Need help choosing: Spec Ops vs Voodoo vs Hawk

[Paniller]

I just put a new exhaust on my 12, it's a 9 pipe with the two left pipes removed from the center chamber. Basically, half gutted. It lost too much 2000-2500 oomph for my taste, and sounds too close to stock.

So, I'm looking at a used Spec Ops for $250(no valve), sending this to Hawk for $175, or a used Voodoo for probably $300. I'd even consider sending my stock to Odie for the valved version of Spec Ops.

Sound:
I want a hair louder than stock. I'm fine with what I have now. I just want it deeper and meaner. Stock and gutted 9 still sound raspy to me.

Performance:
I was perfectly fine with stock. It ran wonderful. I just want that with no new low spots. If I had to choose my dead spot, I'd prefer to lose power up top, where I rarely go.

Which of the 3 would you recommend? Sorry for another thread, but I just can't tell because they all sound the same on youtube.

[Paniller]

Actually, what would be best would be to rank them 1-3 in exhaust loudness, low end torque/driveability, and deepness. That's what I'm looking for.

It's hard without having heard any in person.

[Miami78]

They are all about the same really. Loudness, performance, etc. is all similar...only real difference is the outer appearance (although I do believe hawk has a quiet option for his pipe...I'm sure someone more familiar will chime in).

[Arkitek]

I opted for Hawk's quietest model he had. Randy said it is a bit louder than a race pipe which it is. A bit more louder than i was expected but still very nice. The butt dyno says i do have a little more power now to go along with the grunt. Overall very please with hawk's quiet pipe!

[Paniller]

Is the tone and rhythm of that pipe the same as stock, only louder? Any experience with the other two for comparison?

I'll be sure to ask for the quieter option if I go Hawk.

I'm definitely looking for deep and burbly, but on the quieter side.

[Arkitek]

Tone is a lot deeper than stock of course. It will no longer sound like a lawnmower thats for sure. The only thing i could compare it to is a race pipe and a jardine. Jardines were stupid loud IMO. Sounds to me you would like a race pipe. They have good sound but aren't obnoxiously loud by any means.

[dave_xb12r]

From what I've heard in person, the voodoo is the quietest. It's mostly a bassy thump without a lot of db volume. It also keeps the power pretty much the same as stock, maybe a little more midrange.

[ztied]

I have a hawk dual outlet on my xb12,Has a good rumble sound,when gearing down,not too loud at all.My xb9 has the jardine,louder,with a good rumble also.
The hawk is the quietest of the 2.Not too much noise,but enough to let the idoit car driver,cutting you off,to know you are there.I would say imo the hawk is only half as loud as the jardine.

[dallasb]

I love my hawk. It isn't as loud as the jardine as others have stated. It has a nice small block chevy rumble to it but when you get to WOT it has a small hint of almost a shredding sound to it, kind of like open header small block chevy. The hawk isn't so loud that you HAVE to wear ear plugs but if you ride for hours at a time I would suggest them. It had a huge drop in power when I first got the pipe on but after a few data logs it runs so much better than stock. If you wanna hear a comparison of sound let me know and I'll send you a vid that I took.

[Jon0341]

+1 for Hawk

[upthemaiden]

I had heard hawk had different volume options. I'm planning on one of his too, but was curious if there's a power difference with the volume increases? If they're relatively the same I'll most likely go for the quietest since I live in a dense area, but if he's restricting some power to keep the noise down I might go with something louder.

I'm also curious if anything happens to the noise out of the airbox with a new pipe. I don't really mind the noise of my exhaust now, I just think the bike sounds bad because all I can ever hear is intake noise. With a new pipe does the intake noise ever turn into a better sound, or is it always that overly mechanical racket? I'll also most likely do an airbox delete, so I'm not sure if that changes the noise, or just makes it louder.

[50dro]

I do believe that Randy said that his quieter pipes loose a bit of power as compared to his loud pipe.

I did my airbox mod prior to the Hawk pipe and I thought it was kinda loud, but I never heard the airbox again after installing the pipe! hahahaha:D

Most people that are on the fence on going with the Hawk are convinced after speaking with Randy. I can't say enough good things about him. That's not to say the other two guys (Spec Ops & Voodoo) aren't cool guys too...I think you'll be happy with any of the choices that you've narrowed it down to.

[Paniller]

I spoke with Randy for about 45 minutes today as I walked my dog. Looks like that's my route. I just swapped back to stock, and my gutted pipe is getting packed and shipped tomorrow.

The others may have even been cheaper considering they included the pipe, but I don't need a 3rd cluttering my place. It sounds like Randy's got the idea of what I'm looking for.

[brightbuell]

I love my Voodoo!

[Paniller]

Mailing it out today, got tied up yesterday.

I hope it's torquey. I just swapped back from my partially hollowed 9 exhaust back to stock. Holy **** does it pull.

I just want the stock powerband without a lawnmower sound. I don't want more power, I just want sound. If the Hawk doesn't work, I'll just keep stock and deal with it. I'm hesitant now about losing the valve.