Gear: Arrow Thunder Titanium on a Honda CRF300 Rally Noise Test

[@karlkrebs4386]

I'm a bit late to the party, but never the less do I want to thank you for this test! It's difficult to find good sounds teste and your was the best so far.

[@PeakMotorcycles]

Thanks

[@kangacrew540]

I never thought id see the day that you can have big loud concerts and quiet motorbike exhausts. It used to be the other way around 😅

[@PeakMotorcycles]

🤣

[@wayneh8767]

Hey Andre, good comparison for sure, good to see your getting products that perform well but still are respectful of the sound levels, I'm of the opinion that stock always sounds good and some aftermarket products can be good if designed so. Glad to see you have some better weather!

[@PeakMotorcycles]

Thanks Wayne. I quite like a loud exhaust if I go to a race track. Quiet as possible for the trails and to sit on all day is definitely my preference though. May this be the start of summer!

[@0HARE]

Yes, this was interesting and useful. I appreciate the effort and the precision you put into these tests. I have the full titanium MotoX exhaust, from H2C in Thailand. I like it just fine, and will keep it on my Rally. Good Day

[@PeakMotorcycles]

Hi Allen, I’d used the MotoX for six months. I was hoping someone else would try one of these, as it’s sort of an expensive experiment. I’m delighted with how it works and looks, but at 2.5x the price of the full titanium MotoX, that’s a hard sell. It isn’t and can’t be 2.5x better. But at least I know now 🤣

[@toshkojelezarov9088]

Hi Andre, Thanks for the great and well-illustrated info! I plan to buy the same system, but I have two questions. Was the cylindrical catalytic converter included with one of the part numbers in your set 72528PK + 72178PZ + 72179PD or you purchased it separately? I don’t see it on the eBay listing or on Arrow’s web site. Also, there are many systems listed as homologated and ECE street legal but noncat. Does it mean the system is marked and certified as street legal even without the cylinder that you fitted inside between your midpipe and exhaust? Best regards!

[@PeakMotorcycles]

Hi, the one I ordered included the cylindrical cat. I checked with the eBay seller beforehand and they confirmed it was included. As for the noncat systems, I think the end cans are still stamped as ECE (as they are the same as the ones you’d use with a cat), but the homologation testing was carried out with the cat installed. That said, I don’t know how they perform with the cat removed. So to your final question, without the cat, it is marked as street legal, but I don’t think it has been certified as such. I used my MotoX exhaust for a while which had no stamp and no cat and no one seemed to care. It did drop the top speed a little though.

[@kiwiadventurer]

Hi Andre That was a thorough breakdown and test of the salient points we need to understand. Appreciate the effort, although not taking anything away from that statement, it must be enjoyable doing and editing the final presentation. I have enjoyed immensely you personality and clear thinking in all the series I have watched. Your series seem to have the most relevance. One question if you don't mind. Stainless steel lasts the longest but is more crack prone. I too have decide because of your tests on an Arrow Thunder unit, Can I get one as a slip on rather than the full exhaust?. I intend going the whole hog, suspension and the 550 performance upgrade. My rally won't arrive until late March down here in NZ but that's not stopping me think and order ahead. Cheers.

[@PeakMotorcycles]

Hi, thanks for watching! The Arrow does come in 3 pieces, but the stock exhaust is just two; link pipe and silencer are a single piece that also contains the catalytic converter. So unless you’re willing to cut the link pipe off the stock exhaust, I’m not sure you’d be able to fit only the Arrow silencer. I think you’d need a link pipe too. Which also means you’d lose the stock cat too, unless that is fine, in which case go for it! Not sure how the fittings fit though, but headed to link pipe has a covering clip rather than a spring, so as long as the pipes fit, and you can seal it, it should be ok.

[@kiwiadventurer]

@@PeakMotorcycles Much appreciated Andre. Looks like the full kit for me.

[@davidwilliams8416]

Hi, great research; nice video Andre. I'm way behind the curve here but I've just bought a used 300L and would like a lighter (but reasonably quiet) exhaust. I was thinking of replacing just the silencer but note that you seem to have replaced the whole exhaust. Two questions if I may, please: 1. Would fitting the whole exhaust be frowned on by my insurer, ie would it require an engineer's report and higher premium? 2. If I fit just the Arrow Thunder Titanium silencer, would that work OK, ie not require re-mapping, and be less likely to upset my insurer (Lexham)? I take it you didn't re-map for the whole exhaust. Many thanks for any help.

[@PeakMotorcycles]

Hi, I think most insurers try to make extra money or get out of paying, so unfortunately I suspect a frowned on. I told mine and they asked if it was marked for road use. The Arrow one is homologated (testing to prove it is the same flow profile as stock), which is quite an expensive process to follow, but it is and I have the certificate. As for just fitting the silencer, I’m not sure you can. On the 300L (and Rally) the cat is in the mid-pipe so you have to replace both the mid-pipe and silencer together unless you’re handy with a hack saw and can fit a new silencer to the sawn off stock mid-pipe. You can use it with the stock headers (I think) but you’d have to check with Arrow. I haven’t tried that I’m afraid.

