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Apologies for those who may have read a similar thread before, but with the forums being attacked and all I never got an answer...

Of course I wouldn't expect it to sound like a 1500 Harley, but is it possible to make them sound decent? I have my eye on one of the two pictured below but I don't want it to sound like an electric scooter. I like loud thumpy cruisers because a) Every other driver knows you are there even if they can't see you and b) I just like it.

So is there anything that could be done or is the engine bore just too small?

Yamaha XVS Dragstar 250:


Hyosung Aquila 250:

Wow! That's a sweet lookin' bike! I've never seen one of those since they're not imported here.
If you're looking for volume, as in decibels, that should be easily accomplished. If you're looking for that low-tone rumble, though, that's going to be near impossible.
Have you searched the web for aftermarket exhaust systems, yet? Maybe someone like Vance & Hines or Cobra has a system that would make you happy. You might investigate Star Cycle - they offer lots of different systems but I don't know about your particular model.

look, me and my friend made his old XR200 THUMP, if that could thump, so can yours. Just get the lest restrictive exhaust you can find. or give it the harley treatment and go for straight pipes, and rejet the carb accordingly.

Those are some pretty nice looking bikes, But I'm afraid that whatever you do it's just going to make them louder. I'm told that for my rebel it would just be a louder chainsaw sound. Sad, but probably true.

Thanks guys.

There is a little bit of conflicting advice there but what they hey ...

I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

The reason the big V-twins thump is because they have mufflers that don't dampen the sound, and large bore pistons. The bigger the pistons are the more they can burn in a stroke, and the slowler they have to move to actually produce power (I think). A little 250 v-twin will be pumping pretty hard at decent speeds so the "thumps" will come closer together. If you want an example, try simply removing the mufflers and listening, that's what you're going to get. Though different mufflers will dampen the sound to a certain extent.

If you want a smaller bike with a thumpy sound, you might try looking for a single, or "one-thumper." One piston sounds thumpy no matter what.

I've got an LS650 sitting in the Garage right now, might be exactly what you're looking for. Sorry... it's called a s40 or something now:

I love it... but I want a faster one now.