Maybe you can help me out here, I'm a brand new rider and am just about to get my first bike and this is definitely one of my top choices but I'm not entirely sure about the hardtail thing, I don't mind a little bit of bumps but does it make it way too uncomfortable for anything more than Sunday riding? I would probably drive it too school every once in a while through medium traffic and the road is rather straight but I want to know if it would handle right and if the hardtail makes it way too uncomfortable for 20 or so minute rides
Hi, did you grind off the original pipe? Looks and sounds amazing. Exactly what I was thinking of doing. Did you have to do anything else to get it running sweet or was it all pretty straight forward?
+pfyitah Hi - yes, I took the original pipe off just before the large original silencer. I didn't have to do anything else and can honestly say the bike does run nice - maybe I got lucky, who knows?!
Stuart Douglas ..just curious ...do you have problem with the gear? Mine has a hard shifting from 1st to neutral. Also when riding, sometime i get weird pop noises all a sudden. Not sure where it is from. Do you have same problem with your bike?
Hey, I've never had any issues getting 1st or any gears with mine. Not sure what you mean by weird popping, the only "pop" I get is from the exhaust when I throttle off. The only other thing I have had once or twice is a back fire through the carb/air filter - however it has been so infrequent that it's not warranted any investigation. I hope this helps!
What exhaust are you using? I'm looking at picking up a heist myself very soon. This sounds much better than a lot of other videos I've seen. Good video.
Hi, thanks for the message. I got the exhaust from a local retailer who stocks custom parts, I measured the diameter of the standard down pipe (before it reaches the larger silencer section) and also measured the standard exhaust's length. Then I spent a little while looking at a couple of universal silencers, found a design that I liked, one that was long enough and that also came with some reducing couplers to enable me to match it up the diameter of the existing down pipe. Then it was just a couple of hours modifying the existing downpipe and sorting the mounting bracket out. I'm happy with the sound, it sounds better when your riding the bike and its under load. All the best with your Heist, I hope you get one sorted soon!
I really like it. Its never going to be a fast bike, however I have taken her up to 85mph on the stock setup, I wouldn't want to go much past that. But its a different type of biking experience - when you're riding at around 55-65mph she's sweetest, the induction noise from the air filter has a very old school, 1960's sound which is nice. The standard exhaust doesn't do the bike/engine justice, but swapping it out makes a huge difference to the bikes presence. I've had quite a lot of bikes - old and new, sports and retro and I have a track day or two under my belt - this bike is one of my favorites to ride. Thanks
Hey, despite some negative views online, the bike does run great. I can only speak for mine however and each bike is different. But that said, look after it, keep up with the maintenance and it should serve you well.
+Dylan Johnstone Thanks - It was a pretty simply job, I got the exhaust from a local retailer who stocks custom parts, I measured the diameter of the standard down pipe (before it reaches the larger silencer section) and also measured the standard exhaust's length. Then I spent a little while looking at a couple of universal silencers, found a design that I liked, one that was long enough and that also came with some reducing couplers to enable me to match it up the diameter of the existing down pipe. Then it was just a couple of hours modifying the existing downpipe and sorting the mounting bracket out. It might be worth noting that I took the exhaust assembly off the bike to carry out the work.
+Dylan Johnstone Thanks - It was a pretty simply job, I got the exhaust from a local retailer who stocks custom parts, I measured the diameter of the standard down pipe (before it reaches the larger silencer section) and also measured the standard exhaust's length. Then I spent a little while looking at a couple of universal silencers, found a design that I liked, one that was long enough and that also came with some reducing couplers to enable me to match it up the diameter of the existing down pipe. Then it was just a couple of hours modifying the existing downpipe and sorting the mounting bracket out. It might be worth noting that I took the exhaust assembly off the bike to carry out the work.
With all due respect but why didn't you aquired Virago 250 ? Has much better sound(V-twin), cheaper bike, proven build quality ,has more accesable aprts, tons of room for customization and in general much better bike .
+Marko Beg - Simply really, I didn't want a Virago 250. I bough this for the same reason that I bought all the other vehicles I have, and have had in the past - I wanted it. Equally with due respect to yourself, what you consider a better sound is subjective, it's like telling someone who likes red wine that white is better - its purely opinion and that is yours, which is totally fine. I would also question the more "accessible parts" and room form customisation - sure, if you're only looking for bits your can bolt on then this is not the bike for you - if however you're handy in the workshop then you can take this bike as far as you want to go - and surely that's what true customisation is about isn't it, for example: static1.squarespace.com/static/524c5aa4e4b0aac0d82f7c71/546a3952e4b03fe05e4cb044/546a3961e4b07ab395a8c58d/1416247650904/Brock's%2BCustom%2BHeist.jpg static1.squarespace.com/static/524c5aa4e4b0aac0d82f7c71/t/5481275ce4b0e3ea019aa5b3/1417750322869/RSD-Cleveland-CycleWerks-Heist-9.jpg?format=750w www.trademysuperbike.com.my/images/bikephoto/fb_img_14250220_1438054112.jpg Finally, unless you have ridden one(?) I would question how you can say the virago in general is a much better bike? We can all read reviews and forums but the only true test is to get out on one. I once thought I wanted a Benelli Tornado until I took one out for a ride and realised it wasn't for me! But hey, ultimately if you ride and are happy with what you ride then surely that's all that matters?
Sounds amazing man! One of the best sounding Heists for sure!
noodles806 Thanks for the comment!
