Looking for suggestions on converting a bike to straight pipe, and pod air filters.

[mwalter2747]

I have a 1982 gs850gl, that was in a little wreck last year that crumpled half of the exhaust. Rather then pay an arm and a leg for a new custom system, or buy a replacement from a bike that's being parted out, I'm planning on making it a straight pipe. Along with that, I'm planning on turning the while thing into a custom job, including pod air filters. unfortunately, my knowledge with tuning carbs to accomidate for both of these ends at at the fact that it needs done. Any help and advice you could give in regard to tuning, and re jetting would be much appreciated.

additional info: I did rebuild the carbs last year, so I do have a decent amount of knowledge in relation to how they work, and where everything is.

 

[Weapon]

dynojet stage 3 kit and follow the instructions for pods and pipe. cv carbs can be a little finicky without the airbox but you can make them work.

http://www.dynojet.com/pdf/3306.pdf

 

[JJ]

You can usually get a replacement muffler pretty cheap,maybe free, at a Harley dealer. You shouldn't run straight pipes on the street.

 

[eil]

I'm not some kind of never-stray-from-stock busybody, but neither of these modifications sound like a good idea.

Negative on the straight pipes. You're going to deafen both the innocent on the road in and your neighborhood as well as the guilty (yourself). Not to mention bringing shame and disgrace to the rest of us who run great-sounding stock and aftermarket exhausts which adhere to moderate decibel levels. You sound like a reasonable person. Do the right thing. Get an aftermarket 4-into-1, or even just some stock headers and cheap stock Harley take-off exhausts. There are people here on the forum doing just that and are happy with the result. If you're not great with the bending of the tubes and likewise fabrication, hook up with a local exhaust shop. You will be glad you did.

As for pods, again, not recommended. Tuning the bike for pods is almost more art than science and there have been plenty on this forum who've gone this route and eventually went back to the stock airbox just to get the bike to run right again. It's not that it can't be done, it's that it takes a lot of time to do right. Doubly or triply so for the inexperienced. But if you're going to do it anyway, start with a Dynojet 3 and find a shop in your area that does dyno tuning.

 

[Jmanor]

I am also doing pods, and maybe slash cut exhaust somehow. Not trying to make anyone deaf or myself just maybe 4 in 2 exhaust with slash cut instead of the megaphone.

 

[Steve]

"Straight pipes"?

That will keep a LOT of us from offering any help, other than "good luck". :-\\\

.

 

[Weapon]

That's a real shame. I hope you are wrong, because what that says to me is if someone wants to do something to their bike that you don't agree with they are **** out of luck as far as you are concerned?

"Straight pipes"?

That will keep a LOT of us from offering any help, other than "good luck". :-\\\

.

 

[cowboyup3371]

Weapon, a lot of people here would rather respect others than thinking only of their own selfish desires. You can still find good sounding pipes that don't have to be obnoxious if you look carefully

 

[Weapon]

that doesn't really address my post. what i'm talking about is the overbearing "your doing something I don't like so I wont help you" post.
If a person doesn't like it and doesn't want to help then why post at all? Other than to be all overbearing and judgy?
I don't agree with obnoxious loud pipes either, but if the guy cant afford pipes right away and needs to get his bike running, why be like that?
He didn't say he wanted to be obnoxious and irritate people with his pipe did he?

 

[Steve]

It's not just "because I don't like it". It's because it hurts the overall image of motorcyclists in general, possibly endangering our freedom to participate in our chosen sport.

And, ... it's nothing NEW. Over 35 years ago, I lived in a private community that changed its bylaws to prohibit motorcycles. The four of us that already had motorcycles were grandfathered in, and were allowed to keep them. The problem there was that one was a Goldwing, one was a bone-stock Honda CB400-4 Supersport, my KZ1300 (only a Goldwing was quieter) and a non-running Norton Commando, so there wasn't even any history of loud bikes in the park, they just wanted to keep them out. If we had any visitors that rode a motorcycle, they had to park at the Community Center building near the entrance and walk all the way back to our place. We told them to shove it.

Today, there are community parks in many cities that don't allow motorcycles, mainly because of the noise. That means that I, on my Goldwing, am not allowed to visit the park. That hurts. It's a public park, I am on a completely legal vehicle, ridden in a completely legal manner, but am not allowed to visit the park.

I really don't care how high your ape hangers are.
I don't care how far forward your forward controls are.
I don't care what color you paint your bike.
I don't care if you choose to bob it, cafe it or even 'rat' it out.

Those are all personal choices that really only affect YOU. However, when you start making so much noise that it can be heard several blocks away, it affects ME, too, and that is where I refuse to offer any help on how to keep the bike running in that condition. I will not go so far as to offer incorrect advice, thereby sabotaging your bike, I will simply not offer ANY advice.
Like it or not, that is where I stand.

.

 

[Allie]

Like it or not, that is where I stand.

.

What he said.

 

[Steve]

Allie, thanks a LOT for dragging out that old picture of me.

.

 

[mwalter2747]

I really appreciate all the feedback, but i really didn't mean to start an argument on pipes with my post. I have absolutely no intention of leaving the bike straight piped. but, the current state of the exhaust is causing too much backflow to run properly. i started the bike for the first time since October last week, and one of the exhaust outtakes was turning red hot. i only plan on having straight pipes until i can get it running properly, and replace the valve cover gasket. then ill be looking for some muffles to fit onto the old pipes, that fit the almost cafe look that i want. i'm also beginning to rethink my pod filter idea, the more i look, the more i don't think its something that i want to do. at least not while i'm still trying to get her to run better.

 

[Allie]

Check your valve clearances if you're rockin' a cherry red header. That's totally not groovy. You'd have to tune the bike to get it to run right with straight pipes, then when you put mufflers back on you'd have to re-tune again so it doesn't sound very productive. The tuning on these things is delicately balanced, it's not like your folks' LTD wagon that you can flip the air cleaner lid over and hear the four barrel whooping up all that air. Small changes to the intake and exhaust equation can really complicate matters.

 

[Allie]

Steve may be a muffin deprived hornswoggling bushwacking no-account but he's an awfully nice guy so we'll keep him.

 

[Rob S.]

...start with a Dynojet 3 and find a shop in your area that does dyno tuning.

What I did, and why mine starts, idles and redlines so beautifully. Of course I've got a baffle in my pipe - I have neighbors. :biggrin:

 

[GSCafe]

Pods and pipes are to be approached as a "That is what I want". The effort to tune is not worth the casual "Oh, it is convenient for the moment." The reason you get the "good luck" is because it is just that without a good understanding of carburetors or access to a shop it may become difficult. It is always apples to oranges. Your bike will tune to that setup different than other bikes.