How loud is a Prima pipe compared to the stock pipe?

k1dude · Post by **k1dude** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 4:29 am

Since there are no Buddy owners around me for at least 30 miles, I've never heard a Buddy with a Prima pipe. I love the thought of better performance and a meaner/throatier growl, but not at the expense of being really loud. I don't want to make my neighbors mad. I used to have an idiot neighbor that would fire up his Harley at 4 in the morning and blast out of the neighborhood. It wasn't appreciated. So I don't want to be him part deux.

Post by **Lostmycage** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 4:40 am

It's louder for sure, but it's within reason. I wouldn't rev my piped Buddy/Blur in my yard at night, but I wouldn't be sneaking up on anyone on either bike. If I find someone with a decibel reader, I'll see if I can pin it down to a quantifiable number, but I wouldn't hold out too much hope. I'd say it's quieter than one of those souped up mustangs (only reference them because for some reason they're so friggin abundant and anxious to let you know they have gas in their tank) but it's not stealthy by any means. It lets people know you're there.

OK, this is really gonna bug me now... I want some solid quantifiable evidence on this. There's been a lot of folks that have asked about this and I'll be damned if I can't just give a straight response.... and I should know!

Time to make good on some favors with some local sound engineers!

Any riders in RVA who have the Prima installed on their scoots? PM me. I'll need a 125cc piped, a 150cc piped and 2 stockers (I could probably convince Scoot Richmond to help me out on that one).

I think it's time for some facts to get laid out!

sailortot · Post by **sailortot** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 5:17 am

wonder no more!!!

i made two videos last year to compare the two.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_l-AR8RmlA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7dW0a0ZsW4

ZQ8 Blazer · Post by **ZQ8 Blazer** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 6:43 am

Thanks for the vid, can you make another video that's not in that area, you can't really get an idea of the real sound because it's mainly echoing off the garages. Just on normal take off at 1/2 throttle, then one at full throttle, then revving it up. You don't have to, but I and I'd say many other members would really appreciate it.

Arunto has 2 vids on there too, but it's just of it sitting still and him revving it up.

only reference them because for some reason they're so friggin abundant and anxious to let you know they have gas in their tank

Around here they drive around in 1st gear all the time, makes it sound good, but is really hard on the trans. GM FTW

enzomatic · Post by **enzomatic** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 9:38 am

I've been wondering the same, I really want more performance but I have to drive down an alley, sometimes really late at night, to get home. I really don't want to be dealing with complaints. I also don't have enough buddies around that would put a prima on.

Coffeejunkie · Post by **Coffeejunkie** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 10:30 am

k1dude wrote:Since there are no Buddy owners around me for at least 30 miles, I've never heard a Buddy with a Prima pipe. I love the thought of better performance and a meaner/throatier growl, but not at the expense of being really loud. I don't want to make my neighbors mad. I used to have an idiot neighbor that would fire up his Harley at 4 in the morning and blast out of the neighborhood. It wasn't appreciated. So I don't want to be him part deux.

Being a guy who hates the sound of anything too loud, I can happily say that the Prima pipe isn't too loud. My neighbors have a newborn and believe me they would've let me know it it was too loud. Also I've noticed that that nice rumble gets a lot of head turns when you come down the street, and heck for me that just means one less cager who doesn't know I'm there.

Kaos · Post by **Kaos** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 1:35 pm

It *IS* louder, but not hugely. Its mostly just a deeper tone.

I *DO* have a decibel meter, but I don't have a stock exhaust anymore, so I could tell you how loud the Prima is, but not how loud the stock exhaust is.

djelliott · Post by **djelliott** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 1:43 pm

Mine is louder then heck now. With the air box off I get the intake noise and the pipe. It's a really cool sound. I noticed the note changed slightly after the hi camshaft install too. It's not Harley WTF are you thinking loud, but more of a motocross bad ass sound. In other words, present but tolerable.

DJE

Kaos · Post by **Kaos** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 1:45 pm

djelliott wrote:Mine is louder then heck now. With the air box off I get the intake noise and the pipe. It's a really cool sound. I noticed the note changed slightly after the hi camshaft install too. It's not Harley WTF are you thinking loud, but more of a motocross bad ass sound. In other words, present but tolerable.

DJE

Yeah, I noticed a little bit of a cam lope to mine when I did mine as well.

Post by **polianarchy** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 4:18 pm

It's definitely louder, as well as a deeper, throatier growl. I've been known to set off car alarms with mine, mua ha ha!

Kaos · Post by **Kaos** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 4:31 pm

polianarchy wrote:It's definitely louder, as well as a deeper, throatier growl. I've been known to set off car alarms with mine, mua ha ha!

Heh, I've done that too. Both on the Buddy and in my hotrods. There is something deeply entertaining about doing that that just puts a smile on my face

djelliott · Post by **djelliott** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 4:41 pm

Kaos wrote:
polianarchy wrote:It's definitely louder, as well as a deeper, throatier growl. I've been known to set off car alarms with mine, mua ha ha!
Heh, I've done that too. Both on the Buddy and in my hotrods. There is something deeply entertaining about doing that that just puts a smile on my face

sailortot · Post by **sailortot** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 5:17 pm

i wont be making another video as we did this before adding the prima exhaust to the other scooter as well.

