Can you still purchase Kerker exhaust? new (to me) bike with old exhaust

I purchased a 1982 LTD as a first bike (have been riding my dad's DR650 single, and 750 Nighthawk around) and the exhaust is in lackluster shape. My dad was a kawasaki master mechanic, working primarily on kz's. He said that I should find a Kerker exhaust for my bike, but the research I have done thus far seems to show that supertrapp owns kerker, and they sell a *very* limited number of kerker exhausts these days. Any help? Also, if anyone has links to some video clips showing different exhausts on kz1000's, I'd be grateful all I can find on youtube and whatnot is a kz900 video, and a handful of smaller kz's. Also, if anyone has a right side ignition cover, I'm looking for one of those too - previous owner said the bike fell over in his driveway and the ignition/coil cover is broken. Thanks for any replies in the future my dad is planning a rebuild with a wiseco kit so he and I will both be lurking around the forums more often. Thanks for any responses!

Dennis Kirk (mail order catalog) sells kerkers for kz 1000s and other styles but they are very proud of them$$$$.

Linky to Kerker

Expect to actually pay around $400 I think?

This page lists some KAW part #'s.

Some online store

Kerker is my favorite

I cannot speak for the quality of Kerker pipes since they were absorbed by Supertrapp, but certainly they are still using their reputation for quality to sell pipes for old school bikes (the bulk of their business apparently is systems for v-twins). When I was younger, they were my choice for aftermarket pipes...and I have them on one of my bikes (GPz1100). There is 'sticker shock' when you look initially at prices but when you compare to what people are paying for slip-on canisters (US$500 to $800)...their entire systems for a KZ1000 are reasonable

I love the Kerkers too, but check out the Vance and Hines pipes at Dennis Kirk too. They are nearly half price of the kerker the last time I checked. I've heard some rumblings about V&H quality lately, but I've owned many over the years with no fitment problems.

Also, welcome to KZR and we need some pictures!!

Post edited by: 79MKII, at: 2007/04/09 10:12

I have used both on my bikes and both have never given any problems with fitment. What I've heard most about the V&H pipes is that the chrome is very thin and rusts fairly quickly. I know mine have rusted fairly easily, mainly in area next to engine on the backside of header pipes. Kerker didn't seem to rust near as fast though.

Yoshimura sounds pretty wicked too

Yeah the Kerker's are still available, but yes expensive.
Although Supertrapp has absorbed Kerker, the quality is still top notch in my opinion.
Vance and Hines on the other hand I would be wary of since theyve been bought out and resold in the last year.

I run the Kerker on my 1000J and absolutely love it.

But yeah, my employee price on it at the time (cost+10%) was still about 450 bucks.

I can confirm the reports that V&H is slipping. I've put four of their systems on this month and each one has been sub par. It's really a shame too.

If you want a Kerker for your J, I can get you a black one for $450.00. Only drawback is you can't retain your centerstand.

Meant to add that Jardine sells a really nice system as well. You can get them in either black or chrome.

Black runs $355.00 Chrome is $458.00

I think Jeff from Z1 Enterprises bid a bit of a write-up...so to speak....here awhile beck re: fitment issues and such w/ new V&H pipes. Might be worth a search if one was so inclined......

modified: double posted

Post edited by: fierostetz, at: 2007/04/11 21:40