looking for opinions,, skidplate sound attenuation.

[04klr]

In the spirit of Motoged who is off Moabbing etc. I have an "OK here's a question", if a person were to spray some of that spray underliner guck on the inside of the skidplate would it be any good as a sound deadener (sp?), and if it WAS, would it also not act as a heat attractant/sink , thus reflecting all the stored heat back at the engine, thus being hard on the engine while easier on the ears. "I'm just saying,,".

even though opinions are like bellybuttons, everybody has one, bring it on, whadderya think?

P.S. on a KLR (naturally)

[Bora20]

Rhyno lining would work, but the best sound attenuating material would probably be vehicle undercoating as it so malleable and stays that way.

CactusReid might even have some at his shop that he would be willing to spray in exchange for beer ;)

[Bora20]

Or just twist the throttle more and don't worry about it ;)

[old trials guy]

earplugs?

otg

[Fbomb]

Undercoat goes on messy and stays messy, particularly with petroleum products (not suggesting anything like a leak) but Ol' Cactus could put you onto a sheet of sound deadener.

[Farp]

I think the noise reflected by a skidplate would be very small compared with the other sounds generated by your motorcycle. There's an easy way to test it. Just take the skid plate off and go for a ride with an old towel duct taped under your engine.. That should tell you if it's worth while to apply sound dampening to the skidplate.

John

[joker650]

Holes let the sound drain out.

[04klr]

ah, that splains why I've seen old KLR's cruisin around with old towels taped to their bottom.
so, the concensus so far, don't do it. thx.

[cheeseburger]

Do it! And let us know how it goes. :D

I'd actually been thinking of trying it myself up till I realized that I was going to have to drill out the bolts holding the skidplate on in order to remove it. Dang rocks.

[04klr]

it's actually already done, we'll see if my signature above rings true.
will run it thru the summer as a test for a future trip,,, south, waaay south.

[Irv327]

After being driven mad by the racket from my wr250, I made a guard out of tubing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV1OOlzbISQ

[Farp]

After being driven mad by the racket from my wr250, I made a guard out of tubing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV1OOlzbISQ

I'd be really leery of that set up. Seems to me that a sharp rock could easily fit between the tubes and puncture your engine case. When I look at the bottom of my bash plate it has all sorts of dents and gouges made by sharp rocks and there's no doubt that some of them would have hit the case if I'd had a guard made out of tubing. The noise doesn't bother me at all and if it did I'd wear ear plugs - but after playing in rock and blues bands for many yrs I'm pretty deaf anyway :).

John

[tomcycle]

Number 1 I Got two words for you

Reticulated Foam

Number 2 I got one word for you

Earplugs

[Irv327]

Foam traps engine heat. I believe wearing earplugs is illegal while operating a motorbike on a public road.

[Ti welder]

Just don't hit big stuff with the bottom of the bike and all is good! Still got the factory one on the sixfiidy.

[scottbc]

To emulate Tom, one word - PLASTIC.

Ditch the aluminum and get a poly/ABS skidplate. I'm sensitive to noise, use ear plugs, and will not go back to aluminum skid plates. The plastic slides better over objects as well. Plastic is as tough as a cheap aluminum plate, not as tough as a really heavy aluminum one. Just expect to buy a new one every few years. Mine has 10000K of mostly off road and is in good shape.

Check out Hyde Racing

[old trials guy]

Easiest fix is go to your local KTM dealer and buy a skid plate filler foam for about 12 bucks and fill the gaps between the skid plate and engine with this very light closed cell foam. It reduces noise and keeps your skid plate from filling up with ten extra pounds of mud.

Just cut strips to fit and push them in to the gaps.

This is a tried and proven solution, no need to re-invent the wheel.

otg

[250ccforme]

Just don't hit big stuff with the bottom of the bike and all is good!
Good theory! Doesn't always work out in the real world. :D ;)

[RealtorGordonB]

+1 on ear plugs- When the Edmonton City Police Officer stopped me for speeding- I said - Just a minute I have to get this helmet off and earplugs out I can't hear you- no extra ticket.

I know my 525 is louder since I put skidplate on and will do something as well.