Exhaust

[hondarep]

I am a new member and I have noticed one thing, having recently defected from the ranks of the VTX riders groups. You guys talk a LOT less about pipes and more about electronic things. That makes perfect sense as this wonderful ST1300 has more 'lectronic things to do anyway.
Nevertheless, the V-Twin guy in me has me chompin at the bit to put some pipes on my 2005 ST1300. There are only two options as I see it - Staintune and Two Brothers. While I like the look (and the price) of the Two Brothers cans, the Staintune seem to have a better reputation.

What are your thoughts? Are 2B pipes decent enough quality for the money? Are Staintune worth what they charge? Is the stainless a pain to maintain or is Aluminum better over time? Sound preferences? Noticeable HP gains?

Any feedback would be mucho appreciated. Thanks! :biker:

[beastie]

Even though you are "chompin at the bit" to change the pipes, one of the nicest things about the beaST is it's sound - or should I say, lack of noise. Don't be in a rush to change the exhaust. Give it a while and listen to the sound of silence as you cruise around. I too had thoughts of changing to Staintunes as they do sound great. But I have grown, over the past 10 months, to love the lack of exhaust noise as I slip though the countryside un-noticed. And the fact that I don't irritate my neighbors is a plus. Not that Staintunes are that loud, they're not.

Maybe a poll of how many have changed to an aftermarket exhaust would be good.

[Mellow]

I had some two brothers pipes for a little while. They sound great and they were the bottom of the line version - aliminum c2 - for $500.

I saw some pics on the MSN site somewhere of police bikes with the CF Two Brothers M1 version with the tips that would accept silencers. Still looked kinda funny.

I loved the sound of the TB pipes... never heard the Staintunes.

The aluminum was easily scratched and some of the finish was cloudy, for lack of a better word, on one side of the pipes coming into the can.

Installation sucked, the pipes are in two peices and they give you this paste stuff to smear on the pipes to slide into the can and seal it up. The 'hanger' used to attach the can to the bike was difficult to initially install.

I could not justify the cost of the higher priced Carbon Fiber and Titanium pipes and barely justified the price of the one I had.

But I loved the sound!... Coming from a VTX, you'll probably love it too. If nothing else you could always change them out when on a long trip if you want a quieter ride. I think there's a set of pipes for sale on the classifieds section.

The Staintunes appear to be easier to install, clean, and look like they belong on the ST but, again, I couldn't justify the $800+ price.

Also, I camp a lot and when I ride into work I'll usually leave at 5:30 in the morning so I didn't want to piss off my neighbors or fellow campers with my antics... :eek:

Hope that helps a little.

[SteveST1300]

I have Staintunes on my 03 :03biker: And I love them I think they look better than the stock pipes and have a very nice sound. I got mine for $675.00. They just look like they belong more than the 2 Bros. But that is just my opinion. The sound is nice not really loud but nice. I have run them with the tips in and without. I like them both ways.

:biker: :04biker: :03biker:

[sttourer]

I went with the Staintunes also. Heck, it's only money! The branding on the Two Brothers pipes kind of turned me off so I went with the Stains. I've been very pleased with the sound. I run them with the restrictors in. Nice and mellow and not the least bit obnoxious. They are half the weight of the stock pipes. You can hear some sound clips here:

http://piratesk12site.net/ST13staintune.htm

Good luck.

Pat

[AgSTreak]

Hard to justify the cost of new pipes for sound alone. The stock pipes purr at low revs, which turns into a mean growl :eek: at higher revs. Love that growl. :bow1: :03biker:
If I needed 15 pounds of extra capacity I would change in a heartbeat.

[sherob]

As a recently converted Vtwin owner and stock pipe discarder :D ... Go with the StainTunes if you have to change... no gains in performance really... nice sound from what I've read and heard. 2B, from what I've read and heard, aren't that great of a pipe...

You are not going to get that LOUD rumble from the V4... it snarles and growls... If and when I get my settlement, :crackup I will be getting StainTunes for the look and sound... pulling the baffle/silencer out :D

I had RH 65's on my Sabre w/ baffles cut in half and loved it! :)

Ride safe,
Robert

[blumax]

You gonna have your bike back by Sunday? Let me know :04biker: .

