Quiet CL350 exhaust options

[Tremelune]

I just picked up a '71 CL350, and it came with an aftermarket exhaust that I think is too loud. Good sound, but just a bit too loud. The bike came with one brand new OEM muffler (not two). I see a few options:

- Buy another OEM exhaust. The problem with this is that they're pricey, and I intend to paint them black, so why pay for shiny chrome? Also, I'm not sure if they'll fit the existing header, and I'd rather not have to buy a whole system. I should probably measure the pipe with some calipers...

- Buy a full OEM system used. This is probably what I'll need to do. They seem to run about $200, which is a bummer.

- Buy an aftermarket exhaust. I really like the look of the pipes that are on there, and I would love to keep that. Are there any quiet aftermarket exhausts for these bikes? Would I have to rejet?


If anyone knows the manufacturer of these pipes, I'd love to know:

 

[adriannarnold]

Those look like stock headers to me, so you shouldn't have any problem fitting the own ones on if you go that route. It looks like you have emgo Shorty mufflers on there. I had them on my cb350.

Take a closer pic of the actual mufflers. As far as quieting them: if they are the emgo shortys they won't really quiet to much, but you can smooth them out by repacking them with some muffler packing. Mine were horribly done and uneven when I got them.

That's my 2 cents. Have fun and good luck. If you do decide to get rid of the mufflers I may be interested in purchasing them from you. Let me know

 

[SONICJK]

Those are stock cl pipes with replacement glass pack mufflers.
Firs thing id do is pull the mufflers off and take a look at the baffles. Maybe all the glass packing is gone.

 

[Tremelune]

Great, thanks. I'll get a better photo and take a look at how the muffler and header are mated. I don't think they're welded--just gasket junk. I like the look and sound of these things, I just wish I could turn down the volume...It sounds like repacking them might not help there, though.

 

[adriannarnold]

Yeah, from my experience repacking kind of just smoothes out some of the grumble. If that makes any sense. It doesn't really quiet them. If you do decide to purchase some oem ones, throw up a posting in the wanted section on here. You should have some luck.

 

[Tremelune]

Arg. It looks like the OEM exhaust is in three pieces:

- Bottom header
- Bottom muffler
- Top header/muffler combo

Did these pipes change over the model years at all? Some of them look different, I'm curious as to when the switch was made. They're all probably compatible as a complete set, but as I have a brand new bottom muffler, I'd rather not have to buy duplicate parts...

Bah, I'll repack and see what happens...Anyone have any good links to the art of muffler packing...?

 

[adriannarnold]

Pretty simple when I last did it.

Usually a set screw holds in the baffle. Unscrew that remove the baffle and old stuff. Rewrap and you usually hold it together with some wire. I try and find a picture. Its pretty straight forward.