Howardr · Post by **Howardr** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 5:28 pm

The prima is considerably louder with hard acceleration, however, if you're just slowly cruising in your neighborhood, they're only a little louder than stock.
Howard

Post by **Lostmycage** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 5:29 pm

Kaos wrote:
polianarchy wrote:It's definitely louder, as well as a deeper, throatier growl. I've been known to set off car alarms with mine, mua ha ha!
Heh, I've done that too. Both on the Buddy and in my hotrods. There is something deeply entertaining about doing that that just puts a smile on my face

That just reminded me of when I my original exhaust on my 1st gen Rx-7 finally rusted out (and gave me an excuse to get the full race exhaust

). I had to park in the parking deck that morning on my way to classes. I set off approximately 50 alarms that morning. The next day, I drove all the way to the top and piped a few chirpers. I easily set off 80 that morning. That was a great day! The next day was good too, because the new exhaust came in the mail, lol.

Kaos · Post by **Kaos** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 5:45 pm

Lostmycage wrote:
Kaos wrote:
polianarchy wrote:It's definitely louder, as well as a deeper, throatier growl. I've been known to set off car alarms with mine, mua ha ha!
Heh, I've done that too. Both on the Buddy and in my hotrods. There is something deeply entertaining about doing that that just puts a smile on my face
That just reminded me of when I my original exhaust on my 1st gen Rx-7 finally rusted out (and gave me an excuse to get the full race exhaust ). I had to park in the parking deck that morning on my way to classes. I set off approximately 50 alarms that morning. The next day, I drove all the way to the top and piped a few chirpers. I easily set off 80 that morning. That was a great day! The next day was good too, because the new exhaust came in the mail, lol.

I have fun doing that in my 1970 Plymouth Sport Satellite wagon.
Its got a race ready 440 Bigblock, and the exhaust is full length race headers into strait pipes with glasspacks, so it's LOUD.

I had rolled through a parking structure in a local mall and set off multiple alarms on 3 levels, as I shut it off, a middle aged guy in a Honda just looked at me and said, "Son, thats just not right. You must be wrong in the head to do that to a station wagon...." I just gave a crazy grin and nodded.

Howardr · Post by **Howardr** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 5:59 pm

enzomatic · Post by **enzomatic** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 7:23 pm

Lostmycage wrote:
Kaos wrote:
polianarchy wrote:It's definitely louder, as well as a deeper, throatier growl. I've been known to set off car alarms with mine, mua ha ha!
Heh, I've done that too. Both on the Buddy and in my hotrods. There is something deeply entertaining about doing that that just puts a smile on my face
That just reminded me of when I my original exhaust on my 1st gen Rx-7 finally rusted out (and gave me an excuse to get the full race exhaust ). I had to park in the parking deck that morning on my way to classes. I set off approximately 50 alarms that morning. The next day, I drove all the way to the top and piped a few chirpers. I easily set off 80 that morning. That was a great day! The next day was good too, because the new exhaust came in the mail, lol.

I had a '79 rx-7 and have heard it w/o a pipe, pretty damn loud. I still remember the noise when we got my dad's 69 mach 1 started for the first time in a few years, 351 cleveland with straight exhaust, rattled the neighborhood.

ZQ8 Blazer · Post by **ZQ8 Blazer** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 7:24 pm

sailortot wrote:i wont be making another video as we did this before adding the prima exhaust to the other scooter as well.

nah, I just meant of the Prima only.

StL_Stadtroller · Post by **StL_Stadtroller** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 7:38 pm

Kaos wrote: I have fun doing that in my 1970 Plymouth Sport Satellite wagon.
Its got a race ready 440 Bigblock, and the exhaust is full length race headers into strait pipes with glasspacks, so it's LOUD.

I had rolled through a parking structure in a local mall and set off multiple alarms on 3 levels, as I shut it off, a middle aged guy in a Honda just looked at me and said, "Son, thats just not right. You must be wrong in the head to do that to a station wagon...." I just gave a crazy grin and nodded.

Hotrod wagons are DA BOMB.

After actually owning my dream car - 58 Plymouth Fury; my dream car changed to a '58 Plymouth Suburban 8-passenger wagon, with the Fury engine (well, a 318 poly built *like* the Fury engines, I should say).

Kaos · Post by **Kaos** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 7:42 pm

StL_Stadtroller wrote:
Kaos wrote: I have fun doing that in my 1970 Plymouth Sport Satellite wagon.
Its got a race ready 440 Bigblock, and the exhaust is full length race headers into strait pipes with glasspacks, so it's LOUD.

I had rolled through a parking structure in a local mall and set off multiple alarms on 3 levels, as I shut it off, a middle aged guy in a Honda just looked at me and said, "Son, thats just not right. You must be wrong in the head to do that to a station wagon...." I just gave a crazy grin and nodded.
Hotrod wagons are DA BOMB.

