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BEAMS SS300 Slip-on Baffles on the XR250 BAJA: Standard vs Semi-Racing (Noise and Impressions)

Hello everyone.

I think many riders change their exhaust.
To save weight, my Honda XR250 BAJA (the Japan-market XR250 / MD30) has a BEAMS titanium silencer (SS300 Sonic slip-on).
Looking at the BEAMS website, it seems they now only sell silencers for 2003 and later models.

This silencer has interchangeable baffles. The noise levels are:

  • 83 dB / standard baffle (as supplied)
  • 89 dB / semi-racing baffle (optional)
  • 92 dB / no baffle

Those are the figures.

So I got hold of the semi-racing baffle, hoping for better exhaust flow. What I say about the sound is only my own impression.

BEAMS standard baffle (top) and semi-racing baffle (bottom), side by side

In the photo above, the top one is the standard baffle and the bottom one is the semi-racing baffle.
The semi-racing baffle is shorter and fatter.

The baffles seen from the back: the semi-racing baffle (bottom) has a larger bore

This is a view from the back. The semi-racing baffle clearly has a larger bore.

The XR250 BAJA silencer with the semi-racing baffle fitted

Here it is fitted. It is held by a single bolt, so swapping is very easy.

Then I went for a ride straight away.
At first I thought: "Wow, it has a crisp, dry sound! Now cars around me will notice me!"

But

on long touring rides, there is a loud noise right behind you...
it started to get on my nerves...

I have never liked loud or high-pitched noise, so after using the semi-racing baffle two or three times, I went back to the standard one.

Still, it lets people around you know you are there, and, though it may be my imagination, acceleration felt a little better, so I think the semi-racing baffle is worth trying.

-Custom, XR-BAJA