[@davidwilliams8416]

Many thanks for taking the trouble to reply Andre. And no new-ECU/re-mapping either, I take it? Keep the great videos coming …

[@PeakMotorcycles]

That’s correct. If it’s homologated it has the same flow as stock so no change to the ECU is required. (Though I’ve also tried a non-Homologated MotoX exhaust and that worked ok with the stock ECU settings)

[@davidwilliams8416]

Thanks again - most helpful. And I just happen to be enjoying the beautiful Peaks this week on a break from London.

[@jthelakes147]

Thank you Andre for all your work on this, it saves me so much time and money! Out of interest, the Arrow was 99db at 10,000 rpm, what sort of db level was the stock? I am really tempted by the Arrow system, as the stainless steel pipes look so much better but the weight saving is huge probably equivalent to the tools and tubes I carry in weight. But I really like quiet exhausts, so I am undecided at present.

[@PeakMotorcycles]

Hi, I’ve put the stock/MotoX/arrow figures in the description for the video. At 10.5k rpm stock is 96.2dB and the Arrow is 99.4dB. That said at the Rev range that I ride, (3-7k rpm) I think the Arrow is quieter than stock. It is definitely louder at the 10.5k rpm but my bike is out of power a long time before then. If you’re ever in the Peaks and want to have a listen you are more than welcome. I’ll be doing the rounds of some of the bike events this year, so if you’re at any of those you can see/hear what it’s like.

[@jthelakes147]

@@PeakMotorcycles Thank you Andre, I need to get some common sense and check descriptions. I will get in touch with B&C Express to price up a full system with Catalytic. .Many thanks

[@ezsteel78]

Thanks for this video! Good to know that this isn't obnoxious loud. Any particular reason you chose the thunder instead of the x-kone, which I believe is even lighter and still legal, right? I am also looking to shave off a few kilos, but I worry that the after market exhausts trade off low end for high end torque/power. Any thoughts on this?

[@PeakMotorcycles]

I chose the thunder because I’ll be using luggage on my Rally. For the pannier frames the X-Kone is probably ok, but it’s shorter and there’s a risk that it’s push the heat out further forwards. For trail riding with my throw over panniers, i need to fit a heat shield. This is fixed using a jubilee clip round the exhaust, and it’s hard to get that to stay in place on a conical exhaust. As for power, it feels very similar to stock. Unlike the MotoX which had a different characteristic similar to what you mentioned. I guess that an aftermarket exhaust with the same back pressure and same airflow would behave the same as stock with no ECU adjustment. The Arrow one with a Cat installed probably replicates stock very closely, but saves 3.5kg. Not sure if that makes it worthwhile, as it comes at a price, but if your pockets are deep enough, and it’s worth it for you, I think this Arrow is one of the better, if not best option out there.

[@ezsteel78]

@@PeakMotorcycles Thank you, makes sense.

[@MrChvincent]

Très intéressant ces tests.

[@PeakMotorcycles]

Merci

[@FernitoAM]

What are your thoughts guys on aftermarkets exhausts in general? I recently bought a Honda 250 Rally second hand. It came with a Delkovic exhaust. It did sound really good...standing still next to it. Even going around the block I loved downshifting, I felt like Pol Tarres, great sound. Then I went for a real ride of 300km at speed, averaging 5/6/7,000 rpm sustained for hours and I just wanted to rip my head off when I got home. All I could hear was the bloody exhaust. From that point of view, and in my opinion, the quiet it is, the better for long rides. Yes it does sound a bit "soft" in the car park, but that is not why I ride so I installed the original exhaust back. What are your thoughts?

[@PeakMotorcycles]

I like a loud exhaust if I’m watching them at a track, from a distance 🤣. I do think the pops and bangs on the overrun sound great, briefly, but there’s no way I’d want to sit on top of one for a day. I have Performance exhausts on all my bikes, and all are dealer supplied, with the cat still in place and none are particularly loud. All are lighter than the stock pipes. I have titanium Akras on the GS and CB. You can get new cat-removing headers but the noise goes up, so do the emissions, and for the CB in particular, it doesn’t run well without a remap, so I don’t really see the point. Light and quiet is good. Loud is great at a track, from a distance 🤣

[@2wheels.are.better.than4]

Andre, what is the weight difference between stock and this exhaust? And between stock and your motox exhaust?

[@PeakMotorcycles]

I’ll have to look it up… it’s all in the Arrow install video. I think it’s 3.5kg lighter or something like that. Lighter than the MotoX.

[@serhiibylynka7856]

Does it feel colder comparing the stock exhaust?

[@PeakMotorcycles]

I’d never really thought about it to be honest, which probably means it’s about the same. It does have a catalytic converter so would run more like stock than an straight through pipe

[@DaveDayve]

Great stuff. I'm writing as I Watch it. Hope there's a comparison with moto x and standard ☺

[@PeakMotorcycles]

Yup, though I put all the noise figures in the description too for quick reference.

