Help me sort out exhaust options, pls pls

[atldinan3]

Hola everyone! I picked up my bike on Saturday but have hardly ridden it yet due to the passing rainstorms in Atl. So I'm spending my time instead researching exhaust options. I just cant live with the sewing machine note. I've done searches, both here and on the generic 'net but have come up with only a limited about of useful information.

Header options:

ZTechnik - I cant find any useful information about this product on the net. I know their screens are beloved, but I'm not finding a reason to go with their headers. Am I wrong?

Staintune - Hard to find. Should I consider this?

Laser - Also hard to find any real info on, should I consider it?

Remus - I think this is the best option; same basic price as the ZTechnik but has better reviews. Save some weight and remove the cat.


Muffler options:

ZTechnik - Again, I'm not finding much out there about it so I'm not terribly drawn to it....

Akrapovic - A good option. I've had a decent review for the model linked below as "#1". I'm not sure if there are other models I should be also considering...

Remus - Another good option, but also introduces a myriad of sub-options. For example, what is the true difference between the Power Cone vs. Revolution vs. Hexacone? I understand they look different but what is the SOUND difference? I cant get any real info on how these different models actually work and sound on our bike?

Staintune - Again, hard to find any real info on it...

Laser - As above, limited info.

What I am looking for is just a quality sound. I dont want something obnoxious. I know that is a relative term. The only examples I can give is first for my car; BMW 330i w/ free flow exhaust - sounds WONDERFUL. Deep and throaty tone really illustrates the quality and capability of the motor, but it never drones or offends. The other example I would give is the factory performance muffler on my recently traded Yamaha FZ1. Nice and throaty rumble at idle, never drones and really screams wonderfully at WOT. Sounds exactly like what it is - an amazingly engineered and crafted powertool on wheels.

** So my question here is, what do ppl recommend? I will be heat-wrapping the exhaust (for the old school "chopper" look) so I'm not worried about exterior appearance. Can anyone give any real guidance as to how these mufflers (and header combinations) truly sound?

Thanks in advance!

Cheers

#1: http://www.morepoweracing.com/product.a ... rtRecord=1

[Graf]

...i went with Akrapovic....just a slipon for me...no header replacement since I heard that there are no real benefit to it on this bike......going the Akra way mostly for the sound and the looks.....planning to take out the buffles. I bought Akra a week ago from the same link you have provided.....but the price was $701.....i guess I was just in time:-)

[Graf]

ok....pipe came.....really good quality....clean welds etc....

1. took about 10 min to remove the stock silencer.......9.5 minutes of wigling...getting frustrated...smoking 2 siggs..then spraying just a bit of WD40 on the connection.....came right off
2. start the bike......sounds like a harley.....very hoarse and loud but some people like it
3. took about 7 minutes to get the Akra on....thats with smearing on the copper paste that came in the package
4. Start the bike.......sounds a little better then stock....angryer
5. removed the baffles.......and voila.....what a nice sound.......the best i can describe is it's in between what no silencer sounds and the Akra with baffles...but a bit more towards no silencer....beautifull

So.....very happy with the purchase........my wallet isn't that happy though:-)

next project......ohlins.....got the repair manual DVD.....seems pretty straight forward job......just need to wait a little for my wallet to regain a little fat:-)

[ShinySideUp]

Just another viewpoint to throw in the mix for your consideration.

Before spending some real money on an aftermarket system, you may want to try pulling the muffler off and running it a bit. The cat actually does quite a bit of muffling and, after adding a tip, I found the sound to be like what you described as the music of your FZ1: nice rumble at idle and normal acceleration and a wonderful scream at WOT. Actually the boxer is more of a roar than a scream, but still wonderful to my ears.

Here's my article on losing the muffler, in case you missed it:

http://www.r1150r.org/board/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=13881

It's a very low cost (free!) and quick option to try out.

[Echo]

I have the Akrapovic (photos posted on other threads here). Great quality and super looks. I run it with the inserts so it sounds a little deeper than stock but not much louder. Same model as the BMW "approved" Akra but with a sticker (and a savings of 450.00). No seat of the pants performance increase but that was expected.

My second choice was a Laser Hot Cam.

[Graf]

....echo.....try removing the buffles.......i went to work today on a bike and other bikers were giving these double looks:-).....finally at the stop light one of the guys on a bike said that he could not beleive how good my bike sounds:-).....made me feel all warm and fuzzy:-))))

[Echo]

Graf-
Did you notice any loss in the low to mid range with the inserts removed?

Thanks for the tip.

[Graf]

......i see / feel no change in the low......but it seems to pull harder above 4.5-5k RPM.....but these are only perceptions ofcourse.....i do beleive that the only thing that can tell you for sure is the dyno.......but i do not need the dyno to tell me that I love this pipe:-)

[bobelliot]

I have the Akra. I notice a slight gain above 5 K with the baffles out. Ran it for a couple of weeks with the baffles in. When I took them out, I immediately saw and continue to see a 2 mpg increase.

Biggest benefit is that it looks great.