New exhaust

[cpainter11]

So I found that my 454 was too quiet for my tastes.... so I bought a new set of Emgo Shorty 12" mufflers for it. I love the way they sound and I don't think they look half bad either.

First thing I did was soak all the clamps in some Liquid Wrench:
Left Side

Right Side


Then, I removed the heat shields and stock mufflers:




I was surprised to find that the original mufflers were snugged up to the pipes with what looks like exhaust wrap?! Haha, well if it's good enough for Kawasaki, it's good enough for me.

The mufflers were projected to come in the mail the day I started this project... well, they didn't. Fast forward a few days and the mufflers are finally here! I ran the bike straight piped for a few days and quite liked the sound, though I'm not entirely certain that my hearing liked the volume.... at any rate...

My grandfather had some aluminum tubing lying around and it was a perfect fit over the stock pipes. One piece for each side and one wrap of some of the factory's left over wrap and the mufflers were on.




The brackets that came with the mufflers only did not have a hole to mount up to the bike so one had to be made. My grandfather helped me out with that since my metalworking is quite lacking...

The hole closest to the center is the one we drilled.
We then, bent the brackets a small amount at the bottom so that they would line up better.


All finished


The mufflers have a bolt at the end that allows for one step removal of the baffles for unpacking, repacking, or straight piping. I love that. They are mellower and deeper than the straight pipes and also quieter but definitely loud enough. I love the sound. I have a video and will post it on here once I can. I may also take the heat shields back off and wrap all but the mufflers in black exhaust tape.

[cpainter11]

As promised, the video! If it sounds like it doesn't start right, it's was in the 30's that day and I still haven't worked out starting it in the cold weather lol. I have a valve adjustment coming very soon. Also, I have no idea why the video is sideways.

[eaglerider]

Taking video with a phone does that....the way/direction the phone is held.
Sounds good....The exhaust wrap was put on by a previous owner, not Kawasaki......the crossover pipe in bad for leaking....a lot of us have cut it out by cutting the header pipes just in front of the crossover, and using only the header pipe and 1 3/4 inch exhaust tubing to extend each header pipe.

[cpainter11]

Thank you I'd like to get a good camera for documenting the bike. And that makes sense about the exhaust wrap, I was surprised to find it on there.

[psnw]

That is just awesome and sounds great!!  It gives me some ideas.  I seen a bike the other day down at the repair shop that had straights all the back.  I was thinking that may be an easy way to add some throat to pipes.

I agree about the camera/vid stuff. I am feeling like I need to start documenting my bike as well. Maybe put updates under my intro thread.

[cpainter11]

Well if I go through with my "bagger" idea lol, I will probably have to cut the pipes before the crossover like Eagle told me so that I can extend the pipes all the way back so it won't damage the finish or melt the bags from heat. I do love the removable baffles on these pipes. Straight piping is just a matter of removing one bolt on each muffler I love the sound of these bikes

[eaglerider]

If you like it LOUD (LOL)....I fabricated up a set of straight (no baffles), 24 inch long (after the extensions I put on the header pipes) 2 inch diameter pipes, once......VERY LOUD (too loud for me, I discovered)....you could hear me coming 2 or 3 miles (or more???) away!!!! LOL!!!!! Oh, it had a good sound, but.........

[cpainter11]

Apr 3, 2015 15:55:43 GMT -6 eaglerider said:

If you like it LOUD (LOL)....I fabricated up a set of straight (no baffles), 24 inch long (after the extensions I put on the header pipes) 2 inch diameter pipes, once......VERY LOUD (too loud for me, I discovered)....you could hear me coming 2 or 3 miles (or more???) away!!!! LOL!!!!! Oh, it had a good sound, but.........

Like it LOUD? I love 'em LOUD! But I agree with you on the straight pipes... They sound great but are just too loud. I may change my mind lol, but I found that without my mufflers the straights were harsh sounding. When you added the 24 inch extensions, did it take the harshness out of the tone? I may be doing my pipes straight all the way back to end under the bags to not only protect the bags, but also so my passenger isn't getting exhaust noise/heat/smell so near to her... That might just get me into trouble lol

[eaglerider]

The 24 inches were added to the extended header pipes, so the total length came out near the back of the rear tire, and I slash-cut the ends, for looks.

[cpainter11]

That sounds like it looked and sounded awesome! Also, update... I noticed today that my center stand was rrubbing against my belt! So that has been removed.