Good to see Norton John posting. I've almost called a couple more times to check on his medical improvement status, but did not want to bother him or his family.
But, after reading John's last post, and before turning the page to read Tetge's response, I too was going to comment that the Super Dukie is all of those things.... but anything but loud. Yet.
No, it has some nice, raw mechanical 'big twin' serious, raw, 'un-insulated' (?) type noise from the engine at idle, etc. But, the exhaust? Not at all. It still has the full factory exhaust; from stock head pipes into the massive underbelly catalytic converter, on out to the nice, yet likely unnecessary muffler, as shown in the stock photo I posted prior to your comment.
I typically cringe at the idea of someone 'hacking up' a top shelf motorcycle. Especially one that everyone seems to hold in such high regard... sort of like taking a Sawzall to a Porsche's exhaust system or drilling holes in it's bumper for more brake cooling or something. On a track slave or a 'mid-range' , 'average', beater type of car, all bets are off. Mod it, make it work, to hell with cosmetics, or trying to maintain an image through the use of needlessly expensive fancy name products, when the raw basics will do.
Buying this bike used, that is sort of the freedom of mindset that I am enjoying. It is a sweet ass bike, but I have no guilt, intention or give a shit about ripping into it, to make it an even better performer, or usable, or even to be simply unique. But , function over all else is my clear goal. I may take a saw to the rear pipe right behind the catalytic box and just remove the whole pipe downstream. Unconventional? Yes. Functional? I will do some testing prior, by first unbolting the muffler a few inches further back, where the fitting actually is. Mechanical Blasphemy? Likely. If it works, it's going down. At least I may gain a slight bit of tone, but absolutely would shed whatever that muffler and hanger assembly weight. Plus, then I could have a more unobstructed view of the entire right side of the rear wheel, thanks to the single sided swing arm and all of that. Cool!
I may even add some little LED driving lights and some case saver type "crash bars" (Orange Trellis, of course) to save it in a tip over or low side slide. Hell, I may just end up with a 1290 Supermoto, sans the long travel suspension.
Now, funny. In comparison to the BMW as it sits, the attitude and intentions of that machine run completely to the contrary. I don't want to turn a screw on that thing. It has proven to be competent, comfortable, vicious and classy all in one machine, just as it sits. So, that will just get the 'detail and maintain' routine. Speaking of which, it's new rear tire showed up on the porch as well the other day. But, I am concerned about where I can take it to have it mounted without scratching it's pretty wheel.
I learned long ago, not to 'worship' machines one wishes to actually use. The new Busa, for example got scratched and pitted and showed annoying signs of just basic use and maintenance from close riding in the canyons with sand/pebble spray from leading bikes, to all the little scratches on the wheels, swing arm and various nuts, bolts and fasteners just from removing the wheels for tire swaps and chain adjustments, etc.
And the BMW seems that it gets rained on every time I take it out. It still has some bugs on it collected between Ventura and Flagstaff. I need to detail it.
But, the Dukie, I don't even have a concern about resale value or the slightest give a shit about others opinions on my mad modding of it. It is meant to be a personal point of excitement and twisted pleasure. And so, a Beast it shall be. However I see fit to tweak it.
