ZX-14 A/M exhaust thoughts

[davesxx01]

Looking for opinions on a somewhat quiet exhaust for the 14.

I'm not a drag racer, I like the sport touring side of life so I'm wanting a different exhaust system that wont kill my hearing while on the highway.

Seem everyone sells a racing exhaust, anybody have a standard full exhaust?

Opinions?

[1KPerDay]

Looking for opinions on a somewhat quiet exhaust for the 14.

The one that it comes with works pretty well...

[Squareman357]

The one that it comes with works pretty well...

Not really...unless you enjoy frying parts of your gear and skin.   Those inboard catalytic converters shure do make them pipes roasty...even an hour after shutting down the bike.  As to quiet pipes for the ZX-14, Akrapovics are pretty quiet.  That's the only full system I've heard so far.  The rest have been slip on's, and the Akra slips are quieter than the other slips I've heard as well.

[1KPerDay]

Does staintune make any yet? They have removeable inserts that are supposed to keep the bike quiet. Several brit manufacturers offer similar pipes.

[kevin_stevens]

The one that it comes with works pretty well...

I'm in the same market...

There's a couple of problems with the stock exhaust for me:

-It's hugely heavy

-It has cats in it - which I don't mind in and of itself, but it prevents me from having the bike dyno tuned,
  as there is no O2 sensor bung in the system

-The dual-sided exhaust interferes with getting a rear stand on there easily

I like the quiet whirry noises it makes - not a loud exhaust guy, and if I could find a significantly lighter replacement I'd be up for it.

KeS

[Squareman357]

I'm in the same market...

There's a couple of problems with the stock exhaust for me:

-It's hugely heavy

-It has cats in it - which I don't mind in and of itself, but it prevents me from having the bike dyno tuned,
  as there is no O2 sensor bung in the system

-The dual-sided exhaust interferes with getting a rear stand on there easily

I like the quiet whirry noises it makes - not a loud exhaust guy, and if I could find a significantly lighter replacement I'd be up for it.

KeS

You forgot my most important reason for replacing mine...they get HOT AS HELL!  I've never had a pipe on ANY other bike I've ridden or owned that would still be hot enough to burn you an hour + after shutting down the bike.  One arm burn while cleaning the chain and that was enough for me.  I didn't mind the quiet whirry sound either, but I was NOT going to deal with burning myself on a regular basis or having to wait 2 hours or more before I could do any work on the bike near the pipes.  Yeah, my 2 Brothers have a nice grumble to them that I like, but if the stockers didn't have the cats in them and weren't so god awful heavy, I would have possibly kept them.

[kevin_stevens]

You forgot my most important reason for replacing mine...they get HOT AS HELL!  I've never had a pipe on ANY other bike I've ridden or owned that would still be hot enough to burn you an hour + after shutting down the bike.  One arm burn while cleaning the chain and that was enough for me.  I didn't mind the quiet whirry sound either, but I was NOT going to deal with burning myself on a regular basis or having to wait 2 hours or more before I could do any work on the bike near the pipes.  Yeah, my 2 Brothers have a nice grumble to them that I like, but if the stockers didn't have the cats in them and weren't so god awful heavy, I would have possibly kept them.

Yeah, I've gotten burned twice - actually so hot it's like an electric shock rather than a burning sensation.  I'm amazed they can keep the stainless from discoloring on them.

Going down for my 3K oil change after posting this - hope it doesn't bite me again!  

KeS

[davesxx01]

Squareman, Akra makes a full system?

Pics?

[HorizonJob]

Because the cats are inside you may want to check the warrenty situation.  I was told that the warrenty specifically states that changing the exhaust to a non approved type voids the warrenty.  May want to save the OE to swap back on if needed.  Denver is now ticketing bikes that do not have legal pipes!  UG! Appearently it's quite expensive. They were targeting loud pipes but all are fair game.  Also the inspection hassels if you live in a state like VA that have annual inspection requirements.  Things are getting tougher out there.

[Squareman357]

Squareman, Akra makes a full system?

Pics?

Yeah let me see if I can find the pics for you.

Hmm...I take that back.  I thought that was a full system, but it was only slip-ons.  Still quieter than most I've heard, but not a full system.  Sorry about that.

[davesxx01]

Decided to go with Leo Vince slip ons. Still somewhat heavy at 20#s but they have a removeable baffle and only cost $450.

Who knows, I may also get the Brock's Street Smart system if I can save up 1K.

[kevin_stevens]

I'm taking a different route - I bought a pair of takeoff OEM cans cheap, and when they arrive I'm going to drill out the cats and see how quiet they still are.  They'll certainly be cooler.

KeS

[drsmig]

Staintune does make aftermarket pipes for the zx14.  I had them on my zzr1200 and loved them.  I also have them on my Ducati.  I have been thinking about a set for the zx14 but I wanted to do some other things first.  Staintunes would be my first and only choice.

[kevin_stevens]

I'm taking a different route - I bought a pair of takeoff OEM cans cheap, and when they arrive I'm going to drill out the cats and see how quiet they still are.  They'll certainly be cooler.

KeS

Unfortunately, the guy who eBayed the takeoffs I bought did a poor job wrapping them (no padding, cardboard and tape, all three pieces wrapped together), and they got dented up in transit.  Then *I* had to pay to send them back packed properly; yadda, yadda, yadda.  So long and short of it, I still don't have a spare set of cans to try drilling out.  

KeS

[rajflyboy]

I have always used the typical exhausts on bikes I have had.  

Honda = Jardine
Suzuki = Yosh
Kawi = Muzzy

On the ZX14 I decided to make a change and go with Leo Vince Carbon Fiber Slip ons.  I paid 550 bucks NEW for them.  I wasn't sure what to expect but in the end I am very very happy.  

Leo's are much lighter than stock.  Asthetics are great too and the throttle response is much smoother than it was with the Stock Exhaust.  Leo's fit perfect to the stock mounts and mounting them was easy.  

I don't see much in the way of Extra Power but the smoother throttle response is greatly appreciated.   I can feel how much lighter the bike is.  Bike is more flickable in the corners.  


I Recommend the LEO's to anyone with a ZX14.   Lots of Bang for the Buck