Stock XS1100F exhaust on ebay with cracks near header/mufflers

[gtem]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/38752300544...4aAuy-EALw_wcB

How repairable do you guys think those cracks are? Would one have to grind the chrome back, lay a bead down, then rechrome?

[LAB3]

To the best of my knowledge a used exhaust pipe cannot be rechromed due to the loose material inside of it getting mixed into the plating tank and contaminating the fluid inside of it. You'd end up with all kinds of specks, pits and places where the chrome wouldn't adhere to the metal not to mention having to replace the fluid and cleaning out the tank.

[DEEBS11]

You can't rechrome dirty metal. Especially with carbon on the inside where you can't clean. It will contaminate the process. For $300 ? Wow.


This is about the best deal going these days. However, it is louder than stock but it is stainless.

[LenB]

The bigger question is the extent of the internal corrosion. Went through two sets from rusting out at the axle detents because I worked close to home and the pipes didn't heat up enough to burn off the condensation - shot exhaust up behind the fairing - a little unsafe. What's left could be pretty thin metal and difficult to weld.

[speedlimit85]

new cracks form after weld...but may last ...those look worth it to me

[LAB3]

Considering the shipping costs you're probably better off going with that new system Deebs linked to. Also, have you tried this place yet?

https://www.newmotorcycleparts.net/

[gtem]

Hi Lab. I'm not in desperate need of an exhaust, I have a nice condition MAC 4-1 on the bike now, but I tend to enjoy some gravel/dirt road riding so the superior ground clearance of a 4-2 is appealing. That and I generally like to stay as close to OEM/stock as possible. That Delkevic stainless pipe is definitely the best value going by a mile, I'm almost tempted to buy one just to have a spare system ready in case they become unavailable in the future. Who knows when anyone else might ever make a replacement exhaust for these 45 year old bikes!

[XSSIVEUS]

FYI there may still be European XS11 NOS pipes available. One of my stock 78s has a set of these pipes. They're pretty much identical to US pipes except the setback of the exhaust header pipe flanges. The inner ones are slightly different, requiring a second set of gaskets to get them to seal correctly. Mine work flawlessly and they look identical except for a set of goofy metal tags riveted onto the mufflers. I decided to leave them vs drilling out and re-riveting. That may have been a mistake, read on:

When I pulled the bike from the mid-West to CA and registered it here, the DMV gave me heck over them because they "weren't stock smog gear." There was no smog gear in 1978, but these yahoos didn't know a carb from a toilet. I told them US pipes were no longer available. They told me I'd have to scrap the bike to which my response was "oh, hell no." Turns out to fix the issue all I had to do was write a hand note that this was an equivalent part and the only way I could restore the bike was to install these pipes made to the same standard, but issued for another market. They accepted that and issued registration. Geez, what a PITA.

Anyway, you may still be able to find NOS across the pond but be prepared to pay a pretty Euro for them. Cheers.

[gtem]

FYI there may still be European XS11 NOS pipes available. One of my stock 78s has a set of these pipes. They're pretty much identical to US pipes except the setback of the exhaust header pipe flanges. The inner ones are slightly different, requiring a second set of gaskets to get them to seal correctly. Mine work flawlessly and they look identical except for a set of goofy metal tags riveted onto the mufflers. I decided to leave them vs drilling out and re-riveting. That may have been a mistake, read on:

When I pulled the bike from the mid-West to CA and registered it here, the DMV gave me heck over them because they "weren't stock smog gear." There was no smog gear in 1978, but these yahoos didn't know a carb from a toilet. I told them US pipes were no longer available. They told me I'd have to scrap the bike to which my response was "oh, hell no." Turns out to fix the issue all I had to do was write a hand note that this was an equivalent part and the only way I could restore the bike was to install these pipes made to the same standard, but issued for another market. They accepted that and issued registration. Geez, what a PITA.

Anyway, you may still be able to find NOS across the pond but be prepared to pay a pretty Euro for them. Cheers.

Yeesh, thankfully we don't have *any* of that to worry about in Indiana. Then again, we don't have California's wonderful riding roads and weather either!

[Radioguylogs]

Yeesh, thankfully we don't have *any* of that to worry about in Indiana. Then again, we don't have California's wonderful riding roads and weather either!

I lived in Kokomo when I got my first motorcycle.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

[Mathh]

FYI there may still be European XS11 NOS pipes available. One of my stock 78s has a set of these pipes. They're pretty much identical to US pipes except the setback of the exhaust header pipe flanges. The inner ones are slightly different, requiring a second set of gaskets to get them to seal correctly. Mine work flawlessly and they look identical except for a set of goofy metal tags riveted onto the mufflers. I decided to leave them vs drilling out and re-riveting. That may have been a mistake, read on:

When I pulled the bike from the mid-West to CA and registered it here, the DMV gave me heck over them because they "weren't stock smog gear." There was no smog gear in 1978, but these yahoos didn't know a carb from a toilet. I told them US pipes were no longer available. They told me I'd have to scrap the bike to which my response was "oh, hell no." Turns out to fix the issue all I had to do was write a hand note that this was an equivalent part and the only way I could restore the bike was to install these pipes made to the same standard, but issued for another market. They accepted that and issued registration. Geez, what a PITA.

Anyway, you may still be able to find NOS across the pond but be prepared to pay a pretty Euro for them. Cheers.

Let me know if you find a set . I have been scanning the internet for stock exhaust systems as long as I can remember. The last NOS set I was able to buy was in Italy in a small motorcycle shop I visited for a rain suit. I think that was at least 10-15 years ago. There was a NOS set for sale in Germany a couple of years ago that went in 1 day for the asking price: 2000 Euros. I was too late... So I decided to put a NOS Special system on my Standard. I bought that on eBay long ago for 250 USD and now was the time. It took me some cutting and welding because of the wider wheel and repositioned shocks but I'm glad to have them on now. The bike runs excellent.. Don't know how expensive they are now in the US but it's worth to have a go on a Standard. Or even a Maxim set can be made to fit, a friend of mine did that. The later Special sets has bolt-on mufflers just like the Maxim (The Special in the pics has one of these sets. . That makes it even easier to mount on a set of downpipes.

[DEEBS11]

Nice bikes Mathh. This company was making stainless exhausts in England but seems to be out of stock at the moment.

https://predatormotorsport.co.uk/yamaha-xs1100-xs11-xs-eleven-78-81-predator-4-2-1-system-road-in-s-steel/

[gtem]

I lived in Kokomo when I got my first motorcycle.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

I grew up riding in the NY Finger Lakes region. The move to Central Indiana for work was a bit depressing at first, as far as the flatness of the landscape. I didn't even bother riding for a good 5 years. I guess I've "adapted" now and made my piece with simply learning to enjoy the farmlands and seek out what passes for scenic roads.

[LAB3]

There's some decent hills and roads with long sweeping turns to the southwest of Indy.

[gtem]

There's some decent hills and roads with long sweeping turns to the southwest of Indy.

That's where I normally end up for some riding with friends. That or making it farther down to the Bedford area for the Suzuki GS rally.