Cat

[DougT]

Has anybody tried just gutting their stock cat. converter. Rather than spending 5 big ones for basically the same thing? Thanks.

[Stuff2C]

Try it and let me know how it works out. :) I did it on a car one time with no adverse affects. I was going to wait until my warrany expires to do my 1200GS. I'm with you on the $500+ samething theory.

[syeager]

To keep it lighter, or to change the sound of the exhaust?

After a coupla combinations of expensive exhaust items (I bought my GS with a Two Brothers system already on it), I picked up a brand new cat from a local guy with all the associated bits for $45. That's like a $950 savings.

Kragen had exhaust tips available for $3.95.

So, for $47.95 (plus tax at Kragen), I have a brand new, lighter-weight exhaust system. My better half loves the sound and loves the fact that it cost practically nothing. I appreciate the look of the bike with the rear wheel open and accessible and am looking forward to running whatever luggage I wish without having to account for the muffler.

That's my story - try just taking your muffler off, ride around like that for a while, and spend your extra money on riding goodies and/or beer.

[MechanicSavant]

Iwent to the local automotive exh. fabricator /pipe bender ,picked out some 1 3/4 in tubing and had him bend me 3 45deg. elbows after i trimed 2 of them to the right length i had the ends expanded to1 3/4 i.d. this fits right over the stock header pipes...the 3rd elbow goes straight the muffler ...to connect these 3 pipes I got a piece of 3 1/2 tubing about 16 in.long caped the ends & carfully cut holes in the larger tube to accept the 3 smaller tubes ...2 in at one end one out at the other end the exh. guy also sold me an oxy.sensor bung which I fitted into the front cap of the large tube..It's about 15lbs lighter than the stock cat fits fine and I'll be able to give you a seat of the pants dyno reading if it ever stops snowing here ...My primary reasons doing this are to.reduce heat ,lighten the bike,& save the cat..they don't last forever ...as this is my first test mule I used std. steel exh.tubing & the bends are std.crush bends , not mandrel ,after mig welding it together I water tested for leaks,non found so it got a coat of high temp silver paint & installed total cost $60 not including my time about 6-8 hrs ...I'm not looking for more noise but a couple of GS owners said they got better low end removing the cat & using stock muffler ...I've also swiss cheesed the intake snorkel on the air cleaner housing along the bottom edge w/ a uni bit if I wasn't so computer challenged I'd post pic's...P.S. this is on an 02 R1150r... :type

[DougT]

These are really great ideas. I was going to try and make my own but the 1 3/4" stainless tubing is almost impossible to find. Never thought about painted steel though. It must be pretty loud going the no muffler route. I want to keep it stealthy for now so I can travel briskly without advertising my whereabouts to everyone. But finding a used cat for peanuts and experimenting with gutting that will be the ticket for now I think. Thanks and I will keep you posted.
Doug

[syeager]

You might be very pleasantly surprised by how quiet the no-muffler route actually is, Doug. I can't speak specifically to the R, but on my GS it's very nice.

Try pulling that can off in the garage and fire up the beast. Take ya ten minutes either way.

[DougT]

Really? I will try it as soon as my header pipes get back from jet hot. Is that with the original cat in place? My feelings tell me if it is indeed not too loud that the cat may be acting as a muffling device also. I struck out on gutting the cat. I will be making my own y pipe though. Went to a custom exhaust shop and they will hook me up with some bends for about 20 bucks. If it were you, would you leave the cat or leave the muffler or both?

[syeager]

This is with the original (or second hand, in my case) cat in place... the cat indeed acts as a muffler, and in the parts fiche it's actually called something muffler-esque instead of something converter-esque.

Once your head pipes are back, get 'em in place and clamp the cat up behind. Then go for a hundred-mile-or-so run and see what you think.

You have to keep either the cat with a stubby pipe (or long pipe, if you like, but that makes things louder) or a Y pipe with a muffler - one or the other. Otherwise it really is too loud.

This has been discussed a LOT over at ADVRider, where many of us just want a functional exhaust with no left-bag size restrictions. Take a look at one of the longer threads at <a href="http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42469&highlight=1150+muffler">http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42469&highlight=1150+muffler</a>.

