Question : what's the purpose of baffles? I bought my bike used, it has Vance and Hines Short Shots intalled. These pipes look great and are loud, and that's ok, but when wearing an "over the ear" helmet the pipes become obnoxious. It's a echo or a reverberate thing.
I've been reading posts and now I'm baffled about baffles. What's with back pressure and all that? What do I need to understand about exhaust dynamics to fix this??

 

Back pressure in the exhaust helps even out or smooth the sound waves as they move back and forth in the pipe. Some amount of backpressure is needed in a STREET bike to help keep the exhaust moving out the pipe and to minimize the amount of expended gas from re-entering the combustion chamber.

Your bike will run better on the STREET with a baffled pipe on it.

I have the same issue with reverbration when wearing a 3/4 helmet with faceshield. the sound is getting up under the shield and bouncing around. Ear plugs will help. I'm also looking into a full face helmet.
Lots of info on this in the forum. What I said above is a very crude explanation.

 

Good call on the helmet thing. I added foam (magic eraser lol ) padding to my ear cutouts and use earplugs too. It helps. Any idea what the impact of the baffles shape has? The pipes have a stock baffles actually. It looks like a paper towel roll twisted with holes along the length. I've look at and read reviews on a number of baffles. Some lollipop. Some a washer welded to a post. Some are wrapped with the end plugged and some are cone shaped. Any idea what the impact of the baffles shape has?

 

Well, I would think that shape/size has something to do with performance. Installing a simple washer and and post "lollypop" will work for intended purposes. Twisting the lollypop will alter sound and restriction. DKCustoms offers a somewhat highly engineered version that looks like a flower and is available in various sizes. I have used that when I bought my bike used that came with unbaffled pipes. They are a great item that seems to work very well and they have dyno tests to prove their value. A great item for $25.

 

Great article about Baffles. http://www.bigcitythunder.com/images...ng_exhaust.pdf

 

Designing an exhaust system is part science and part dark arts! Baffles are an integral part of most if not all systems on every vehicle, including our bikes. They help keep noise down and also enhance performance. If yours are too noisy wear ear plugs. V&H also make 'quiet' baffles if you wish to take the sting out of your pipes.

 

+1 on the Ear Plugs!

 

Gents;
if you're S is still under warranty, I wouldn't remove the baffles. I talked to the dealer about this after having heard an S without them and loved the sound but was told the warranty would be voided - likely 'cause it affects performance (and hence the engine).