Maybe you can help me out here, I'm a brand new rider and am just about to get my first bike and this is definitely one of my top choices but I'm not entirely sure about the hardtail thing, I don't mind a little bit of bumps but does it make it way too uncomfortable for anything more than Sunday riding? I would probably drive it too school every once in a while through medium traffic and the road is rather straight but I want to know if it would handle right and if the hardtail makes it way too uncomfortable for 20 or so minute rides
I should note I have ridden just I haven't ever owned a bike myself
Hi, did you grind off the original pipe? Looks and sounds amazing. Exactly what I was thinking of doing. Did you have to do anything else to get it running sweet or was it all pretty straight forward?
+pfyitah Hi - yes, I took the original pipe off just before the large original silencer. I didn't have to do anything else and can honestly say the bike does run nice - maybe I got lucky, who knows?!
That is a cool sound...where u get the exhaust pipe?
+Alex Tran I just got it from a local motorcycle parts supplier - measured the length and diameter I needed then chose one I liked :)
Stuart Douglas ..just curious ...do you have problem with the gear? Mine has a hard shifting from 1st to neutral. Also when riding, sometime i get weird pop noises all a sudden. Not sure where it is from. Do you have same problem with your bike?
Hey, I've never had any issues getting 1st or any gears with mine. Not sure what you mean by weird popping, the only "pop" I get is from the exhaust when I throttle off. The only other thing I have had once or twice is a back fire through the carb/air filter - however it has been so infrequent that it's not warranted any investigation. I hope this helps!
What exhaust are you using? I'm looking at picking up a heist myself very soon. This sounds much better than a lot of other videos I've seen. Good video.
Hi, thanks for the message. I got the exhaust from a local retailer who stocks custom parts, I measured the diameter of the standard down pipe (before it reaches the larger silencer section) and also measured the standard exhaust's length. Then I spent a little while looking at a couple of universal silencers, found a design that I liked, one that was long enough and that also came with some reducing couplers to enable me to match it up the diameter of the existing down pipe. Then it was just a couple of hours modifying the existing downpipe and sorting the mounting bracket out. I'm happy with the sound, it sounds better when your riding the bike and its under load. All the best with your Heist, I hope you get one sorted soon!
Stuart Douglas I appreciate the reply, good info.
cool, what do you feel about this bike?
I really like it. Its never going to be a fast bike, however I have taken her up to 85mph on the stock setup, I wouldn't want to go much past that. But its a different type of biking experience - when you're riding at around 55-65mph she's sweetest, the induction noise from the air filter has a very old school, 1960's sound which is nice. The standard exhaust doesn't do the bike/engine justice, but swapping it out makes a huge difference to the bikes presence. I've had quite a lot of bikes - old and new, sports and retro and I have a track day or two under my belt - this bike is one of my favorites to ride. Thanks
nice sound♡♡ I signed on the contract so that I could have cool sound like yours. wondering how well this bike runs.
Hey, despite some negative views online, the bike does run great. I can only speak for mine however and each bike is different. But that said, look after it, keep up with the maintenance and it should serve you well.
IT SOUNDS AMAZING! Just want to know how you got it to sound like that planning on buying one soon and would like it to have more of a grunt.
+Dylan Johnstone Thanks - It was a pretty simply job, I got the exhaust from a local retailer who stocks custom parts, I measured the diameter of the standard down pipe (before it reaches the larger silencer section) and also measured the standard exhaust's length. Then I spent a little while looking at a couple of universal silencers, found a design that I liked, one that was long enough and that also came with some reducing couplers to enable me to match it up the diameter of the existing down pipe. Then it was just a couple of hours modifying the existing downpipe and sorting the mounting bracket out.
It might be worth noting that I took the exhaust assembly off the bike to carry out the work.
+Dylan Johnstone Thanks - It was a pretty simply job, I got the exhaust from a local retailer who stocks custom parts, I measured the diameter of the standard down pipe (before it reaches the larger silencer section) and also measured the standard exhaust's length. Then I spent a little while looking at a couple of universal silencers, found a design that I liked, one that was long enough and that also came with some reducing couplers to enable me to match it up the diameter of the existing down pipe. Then it was just a couple of hours modifying the existing downpipe and sorting the mounting bracket out.
It might be worth noting that I took the exhaust assembly off the bike to carry out the work.
With all due respect but why didn't you aquired Virago 250 ?
Has much better sound(V-twin), cheaper bike, proven build quality ,has more accesable aprts, tons of room for customization and in general much better bike .
+Marko Beg - Simply really, I didn't want a Virago 250. I bough this for the same reason that I bought all the other vehicles I have, and have had in the past - I wanted it.
Equally with due respect to yourself, what you consider a better sound is subjective, it's like telling someone who likes red wine that white is better - its purely opinion and that is yours, which is totally fine.
I would also question the more "accessible parts" and room form customisation - sure, if you're only looking for bits your can bolt on then this is not the bike for you - if however you're handy in the workshop then you can take this bike as far as you want to go - and surely that's what true customisation is about isn't it, for example:
static1.squarespace.com/static/524c5aa4e4b0aac0d82f7c71/546a3952e4b03fe05e4cb044/546a3961e4b07ab395a8c58d/1416247650904/Brock's%2BCustom%2BHeist.jpg
static1.squarespace.com/static/524c5aa4e4b0aac0d82f7c71/t/5481275ce4b0e3ea019aa5b3/1417750322869/RSD-Cleveland-CycleWerks-Heist-9.jpg?format=750w
www.trademysuperbike.com.my/images/bikephoto/fb_img_14250220_1438054112.jpg
Finally, unless you have ridden one(?) I would question how you can say the virago in general is a much better bike? We can all read reviews and forums but the only true test is to get out on one. I once thought I wanted a Benelli Tornado until I took one out for a ride and realised it wasn't for me!
But hey, ultimately if you ride and are happy with what you ride then surely that's all that matters?