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Message started by lg_fry on 06/15/11 at 10:28:20

Title: Need opinions on a couple mods
Post by lg_fry on 06/15/11 at 10:28:20

I bought my '07 s40 about two months ago and overall I love it. But I find that I'm driving my car less and less and listening to music less and less as a result.
So I figured why not install a pair of speakers. I found the pyle plmca30's on amazon and based on the reviews they sound like a decent deal for the price. As most of the driving I do is off-highway I don't need anything that'll blast my ears off. anyone have any experience with these or any speakers on a savage/s40? The one thing that worried me was the question of mounting them on the handlebars considering the brake fluid box's position on the handlebars. probably nothing to worry about but still. here they are:
http://www.amazon.com/PLMCA30-Motorcycle-Amplified-Handlebar-Speakers/dp/B001...
and the only other complaint I have is the volume of the exhaust. I've been lurking on these forums a while and have pretty well decided on the Emgo 17" Reverse Cone Muffler. This way I don't have to worry about it hitting the brake lever or anything. Now I have heard the chrome on emgo pieces is low quality, so a couple questions:
anyone put the reverse cones on? how do you like them? Is it worth painting them high temp black (and should i sand/blast it down or anything first?)?
here's the muffler page:
http://crc2onlinecatalog.com/Index_Main_Frame.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiiUEjO8znY

thanks in advance.

Title: Re: Need opinions on a couple mods
Post by sbaugz on 06/15/11 at 10:42:04

I have an EMGO pipe on my bike. I had mine professionally ceramic coated black. Cost be about $100, but they sandblasted the chrome off, prepped, and coated with ceramic coating. You could probably get it done in high temperature powder coating for about $30 less if you wanted. I think mine looks very cool in matte black.

Title: Re: Need opinions on a couple mods
Post by MotoBuddha on 06/15/11 at 10:48:29

Since the exhaust will be loud, why not just go with ear phones and an MP3 player?

Title: Re: Need opinions on a couple mods
Post by babyhog on 06/15/11 at 10:49:07

Couple things. Your Amazon link doesn't work for me. But I searched Amazon myself for PLMCA30 and found this... see if my link works, and if this is the right one. http://www.amazon.com/PLMCA30-Motorcycle-Amplified-Handlebar-Speakers/dp/B001RJMPBA/ref=pd_cp_e_0
This shows an "Item Under Review" warning and not currenly offered by Amazon, but it could be as simple as a packing problem.

Anyway... I remember reading that these bikes have trouble with much more load on the battery, so hopefully someone will chime in on that subject.

Personally, I have a Scala Rider headset that my husband and I use when we ride at the same time, to communicate with each other, but it also has FM radio and an mp3 port. It runs on its own rechargeable battery, so no draw on the bike. It ran dead on me the other day and it just wasn't the same without my tunes! So you might consider something of that nature too.

Title: Re: Need opinions on a couple mods
Post by lg_fry on 06/15/11 at 11:01:11

@sbaugz
but how do you like the sound of the exhaust?

@motobuddha
I don't want the exhaust to deafen children 10 miles away, I'll mess with the baffle if I have to, I just don't want it to go putt-putt-putt since I live in York, PA right near a HD factory so naturally there are a lot of HD's around.

@babyhog
then i guess i'll have to do more looking into the battery because i thought there were legality issues attached to having headphones in both ears while driving...
and you did find the correct amazon link. don't know why mine was broken.

Title: Re: Need opinions on a couple mods
Post by verslagen1 on 06/15/11 at 11:22:44

If you're getting an emco, you'll be listening to the thumper serenade.

Title: Re: Need opinions on a couple mods
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/15/11 at 13:16:47

Riding IS music,, dont pollute it with noise.. pay attention to what youre doing, live longer.

Title: Re: Need opinions on a couple mods
Post by 2whlthrpy on 06/15/11 at 13:51:55

Title: Re: Need opinions on a couple mods
Post by thumperclone on 06/15/11 at 14:22:26

unique cycle sounds

Title: Re: Need opinions on a couple mods
Post by lg_fry on 06/15/11 at 15:29:46

@justin_o_guy2
how is starting a playlist on my mp3 player and adjusting volume before i even put the bike in gear going to decrease my lifespan? i mean, come on, we all ride here and we've all been cut off by 16 year old girls cause they were messing with their radio.

the load on the battery is my bigger concern because i haven't been stranded by a dead one yet and i don't intend to.

but back to the exhaust, pretty sure i have access to a sandblaster for free, but is powder coating really worth it? i mean i've seen a couple bike parts that were coated and they look nice, but i can take my time with high temp spray paint. is it more scratch-resistant, etc?

tl,dr: forget the speakers for now, advantages of powder coating vs. high temp spray paint?

Title: Re: Need opinions on a couple mods
Post by KristenAnn on 06/15/11 at 15:41:30

223D3B3C21261727172F3D317A480 wrote:

Riding IS music,, dont pollute it with noise.. pay attention to what youre doing, live longer.

