Why do I need an aftermarket exhaust?

Why can't I just modify the dual mufflers on mine? What if I remove one of the three pipes that make up the baffles, or make a new one with a glass packed straight through baffle? Has anyone had any experience with this? I'm gonna have a 810cc bike soon and I dont really fancy spending $400+ when I can just get a bit of pipe and some fiberglass, or just a sawz-all.

Because an aftermarket exhaust is about 50 lbs lighter than stock??

See, I knew somebody would have an answer! Thanks steell for the best advice as always.

And it's patriotic: that $400 will provide economic stimulation.

hahaha

Your unmodified stock exhaust has some value now. After you modify it, it's basically worthless. A bike with a hacked up OEM exhaust gives more of an impression of a junker than that of a professionally done custom. An aftermarket exhaust will actually lower the value of an otherwise stock bike, but not as much as modifying the stock exhaust would. Also, there are likely people who have experience with your bike with a variety of aftermarket exhausts. There's a pretty good chance nobody has experience with your bike with an exhaust modified by you. Also2, the companies making aftermarket exhausts employ engineers, and their exhaust WILL improve power at some point in the powerband. An exhaust modified by you has no guarantee of improving power anywhere. It might. Probably will. But it also might not.

My bike has value? I take it you haven't seen it. When I'm done with my bike, I will have invested well over $3000 over four or five years. Its worth in my area, about oh say $1500. I'm not interested in the value, I'm gonna have this bike forever.



PS - I am an engineer, I'm well capable of tuning an exhaust for power. The only reason I'll buy an afetrmarket is because I'm lazy and dont wanna spend multiple hours crunching numbers and combing through my engine books. And you're right, it'll be easier to get tuning advice on an aftermarket.

...But Uncle Joe said that "paying taxes" was the patriotic thing to do.


There are people in this world that probably worry over the value of a piece of feces that they uncovered at an archeological dig, but in the real world (one where people aren't pouring out tens of thousands for a custom KZ or a piece of manure) it makes more sense to think about the fun/pride/something to do value that the owner places on the bike.


Doing some tinkering with an exhaust system during the winter months sounds like a cool idea. If you could baseline your current setup and check your progress along the way, you might be able to come up with some low-buck solutions for those of us that don't have $400 to spend on a new system. And as far as 50 lbs weight savings? Thats silly - the stock systems dont weight that much.

And as far as 50 lbs weight savings? Thats silly - the stock systems dont weight that much.

Ever weighed a 650/750 stock exhaust?
I haven't, but here's some anecdotal evidence to consider.

Stock 750 twin exhaust, I have to block it up in place to bolt the header flange up, because it's so heavy. 650/750 four into one I can hold in one hand while attaching the header flange nuts with the other.

Never weighed a stock KZ with stock exhaust, but have weighed the 650 and 750 fours with aftermarket four into one exhaust wet (Oil, battery, and full of fuel), and they end up weighing less than the published dry weight.

50 lbs is a swag, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was really close to that.

that sounds about right i noticed a huge weight difference between the stock 4-2 kz1000 exhaust to the aftermarket i just got.

Awesome picture, Markath - I think that sums up my girl's jealousy

I bet it is close to a 50 lb savings. I have a KZ1100 with stock exhaust and it is heavy and a PITA to mount and remove. My other 1100 has a MAC and I bet it doesn't weigh 15 lbs......Stock exhaust systems in good shape go for big bucks on ebay......chris3