[bondfast]

Hi.



I bought a 1998 TW 200 last year. Love the bike, but dang the sucker is loud - sounds like a damn Harley !

Seems out of character for such a small bike.



I'm sure it's the stock muffler & I've gone down & scoped it out several times & find no holes or cracks. The thing is, I saw a later model t-dub go by the other day & it sounded more, well, muffled.



So, are the later models using a quieter silencer & if so, would it fit on my 1998? Is this a job for a dealer or can anyone suggest a quieter muffler?



Thanks !

 

[Rainman]

Weird, maybe the previous owner hollowed out the muffler? My 1990 isn't loud at all and it has the stock muffler.

 

[bondfast]

Yeah, I was wondering about that too. I think I'll drop by a dealer - see if I can compare it to a new bike & see what the service guy says.



Thanks.

 

[PJungnitsch]

My 96 is pretty quiet as well. I've never had the muffler apart but it seems pretty simple from this diagram, nothing to wear out or need repacking:

 

[lizrdbrth]

A loud stock muffler has an issue somewhere.



The stock mufflers are all identical internally, regardless of year model. They're pretty darned quiet, simple as a brick and flow more than sufficiently for anything short of a full-race (yeah, right) Tw. Nonetheless that doesn't prevent folks unclear on the concept from modifying them. Or yours may have rotted out or even BURNED out prematurely from being run too lean at some point.



The first thing I'd do is fish around the inside of the end cap with a stiff wire. It should come to full stop around 6" into the muffler.



To check beyond that you'll need to remove your end cap, which can be a real pain.



Your end cap should look like the one in the parts breakdown on the inside. If it doesn't or if some dink P.O. drilled it out, cut it off, or if it simply rotted out or fell apart, there's your noise.



If not, get a light and look inside. Looking from the rear forward you should see a solid nosecone, and there should be two small openings in the sidewall of the inner tube, way in the back.



Again, if you see daylight back there in the nosecone, if someone has`drilled it out or it has simply rotted through, there's your noise.

 

[bondfast]

A loud stock muffler has an issue somewhere.



The stock mufflers are all identical internally, regardless of year model. They're pretty darned quiet, simple as a brick and flow more than sufficiently for anything short of a full-race (yeah, right) Tw. Nonetheless that doesn't prevent folks unclear on the concept from modifying them. Or yours may have rotted out or even BURNED out prematurely from being run too lean at some point.



The first thing I'd do is fish around the inside of the end cap with a stiff wire. It should come to full stop around 6" into the muffler.



To check beyond that you'll need to remove your end cap, which can be a real pain.



Your end cap should look like the one in the parts breakdown on the inside. If it doesn't or if some dink P.O. drilled it out, cut it off, or if it simply rotted out or fell apart, there's your noise.



If not, get a light and look inside. Looking from the rear forward you should see a solid nosecone, and there should be two small openings in the sidewall of the inner tube, way in the back.



Again, if you see daylight back there in the nosecone, if someone has`drilled it out or it has simply rotted through, there's your noise.

Cool, thanks. Like I said, it looks fine from the outside, but I'm gonna poke around in there tomorrow, like you outlined.



Just curious, why is it a pain to remove the end cap? From the parts diagram it's attached to the muffler with 1 bolt, right?



Cheers !

 

[lizrdbrth]

Yeah. But that one dumb little bolt is usually siezed in the muffler. Maybe you'll get lucky with it. Sometimes it will snap before it loosens, and you'll need to get it out with a screw extractor.

 

[sorethumb]

If you figure out you need a new exhaust, I've got a stock exhaust off my 98 I am looking to sell here.

 

[bondfast]

The first thing I'd do is fish around the inside of the end cap with a stiff wire. It should come to full stop around 6" into the muffler.



To check beyond that you'll need to remove your end cap, which can be a real pain.



Your end cap should look like the one in the parts breakdown on the inside. If it doesn't or if some dink P.O. drilled it out, cut it off, or if it simply rotted out or fell apart, there's your noise.

So, it didn't pass the stiff wire test. It goes a full 15" in before stopping, which is probably where the muffler bends. Also, where I'd expect a screw to hold the end cap on there's a hole. I can stick the wire through the hole right up to the top of the muffler ! Add to that, I think the end cap is welded on - a clean weld mind you, & the whole thing is painted black. So, it looks like I've been riding around with a tin can for a muffler !



So, thanks a lot for your enlightenment !

 

[dganey]

I have one as well for 150.00 plus shipping (includes a black OEM header with heat shieid installed). Both have 131 miles. No use on the ceramic coating. Does not include the muffler heat shield (the ceramic coated one).



http://tw200forum.com/index.php?/topic/1920-ceramic-coated-exhaust-for-sale/

 

[bondfast]

I have one as well for 150.00 plus shipping (includes a black OEM header with heat shieid installed). Both have 131 miles. No use on the ceramic coating. Does not include the muffler heat shield (the ceramic coated one).

Hi dustyg. I sent you a personal message.

 

[moneal]

I've thought mine was pretty load and its brand new. I have had it since its first mile and just thought it was normal. Anyone have some videos with relative sounds? I'll try to post one of mine tomorrow. Also it idles pretty fast when its hot, I hope that's normal also.

 

[Homeskool]

When I saw this thread I went to record a video of my 91 tdub. I reved it loud so everyone could see in the video. My bike is a monster. It's super loud and sounds epic. BBBuutttt it's so loud and awesome my Mic on my Camera was maxxed out and the sound cuts out when I high rev. So the video was useless. My muffler is totally stock without any holes. It honestly is a flawless muffler. But when beside my friends 2003 he always comments how much cooler my bike sounds....

I'll try to re-do the video and post it.



Question,

It sounds so freakin' awesome.

If mine was as quite as a stock one was I'd install somthing aftermarket..

How come you want to silience one of the coolest sounds on Earth? heh....

 

[qwerty]

How come you want to silience one of the coolest sounds on Earth? heh....

Maturity.

 

[bondfast]

Yeah, the TW is supposed to be a trail bike, after all, so a quieter footprint than a Harley would be nice.

 

[Homeskool]

Awe... Why does maturity often = lack of style? If it is a full time trail bike then yes. The quiter the better.

 

[lizrdbrth]

Awe... Why does maturity often = lack of style? If it is a full time trail bike then yes. The quiter the better.

Maturity = the wisdom to know that if your stock muffler is heinously loud, you're also frying your motor, and it needs to be corrected.



Style = not caring, or not having acquired enough mechanical knowlege to understand why the above is true.



Some combination of the two can coexist, but only the second can't stand alone.



Welcome aboard.

 

[qwerty]

Awe... Why does maturity often = lack of style? If it is a full time trail bike then yes. The quiter the better.

Style is nothing but a preoccupation with how one percieves others percieve him or her. In developmental psychology that is called "personal fable". Typical of middle school age.

 

[Homeskool]

I believe you can enjoy the style of a modded tw200 without being preoccupied with what others think of you.

Style can be who you are.

Yes, Often a loud pipe is a good indication of the persons personality.

But not always. Somtimes it just sounds nice.

A bike that sounds just as good as a piano to some does not mean it's not music in it's own way.

 

[qwerty]

It's noise pollution. Your right to contaminate my ears with noise pollution ends about the same spot my right to urinate on handgrips does. If you want a loud pipe, bend it up over the tank and point it at your face. Enjoy. If you aim your loud pipe out under your butt, you're using noise as an attention getting device. Loud pipes make noise. Learning to ride defensively saves lives. Don't go there.