BUB Exhaust: Product Review

A couple of years ago a company by the name of Rinehart Racing/Bub Exhaust began showing up en mass on the motorcycle scene. Although the company has been making race tuned pipes for Motorcycles since 1976 it wasn't really until recently when the general public began to take notice - it might have something to do with the pipes and mufflers becoming more affordable for the average "Joe the Biker".

There are two things I want in most motorcycles. First it needs to have that certain something... that something that makes it a part of me. It needs to have a mean, grumbling, bitchy old man thing. Second it has to have balls when I tell it to do a Ricky Bobby and "Go Fast".

I absolutely love when someone takes the technologies learned from the racing industry and transfers it to the motorcycle world. Not only did they transfer the technology - but the people at Rinehart Racing/Bub Exhaust, in my opinion, have transformed the world of motorcycle exhaust.

Around two years ago I purchased a set of the Bub Eagle Beak mufflers. The price was around $600.00 including shipping and handling. I ordered directly from Bub Exhaust. I'm certain I could have ordered directly through my local Harley Davidson dealer (but they'd already gotten enough of my money) or through one of the Custom Chrome shops but hey if you can go right to the horses mouth - why not?

I received the pipes within a few days and immediately had my Harley up in the air pulling the "Screaming Eagle" performance exhaust off and putting the Rineharts on. It took no time at all - a few bolts and it was done.

* It is recommeded that you re-chip or re-jet your bike (depending on if it's FI or Carb'd) I already had mine chipped when I put on the "Screaming Eagle" performance intake and exhaust.

I started the bike up and immediately had a completely different "note" to the exhaust. A Much deeper, richer tone. So it was time for a quick trip to around the neighborhood. The performance and horsepower increase was noticable immediately.

When rating a product I look at 5 different areas:

Craftsmanship - always important if it isn't made worth a damn it will perform the same way.

Ease of Use/Installation - the "Do I have to bloody my knuckles" syndrome - usually because some engineer that's never worked on a bike made the part impossible to put the part on without injury.

Warranty - for me it's part and parcel with craftsmanship - hell you built it now stand behind it.

Order to Receipt Time - I hate to wait. If I've bought it I want it now.

Overall Performance - okay it may have bloodied my knuckles a bit, it may have taken a bit longer to get than I wanted but does it make me happy?!

I give the Bub Exhaust System five full leather jackets for excellence in craftsmanship, ease of installation, warranty, order to receipt time and overall performance.



Rinehart Racing/Bub Exhaust, Rinehart Racing, Bub Exhaust, Custom Exhaust Systems, Motorcycle Product Reviews, Product Reviews, Exhausts, Rineharts, Screaming Eagle Kits, Motorcycles, Bikers, Motorcycle Travel

Motorcycle Oils vs. Automotive Oils

When I replaced my 95 FLHTCUI with a newer bike I decided to get another road warrior - I went with the base model FLH so that I could do the custom work to it (over time) that I wanted and not feel like I had to undo everything that the factory had done prior to me buying it. The first thing I did was look at the oil - I had heard a lot about using Synthetic versus traditional M/C oils - reduced wear, cleaner starts after sitting for a while, and on and on. So I began the research. That's when I ran across this article from MCN (Motorcycle Consumer News) not only did it help me with my decision but it caused me to rethink the way that I buy motor oil for my bikes. I had been one who had bought into the sales pitches that they talk about in the article - not any longer - thanks MCN for the great research and information!

Here's the full article.

And MCN's summary is:

Despite more than six months of research, reading all the claims and counter-claims printed by dozens of industry experts and lubrication experts, MCN cannot and does not purport to know all there is to know about the differences between automotive and motorcycle oils. However, what we do know is that we can find no substantive evidence that using a high-quality, name-brand automotive oil in an average street motorcycle is in any way harmful or less effective in providing proper lubrication and protection than using the more expensive, motorcycle-specific oils.

My summary:

Save your penny's brothers & sisters - you don't need that $4.99 quart of Harley oil when buying your oil fromPep Boys, Checker Auto or any other auto parts house will do just fine - the bonus is, you'll have enough left over for a couple of beers afterwards!

Ride safe, Whiteline

More on Dealers vs. Independant Shops

Check out V-Twinforum's blog for more info & opinions.

What's with the Heat from the new 96ci V-Twin?

No big thrills - just a standard ride in 95 degree heat with a blast furnace between my legs - What the hell is with the heat that the new HD Motor throw's? Going from the 80 to the 96 cubic inch motor notched up the engine heat by about 30+ degrees - damn it throw's a ton of heat off. Sounds like an excuse to go take a ride - not the dealer's mind you but maybe scoot on down to Chandler Custom or one of the other indy shops around the southeast valley. Why not to the dealer? It's a new bike, right? Yep it is... and I've owned enough bikes to know that:

• Dealers charge you $100.00+ to work on your bike and a crazy markup on any parts you might need.
  • My own experience - about a half dozen years ago I took a bike in for a 10k service - the dealer (Chosa's, now Chester's) wanted to charge me over $800.00. Ummm... Don't think so!
  • I bought the "O-rings" and other parts/fluids I needed for less than $100.00 and did it myself. - Lesson learned.

Can't really blame the dealer - they have to make their Millions just like anyone else.

• Dealers have to pay for all of that overhead!
  • Fancy showrooms
  • Ton's of Staffing
  • The Property
  • The Inventory
  and on and on.

If I can't do it myself (lack of tools or knowledge) I'd rather support the local guy's. The guy's who get out there, bust their butt's, day in - day out to scratch together a dime. You know, guy's & gals like you and me :) I've also found that if there's an innovative way to fix a problem, spruce something up, enhance performance - the Indy shop seems to be a better resource.

The alternate solution to dealing with the heat thrown from the new 96?.. I should just ride someplace other than the oven of the Southwest - "The Arizona Desert" - it's already 110 degrees anyway.