I agree totally

Title: Re: Need opinions on a couple mods
Post by lg_fry on 06/15/11 at 15:50:32

@kristenann

575A495C5E5D49423B0 wrote:

how is starting a playlist on my mp3 player and adjusting volume before i even put the bike in gear going to decrease my lifespan? i mean, come on, we all ride here and we've all been cut off by 16 year old girls cause they were messing with their radio.

Title: Re: Need opinions on a couple mods
Post by Boofer on 06/15/11 at 16:10:13

I personally don't like to listen to other people's music or really loud pipes. It would be easier and maybe cheaper to get an mp3 player and some ear buds. I don't listen while riding, but the Philips player is $40 with $15 for some good Sony ear buds. I listen to music nearly every night with mine. And no you can't paint straight chrome as for as I know Must be roughed up and primed. If you want loud buy a $30 Cherry Bomb from Maremont, 1 3/4" inlet, and paint till your heart's content. :)

Title: Re: Need opinions on a couple mods
Post by Z on 06/15/11 at 16:39:12

Ok I guess I am in the minority here but I listen to my MP3 player while on my bike. I have a half helmet and the ear buds keep the bugs from getting in my ears. Yes, I have a problem with bugs getting into the little space of my helmet strap and then not being able to get out. It is very aggravating to try riding with a bug buzzing around in your ear and praying that it doesn't sting you while it's in there. It is completely due to the design of my helmet as my husband also has a half helmet and he rarely gets any bugs in his. I have never had an issue with hearing traffic or anything. I can hear the sounds of my bike just fine (my Jardine exhaust is very loud [smiley=laugh.gif]).I still get a lot of wind noise even with the ear buds. I don't have the volume at deafening just loud enough to hear it and not block out the rest of the sounds.

Title: Re: Need opinions on a couple mods
Post by webhead on 06/15/11 at 18:10:46

6A300 wrote:

I agree with Z. I have the same exhaust and I have a parrot SK4000 connected to my iPhone. Which is mounted on my handlebars. The parrot comes with a wireless remote that mounts to the handlebars. You can switch to music, radio and the phone from the remote and I can hear it fine over the Jardine. Which is very loud. ::)

I was thinking about the radio mounted on the handlebars too but I didn't want to mess with the electrical and take up more real-estate on the handlebars. Plus I don't want to annoy people with my music. Fair is fair.

Title: Re: Need opinions on a couple mods
Post by groupus on 06/15/11 at 21:33:17

No offense, but putting speakers on a bike is R-tarded. No one wants to hear your music and the quality will suck because of the other noises, especially if you want to put a louder pipe on it! On short trips, I listen to Radio Savage, bwaaaaa *poot* bwaaaaaaaaa! Music is nice on longer trip; I use an ipod and in-ear headphones. They fit under the helmet, stay in my ears, keep the bugs out (I have felt your pain Z) and deaden some of the road noise (like rolling the windows up in your car, not dangerous, but keeps me from going deaf). Technically, headphones are illegal to wear in the commonwealth unless they are for communication. If you can put music on your phone, then hands-free type headphones are a loophole.

I painted my exhaust too. I've found that bbq paint works just as well as any automotive paint. I still repaint it about once a year when I have the exhaust off the bike b/c the flat black stains pretty easily. Rough up the muffler, mask and spray. Easy.

In short, ditch the speakers, paint the muffler. But that's just like my opinion, man.

p.s. I live in Lancaster, grew up in Adams County. You should check out the Carlisle Bike Fest to see if you can get a Harley muffler at the swap meet. I got a stock Dyna for $5 and a slash cut for $20.

Title: Re: Need opinions on a couple mods
Post by lg_fry on 06/20/11 at 12:06:47

http://www.ehow.com/list_7211407_laws-headphones-motorcycle.html

...just saying.

Title: Re: Need opinions on a couple mods
Post by babyhog on 06/20/11 at 12:46:09

262B382D2F2C38334A0 wrote:

http://www.ehow.com/list_7211407_laws-headphones-motorcycle.html

...just saying.

http://www.calsci.com/motorcycleinfo/PrintLaws.html

This link was at the bottom of that page. Chart listing the following by State:

Helmet Required
Daytime Headlights
Eye Protection
Radar/Kids/Earphones
Yearly Inspections
Lane Sharing
Blood Alcohol Limit (over/under 21)
Max Speed (Rural/Urban)

Off-Road Laws are listed too.

Title: Re: Need opinions on a couple mods
Post by WD on 06/21/11 at 02:36:21

You should make the rules chart a sticky.

Title: Re: Need opinions on a couple mods
Post by lg_fry on 06/23/11 at 15:51:07

Well regardless, I put the ego reverse cone muffler on today, pics/ vid to follow, but man is it ear candy. Anyone considering it, just do it.