jnsgardner
05-08-2005, 05:50 AM
I had admired the ST in showrooms over the years, but had never actually heard one running.
I bought my beautiful red bike over the internet and traveled to Texas to pick it up. Gosh, I then had to drive it all the way back to San Diego...:-)
I signed the papers and they wheeled it out glistening in the sunlight. Loaded my bag, thanked the salesman for saving me $1400 over the San Diego price, and started her up. I was astonished...whisper quiet. It sounded more like a turbine than a bike.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not a Harley straight pipes fan at all, but I like a little burble and all I got was...nothing.
The trip back was uneventful except being impacted by butterflies for 100 miles east of Yuma, but I never liked the absolute quiet. When I got home, I searched the net for aftermarket exhaust systems. Two Brothers and Staintune seemed like the top two choices. Some aftermarket sales companies even had sound clips of the mufflers on other bikes, but none on the ST.
Two Brothers and Staintune systems were about the same cost...pricey at over $700, but still about the same. I chose Staintunes because they offered the option of a removeable baffle, they were stainless with lifetime stainless packing, and they looked nice without the gimicky titanium or carbon fiber look.
The package arrived and they installed easily. They seemed lighter than stock but I didn't put them on a scale.
The advertising said that they were only slightly louder than stock with the baffle in. I started them up...yes, I had the garage door open...and they were truely louder than stock. I've driven them around now for two weeks, but my curiousity was building. What were they like without the baffle?
I took the baffles out today...my wife was out of town...and I was pleasently surprised. Yes, they were louder, but more mellow with that burble that I was looking for. I'm not going to rap and rev the engine and drive my neighbors crazy. I leave for work at 4:30 am so a nice sedate 1st gear to 2nd shift with a quick into 3rd won't wake anybody. On the freeway, they are a sonic pleasure at being just right. Not too loud, yet not quiet. No mistaking me for a Harley at a stoplight as the stereo is probably playing louder than the pipes.
I'd post a sound clip, but I don't have a microphone nor do I know how to do it. I'm sure somebody out there knows how to get clips of a baffled Staintune vs. Two Brothers on a ST 1300 and a Staintune baffled vs. an unbaffled.
Anyway, that's how I made my choice and it's results
I bought my beautiful red bike over the internet and traveled to Texas to pick it up. Gosh, I then had to drive it all the way back to San Diego...:-)
I signed the papers and they wheeled it out glistening in the sunlight. Loaded my bag, thanked the salesman for saving me $1400 over the San Diego price, and started her up. I was astonished...whisper quiet. It sounded more like a turbine than a bike.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not a Harley straight pipes fan at all, but I like a little burble and all I got was...nothing.
The trip back was uneventful except being impacted by butterflies for 100 miles east of Yuma, but I never liked the absolute quiet. When I got home, I searched the net for aftermarket exhaust systems. Two Brothers and Staintune seemed like the top two choices. Some aftermarket sales companies even had sound clips of the mufflers on other bikes, but none on the ST.
Two Brothers and Staintune systems were about the same cost...pricey at over $700, but still about the same. I chose Staintunes because they offered the option of a removeable baffle, they were stainless with lifetime stainless packing, and they looked nice without the gimicky titanium or carbon fiber look.
The package arrived and they installed easily. They seemed lighter than stock but I didn't put them on a scale.
The advertising said that they were only slightly louder than stock with the baffle in. I started them up...yes, I had the garage door open...and they were truely louder than stock. I've driven them around now for two weeks, but my curiousity was building. What were they like without the baffle?
I took the baffles out today...my wife was out of town...and I was pleasently surprised. Yes, they were louder, but more mellow with that burble that I was looking for. I'm not going to rap and rev the engine and drive my neighbors crazy. I leave for work at 4:30 am so a nice sedate 1st gear to 2nd shift with a quick into 3rd won't wake anybody. On the freeway, they are a sonic pleasure at being just right. Not too loud, yet not quiet. No mistaking me for a Harley at a stoplight as the stereo is probably playing louder than the pipes.
I'd post a sound clip, but I don't have a microphone nor do I know how to do it. I'm sure somebody out there knows how to get clips of a baffled Staintune vs. Two Brothers on a ST 1300 and a Staintune baffled vs. an unbaffled.
Anyway, that's how I made my choice and it's results