I want louder mufflers

I just picked up a really nice '81 KZ550A that I really like. (My first KZ, so I'll probably be spending a lot of time hanging around here!)

It has the original factory exhaust in great condition, so I don't want to butcher it, but I might like to put something on it with a little more roar to it. Nothing too obnoxious, but still impressive.

Any recommendations on good aftermarket mufflers I can swap on? At first glance it looks like I can remove the stock mufflers from the header pipes, but I'm not 100% sure. I'd prefer to keep the original header pipes on to save money.

Ideas appreciated! Thanks!

David

I believe the stock Kawi pipes and mufflers are one piece.

Kerker and Vance + Hines are the good ones, MAC is the cheap one. I am running MAC and they are OK, same performance as stock but louder.

No eBay APP ID and/or Cert ID defined in Kunena configurationjust a quick e-bay search turns up very little this day...what you want is a 4 into 1 exhuast imo...this is big bucks compared to sawing off your mufflers...but it is about as much better as the price suggests compared to ruining a decent stock set....now...if you keep searching on online auctions...eventualy you WILL find a killer 4into1 for cheap to cheaper...also run an add in our free classifiesds describing what you seek...kerker made em in chrome or black megaphone styles and aluminum canister styles too and there were a great many around on many dif kawi 550....they turn up used but in great shape all the time...so don't hurry...watch and wait for a clean header to surface and you will never regret the $ or the wait..for now use the set you have and if they are in o.k shape..do no mods....for they may be a valuable item....good luck ....craig

You can't easily chop up the stock exhaust....and FWIW, they usually don't end up sounding very nice after you do.....and after you get tired of the noise you may want to go back to stock and quiet...

If you want some good noise I have a couple 550 exhausts that may interest you.

email me at mjg15@aol.com

Why do you want a loud exhaust?...Russ

Russ Jackson wrote:

Why do you want a loud exhaust?...Russ

Didn't we all at some point in our (young) life?:laugh:

bountyhunter wrote:

Russ Jackson wrote:

Why do you want a loud exhaust?...Russ

Didn't we all at some point in our (young) life?:laugh:

....and then wished we saved the stock exhaust.

mjg15 wrote:

bountyhunter wrote:

Russ Jackson wrote:

Why do you want a loud exhaust?...Russ

Didn't we all at some point in our (young) life?:laugh:

....and then wished we saved the stock exhaust.

AMEN, brother.:laugh:

Thanks for the replies. To clarify:

1. I don't want a LOUD exhaust. I want one that's a bit LOUDER than stock. This is a performance bike, IMO, and I don't want it sounding like a miniature Gold Wing. I want a bit of engine sound when I crack the throttle.

2. I'm not young, but this is my mid-life crisis machine, which is probably even more foolish.

3. Yes, I want to save the stock exhaust, which is why I asked here, rather than just ram a giant screwdriver through the muffler baffles.

I rode this thing today for the first time since I got it home, and it is one sweet bike. My last bike (20+ yrs. ago) was a big Suzuki GS1100E, which I loved, but this is a whole different animal. It really goes where I point it, and has as much power as I need.

So I'll keep an eye on Ebay, and see what shows up. I'll also drop mjg a note and see what he's got.

David

keep looking for used, may not last as long (paint) if your going for black, i just got a used V&H for my csr1000 for $75, w/o the baffle, ordered one from DK for $20 , was really hoping to get chrome but i'll take black for the same sound and $215 cheaper, oh yeah any suggestions on how to paint and or maintain the paint, since it has been painted, minimal rust, somone clipped a curb, not to severe though, i know to get some good quality high temp flat black but will several coates hold up better or should i save the paint and just re-do it when she needs it?:woohoo:

used is good i got it all cleaned up, bought a baffle, crush washers, put it on and realized that used is good only if you can trust the person you buy it from, ha, doesn't fit, that sucks so bad, now i have this v and h sweet looking exhaust with a new baffle for some bike but not mine. oh well wanted chrome anyway now it looks like i'm buying a NEW chrome v and h setup, since kerker priced are just stupid(almost what i paid for the bike)

what is DK??