[sherob]

You gonna have your bike back by Sunday? Let me know :04biker: .

Don't know... they called and said she's ready last night :D Still waiting on the insurance check though :( Let you know for sure by Saturday... been almost 2 months since I sat on her... :biker: Wanna ride!!!!! Gotta go to Ortho doc now...

Take care,
Robert

[THREEDFLYER]

The Staintunes get my vote!!

Tom

[Actionfigurejoe]

I like the stockers. Quiet around town with a touch of nastiness when the throttle gets whacked. One other aspect of the stock pipes is it's a catalyst . Removal of the stockers will spew more junk into the air. No, I'm not a tree hugger. :D Just trying to be considerate of the enviroment.

[Mike]

I find the Staintunes rather sedate in sound even with the baffles out but a big improvement over stock. I really disliked the singer sewing machine sound of the ST with stock pipes. My nieghbor says he never hears me fire up the ST at 0500 when I leave home so I would say the pipes are nieghbor friendly.

Fit and finish are first rate and they mount easily in under 20 min with basic handtools. Minor scratches can be buffed out, deeper ones can be buffed out to but you will need the rouge and fabric buffer of which a good metal plating shop will have and do for you for a fee.

The Staintunes look like they belong on the ST and they have a good mounting tab, not the funky clamp that the Two Brothers have.

So far the only drawback is the cost but you get what you pay for.

[Kennedy]

I also love the sound of the stock pipes.

[Gug]

I too like the sound or lack of on the stock exhaust. In the past I had a Harley Superglide and back then I didn't really realize it but all the noise is is a safety feature of sorts. Even when you were in a blind spot to a cage they could hear you in many cases. But I changed my style of riding now and I no longer want the noise.

[Carl_T]

My ears thank Honda for the quiet, and I appreciate the nice low-level growl on serious acceleration of the stocks, best of both worlds. I can live with the Star Trek turbo sounding whine. Now the only noise I have to guard my ears against is wind noise in the helmet. This is a plus over cruisers on long tips. Noise does fatigue to some percent.

I've read the Stats. show loud pipes fail, when it comes to reducing the number of accidents related to not being noticed. Seems about right to me.

[alan]

I'm one who fails to understand the need for loud pipes, all it does is piss the driving public off and then they pass a new law restricting motorcycles. I saw this happen when I lived in Chicago and the Cook County Park District banned motorcycles from the public parks because of all the loud bikes.

I live on a country road just outside of an urban area and I get pissed at the Hells Angels wannabes on their Harleys who have to destroy the peace and quiet of my home with their farting sounding Harleys with straight pipes. Please think of the people around you and keep your bike quiet.

[MNwing]

After attending a Harley open house today, I'm might happy to have a quiet bike. After listening to loud pipes for about an hour I fail to understand why any one would want them other than to draw attention to themselves and anger the general public.

Just my 2 cents worth on the subject.

[DubT]

I just bought and installed a set of the Two Brothers Aluminum Slip ons. I am very happy with the sound, not too loud expecially at cruising speed, I can just barely hear the exhaust note over the wind noise.

The fit and finish was excellent, only took about an hour to install them, had no problem with the brackets etc. I think they look much better than the stock triangular mufflers expecially from the rear. I never did like the rear view of the stock mufflers.

My wife made this statement, "that is what a motorcycle is supposed to sound like".

DubT

[AZST]

I too, like the look (and sound) of the stockers.

My .02

--Bryan
04ST1300A
STOC# 5197
:04biker:

[Gug]

I'm one who fails to understand the need for loud pipes, all it does is piss the driving public off and then they pass a new law restricting motorcycles. I saw this happen when I lived in Chicago and the Cook County Park District banned motorcycles from the public parks because of all the loud bikes.

I live on a country road just outside of an urban area and I get pissed at the Hells Angels wannabes on their Harleys who have to destroy the peace and quiet of my home with their farting sounding Harleys with straight pipes. Please think of the people around you and keep your bike quiet.

The loud seems to be equivalent to having baseball cards held by clothespins flicking in your bike spokes.