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COPYRIGHT 2005 Ehlert Publishing Group
Shhh ... quiet down out there! It's a phrase that's heard all-to-often by ATV enthusiasts, whether it's on the track or trail. Noise regulation and enforcement is becoming a popular issue among non-riding residents, state forest personnel and legislatures looking to constrict the rapidly swelling ATV industry. Although sound often takes a back seat to other important land-access issues, it's roaring to the forefront of many people's regulation agendas.
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The hush-hush secret is out to those enforcing decibel limits now in place around the country: Many bike owners like the gargling rumble their thumper makes. In fact, while assembling this Quiet Pipe Buyers' Guide, one manufacturer went as far as to say, "Riders like loud pipes. It's usually the first thing they'll bolt on after buying their bike. They like the sound, and that makes silent pipes a hard sell. Plus, silent pipes ruin horsepower."
Many manufacturers are taking a different attitude because they know their survival depends on quiet technologies that will increase the ever-sought-after horsepower. In most cases, we were genuinely impressed by strides companies in recent years and months have made to add a quiet pipe to their lineup.
Sount testing efforts exhibited by HMF Engineering toward the end of the 2004 GNCC season were impressive. So impressive, in fact, the GNCC Series extended an invitation to HMF for sound testing every round in 2005. Unfortunately, HMF had to turn down the offer due to a limited expense budget. "We'd like to be able to make it to every round and let our impact be seen," says HMF's Kevin Buttner, who works extensively in marketing and public relations for the pipe manufacturer. "We are developing product to meet new decibel limits. It's an important focus for us now."
Even though HMF can't make it to every round, its effort doesn't go unnoticed, nor the efforts of 17 companies that submitted pipes for our Quiet Pipe Buyers' Guide. So take out your ear plugs and grab a marker: there's bound to be a pipe here for your quad.
AAEN Performance
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Brand name: Mega Power ATV Pipe System
Applications: Arctic Cat DVX400, Honda TRX 450R, Kawasaki KFX400, Polaris Predator 500, Suzuki LT-Z400 and Yamaha YFZ450
Claimed decibel level: 96dB
Claimed horsepower gain: Improves midrange and top-end horsepower
Claimed weight: 4.5 lbs. (Includes silencer and tapered megaphone section)
Benefits/Features: The AAEN Mega Power pipe system features a larger header pipe with heat shield and a tapered megaphone section. AAEN says the 4-inch diameter aluminum silencer section allows for more silencer material for quieter running and a larger diameter core for more bottom-end torque. The silencer comes with an additional quiet core and a down-turned end piece that can be interchanged through the removable red anodized billet end cap. The silencer is also rebuildable.
Price: Starting at $329
Contact: AAEN Performance; (262) 552-8981; www.AAENperformance.com
Big Gun EVO Series
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The Big Gun four-stroke exhaust lineup features adjustable pipes that can meet the AMA's 102dB limits while still producing noticeable power gains. With the EVO system, pipes can be adjusted to meet the park standard 94dB limit as well. Big Gun offers six-month warranties on all its pipes.
Brand name: EVO X Series
Applications: Contact Big Gun; complete and slip-on applications available
Claimed decibel level: Adjustable from 94dB to 102dB; USFS-approved screen-type spark arrestor; 94dB Vortex Quiet Insert stainless steel
Claimed horsepower gain: Contact Big Gun
Claimed weight: Depends on application
Benefits/Features: The EVO X Series pipes are made from 18-gauge...
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