Question on drone noise..

[GONRDN]

This may sound silly, but can someone explain what the drone noise is? I have stock pipes and probably will stay stock until everything else I want to customize my bike is bought. So pipes really aren't on my to get list. Saving that for last. Now, is it a vibrating low tone? Wind buffering tone? Pipe tone? Humming tone? I didn't want to ask before but now I'm intrigued. Does it happen at certain speeds? Certain gears? Does it happen on stock pipes? Cause I really don't hear anything except pipe noise. And finally, if you were to say what it sounds like, (maybe a vacuum cleaner noise, low setting of heat in car) how would you explain it.

P.S. I've had a lot of bikes in the past with different aftermarket pips, Cobra, V&H, Rush, etc., Does this drone happen on other bikes? And if so, what make ere the pipes and bike.

[GONRDN]

And am I the only one who doesn't know what the drone noise it? If your with me, sound off so I don't feel like the only idiot here. :icon_doh:

[watertowerman]

I was wondering also? I was thinking about different .pipes didn't want an 800.00 mistake

[Cleaver1]

I would describe it as an annoying humming noise, that reverberates. Like umm umm umm umm umm umm umm umm
This noise gets louder and changes pitch depending on speed. Its usually bad at a constant cruising speed

[F6B-RICH]

I would describe it as an annoying humming noise, that reverberates. Like umm umm umm umm umm umm umm umm
This noise gets louder and changes pitch depending on speed. Its usually bad at a constant cruising speed

I have to agree with Cleaver on this one he pretty much nailed it.I did not know what drone was also as my past bikes were not a issue.I purchased the
Torq Master pipes and there is NO DRONE but I removed some baffles 2 in each pipe to experiment and first test ride with 1 baffle in each pipe wham the
drone was crazy headed right home and installed the baffles back in.

[chipmaker]

Ive got drone on my Camaro bad, it reverberates thru trunk. It's like a bad resonance or humm... Previous owner cheaped out on exhaust...

[FlyinF]

Riding behind someone with the drone syndrome to me sounds like a wa, wa, wa or an um, um um ,depends which part of the country you are from :)...........its almost harmonic and after awhile it is abit distracting. I have Rush exhaust on mine and to me no drone, just a brrrrrrrrrrr.

[Scotrod]

Drone, to me, is when an exhaust system, during certain load/rpm range, consistently creates a much louder sound level than below or above that range.

Reverberation of the exhaust (different issue) is generally caused by the sound bouncing back off other objects and/or 2 sounds (2 bikes exhausts) being heard in tandem with some similar 'harmonics'. (Think musicians / tuning forks on steroids etc)

Drone can be (for the most part) a constant. Accelerating: a a a aaa AAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAA

Reverberation will give you short, quick episodes of "waaWAAwaaWAAwaa" , etc.

[Scotrod]

Ive got drone on my Camaro bad, it reverberates thru trunk. It's like a bad resonance or humm... Previous owner cheaped out on exhaust...

Yep. Wifes Mustang is the same. Sounds good at speed but taking off from stoplights it's loud and will rattle the floorboards,,, :icon_doh:

aAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[hiflyer]

"Drone can be (for the most part) a constant. Accelerating: a a a aaa AAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAA"

Drone is also the sound I make after a long day, just as I settle back into MY chair.


"AAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaa", he says.

[chipmaker]

Yep. Wifes Mustang is the same. Sounds good at speed but taking off from stoplights it's loud and will rattle the floorboards,,, :icon_doh:

aAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Yes, even worse when the displacement on demand keeps cycling on and off...

[opas ride]

I guess you really have to ride an F6B with the Cobra 6-2-6 pipes to hear the "dreaded drone"..The guys at Cobra tell me they tested all sorts of options to reduce the drone before the release of the current issue pipes...I really can't explain the sound except as a constant "HUMMMMM" that varies with speed. Much less in traffic as you are constantly changing speeds..I have ridden for almost 50 years and never had this sound until my current bike with Cobra pipes....After I rode it a few miles on the way home from the dealer, which is 120 miles away, I kept asking myself, "what the heck is this nauseating sound on the highway that I am hearing??..I tried different throttle positions and it was always there, but at different levels...I opened the face shield on my 3/4 HJC helmet and the sound was more subdued, but still there..I sat up higher and looked over the top of the Baggershield windshield, which is higher than stock, and the drone was less prevalent but to much wind noise for me. After talking with Brad at Cobra I have determined that I have 3 choices...One is to return to the stock pipes, two is to install the Tork Lopz which I will not do, or live with the drone until I can tolerate it or find a solution..I am not going to start drilling out stock pipes, or screwing around with other options, as I really like the looks of the Cobra's and don't want to take a huge cash hit at this point...I hope this helps as it may for some and not for others...Bottom line, would I buy them again, probably not...At 74 years old loud pipes are not for me but I do like a little rumble....I wish they sounded like the old straight 6 into 6 pipes on the Valkyrie of years ago......That's want I wanted when I had the dealer install them...Oh well, with all this snow on the ground I would just be happy to ride...drone or not!!

