Stainless Steel or chrome exhaust?

[MeatTooth]

What would people prefer? Chrome exhaust or polished stainless steel? Also what would people be willing to pay for each? I'm trying to market motorcycle exhaust to my Grandfather since we build entire car exhaust kits for as little as $230 and I've seen motorcycle kits go for 500 to 600 with a lot less material used.

How much have members paid for the exhaust and what systems do you have Pictures please.

[trbig]

Polished stainless would last longer and be stronger than chrome, but can you build a double walled system like the current stock headers have?

A friend of a friend said he could make them, but was talking along the lines of 7-800 bucks.. well out of the price range for most of us.


Tod

[Mad Dog Doug]

Stainless Steel for the Win!

My MNS came with a SuperTrapp "Superlight" stainless steel 4 into 1 set of pipes. I don't know what they cost, but some fine sandpaper cleaned them up to a nice matte luster ~ priceless.

I was so impressed that I bought a used SuperTrapp complete system (pipe and muffler) for my SR500 for ~ $600. For my money a stainless steel exhaust system is the way to go. I've gone through several chrome pipes on my SR500s and they all eventually got nasty looking outside, and then the inner pipe rotted away.





(before clean-up)

~ Doug

[GARTHXS]

kerker

We have to find someone who will lend you a kerker so that you can copy the header and maybe an option so you could put a slip on can like a super trapp

[smokey joe]

Smokey Joe

Hi, there's a guy in Germany who makes stainless replica systems for 800 euros. wyes.heinz@arcor.de but chrome would be more original especially if you are restoring a bike.
Ride safe. Cornwall England

[tw1980]

$350 for my chrome Jardine 4-1.But I would be very interested in a polished stainless steal Supertrap replica.Or a stainless header for turbo.

Terry

[CavBird]

im needing to replace my exhaust system for my XJ the MAC 4 to 1 is the one im looking at for about $350.. but i have found very few systems for sale for the xj1100.. mac is the ony one i can find still sold by the manufacturer

[foreda]

Exhaust

You would probably need to build for other bikes as well to make it worthwhile but I would say there is a market for vintage bike exhaust.

[jjwaller]

S/S Exhaust?!!!

Please!!!
Currently have a lousy Mac 4-2. Can't stand it.
Would love a 4-1, especially in S/S.
CB 750 would be good also.

[madmax-im]

I currently have a Jardine 4 to 1 that was black but now is grey due to paint burnoff...I love the sounds it makes however I am less impressed with its lousy ground clearence especially on right hand turns and modest lean angles...plus the way the collector pipe fits to the header pipes is really CHEAP...I've noticed that its not a good seal and it leaks where the 2 pcs. join. I would love a Kerker or Supertrapp based exhaust in SS. Since MAC is all thats currently made for our bikes...I would like to see some new alternatives.

[mro]

but chrome would be more original especially if you are restoring a bike.

A lot to be said for a chrome replica, XSpecially if it has the cross over and same flow/back pressure. (No tuning issues ) AND the stock XShaust looks very nice (best, the specials) to me

Biggest thing will be price as guys like me might be financially challenged.
Look here to see how far some will go to get a nice Xshaust with little mulaw

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24838

mro

[XJOK2PLAY]

MeatTooth,
I was wondering if you have any way to possibly duplicate the collector itself?? My collectors on my stock XJ headpipes are getting way thin... and I figure I'm not alone. Probably a lot of us here with this problem. The chrome on my headpipes still look great, (No Blueing,) but I keep developing cracks from the worn out collectors where my slip ons attach. They have a dish area in the middle of the collector, and thin out (flatten) for clearance, which is the challenge.
I'm in the Tulsa area.

[crazy steve]

What would people prefer? Chrome exhaust or polished stainless steel?

Stainless has it's good points, but long-term appearance ain't one of them. I've got a polished Supertrap that I ran for a bit on one of my Sportsters and the pipes discolor much more than do chrome ones (see Mad Dog Doug's 'before cleaning' pic for a typical SS exhaust after some use). But they don't rust, and you can repolish 'em.

The other thing to watch for is cracking; SS will heat-harden, and cracks/breaks aren't uncommon.

'78E original owner

[MeatTooth]

Thanks for all the input guys. I currently have a few employees wanting to venture down the path of motorcycle exhaust products with me, but I'll have to do my bike then try to convice the boss/Grandfather there's a market for it. The latest craze seems to be guys putting big rig stacks on their diesel pickup trucks!?!?!?! They cut a hole in the bed then run two 4 inch stacks straight up behind their cab. If he would allow that....some motorcycle parts should be considered.

I'm going to be using my bike as the first test subject to try to make a custom exhaust. We have a automatic mandrel bender that will scan an existing pipe and then duplicate the bend pattern. The unknowns at this point are the double wall, and the flattened out crossover/collector, and the header flanges that attach to the jugs. If our current tooling will work on those items then the recreation of the header would be pretty easy.

The plan for my personal bike was to try make a variation of the campbell x pipe. Since we already make x pipes for the automotive side that's one less thing I would have to do, and then I would use our 12 inch long 3 inch case turbopack mufflers. I'm not sure what they would sound like on a bike but they have a really nice rumble/growl on a car.

I currently have this exhaust



I think they are the JC whitney brand. I'm going to try to copy them first since I have them and see where that goes. ( no comments on the paint.... I took to many painkillers one restless night and there you go I was just playing with some rattle cans until my new tank shows up)

I'll keep everyone posted on any progress made on the exhaust.

[trbig]

and the pipes discolor much more than do chrome ones

Shouldn't be a problem if you can get a double walled pipe.


Tod