[MechanicSavant]

Another advantage to eliminating the cat is it allows you to use leaded fuel , like texaco sky chief it's 100 octane low lead and has good stability cause it's blended for the aircraft crowd . :brow

[screamin eagle]

Another advantage to eliminating the cat is it allows you to use leaded fuel , like texaco sky chief it's 100 octane low lead and has good stability cause it's blended for the aircraft crowd . :brow

Don't you have to get that at an airport? I never saw 100LL in a regular gas station and unless you know the FBO (aviation fuel provider) they won't punp into a street vehicle. Maybe I am wrong. OOOOOH it hurts to say that.

[lorazepam]

You could always spend about 6 bucks a gallon for turbo blue racing fuel too. Might as well waste a lot of money while you are at it. Running those fuels in these motors will not improve the performance.

[MechanicSavant]

Yup I go to my local airport w/gas can in hand n tell the nice person there it's fer my vehicle at home...haven't run it in my oilhead yet but my 85 k-bike loved it ,why it is the only way I could get it to hit the rev limiter in 5th gear ...I never used much of it just 1 or 2 tanks a yr.,kinda like going out for a surf & turf dinner w/extra butter for the lobsta ,yeah I know this is really loaded w/fat n cholesterol but once in a blue moon don't it taste great...ps . Eat dessert first life is uncertain!!!! :doh

[MotoTrex]

Next time I go out for dinner, I'm load'n the Volvo up with Cam 2, ordering dessert first and I'm gonna dip it in butter. Wash it down with a Martini, too.

Yeah, Baby.

[lorazepam]

Dont forget to power brake that volvo so you can leave some gnarly tire smoke in the restaurant parking lot. :burnout

[screamin eagle]

Yup I go to my local airport w/gas can in hand n tell the nice person there it's fer my vehicle at home...haven't run it in my oilhead yet but my 85 k-bike loved it ,why it is the only way I could get it to hit the rev limiter in 5th gear ...I never used much of it just 1 or 2 tanks a yr.,kinda like going out for a surf & turf dinner w/extra butter for the lobsta ,yeah I know this is really loaded w/fat n cholesterol but once in a blue moon don't it taste great...ps . Eat dessert first life is uncertain!!!! :doh


I used to fly a helo out of Latrobe apt. I had a 1980 Harley and I knew all the linemen so I just rode my bike to the apt and they would fill it. Then the FBO hired a woman who was in charge of the linemen. She wouldn't let them fill the bike at the apt but one of the guys said he would fill a can if I brought it in. I never did because I didn't want to cause him any trouble.

[MechanicSavant]

Enough of the glacier has melted & the mud has firmed up allowing me to get out for a few shake down runs after my winters puttering in the shed ..after doing away w/the cat the bike seems to pull harder from the 2k-2500 range on up..No I dont have dyno #'s as I'm too cheap!!!I used a stop watch & a 1.5 mi, hill...very unscietific I know ,but like I said I'm cheap...
On the noise issue the bike doesn't sound appreciably louder just a bit more throaty , kinda like someone turned up the bass w/o touching the volume control , once again very unscientific , see above disclaimer...
On the weight issue , I kinda snickered when someone mentioned that you'll never notice a 15-20 lb. weight savings...No kiddin , ya missed the point!!!!why do trucks (real trucks) have fiberglass noses,aluminum cabs&wheels????Because reducing vehicle weight = increased load cap. for a given GVWR...
While I was at it I took the opp. to lower the muffler & now have a full size left bag now, w/more capacity & increased load capacity I've got room for more "stuff"...maybe even one of them 2-stroke blenders I've heard so many good things about!!!! :drink

[DougT]

I got my pipes back from jet-hot the other day and installed them. My bike looks brand new! I don't care what anybody says about burnt up blue pipes adding character, these pipes look great! And for only 180.00 bucks! Hats off to jet-hot. They do quality work. And lets face it. Pipes are a very important factor in the appearance of any bike. I have to get a picture and post it. You all will be very impressed.