650SR Criss Cross Header?

Just looking around at pics of 650's and I'm wondering why the SR had a different style header than the rest? The SR has cylinders 1 and 4 going to the right side of the bike and 2 and 3 the left. Is there any advantage (or disadvantage) to this different style?

Advantages: The pulses from the cylinders apparently work better together when 1&4 share an exhaust and 2&3 as well. Can't remember how exactly, but it's been mentioned in the past.

Disadvantage: Only the D model 650s had the criss cross header, so replacements are scarce.

Thanks rstnick, my SR exhaust has seen better days so I'm going to paint and wrap it for this summer, but wanted to get a 4-to-1 header eventually, I'm assuming they will still fit? Also wondering what the criss cross ones are going to look like wrapped. I've only seen the straight ones.

Thanks again.

The SR's and 1980 LTD 650's had the crossed exhaust, which seemed more efficiant. These also had shorter "custom" mufflers, so there was more baffleing in the mufflers. Baffle equals resistance so in turn the SR and LTD was 62 horse while the B and C was 64 horse. As far as I know any KZ650/750 four four-into-one pipe should bolt right on with the pipe's mounting hardware.

I've read the same thing, that the power gain by criss crossing the header is lost (and then some) by using the shorty mufflers which must still pass noise laws. A good 4/1 will open things up!

A 4-to-1 is definitely in my future but not for this summer, no cash for it. I'll have to stick with the stock ones for this year. I'm going to paint and wrap them to hide the bad chrome.

Save for some new jets too!

LOL, yeah I know. That is something I have to figure out even for this round. I'm putting new pods on and thinking about shortening the stock muffler sections. So, I'll need to figure out what jet sizes to buy. Thanks.

Post edited by: HerrDeacon, at: 2007/12/30 19:54