Changing mufflers on 82 XJ1100J

[tmon58]

Ok guys, I want to get rid of the megaphone mufflers on my XJ
What is the best preforming and looking replacement option?
I have heard that the HD Fatboy mufflers will change out but will I have to modify any bracket or anything. Kinda mechanically challanged here

[crazy steve]

'Best performing' will be what you have if it's in good condition. There isn't any sort of 'muffler swap' that will give you better performance. And if I'm not mistaken, you'll have to cut up your stock exhaust to adapt any non-stock mufflers to it as it's a welded assembly. That's something almost no one here would do to a good OEM system as they're so hard to find (and expensive when you do).

'Better looking'.... well, that's an entirely personal thing. Again, you won't find anything that's a bolt-on deal in mufflers only; whatever you do, there'll be some fabricating involved. If you like the 'harley look', MAC still sells a complete aftermarket system for about $400 that can be had with 'taper tip' mufflers similar to HD units, but performance and quality will suffer.

Yamaha spent a lot of time and money on the XS/XJ exhaust to get it right and did a great job. There's a few 4 into 1 systems that offer a bit more performance, but all are out of production and will only be found on the used market in varying condition...

'78E original owner

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Oem

I 2nd that Crazy Steve. There is a post on here somewhere that shows a OEM exaust cutaway. When you see the $$ and enginering tha yamaha did to tune these pipes to their motors it tells the story. I took off a set of mac 4 into 2s and put on the OEM pipes and it cleared up a host of things from poping to running hot. If you do change the pipes re tune your motor as it will change many things, back pressure, carb sync and sometimes carb jetting. There is a reason a good set of the used OEM pipes bring $500.00+ on ebay

[MindWebs]

i also agree..

yes it's aged and old in appearance.
but hands down it will be the easiest way to go.

if you swap to HD muffs you WILL have to rejet.
Not to mention that yes you have to cut off the original muffs and weld
extentions on to the piping then build adjustable restrictors for the pipes
then make brackets for the HD muffs.

no it's not easy or "cheap".

sorry...
I just finished this on my bike because the muffs where rotted out and big holes.

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

MindWeb

Thanks, sounds like you spent $$ and hours on pipes, not saying nothing will wotk, not even saying nothing else might given you a HP or two. Just saying it is hard (if not impossabul) to one up Yamaha on there own exaust for their own motors?

[Poprock]

My SG has HD Sportster muffs on it. Had a shop fab some adapters and brackets for the rear mounts. Got 20000 miles on 'em, no problem. Running stock jetting, no cross over. Sounds good, makes lots of power. A friend has a similar set up on a F model with Fat Boy muffs. Longer ones look nicer, sound the same. He's picky, and his runs well too. Usta be cheap or free, but now you pay some for them. They are well made muffs. JC Wippme is another option.

[Axel]

Well...

XJ1100 mufflers do come off as separate pieces but are joined with gaskets into flanges on the header pipe . When you attempt to use these flanges with aftermarket mufflers they are hard to seal and structurally flimsy . Stock mufflers have a crossover tube contributing to the structure . It is also joined with a gasket . I got tired of trying to keep slip-ons on my bike from leaking and purchased a stock system from ebay front to back . I'm not sure what to think of the megaphones but ...I am trying to blow the baffles out of the system I have on now while I think about it . I must admit I wonder if it will run smoother with a crossover functioning .

[MindWebs]

hang on...

I'm not saying it's cost prohibitive.
I'm just trying to say that it's not dirt cheap.

$8 each, $16 pipe extentions
$30-60 HD sporty Muffs
$15 size bigger pilot jets

$60-90 for sporty muffler setup

I'm sorry, i may have been a tad harsh on my previous post.
i've installed HD touring muffs on mine recently and have had to work out the issues.(royal pain in my .....)

the sporty muffs can be installed more reasonably, you'll have to colortune/ spark plug check but i think mine ran on the lean side with the sporty muffs

at least jump up 1 pilot and 1 or 2 main jets......

mine ran lean and i didn't like the pitch of sound at cruising speed so i had to
weld a washer in the end to change the tone.

pics..