Black Kerker opinions

For those who have owned black Kerker pipes. Please give me your opinions. I am leaning towards getting a black Kerker for my '78 KZ1000 A2. So how do you like the fit and finish? Everyone already knows of Kerker's rep for performance, but I am concerned about the durability of the finish on the black pipes. I am thinking of going anti-chrome on this bike, and I want to know if the Kerker is worth the premium price over say a black 4 into 1 MAC.

I have an old 4 into 1 kerker on my kz 650, and it was originally chrome, but the header got painted black with hi temp paint. It seems to be fine, but my buddy has a 79 Z1R, and he got a brand new all black kerker for it 2 years ago and he has put close to 15,000 hard miles on it and that pipe looks just like it did the day he put it on. I had a 4 into 1 mac on my z1 and the paint was shot to shit after the 1st season I ran it.

I bought a black Kerker ($199) for my '80 KZ650 back in '81. Paint was a semi shiney dark gray, looked way cool but paint started flaking after a couple years. This could have been caused by improper jetting of which I trusted the local dealer to change. Paint has come a long way in the last 30 years so it may (with proper jetting) last a long time now. Below is the freshly installed Kerker on my bike back in '81 which still has it's Dunlop gold seal tires!

just repaint it every couple years

Blue-That is a sweet 650 you got there. Got any current pics?

Thanks for the opinions and keep them coming.

Have it ceramic coated and it will stay looking great for a long time. I always do this on my car headers as the paint starts to burn off in just a couple of days.

testarossa wrote:

Blue-That is a sweet 650 you got there. Got any current pics?

Thanks for the opinions and keep them coming.

Thanks, and here is one before my acident. It's almost back to this stage. Just waiting on some painting by a friend.

Before accident on 8-07.

Black painted Kerkers are the way to go. I still have and use Kerkers from 1980's that are almost as good as new. Just re-sand and paint every some many years and you are good to go.

And, should you get a ding in your Kerker's underside for example, a little JB Weld, some sanding, and more black paint, and you're back on the road.

Thanks again to all. I think I'm sold on the Kerker unless anyone has alternative to Kerker, Mac, V&H.

Alternative to a KERKER!!!! Blasphemy!.... :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Oh this should be good (opinionated replies)..... :S :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Old Man Rock wrote:

Alternative to a KERKER!!!! Blasphemy!.... :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Oh this should be good (opinionated replies)..... :S :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

This from the guy who proposes to remake Yoshimura pipes in his garage.:lol:

Back in the day Kerker and V&H were the top affordable exhausts. There were a few other "exotic" ones (Bassani, Yosh, etc) But Kerker and V&H were the best bang for the buck. My Kerker is an original and will never get rid of it as I could never afford to replace it. Now, V&H has some issues with chrome and fit for double the original price. Kerker (owned by Super Trapp) I believe is still a good pipe but you need to shop around for best price. Also I hear that both companies will be no longer producing these pipes for our old bikes. MAC is ok, affordable, sounds good but I hate the look of the muffler and they have fitment issues. Best bet is to ebay an older Kerker and have it "restored" to your specs.