[@kaestamos128]

Hello. Do know if the cone version is also road legal? Thanks

[@PeakMotorcycles]

Hi, I believe it is, but only if you have the cat installed.

[@errikoespinoza2133]

Hello did you notice differents about fuel economy? About arrow

[@PeakMotorcycles]

I didn’t but it is homologated so should have an identical flow profile to stock, so I’d expect it to be the same. I guess there is a tiny benefit from being 3kg lighter, but it’s not something I notice on the fuel economy.

[@RubenGarcia-nn1vq]

Did you notice any difference in the power delivery from to Arrow exhaust compared to the MotoX?

[@PeakMotorcycles]

Hi Ruben, I think it’s smoother, but that’s based on nothing more than a few hours of riding. It would have to go on a dyno to be sure. It might be that the sound doesn’t have the coarseness of the MotoX, so it feels smoother than it is, or it might be that the Arrow is more like the flow rate stock exhaust and has more back pressure from the cat. I’ll keep riding it and see if I can think of anything else!

[@gregjetnikoff7124]

Any chance of you removing the dB killer so we can have a look. The dB killer on the MotoX is incapable of extracting ( on transient impact) the actual treansient from the engine because of the ridiculous crossectional area of the holes in the baffle ( Exhaust port 29mm=705sq mm/ baffle : bleed holes 8x6.4mm=226sqmm. In the long run this could be damaging to the engine . I like Arrow stuff and may consdier changing if the Arrow baffle is better designed ( I suspect it is).

[@PeakMotorcycles]

Hi Greg, I’ll check tomorrow and see how easy it comes out. I recall the Arrow pipes on my Triumph Speed Triple 1050R had a spot welded bolt that had to be removed and was then a challenge to get out. The CRF one looks like it’s a C-Ring, so perhaps that’ll come out easier. I’m working next week and then off to play in the snow for a week after that, so I’ll see if I can find some time this week. If it comes out easy, I’ll just do it. If it’s stuck or needs some work to get it out, it might have to wait until I get back. Apologies.

[@gregjetnikoff7124]

@@PeakMotorcycles No apologies necessary. If you managed to get the infomation , I will be most grateful

[@garethowen61]

Great review! Thinking of the Arrow at some point, probably look at the suspension first. Thanks 🙏

[@PeakMotorcycles]

Thanks Gareth, and yes, that makes sense. I’d do rear shock first, then probably a revalve on the front if it needs it, then exhaust to save weight, if it needs it. Should be a few more options before too long. Black Widow have some now and I might test their 400mm one if I can scrape some pennies together!

[@robertmansell3667]

Good video,it’s looking highly likely that trail riding in the uk will soon be completely banned so noise on trails won’t be a worry ☹️

[@PeakMotorcycles]

I know. Bleak isn’t it… ‘still, am hoping that they see some sense and don’t implement the proposals. I’ve replied to the consultation with my view as to why the ban is unnecessary but we shall see. There’s plenty of trails near me that have TRO’s that legal riders avoid and illegal riders don’t. I guess that as long as we can ride them, keeping exhaust quiet so as not to add to the case for a ban is worth doing.

[@robertmansell3667]

@@PeakMotorcycles yes I live quite close to yourself and I too have emailed Defra about the proposals,as with any laws they only really affect the law abiding majority,the nuisance riders will still continue riding anywhere that takes their fancy.hopefully they get a big response 🤞

[@alurquindroneimagin3212]

Hey, any idea if the arrow x Cone produce the same decibel?

[@PeakMotorcycles]

I’m sorry I don’t. I haven’t tested one I’m afraid.

[@samtheman1287]

nice, but i wanted to hear what it sounds like...

[@PeakMotorcycles]

That’s a tricky one. It depends where it’s recorded from, whether as a bystander or on the bike, what conditions, the audio compression, what sort of speakers you have and how loud you have them. I have a riding video that should come out on Wednesday that might do what you want.

[@samtheman1287]

@@PeakMotorcycles yes thx!

[@mushmanadventures]

How much does the DB meter weigh?

[@PeakMotorcycles]

🤣. I’ll get a 2nd one and do a comparison!

[@philipTOMPSETT]

Can we help with the cost by using an affiliate link for that bike stand!

[@PeakMotorcycles]

Sure! This is for eBay UK: ebay.us/JIMosP Which country are you in?

[@philipTOMPSETT]

@@PeakMotorcycles thanks and perfect as i’m in Isle of Man. Cheers

[@jaronco]

Sure be nice if you actually let us hear them lol. All this work and not more than 1/2 second for watchers to hear them. Much less hear under load driving by or something

[@PeakMotorcycles]

I'd tried that in the past, but it depends so much on what folks use to listen to it. An exhaust played through small laptop speakers at low volume can be misleading. Apologies for not including more. There are riding videos with the exhaust if that's any use, but I guess that's not a great representation either.

[@jaronco]

@@PeakMotorcycles you definitely know better than me. Just a thought but you probably know the return on time and the results. Appreciate the amount you do as it is by the way!! Thank you