Is it wrong to want a quieter exhaust?

[bajakirch]

I picked up a '19 F750GS a couple of weeks ago and I've been loving almost everything about it.

One of the things that may have to change is the exhaust. What appears to me to be the stock exhaust has significantly more volume than my previous bike. While I appreciate hearing a good rumble from a motorcycle exhaust, my issue is that I leave for work most mornings around 5:30 a.m., and I live in a pretty standard suburban housing development. I'm self-conscious each morning when I start it up and ride it away for my commute to work.

What are my options for 'softening' my bike's exhaust notes?

 

[mjfink420]

I picked up a '19 F750GS a couple of weeks ago and I've been loving almost everything about it.

One of the things that may have to change is the exhaust. What appears to me to be the stock exhaust has significantly more volume than my previous bike. While I appreciate hearing a good rumble from a motorcycle exhaust, my issue is that I leave for work most mornings around 5:30 a.m., and I live in a pretty standard suburban housing development. I'm self-conscious each morning when I start it up and ride it away for my commute to work.

What are my options for 'softening' my bike's exhaust notes?

I'm not aware of anyone who makes a "quieter than stock" exhaust for any motorcycle. Is the F750 really that loud? My S1000 was quieter than my wife's car before I went to a full exhaust, perhaps you're imagining it louder than it is?

 

[mikegalbicka]

I wish my neighbor with the Ducati was you instead. Good luck with your improvement.

 

[bluehole]

I am in the same situation you are. Leaving for work at 5:00 AM I am aware of the fact my neighbors are sleeping. If I had a motorcycle with loud pipes I think someone would have taken a shot at me by now. With my stock exhaust I have received no complaints. I cannot recommend a quieter exhaust, but I do appreciate your circumstance.

 

[collingsbob]

I wish the exhaust on my R1300 GS was as quiet as my FJR1300…the drone of the exhaust is irritating..

 

[omega man]

At 5 AM, neighbors roll out their plastic on plastic on plastic wheeled trash and recycling bins…… Loud enough to wake you up.
They don’t mean anything by it. I doubt you all are pulling hole-shots.
Part of having neighbors.
OM

 

[mjfink420]

At 5 AM, neighbors roll out their plastic on plastic on plastic wheeled trash and recycling bins…… Loud enough to wake you up.
They don’t mean anything by it. I doubt you all are pulling hole-shots.
Part of having neighbors.
OM

I agree. Stock exhaust is pretty darn reasonable on any motorcycle I've ever heard. Don't warm it up for 10 minutes, jump on, start it, drive off. I can't believe that would really bother most neighbors that much. And those that it does bother, well, they're going to find something to be upset about no matter what you do.

 

[52184]

in the early morning hours I’d take the sound of my neighbor’s motorcycle exhaust, brief as it is, over the sound of my other neighbor’s clucking chickens expressing their desire to be let out of their roost.

Best,
DeVern

 

[bc1100s]

I am in the same situation you are. Leaving for work at 5:00 AM I am aware of the fact my neighbors are sleeping. If I had a motorcycle with loud pipes I think someone would have taken a shot at me by now. With my stock exhaust I have received no complaints.

I thought you trailered your bike everywhere?

(Inside joke, folks)

 

[oldcamper]

My twin cam 1200 gs also has an exhaust note louder than I am comfortable with.
I’m not sure why it is so noisy, earlier BMWs and modern Japanese bikes were/are quieter in comparison. Maybe marketing decided the added noise makes the bike seem faster than it really is?

I don’t think there’s any cost effective fix for it, though. The days of aftermarket “MCM quiet pipes” for BMWs are long gone. Maybe … Has anyone ever tried fitting a quieter Japanese bike OEM muffler to a modern BMW? I wonder if an old dr650 muffler would fit. They’re pretty quiet and might be readily available.

 

[Lendog]

I picked up a '19 F750GS a couple of weeks ago and I've been loving almost everything about it.

One of the things that may have to change is the exhaust. What appears to me to be the stock exhaust has significantly more volume than my previous bike. While I appreciate hearing a good rumble from a motorcycle exhaust, my issue is that I leave for work most mornings around 5:30 a.m., and I live in a pretty standard suburban housing development. I'm self-conscious each morning when I start it up and ride it away for my commute to work.

What are my options for 'softening' my bike's exhaust notes?

NO, loud exhaust does contribute to fatigue

 

[r0ckrat]

You might check that all parts of the system are actually working? Not sure about the F-series, but many bikes have an exhaust butterfly valve that opens/closes depending on RPM/load... This is for both noise and emissions as it helps the cat warm up faster and stay warmer, as well as reducing noise. If that has been modified it will increase low-RPM noise. Also, even if it appears stock, it is possible that it was modified internally. Another possibility is if the cat was removed.

 

[bajakirch]

I'm not aware of anyone who makes a "quieter than stock" exhaust for any motorcycle. Is the F750 really that loud? My S1000 was quieter than my wife's car before I went to a full exhaust, perhaps you're imagining it louder than it is?

I don't think I'm imagining it, though I haven't gone so far as to do a dB test. I did ask my wife about it and she confirmed that, in her opinion, it's definitely louder than the stock exhaust on my V-Strom 650.

I'll admit I was a bit surprised, as I always felt BMW's had the reputation of "sounds like a sewing machine".

Don't warm it up for 10 minutes, jump on, start it, drive off.

Pretty much exactly what I do. I'll often start off in 2nd gear and short-shift to 3rd to keep the volume down as much as I can.

 

[PGlaves]

Well, at least it isn't a diesel one-ton!

 

[bluehole]

BC1100S, you got me.

 

[patm]

I noticed the same with my wife's '22 f750gs. It is louder than either my RT or my GSA.
I too enjoy the sound of an engine, at least if it's reasonable but after hours of riding it just becomes annoying.