After actually owning my dream car - 58 Plymouth Fury; my dream car changed to a '58 Plymouth Suburban 8-passenger wagon, with the Fury engine (well, a 318 poly built *like* the Fury engines, I should say).

Ohh, I LOVE the 58 Suburban

I almost got my hands on one a few years back. Sadly, the owner sold it to someone else while I was going to the bank to get cash!

I'd be going for something bigger than the poly 318, like perhaps the Smallblock 392 Hemi from a '58 Fury.

A good friend of mine has a 62 Polara with the 318 poly block in it, those things can be awesome motors.

StL_Stadtroller · Post by **StL_Stadtroller** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 10:05 pm

Kaos wrote: Ohh, I LOVE the 58 Suburban I almost got my hands on one a few years back. Sadly, the owner sold it to someone else while I was going to the bank to get cash!

I'd be going for something bigger than the poly 318, like perhaps the Smallblock 392 Hemi from a '58 Fury.

A good friend of mine has a 62 Polara with the 318 poly block in it, those things can be awesome motors.

You're confusing your MoPar again Kaos... Chryslsers "budget" marque Plymouth didn't have Hemi's in '58.. that was reserved for DeSoto.

The 318 poly in the first "golden fin" Fury's however spanked the DeSoto, the the extreme displeasure of Chrysler executives at the time - Plymouth was punished for their deeds and thus the "Golden Fins" of 56-58 were relegated to "limited prodiction" status so DeSoto could still claim the Chrysler Speed Crown. The 57 & 58 models were nearly identical - something like 10:1 compression ratio, hotter cam, shot-peened cranks, etc. 4 dual quads... The '58 though was also available with the 350 "Golden Commando" wedge head motor. Almost everyone who finds a '58 Fury to restore sticks a 350 in it. Which is why I really loved my 58 with the original 318 poly. (I spent countless hours at car shows argueing this with many, many people who really didn't know their Forward Look MoPar. Lots of guys still didn't believe me, even after I showed them the original dealer lit and and the original sales slip from my car!!

I eventually soured on even going to them at all, just to avoid the stereotypical MOPAR! FU@#K YEH!! crowd)

I prefer the poly primarily just 'cause it's so unusual out there - but also offers much of the benefit of a Hemi but without the overhead.

Kaos · Post by **Kaos** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 12:30 am

StL_Stadtroller wrote:
Kaos wrote: Ohh, I LOVE the 58 Suburban I almost got my hands on one a few years back. Sadly, the owner sold it to someone else while I was going to the bank to get cash!

I'd be going for something bigger than the poly 318, like perhaps the Smallblock 392 Hemi from a '58 Fury.

A good friend of mine has a 62 Polara with the 318 poly block in it, those things can be awesome motors.
You're confusing your MoPar again Kaos... Chryslsers "budget" marque Plymouth didn't have Hemi's in '58.. that was reserved for DeSoto.

The 318 poly in the first "golden fin" Fury's however spanked the DeSoto, the the extreme displeasure of Chrysler executives at the time - Plymouth was punished for their deeds and thus the "Golden Fins" of 56-58 were relegated to "limited prodiction" status so DeSoto could still claim the Chrysler Speed Crown. The 57 & 58 models were nearly identical - something like 10:1 compression ratio, hotter cam, shot-peened cranks, etc. 4 dual quads... The '58 though was also available with the 350 "Golden Commando" wedge head motor. Almost everyone who finds a '58 Fury to restore sticks a 350 in it. Which is why I really loved my 58 with the original 318 poly. (I spent countless hours at car shows argueing this with many, many people who really didn't know their Forward Look MoPar. Lots of guys still didn't believe me, even after I showed them the original dealer lit and and the original sales slip from my car!! I eventually soured on even going to them at all, just to avoid the stereotypical MOPAR! FU@#K YEH!! crowd)

I prefer the poly primarily just 'cause it's so unusual out there - but also offers much of the benefit of a Hemi but without the overhead.

Ahh, you are correct sir. I tend to start getting a bit fuzzy before 1960(Though I do have a '50 Windsor!)

I had forgotten about that poly motor, which is likely where my friend got his poly-head dual quad intake from, though its not correct for his '62.

ZQ8 Blazer · Post by **ZQ8 Blazer** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 1:08 am

I still like show trucks better than anything

StL_Stadtroller · Post by **StL_Stadtroller** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 5:20 am

Kaos wrote: Ahh, you are correct sir. I tend to start getting a bit fuzzy before 1960(Though I do have a '50 Windsor!)

I had forgotten about that poly motor, which is likely where my friend got his poly-head dual quad intake from, though its not correct for his '62.

hehe.. yep.. I'm the polar opposite of most other MoPar fans... I know tons of Forward Look stuff, but nearly zero knowledge of anything after 1960 or thereabouts!

gearhead · Post by **gearhead** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 6:51 am

in all, its not that loud.... but within reason

Modern Buddy

How loud is a Prima pipe compared to the stock pipe?

How loud is a Prima pipe compared to the stock pipe?

Re: How loud is a Prima pipe compared to the stock pipe?