Factory exhaust replacement

Spent a while in the garage this weekend removing original pipes and mufflers...was hoping to clean them up and re-use, but are very rough. A whole lot of ugly that I would hate to bolt back on her. Checked fleabay for used originals, but none look any better than what I have...Have looked at new 4-2 "replacement" set, but hate the turn out mufflers...Not my first choice, but am on the brink of thinking 4-1...price point is a concern, along with retaining use of center stand, speed bump/turning clearances, and oil filter removability...Concensus seems to be that V&H are pretty cheaply made...While I like their price, and I guess I can tolerate thin chrome, what about the rest of my concerns? Feedback? Thanx all!

Kerker? Mac?

Trying not to spend more on exhaust than I did on the bike! LOL! (I know, one gets what one pays for!) All feedback welcomed, of course, but am primarily interested in hearing from those who have tried the V&H systems on a kz650, and their experiences with them, regarding my concerns. Never had a 4-1 on a bike before, and looking for a voice (or 12!) of experience. I think they might be out of my price range, but for sake of comparison, How are the Kerkers/Macs regarding my concerns?

Kerker - more expensive, Mac - less. Mac has a canister 4/1 and a megaphone 4/1.
Canister is black with a chrome 'canister'. The megaphone is all chrome and a smoother
design like a Kerker. I had a canister system on a 650 once and seen a new meg. on a
cb750 sohc. That meg. looked really nice and sounded good also.

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IMO, get what you can afford, I really wanted a Kerker, but they were twice as much as a Vance & Hines, I'm happy with the performance & looks of the V & H, if you do decide to go with a header, do like Patton does & get some high temp engine enamel 2000 degree paint, & spray at least a couple of coats into the 4 pipes to keep the bluing down to a minimum because headers are single walled, not like factory pipes which are double walled...Good Luck with whatever you decide ....Pete

I had some quality problems with V&H.

The four pipes flanges that go inside the exhaust port were not in the same level. If you put the 4 pipes in a perfect level table, there was a huge difference with pipe 3. I had to force the pipe inside using brute strenght and wood pieces.

You also have to change the m6x1 exhaust studs to use the V&H metal half moons. Originals are 43mm long, replacement is 55mm long.

If you want looks versus sound or performance look at emgo cafe mufflers if that's your cup of tea

Thanx all, I dig how quiet my bike is stock, and I REALLY don't want to fight the re-jetting war, but its looking like that's what is going to happen. Just had a look at the emgo repop mufflers...While I do like the "original" styling, (Thanx for the tip, Lazyman!) that unfortunately won't entirely fix my problem...While pretty darn rough, my mufflers are actually the best looking part of the exhaust system! the header pipes are seriously rusty, and number one actually rusted through where it plugs into the muffler....So petegreek, (Good looking bike,BTW!) the headers certainly look undented, any issues with speed bumps/leaning ? Can't tell from pic, do you still have a centerstand mounted? oil change clearance?

Grumpy, I've had no issues with speed bumps or leaning, & I can get to oil filter, only problem I had, was that it was tooo quiet with the baffle it came with so I removed some of the baffle packing, I'll be getting a competition/performance baffle in the future ....Good Luck with whatever you decide ...Pete

Grumpy, forgot to mention, LTDs didn't come with center stands, & you would have to fabricate a center stand stop, so it wont hit the header .....some one had posted pics. & how to, looked very easy to do, just ask if you decide to go with a header, some one will chime in ....Pete

Right on! Thanx Pete! I am always learning stuff around here! I believe that is the route I'll take! As to it being too quiet, that ought to be about right for me..I do like em on the hush side... Hopefully, the jetting changes won't be too big of a PITA....With my stock airbox, mebbe I'll get lucky with the restrictive baffle, and she won't need re-jetting...(Hope springs eternal, right?! LOL! ) The guys at Z-1 are going to be having a good day, C'mon IRS! C'mon Spring! Thanx again, all !

pete greek1 wrote: Grumpy, forgot to mention, LTDs didn't come with center stands, & you would have to fabricate a center stand stop, so it wont hit the header .....some one had posted pics. & how to, looked very easy to do, just ask if you decide to go with a header, some one will chime in ....Pete

Yeap my 80 KZ1000 LTD had a cheesy little stop added for the center stand they installed. I made a heavier piece out of some strap steel I had and it worked out good. Then I cut a piece of rubber hose and slid it over the piece of strap to give it some cushion.

I put a competition baffle in the last KZ900 I had that had a Vance and Hines header. This 1000 has a Kerker and I ordered a Kerker competition baffle. I took it out and took off the insulation and put it back. Now I have it back out with no baffle and like it that way myself.