Question about exhaust set up, Yes I used search!

[Mpenner]

Hey everyone, I have a 81 GS650E that I am tuning up, I plan on using this bike as my lil cruiser while rebuilding my other iron horses. The bike has a beautiful exhaust on it but that is never good enough!

I looked into the 4 to 1 systems available, Mac is pretty much only game is town but I have had a mac system on a Kawi and it sucked and I have seen lots of other guys here saying they suck!

I am wondering about how many guys other there have used H-D mufflers or replacements from internet stores. The stock exhaust makes an up sweep where the muffler is attached, Did anyone have fitment issues with using straight mufflers such as H-D ones. I have a GR650 tempter that when I put a set of straight mufflers not upswept ones that the center stand and kickstand would not go up correct. How would someone make an up-sweep?

When guys have used stock H-D take offs did it give you a nice rumble? Did anyone use replacements from JC whitney or someplace like that? Did those give you a nice rumble?

Am I crazy wanting to cut up a set of good stock pipes or did it make it rumble nice enough to be worth it?

Please give me your advice and opinion!

[bonanzadave]

The bike has a beautiful exhaust on it

am I crazy wanting to cut up a set of good stock pipes

Dont cut up a nice factory exhaust. Keep it or offer it up to someone who would like it and is willing to give you a fair price for it. There has got to be some other 4:1 options out there......not just GSs. GSX-R or Kawi might work....are you sure you did a search ?

It's only the oil cooled Gixxer pipes that work. The GSX600F used the same block and head castings as the 750 so they should work as well. I would only try to fit them to a 700 or 750 though, '83 and up. I have a hunch they would fit the 650 as well. They'd be too tight for liter class GS/GSX models.

The KZ does share the same intake spacing so exhaust is probably the same too. KZ pipes are probably as or more than GS pipes though.

[Mpenner]

KZ or GSX pipes MIGHT fit it? Thats big might and I had never heard of this before. Is this some known thing that I just missed? Anyone else know if this is true and fits?

[Mpenner]

I can't find any definite information through search and seems like a big risk. anyone know for sure?

Also love to get peoples opinion on my initial question

[Nessism]

Cutting up a nice stock exhaust system is a sin. I'd either run it or look for something else to hack on if you insist.

HD mufflers have been used by a number of people that have had rusted mufflers. They run straight out but them seem pretty nice in my limited experience.

[lordcannon88]

Hey everyone, I have a 81 GS650E that I am tuning up, I plan on using this bike as my lil cruiser while rebuilding my other iron horses. The bike has a beautiful exhaust on it but that is never good enough!

I looked into the 4 to 1 systems available, Mac is pretty much only game is town but I have had a mac system on a Kawi and it sucked and I have seen lots of other guys here saying they suck!

I am wondering about how many guys other there have used H-D mufflers or replacements from internet stores. The stock exhaust makes an up sweep where the muffler is attached, Did anyone have fitment issues with using straight mufflers such as H-D ones. I have a GR650 tempter that when I put a set of straight mufflers not upswept ones that the center stand and kickstand would not go up correct. How would someone make an up-sweep?

When guys have used stock H-D take offs did it give you a nice rumble? Did anyone use replacements from JC whitney or someplace like that? Did those give you a nice rumble?

Am I crazy wanting to cut up a set of good stock pipes or did it make it rumble nice enough to be worth it?

Please give me your advice and opinion!

if its a harley rumble youre after then unless you feel like making cylinders 1, 3 fire then 2, 4 fire youre outta luck on the harley "rumble" such is created by the timing of the vtwin and is essentially impossible to replicate on a 4 cyl.

[LarryA_Texas]

+1

Cutting up a nice stock exhaust system is a sin. I'd either run it or look for something else to hack on if you insist.

HD mufflers have been used by a number of people that have had rusted mufflers. They run straight out but them seem pretty nice in my limited experience.

Good stock pipes are hard enough to find that it's worth it for you to offer them for sale before you start cutting on them. Pipes with the old muffler rusted out or damaged would be a good choice for the torch.

[tkent02]

Harley patented that rumble, buy one or forget about it.
I would suggest the latter.

[Mpenner]

Wow, I def. don't need my gs to sounds like a Harley and i am pretty sure i didn't say i wanted it to (I have a Harley to sound like a Harley). Just something lil more aggressive but i am thinking its more of rocking the stock pipe til it "rusts" out

[LarryA_Texas]

harley

They are pretty sensitive about the 'Harley' rumble. But you are very correct, you didn't say you wanted it to sound like a Harley, you asked about a 'nice rumble'.

The best, most aggressive sounding GSs I've seen all had some custom work on the pipes. Therefore all were unique. I'm sure you already know this, but they all also had to have carb adjustments to compensate for the changes in air flow. They are very sensitive to airflow changes.

My 1100 went from great to only so-so by just changing from one set of stock pipes to another. A third set of stock pipes changed it again. Heck...I even had an 850 running great 'till I closed up the gap in the crossover. Too bad, too, because it sounded pretty good with that old rusted-out crossover.

Point is, if you do know about the carb changes and want to do it, have fun. If not...stay stock.

And if you are going to mess with stock pipes, please consider selling them to someone that values stock pipes and cut up something else.