The can is off!

Post by **mogu83** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 12:09 pm

I'm new to the board and find this subject intriguing. It's also raining and cold out, so I'm stuck inside. The only problem I see with removing the muffler is increased tire wear. Normally with the exhaust on the left and a crown to the road surface (for USA riders) a rider would lean toward the right to offset the weight of the muffler. This would cause the machine to be perpendicular to the road surface and the tires would wear straight across. Removing the muffler would cause the rider to move to the center line of the machine and the machine would no longer be in proper relation to the road surface causing tire wear on one side.
I believe BMW engineering designed the huge muffler on the left side to encourage better tire wear in drive on the right countries, and to make the bike more attractive to American consumers.
Maybe - or maybe not.

Boxerpunk · Post by **Boxerpunk** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 5:15 pm

mogu83 wrote:I'm new to the board and find this subject intriguing. It's also raining and cold out, so I'm stuck inside. The only problem I see with removing the muffler is increased tire wear. Normally with the exhaust on the left and a crown to the road surface (for USA riders) a rider would lean toward the right to offset the weight of the muffler. This would cause the machine to be perpendicular to the road surface and the tires would wear straight across. Removing the muffler would cause the rider to move to the center line of the machine and the machine would no longer be in proper relation to the road surface causing tire wear on one side.
I believe BMW engineering designed the huge muffler on the left side to encourage better tire wear in drive on the right countries, and to make the bike more attractive to American consumers.
Maybe - or maybe not.

Hell !! How much do the mufflers on USA-Rocksters weigh

And do you all use a scale when packing your saddlebags or cases, or spread your coins over both-side pockets of your jackets (and maybe even wear two watches).
IMHO the movement of a rider towards the center of his machine should make his ride much more comfortable, and normally spoken -on a straight course- the machine should roll on the centre of it's tyres.
I believe BMW engineering designed the muffler on the left side cause the right side was already taken; by the drive shaft !

Post by **mogu83** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 7:11 pm

Excuse me for not taking this thread seriously.

30 years ago at my first BMW rally I was kept up till the early hours listening to a group of sober Beemer riders arguing that if you put stainless steel spokes on your BMW the handling would be affected. I was riding a Guzzi at the time and was happy that all the spokes were still on my bike.
The next night it was if the nut on the valve stem (tube tires in those days) should be against the rim or up against the valve cap. This from a group that later I found out didn't even adjust their own valves.

Due to a lack of dealer support in the US I've abandoned Guzzi and bought a R1200R. It's nice to know that things are still the same in the BMW world.

As an old Guzzi rider I would suggest that the answer to removing the muffler would to carry two six packs of beer or four bottles of wine in the left saddlebag.

fnfalman · Post by **fnfalman** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 10:17 pm

Boxerpunk wrote:Hell !! How much do the mufflers on USA-Rocksters weigh

How much do the muffler AND catalytic converter weig? I don't know, but it's heavy as hell when I tried to carry both of them back to my car. Easily more than 30-lbs and that's a lot of weight off a motorcycle.

I sure as hell can't tell if the balance is off once the weight ballast; oops I mean the cat and the muffler, was off, but I do know that my bike runs a lot better without them.

Post by **dcameron** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 1:21 am

Took the can off last year and the canister this year to balance it out. All from a visual point of view. IMHO the weight really doesn't matter. But the beast really looks hot!

Post by **DJ Downunder** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 2:41 am

You guys crack me up with all these concerns about the bike being unbalanced without the can..honestly I have not noticed anything odd...

DJ

chris · Post by **chris** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 3:44 am

Nice one DJ!!

Post by **mogu83** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 5:36 am

DJ
Seems that your head is in the right place about this.

Just goes to show that the human brain works properly even when it's inverted.

Post by **Beemeridian** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 5:46 am

Post by **OU812** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 7:15 pm

Nice pic DJ! Really for me the R's are too loud w/o the cans.

I do run after market can and Y pipe. Lowered for the full size bag. But I don't have a Rockster.

Post by **DJ Downunder** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 11:28 pm

Nice pic DJ! Really for me the R's are too loud w/o the cans. I do run after market can and Y pipe.

It might be just me but I think the stock bike without the can is quieter that a Y pipe with aftermarket can or even with the stock can.

I have a couple of friends with Y pipes and aftermarket can and they are way louder than mine..Mine still sounds stock..just a deeper sound.

I would love to do a sound comparo...Maybe it just sounds louder because the sound comes out closer to you rather that at the back of the bike.

DJ

Post by **OU812** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 6:06 am

I never ran mine with the cat and no can. Did try it with the Y pipe and no can, very annoying! Or maybe I'm a wimp....

Or , it's just the hardening of my ear canals from hanging with the Harleys all these years.

Marc Rocks 2 · Post by **Marc Rocks 2** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 9:45 am

Hey,

I toke the can off today! It is really easy, even for a non-mechanic such as I am.

WOW! I am impressed with the sound. It's not a Laser Dual Exhaust but it will do perfectly. It doesn't cost 400 euro's either

I must admit that the vibrations in the feet are (a bit) more.
But on the other hand the weight difference (I think I can really feel the difference) and the noise makes it all worth while.

This week I am getting a chrome exhaust pipe and will re-assemble the cover. Test it for a few weeks and make up my mind. Maybe I will put it back on to see, feel and hear the difference one final time.

But for now....I am very happy.

Thanx for all the advice. I will keep you posted.

Greetings, Marc

Post by **dcameron** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 9:05 pm

DJ Downunder wrote:You guys crack me up with all these concerns about the bike being unbalanced without the can..honestly I have not noticed anything odd...

DJ

Hey DJ:

Didn't notice the difference? Looks like you're riding here in California. Right side of the road, and all that, eh?

hank · Post by **hank** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 2:54 pm

After removeing the can, turn the heat shield around and put it back like this.

Looks good and sounds good.

Post by **rock712** » Thu May 10, 2007 9:36 am

I put a can back on....now have a Ztek system, it looks nice the only new concern is how it will work with the system cases

Spookymonster · Post by **Spookymonster** » Thu May 31, 2007 8:12 am

Where can you get full sized left cases after doing this?

hank · Post by **hank** » Thu May 31, 2007 2:12 pm

Try Max BMW, the web site has a parts micro fiche where you can search for the parts you need.

You can buy a complete system case for the R1150RT , or if you are mechanicaly minded you can just order the inner part of the RT pannier and swap over the lock and lid from your origonal case.

http://www.maxbmwmotorcycles.com/

Hank.

Black R1150R.

Post by **OU812** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:30 pm

You may also try Beemerboneyard, might get lucky and find a left side and have it re-keyed. That is the easy part.

I'm in!...Oh, I thought we were playing hold'em.

Post by **OU812** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 6:13 pm

DJ, I finally got my chance to hear a Rockster with the can off.(cat still there) It was cool, not loud,(like with a Y-pipe). Thanks VES!

I just shipped off my stock can and cat. I was surprised the can felt heavier then the cat.

Truly a nice weight reduction w/o the can.