Hey Rune family! I just bought a Rune and I need your help!

[Eggleton22]

My name is Joshua and I am located in Greenville, South Carolina and I am looking for someone that can drill some holes in my exhaust. I have read the threads and I see everyone is saying 1/8 inches or 1.5 inches. I asked shops around me and they wont touch it or don’t even know what it is. Haha Also if there’s any Bike or Rune trips in the future I am down for that too!


Thanks,

[RedValk]

Yea, I'm pretty sure no shop would offer to drill the holes. That's more of a "home" project You just need to buy a step bit for cutting holes and go for it. Unfortunately, all the pictures we had on here of folks that had done it always seem to eventually get deleted....folks pass on.....servers die...posts get deleted....etc.

We used to have a "hole drilling party" at the Rune rally every year. But we stopped having Rune rallies a few years back (also sadly!)

[MO Rune Rider]

Hey Tim, how far is Tom (Wiz) from Greenville? It might be within striking distance for Joshua to get some PRO assistance in locating the proper hole positions at the very least. ?...thinking out loud here.

[RedValk]

Hey Tim, how far is Tom (Wiz) from Greenville? It might be within striking distance for Joshua to get some PRO assistance in locating the proper hole positions at the very least. ?...thinking out loud here.

Not sure....

[RedValk]

looked it up.....Goldsboro.....50-60 mile away. Probably quite doable...............

[AlanSmith7]

Drilling in Rune exhaust is not a cheap way to modify motorcycle sound. The biggest problem is if you do it too much, you can't fix it back.
Why you don't go with a new modified exhaust of your choice?

[RUNE517]

Drilling in Rune exhaust is not a cheap way to modify motorcycle sound. The biggest problem is if you do it too much, you can't fix it back.
Why you don't go with a new modified exhaust of your choice?

How is a new modified exhaust cheaper than drilling holes? Drilled holes are easily welded backup and not costly if one wants to, or one can cover them or plug them. No one that I know of makes an exhaust for the Rune any more, and the Rivco one was never cheap and required cutting the stock exhaust. Ernie's dragon packs altered the inside and also costly, he would weld backup the holes if one had already drilled their exhaust. So I'm curious as to want new modified exhaust is cheaper than drilling the exhaust for a modified sound? If there's another option for the Rune's exhaust and more so if it's cheaper than drilling holes, it would be nice for the members to know about it.

[rocklinrune]

1. It was determined back when all the exhaust hole drilling was being done, no added horsepower was gained as per a dyno.
2. The bigger the hole the louder the noise, but if one drilled to big the bike would backfire a lot.
3. Lastly the hole points to the ground and would thus make the back wheel always dirty due to dust being blown up.

[RUNE517]

While no gain in hp, how many of the folks that drilled, drilled for hp gain, or was the main reason for a louder sound to match the size of the bike or just for more sound (deeper/louder). I didn't drill for hp gain, would have been nice if it was there.

I wonder at what size the backfire happens? I started with 1-3/8" and ended up at 1-1/2" size holes and have never had a backfire.

Dirty back wheels from the holes??? The holes point at an angle to the ground and the back wheel gets dirty with or without them. I'm on gravel roads ever time I ride the Rune and I get dirt/dust on the back wheel ever time I ride and it sucks. No more no less that I can tell with the holes open or closed (I use custom slides). If I was able to prove the holes causes a worth while difference in the amount of dust/dirt on the back wheel I would have designed a muffler deflector for the holes like used on small engines.

The question that I've always wondered about, double so as time as moved on. Just how many of the folks that drilled their exhaust over time, reversed it. Be it by slides, button plugs, magnets, welding or other means, and how many drilled theirs and never looked back.

With all the info posted over the years as to options for the exhaust, the Ernie dragon packs always seemed to top the list for the best sound.

[RuneSki]

I drilled my holes and installed slides. I live on a farm in Central Jersey and I close them going down and up my 1/4 mile dirt driveway . I do think the holes make the Rune sound more like it should sound.
Good luck,
Rich

[RedValk]

1. It was determined back when all the exhaust hole drilling was being done, no added horsepower was gained as per a dyno.
2. The bigger the hole the louder the noise, but if one drilled to big the bike would backfire a lot.
3. Lastly the hole points to the ground and would thus make the back wheel always dirty due to dust being blown up.

HP....not sure ANYONE ever actually scientifically checked that. As did anyone actually dyno BEFORE and AFTER drilling? Not to my knowledge. But I'm not saying it does or doesn't add HP....just that I don't think (and I read EVERY post on this board, because it's my "job") anyone has ever actually checked that out and posted it here. But like the others have already said, I think the chief goal of all who drilled....was for the sound

Actually, what I noticed....is the bigger the hole, the LESS mine backfired...and it ONLY backfired occasionally if I really got on the throttle and then slammed it shut....or occasionally going down steep grades in the mountains. I ride my wife's Rune too, which is NOT modified...and I noticed it too will backfire in those same two scenarios. The only difference is, the backfire, of course...is quieter on her stock Rune....but it is indeed there.....just much more subtle.

Dirt on wheels? NO, I don't see that AT ALL. But I don't ride down many dirt roads. But, what I do see, FOR SURE....is when my wife and I ride (and always have to wash her bike, she won't do that!)....what is obvious is the advantage of LESS soot or discoloration on the wheels and exhaust for my drilled exhaust. Hardly any soot/discoloration on my bike after 100's of miles of riding, while my wife's stock Rune exhaust after many miles of riding has lots of that discoloration we all know "so fondly". So if anything, my drilled exhaust makes THE WHOLE REAR considerably CLEANER.

Bottom line, I still have....and have had for MANY years (since August 2003) two Runes....and for almost all those years, I've had one with modified exhaust and one with stock exhaust, and two of three things above do NOT check out with my Runes. The third one, I have no argument, nor any scientific evidence to agree or disagree with...thought my gut hunch....is I probably DO think there is no HP gain...just cool sound gain

[RuneSki]

Just posted 3 pics of the holes and slide system I did on my Rune, WAY back when !!
Good luck,
Rich

[RUNE517]

info from past posts:

Honda apprciation day dyno runs.
The results.
Peak HP 93.22
Bike an '04 bone stock & REGULAR fuel

Mine was 94hp.
Dyno at a speed shop.
K&N air filter, drilled exhaust

https://www.runeriders.com/forum/sho...highlight=dyno

IIRC?, Ernie's dragon packs were said to add 2hp, and the Rivco setup approx 5-6 hp, however I admit I could easily be wrong, I've had a Rune for so long now that I've forgot sh!! about the Rune.

I doubt hp is a factor for most, the Rune has plenty of giddy up and go.

[RedValk]

Wow.....a post from 2005....and I even commented on it (back then). Way too many brain cells destroyed over the years. I couldn't remember that post.....but sure looks like it was about a wash. Not surprising I guess.

[Afghanpilot]

Drilled mine from the beginning and never looked back. Super simple and makes it sound like a Rune should.

-Ollie

[pete in Mena]

Drilled mine from the beginning and never looked back. Super simple and makes it sound like a Rune should.

-Ollie

I'm not sure that I can agree on "like a Rune should". At every one of the "parade" rides during the Erwin rallies, I always thought the drilled exhausts around me sounded just like my Kubota tractor.

[No Handle Sam]

I'm not sure that I can agree on "like a Rune should". At every one of the "parade" rides during the Erwin rallies, I always thought the drilled exhausts around me sounded just like my Kubota tractor.

WHAT? I can't hear you Pete.

[Afghanpilot]

WHAT? I can't hear you Pete.