Midnight Special Exhaust System

[John]

I have stumbled across a nice looking system at a salvage yard. They have been kept indoors, and it was kinda dark in there, but they looked ok. The price is $250. Is anybody interested? If so, I'll go back to the yard and clean them up and see how good they really look, and report back to you.

[DeanR]

John, Don't have a need for pipes, just wanted to say how cool your offer of checking them out for someone is!

[John]

I just couldn't let them sit there knowing someone here may need them. They are just too rare to let them go to a
'non member' who may not appreciate what they have. I may buy them for my bike, if it is repairable. I was inspecting it today and when I pulled the seat and tank, I found some cracked welds and the rear inner fender was smashed , as was the seat pan.

[dpotter58]

If they look good, i'll pay for them, add some beer money for you, and shipping.

[UncleSpot]

...I'm *still* looking for a permanent replacement exhaust from my May 9th accident that "structurally modified" the system that was on my XS.
John, please check em out and report back... thanks.

[John]

Well now... I have an ethical problem...There seems to be some interest from a few people. Who should I send them to? The first person that said they want them, or somebody else that would like them? Should I list them on ebay? I'd hate to start a bidding war here amongst my friends. dpotter was first to respond, but I can sympathize with Uncle Spot and him needing to replace a wrecked set. That is why I was looking for set...mine were destroyed in my accident, but I have found a replacement muffler for my criss cross Jardine system, and I don't need the MNS pipes

[UncleSpot]

John,
you're right: dpotter did respond 1st - you should sell the set to him. I couldn't stand to see someone on eBay outbid one of us... I've got a 'loaner set' on my bike that'll serve me until I can find another... I think I may have a line on one (?)

where did you get your criss cross Jardine system? That looks real nice! How do they sound?

[dpotter58]

The set on my bike are stock and in good shape but they are chrome painted black, if they would help Spot, I'd send them his way for postage. I was going to send them to Jet hot to get coated and if the MS pipes don't work I'll do that anyhow.

[John]

Ok fellas...no fighting I'm going to leave now to check them out so one of you had better want them. If they are good, I will be buying them. You both are still interested, right?

[dpotter58]

I sure am. Don't forget my offer to throw in some beer money.

[John]

Well, I checked out the pipes a little while ago. There is some light pitting, on them, but they will clean up nicely with some elbow grease, and a buffing wheel. Swmbo and I used some polishing compound and a rag, on a few select areas, and they looked good. There were some rust flakes that came out of the mufflers, and I could hear some more rattling around when I shook them to check the baffles, but the baffles didn't clang around inside the mufflers. The pipes and all welds are very solid with no rust holes. The heat shields are solid also. The end caps and the tubes coming out of them are solid...just light surface rust. You can't see any rusted out areas by looking into the muffler end. I have no idea how they'll sound, but they can be made to look good. Both of the rubber stoppers for the side/center stand are in place. I didn't pay for them yet, I wanted to report back first, and I didn't want to get stuck with them if nobody wants them.
Whaddya think? Still interested?

PS I drink expensive beer...Sam Adams

[dpotter58]

I'll pm my address and let me know about shipping and the voulme of Sam Adams the two of you drink and I'lll get some funds out to you. The cost of Sam Adams isn't bad, I've been drinking 108 proof Rare Breed by Wild Turkey...more kick, fewer trips to the john John.

[John]

XSpensive booze

I hear you on the Turkey...We also drink Gentle Man Jack @ $50 a bottle. XSpensive tastes we have as we age...I'll go buy the pipes tomorrow, and take them to the shipper to get a qoute. I'll get back to you after that.
Ron, the Jardine pipes were on the 78E Organ Donor that I bought for parts last year. I wanted the bike for the engine and the pipes. I paid $250 for it, but I got more than that out of it. I used to have a set of MNS pipes on my bike before I got the jardines. I sold them to a member, Michael March. I bought them for $80 back in '92

[dpotter58]

Hey John, I got the pipes today and all I can say is you are a GIANT among men. Thanks hoss they look great. If they sound half as nice as they look I'll be trully sporting or as my kid says "I'll be gorilla pimpin'". (WETF that is supposed to mean)
So now I'll have something to do Saturday night will the wife is at a play with her girlfriends. I have a recipie for cleaning them up, It's one part elbow grease to one part Wild Turkey. Or is it two parts Turkey?
Thanks again
dp

[John]

I almost had to keep them for my own use. I lost a bid on ebay for some NOS Jardine mufflers to a fellow member. If I couldn't find a Jardine muffler then I was screwed. I contacted the winning bidder, who happened to be Bikerhawk. I asked if he still had his old set of mufflers, and he did , and sold them to me at a great price. That's when I offered up the MNS pipes. I only needed the right muffler, and the new one happened to be in xsellent shape, so now my 'Quest for the Grail' should have been complete, if not for needing a frame now. I have bartered some time for some parts, cruised ebay, and I have everything I thought I needed to get my bike back on the road.
Anyway, I'm glad you like them, and I hope they sound ok. I found polishing compound and a piece of terry cloth to work pretty good on shining them up. What is your recipe?