Too noisy for Old Guys?

[Red01]

I remember that Yamaha had EXUP to provide variable exhaust back pressure.  It increased backpressure at low RPM to increase midrange and it worked.  It opened up at higher RPMs resulting in the best of both worlds.

Yamaha still uses EXUP. The '07 R1 & R6 have it. Several other manufacturers use it, too... for instance the current GSX-R1000, 750 & 600 have it... it's called SET (Suzuki Exhaust Tuning).

[chevsuz12]

Last summer, I repacked my D&D which are known for their ungodly loud noise!  With some industrial furnace insulation and bronze wool.  The insulation is much more dense than the original stuff, wrapped, taped, and re-wrapped and taped.  The result is what has to be the quietest D&D you will ever hear!  Still has a nice deep tone, but very quiet.  It cost only about $25.00 with enough material left over to repack it again!

[LensWork]

I remember that Yamaha had EXUP to provide variable exhaust back pressure.  It increased backpressure at low RPM to increase midrange and it worked.  It opened up at higher RPMs resulting in the best of both worlds.

Yamaha still uses EXUP. The '07 R1 & R6 have it. Several other manufacturers use it, too... for instance the current GSX-R1000, 750 & 600 have it... it's called SET (Suzuki Exhaust Tuning).

Buell has a similar system also: Mass Centralized Exhaust. The '04 XB12S that I had used this system. REALLY quite at idle and light throttle, Harley loud @ WOT.

[H2RICK]

My goal is to be able to go fast as quietly as possible.

++++1 on that Dave02

Foamy earplugs.....don't leave home without 'em. Once you start using them you'll wonder why you didn't use 'em years ago. I've been using them for 15+ years. You quickly become attuned to surrounding noises of all types after wearing the plugs for (in my case) about 2 months of weekend rides. You may be a faster "learner" than me but give 'em an honest try.
The big thing about foamies is that they eliminate a lot of the eardrum-damaging high frequency noises as well as lowering the overall sound volume.
A little factoid from a sound attenuation course I took many moons ago: for every 1 decibel (A) above ~82dbA the APPARENT[/u] sound pressure to the human ear DOUBLES !!!
Now you know why OSHA insists that humans be exposed to no more than 80dbA during an 8 hour work day.....even with hearing protection.....and why stock mufflers are also limited to 80dbA.

[Big Bo]

I hear you. I wear Howard Leight Laser Lite ear plugs, 99% of the time that I am in the saddle. The roar of the mighty B12 with the Two Brothers pipe is wonderful. But combined with the wind I can`t take the noise. My ears would hurt so bad that I was constantly moving, shifting, turnig my head to lesson the noise level. Not anymore, I keep ear plugs in the pockets of all of my riding jackets, and in my tank bag.

Give the earplugs a plug.