floats your boat, then fine go for it. For me the stock unit does very nicely.

We used to have vehicle noise restrictions here in the UK. Back in the 70's a mate of mine put a raw, curved, unbaffled downpipe on his Honda CG125, what a racket! He got pulled over very soon and got a ticket. I suspect the Police don't have the means to deal with such trivia these days. The manufacturers have managed to find some sort of loophole in the law to allow excessive vehicle noise; some manufactured and some home made.

Although I'm not a fan of loud bikes I once saw a nicely embroidered badge on the back of the jacket of a guy in front of me which read, 'LOUD PIPES SAVE LIVES'.

I kind of get it but whenever a loud bike appears from nowhere alongside me when I'm driving, I find it more alarming than alerting.

Loosemarbles wrote:

We used to have vehicle noise restrictions here in the UK. Back in the 70's a mate of mine put a raw, curved, unbaffled downpipe on his Honda CG125, what a racket! He got pulled over very soon and got a ticket. I suspect the Police don't have the means to deal with such trivia these days. The manufacturers have managed to find some sort of loophole in the law to allow excessive vehicle noise; some manufactured and some home made.

Although I'm not a fan of loud bikes I once saw a nicely embroidered badge on the back of the jacket of a guy in front of me which read, 'LOUD PIPES SAVE LIVES'.

I kind of get it but whenever a loud bike appears from nowhere alongside me when I'm driving, I find it more alarming than alerting.

I will admit, as I have mostly driven convertibles over the last 10 years, sometimes those loud bikes have scared the bejesus out of me!

GHM-PM wrote:

I have never really understood the "need for noise". Otherwise I would jump on a H-D haha. My feeling is no matter what mods one does to a Silver Wing it will NEVER be a Hayabusa... So if putting on a new exhaust gives you 5 HP and floats your boat, then fine go for it. For me the stock unit does very nicely.

I do love the rumble of a nicely equipped HD. But to me, and most serious drivers, there is a BIG difference between a quality tuned exhaust and just plain LOUD (= obnoxious).

All those crappy little cars these kids slap a fart can on are just ridiculous! If it doesn't attract a potential mate, what good is it anyway?

The 80 db limit is not exactly quiet. A loud alarm clock is about 80db.

I installed a Leo Vince from Italy a number of years ago. It has a tapping for the O2 sensor and just purrs. If you must have noise, remove the baffle at the end and voila!