Start with no pipes. Real bad idea?

[Incubus]

I have my XS1100F to the point where it ought to be able to start. I have good spark, I have good compression and the tank is derusted. I still have to work on the pipes a bit, like removing the rusty baffles. I am anxious to hear it run. I've never started a bike with no exhaust on it - not even the headers. Would this be a real bad idea? Would the lack of back pressure cause problems? I could be patient and wait until the exhaust is ready to be mounted, but don't want to.

Suggestions?

Thanks, in advance.

Patrick

[chopwatchagot]

Yeah, it's a bad idea. Not because of the lack of backk pressure, but brcause when you shut it off you run the risk of warping the valves and or head because it can cool off too fast. If you do run it with no pipes be ready to stuff some rags in the exhaust ports as soon as you shut it down

[GNEPIG]

.. go in the house and draw a bath, about half full. climb in and sit down then fart just as hard and as loud as you can. this is what your bike will sound like but at about 2000 rpms, because it probly wont idle on its own. it sounds like crap!
..i wouldnt do it, but if you gotta start it, dont run it for more than a few seconds. the heat and the cool air sucking back in on the valves are not good.
but if you want to hear something kinda cool[and annoy the neighbors], put just the head pipes on and try it, still wont want to idle but it makes a hell of a noise, like a stock car.

[trbig]

but it makes a hell of a noise, like a stock car.

See... now this is the kind of information that's good to know. A couple months back, the neighbors tried to pull an all nighter with some loud music... Next time, I'll just back up to their driveway, rev it a bit with just the header... and when they come out to gripe, I'll ask.. "What.. that's too loud?? Hmmmm... " Then look at them seriously and ask... "Ya know...I was just wondering... can you ever FEEL it when I have my rifle scope on you?? "

"Please won't you be..... my neighbor!" <<< Just try to to say it without the Mr. Roger's theme song in your head! lmao

I just don't understand why I'm not invited to these parties...


Tod

[jeffe]

I agree with GNEPIG. I started my 650 Seca with out the head pipes and it did not even sound like an engine. I did it knowing the risks and was prepared to stuff the exhaust outlets. It is not worth it. Mainly because every time you start up your bike you will know that is what it really sounds like.

[TADracer]

Dont do it

Dont start the engine without exhaust. Not just for the reasons stated above but because it will really sound like crap. Wouldnt you rather hear the way it WILL sound with a great set of pipes?

[Incubus]

Chill pill taken. I ought to have the exhaust sorted out by the weekend. I guess that's soon enough. As projects go, I've only been working on this one a couple of months, so it's been lightning speed anyway. And it's not like we run out of riding season in Central Texas, what with our 300 days of sunshine every year. It's only now starting to get real nice.

I would put just the headers on and try it that way, but the the headers and the mufflers have been together so long I suspect it would be fatal to try to separate them. Getting the baffles out will be bad enough. I figure I need to do that though just to find out what else might have been living in those pipes all these years. The bike's last tags expired in 1991.

Where exactly do you live, Tod? I want to make sure I'm real quiet if I ever pass by late at night....

Patrick

[Incubus]

Oh, and we did the head pipe only thing when we replaced the exhaust on my son's '87 Mustang GT this summer. Annoy the neighbors? I think that annoyed the folks two towns over. But it did sound muscular... My son wanted to keep the mufflers off.

Patrick

[strom]

When I bought my MZ 250 ETZ... it was in pieces.... annoying habit of mine, buying such bikes... lol
Anyway in order to bring it to my house, it had to be put together.
So a friend and I assembled it, been at it the whole day... and started it. Without the header (1 cyl, 250cc, 2 stroke). The front fender was a bit singed, it was LOUD and it was 4 am.
I thaught it got a bit dark fast.
Anyway, would not recommend.

LP

[LoserShoes]

Fire up my CZ400mx'r even with the pipe on will cause pain at 40 paces.

Steve

[Incubus]

You want to have to real fun with that 2-stroke? Start it up with an air leak - like with a disconnected oil feed line. I did that with my DT1 once (1969, one cylinder, 250 ccs). The engine will immediately climb to the highest rpm possible and it won't shut off. I hit the kill switch - nothing. I pulled the spark plug wire off - continued screaming. I finally only shut it off by turning off the petcock and letting it run out of gas. I was very grateful I did not have a chain on it at the time or it likely would have ended up in my living room.

Fortunately I did not burn up my engine, that I had just put a new top end on, just rebuilt the transmission on, and also had just replaced all the oil seals and case bearings.

Great fun.

Patrick

[Pat Kelly]

I was told by an F18 pilot that the F22 "Raptor" is so loud that ground crew working on the flightline have to wear body armor because of the sound pressure.

[prometheus578]

I just don't understand why I'm not invited to these parties...

I do.

[BLUEJEEPLAB]

I was told by an F18 pilot that the F22 "Raptor" is so loud that ground crew working on the flightline have to wear body armor because of the sound pressure.

I live near Wright Patterson AFB and heard a Raptor take off Sunday Morning. That puppy is LOUD

[LoserShoes]

I was in the Edwards AFB hospital for while in the late '60s where they were testing the C5, the SR71 AND the Saturn 5 boosters off across the other side of the dry lake.

The hospital is up on a rise above the flight line, good views and excellent acoustics.

Some pretty incredible sound levels.

Steve