Silence at the back there !

In my early days of Commando ownership (mid seventies) the pea-shooters seemed to last no time at all. It's so long since I bought my last pair (over ten years) I can't recall where I got them from. It would have been either RGM or Les Emery. Toga used to make a quality product through Norman Hyde but these appear to be no longer available. The ones I have, have a reinforcing plate where the two mounting bosses are attached to them. Whilst I have seen some quality products from the far east, I would err towards the recognised suppliers. How much are you likely to save?

I would get a genuine one from Andover Norton with the "Norton" logo on. Mine have been on the bike for years

A pair bought on eBay last year seemed reasonable quality but were much noisier in use. They appeared to have the sound absorbing material missing from inside, completely hollow between the internal tube and external skin. Alright if you like noisy but it gets to your ears on a longer run.

I have a vague memory (I think from Armours) that the sound absorption material (glass fibre?) tends to lead to condensation and shorter life due to internal rust. So if it is missing it is not necessarily penny-pinching...perhaps.

Previously wrote:

I have a vague memory (I think from Armours) that the sound absorption material (glass fibre?) tends to lead to condensation and shorter life due to internal rust. So if it is missing it is not necessarily penny-pinching...perhaps.

Yes, I agree with you, I was for ever replacing my silencers when they rotted through from the inside until I bought Keihan stainless steel silencers, best thing I ever did.

http://www.keihan.co.uk/catalogue/1020.html

I agree. Buy the stainless items. I had my Commando new in 1976, fitted chromed steel peashooters after a few years but found they would last a maximum of two years before rotting from the inside. Finally, in 1993, I fitted stainless steel peashooters (manufacture now unknown) and they are still in place twenty years later. Note however that the stainless items will have a yellowish tint after use, although polishing restores the bluish tint. If wanted originality I would happily try the Andover chromed ones.

As an aside, I strongly advocate the use of balance pipes. They are appreciably quieter and seem to improve performance in the 2,000 - 3,000 RPM region. If I follow other Commandos on a run I notice that while their rider selects second gear coming out of roundabouts my bike matches the acceleration in third gear.

Previously wrote:

A pair bought on eBay last year seemed reasonable quality but were much noisier in use. They appeared to have the sound absorbing material missing from inside, completely hollow between the internal tube and external skin. Alright if you like noisy but it gets to your ears on a longer run.

I've given up trying to find new quieter peashooters - as you say there's virtually nothing inside the ones currently offered on eBay and other websites. Have now bought threedifferent pairsfromvarious internet sites and they all seemto come from the same manufacturer - including a pair of nice looking seamless ones , but all noisy as hell. Drives you barmy when cruising dual carriageways / motorways for long periods.

Now resort to hunting round autojumbles for the old and quieterpeashooters from the '70s and '80s. Easy to tell the difference - theold type are heavier and make a solid clonk when tapped while the modern replacements are lighter and make a verytinny sound when tapped. Havebuilt up a collection of almost a dozen old type quieter peashootersbought at tento fifteen quid a piece ,the best ones having perhaps justa singlesmall dent or mark on the chrome.

but all noisy as hell. Drives you barmy when cruising dual carriageways / motorways for long periods.

which is why I've had to go back to earplugs! I managed for a long time with a particular AGV helmet but the new one, also AGV is far noisier. However I think wind noise at speed is worse than induction or exhaust? I have old Togas from Norvil in 2000. They are solid in construction but loud, even worse with PW3 cam.

James previously wrote:

Havebuilt up a collection of almost a dozen old type quieter peashootersbought at tento fifteen quid a piece ,the best ones having perhaps justa singlesmall dent or mark on the chrome.

That's why spares are so hard to find then!