exhaust question

[dodjh]

Would there be any advantage to remove the exhaust baffles on a stock xj 1100? My son removed the ones on his 1100 Honda Shawdow and says it runs better.

dodjh

[wa407mpp]

Not unless you re tune it and probably not then, it will sound more powerful, but in all likelihood will make less power.

[stereomind]

I'm comparing this to my smaller XJ's, so if this is not true for the Eleven's, I apologize in advance.

If you remove the baffles out of the exhaust, you will change the exhaust back pressure, which can result in a leaner-running bike. Some carb adjustments would be necessary to compensate, e.g. richen-up the idle mixture a bit, and go up a size or two on the main jets..

Also, if your stock airbox restricts proportionally to the stock exhaust, and you modify the exhaust, you would have to modify the intake as well so see any real improvement.. like, change to a less restrictive air filter.

Again, carbs will need to be re-adjusted so that you don't run too lean and overheat your bike.

I'm still fighting the carbs on my 750 because it came with a free-flowing Mac 4-1 exhaust. Tuning out all the flat spots is a great big pain in the ass.


Just my 0.02USD...


Vlad

[dodjh]

exhaust

Thanks for the feedback---it is evident that I would have a monkey on my back trying to modify what has already been perfected by Yamaha. Thanks for the awakening.

dodjh

[dodjh]

exhaust

Another question--- On a VT1100 Honda Shadow, would it or would it not have the same potential problems with removed baffles?

dodjh

[wa407mpp]

Tuning modified pipes is a lot harder then tuning after market pipes because with the after market pipes someone has already solved all the problems before they market them, with a home brewed set there are a million and one problems that will crop up, that you may never be able sort out. If your stock pipes are in good shape sell they and buy a good after market set.

[dodjh]

exhaust

Thanks for the information/feedback, my son will have to decide what he wants to do since he has already removed the baffles.

dodjh

[trbig]

My son removed the ones on his 1100 Honda Shawdow and says it runs better

Could this possibly just mean, "Sounds meaner... more like a Harley" ?? I went out to a buddy's house this weekend that has that same bike with some Vince and Hines straight pipes.... that thing would give me a headache in 5 minutes!


Tod

[dodjh]

No, it doesn't "run" better but rather sounds better. I asked him again because I thought I might have misuderstood him. My son said there is no noticeable loss or gain of power.

dodjh

[skids]

There will usually be a loss of torque somewhere within the rpm band, even with the best carb tune. The baffles do more than attenuate noise.

Originally posted by dodjh
No, it doesn't "run" better but rather sounds better. I asked him again because I thought I might have misuderstood him. My son said there is no noticeable loss or gain of power.

dodjh