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Can anyone tell me what exhaust pipe would be the best for my new Yamaha V-Star 1100. The guys I ride with all have modified pipes and when I'm within 300 feet of them I can't even tell when to shift. My bike is too quiet by comparison. Don't get me wrong, I don't like LOUD! But I would like to be able to hear my motor running some when I'm above idle and right now, I can't. What is the best pipe or should I just leave it alone and find other riders also with stock pipes?

So how loud do you want it?

I've got HK Strippers on my Vstar, and it's hella loud.

At least I thought so. . .

Some of the guys I've ridden with have got the Cobra 2 into 1 on thier vstars, and they are much louder than I am. Advice? keep surfing for different V-star riders clubs in your area, cruise with them and keep an eye out for something you liike.

Maybe you will get used to "feel" of the engine and when it is time to shift.

Kal wrote:That has got to be some loud pipes!!!

This is against my normal advice... but when you are doing your mirror check flick your eyes across your rev counter. You should know or get to know what is normal for your ride then if its low bang it down a gear and if its high bang it up one.

Don't stop riding with your friends unless you don't want to ride with them.

V-Stars with open pipes are VERY loud even louder than harleys. I can see your problem with not being able to tell when to shift, V-Stars dont have tachometers.

Truth is, I've seriously (even more so than the exhaust pipe chaging) been thinking of adding a tach. Every other bike I've owned had one and I do miss the accuracy of knowing exactly when is the smoothest RPM or the highest usable, etc. points. The cruiser bikes (especially the Yamaha's) also nearly hide the speedo from normal view. It is cool where they put it, but you must move your eyes from the road several degrees to determine you speed. The tach obviously would be mounted more in a normal viewing zone! But they are expensive.

Incidentially the guys I ride with are on Road Stars not V-Stars and some have Vance and Hines and some Cobra pipes. I find both more noise than I really want. Also, I want to keep the sound low enough not to attract the local law enforcement! Thanks for the suggestions, please continue if you have more thoughts on this one.

I had a V-Star about a year ago and I had Hard Krome Shorts and I thought that they were great. Not as load as the Harley's around town, but at least I could here my bike.

You should be able to learn when to shift just by either your speed or RPMs... if you have to rely on sound something is wrong... just my opinion.

You should be able to learn when to shift just by either your speed or RPMs... if you have to rely on sound something is wrong... just my opinion.

Well..he said it's a new bike so I don't thik "something is wrong" if he does not yet know the mph range of each gear. Different sizes, types and models of bikes can vary quite a bit on this...and the owners manual ranges are unrealistic. So how is he supposed to know without having owned this bike for awhile?...and as stated, the VStar has no tachometer...how is he supposed to know the rpms on a new bike without a tach?..



Try this. Wear earplugs when you ride. This cuts out the wind, and allows you to hear the engine better. When you get to higher speeds you probably still won't be able to hear the stock pipes because they are pretty quiet, but if you turn your head a bit to the side (with your earplugs in) so your ear is out of the wind and facing the rear of the bike, you'll be able to hear the pipes just enough to tell what your rpms are doing. Then as you get used to the bike and the gear ranges become more familiar, you 'll be able to gauge it off of your speed as has been stated.

Ken wrote:The tach obviously would be mounted more in a normal viewing zone! But they are expensive.

Tachs aren't any more expensive than new pipes... and I think "function-wise", the tach would be a better investment.