[Hornblower]

After talking with Brad at Cobra I have determined that I have 3 choices...One is to return to the stock pipes, two is to install the Tork Lopz which I will not do, or live with the drone until I can tolerate it or find a solution..

With my Torq Master Daytona's, I was presented with 3 choices...install baffles, install Torq Loopz, or cut and plug the crossover pipe. I am going with the last choice since that should be fairly cheap and straightforward. It may be 2 or 3 weeks before I get a chance to do this but I'll report on the results once it's finished.

[Texas TC]

Drone is a matter of harmonics that are slightly out of sync. However, trying to describe it is difficult. Like they said when trying to define pornography.....you know it when you see it. Well, you also know drone when you experience it and it is quite annoying when you do.

[Cool Hand Luke]

I have cobra pipes for a while. I also had free flowing exhaust on my Mustang Convertible years ago, and I also had Vance and Hines on my HD Road King. I have put at least 8,000 miles on F6B since putting cobra pipes on, including the 8 day trip from SC to Americade in NY, which was at least 3,000 miles trip.

In addition I am 45 years old. I had a GW before F6B. GW had stock pipes.

In my opinion:

We all love F6B as it has amazing bulletproof engine. The same engine that performs so good is also kind of bland when it comes to 'character', almost too refined. No vibration, seamless power, smooth engine at any rpm seems to make for an engine that does not produce too much of a visceral feel to it. GW and F6B simply just works great. But flat six engine is NEVER going to sound or feel like a V-twin. This is impossible by design. So, stock pipes are good looking but have no sound to them as this was engineered to be. F6B's engine is supposed to be inobtrusive and reliable.

Uh, but F6B looks hot rod, much better than GW, so a lot of us want some sound to back it up. After all it has a six cylinder large engine, shouldn't it produce some decent sound as well? Not so. I believe that GW designers wanted riders to hear the stereo and not be bothered by engine or wind noise as much.

So enter the wonderful world of aftermarket pipes. You can get different pipes for it. However some don't really produce more noise than stock so you will have no drone issue here and the only reason to buy these pipes is for different looks as HP and torque will stay about the same.
Others, such as Cobra 6-2-6, do produce more noise and bass sound to it. I like that. But engine like this will never sound like a Harley or similar, totally different design. Instead of having two large cylinders thumping up and down we have six very small ones.

I for one really like Cobra's. I like the looks, I get a lot of positive comments on them. I also happen to like the sound. I kept Cobra's just like the came, with their baffles in. They produce a very nice deep bass Porsche-like 'rumble'. They are certainly louder than stock pipes and give bike that something extra it was missing. Now the looks of my F6B match the sound you'd expect from it. I also like the fact that it does not sound like a Harley, it has a sound all his own. I don't want it louder, though.

I usually ride with 13" Baggershield, I am 6' tall and usually use open face helmet. I still enjoy the sound. You can definitely hear the pipes more at higher speeds but it certainly does not annoy me. That's the whole point of getting these on is to hear the sound.

Due to engine design the sound is more monotone, not potato-potato like Harley. Maybe that is what people consider 'drone'. If that bothers you than just leave the stockers on and understand that it is what it is and accept it the way it was designed.

I have personally heard both Rush and Cobra's. They sound very similar to me. I prefer Cobra's as they look very different from any other pipes out there. I also liked them chromed, not too keen on matt black pipes.

So, if you want more sound understand that it won't sound what you think it should sound like (similar to Harley as this seems to be a benchmark) and you will be happy. Drone or no drone.

Just my opinion and is probably different than yours. I like Cobra's and 'drone' to me is exxagerated description of monotone sound from flat six engine that is to be expected.

I just love the looks, feel and sound of my F6B!

[GONRDN]

I have to say thanks to all who replied to this thread. It gives me a better prospective of what the drone is now. I guess its better to wait for pipes like I stated, or not pull trigger al all.. I just can not justify getting nice sounding or looking pipes, then have to deal with that noise. I have to admit it, it would bother the shit of out me if I had to deal with that.

[GONRDN]

But flat six engine is NEVER going to sound or feel like a V-twin.

Great quote Luke.

[Scotrod]

. I have to admit it, it would bother the shit of out me if I had to deal with that.

It's bad enough if it does it 'new off the showroom floor'. Even worse of a blow if you drop a lot of coin on exhaust and THEN it starts to drone.

Makes ya feel like the yella fella: >>>>> :nutkick:

[opas ride]

I can relate to the above comments..I test rode the F6B at the dealer before I bought mine..The demo bike had the Cobra's on it with the stock windshield and the wind noise was way more than I expected and on the short ride I took I really did not pay attention to the exhaust sound due to the wind turbulence...In all honesty, and in fairness to those concerned, I can live with the drone as I am sure I will get used to it..My three previous bikes were all big V-twins, one 1800VTX and two Victory's..All with aftermarket pipes installed at the dealer that sounded great, but were kind of loud...which I do not want now...As said above, I really like the Cobra's in most respects and unless something major happens, I will leave them on the bike for now......I think I have the rust issue resolved with the two small holes I drilled under each pipe to let moisture drain out at start-up, which is another issue with these pipes, so only time will tell as I cannot make a sensible decision until next riding season here in "butt cold/snowy"..Michigan

[Hornblower]

The exhaust "note" is definitely a matter of personal preference. Some may like it soft while others want it loud and everything in between. Someone mentioned the F6B not sounding anything like a big v-twin and to that I say, thank goodness! :stirthepot: No, I'm more of a Porsche-Ferrari-sound kind of guy. My old Triumph Rocket III with racing exhaust was described by a rider friend as sounding like a P-51 Mustang. It was truly awesome and guess what...it didn't drone! In contrast, I also had a BMW K12LT that was stock. It was so quiet and smooth and "automotive-like" it was absolutely boring. With that bike, there was very little sense of even being on a motorcycle. All this to say that what I'm after with my F6B is to hear just enough to remind me that it is a bike and not a car. And, with 6 cylinders, I want to hear them purr and sometimes bellow just a bit but then again, that's just me. 'riding'

[Ebony Deluxe]

I also am a convert to the flat six. Always had numerous HD's with the aftermarket pipes, inline 4's with the same. Just riding with the stealthy sound of raw power, and whine of the gears is awesome. Hearing the tunes without being a nuisance to the rest of the world is a plus. We are all individuals, with different tastes, so it's all good. In my case, I have had enough noise in my life to last another lifetime. The F6B sounds perfect.

[hiflyer]

I also am a convert to the flat six. Always had numerous HD's with the aftermarket pipes, inline 4's with the same. Just riding with the stealthy sound of raw power, and whine of the gears is awesome. Hearing the tunes without being a nuisance to the rest of the world is a plus. We are all individuals, with different tastes, so it's all good. In my case, I have had enough noise in my life to last another lifetime. The F6B sounds perfect.

Either I am you, or you are me, as are thoughts are the same. I like mine just fine.

[4DI2D]

If you ever want that "six cylinder sound" you can totally mod the exhaust system into a six-into-one. Then it will purrrrrrr like a 50's Chevy.

I feel left out because my F6B doesn't "drone" (yet??). Maybe it will mature into that phase like a vintage wine (whine?).

[opas ride]

It should not drone at all unless you have some type of aftermarket pipes, or at least that is I am told by some on the forum..Number one reason why I will probably go back to the stockers if this true. I cannot comment on the stock sounding F6B as the Cobra's on my bike were installed by the dealer before my first ride so I do not know it will sound like stock....

[bobbyf6b]

This is also my first flat six, and I fear the drone. After 13,000 miles my stock pipes are sounding better. Perhaps they are breaking in.

[GONRDN]

Hey Bobby, I got my flag today. Thanks for steering me in that direction.

[bobbyf6b]

Hey Bobby, I got my flag today. Thanks for steering me in that direction.

No problem! I was really impressed with the product and packaging.

[Scotrod]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7hI7MmQ51Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmaMCDhVcmQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wgJptM6umM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li5drbyGnFk

[bobbyf6b]

If that's drone then I guess it's normal to me. My new Jeep Wrangler makes a similar sound. Just turn up the tunes!

[MSGT-R]

I would describe it as an annoying humming noise, that reverberates. Like umm umm umm umm umm umm umm umm
This noise gets louder and changes pitch depending on speed. Its usually bad at a constant cruising speed

It's humming now; give it some time, it will learn the words.. :icon_rolleyes:

I hear the hum arround 70 mph on the open highway with the Torq Masters. I added the extra inserts and it stopped without a decrease in performance. The rumble is fun in town, but not on the long trips.

Then again, I have no hearing loss so even "quiet" helmets are still noisy to me, even behind a 13" windshield at speed.

[paolo305]

Riding behind someone with the drone syndrome to me sounds like a wa, wa, wa or an um, um um ,depends which part of the country you are from :)...........its almost harmonic and after awhile it is abit distracting. I have Rush exhaust on mine and to me no drone, just a brrrrrrrrrrr.

I have the Rush Exhaust as well 2.50's and at 70 with my windshielf up I feel the drone. Yesterday I did a 200 mile ride and one streatch was 1.5 hour streight at 70 when I was done I felt like I just walked out of a rock concert. I was also wearing a full face helmet and my windshield was full up.

What are the specs on your rush exhaust.

thanks

[Deer Slayer]

I have the Rush Exhaust as well 2.50's and at 70 with my windshielf up I feel the drone. Yesterday I did a 200 mile ride and one streatch was 1.5 hour streight at 70 when I was done I felt like I just walked out of a rock concert. I was also wearing a full face helmet and my windshield was full up.

What are the specs on your rush exhaust.

thanks

:shock: I agree with Msgt-R it is the noise. I ran 200 miles last weekend with my rad mufflers and changed back to my normal mufflers when I got home. I had ringing ears and mufflers mixed with audio on speaker or full face brain bucket with head set while riding. :cheers: