I had every intention on buying the race Big gun pipe, UNTIL I asked
this list and some other folks about it and decided that although I
do like loud, I don't want ridiculous either. Then I found out about
the cans falling apart and the packing blowing out.
I chose the Pro Duro Race version and here is my thoughts on it after
4500 miles in 3 months time:
1. When I got it and opened it up, I was very very pleased with the
way it looked. (see mrmoose's pics under the photo link on the lists
main page) Not only did the pipe look great in all its shiny
stainless steel glory, but the hardware was top notch too. As a nice
touch, they also send you a MUCH beefier heat shield to mount on your
plastic to replace the stock thin one. Both the metal foil and the
soft body of their heat sheild is stiffer and thicker.
2. When I first fired up the bike in the garage, I could not believe
how quiet is was just sitting there idling. You can just look right
through the can, but it just sits there, softly loping along with a
single cylinder putt putt putt putt.
3. When I pushed it outside and gave the throttle some little blips,
to maybe around 2200-2500 rpm, the motor gave out a little louder
BARK that got me thinking "ahhhhh, this sounds nice".
4. When I gave it a good wide open whack to about 4500 rpm +, it has
a much meaner bark and growl that got my soul stirring, but again, I
could not believe just how tame the sound was. After riding it for a
while and getting used to it I now feel that the sound is just
perfect. You can actually "adjust the sound" with the throttle as you
ride. Its loud enough to hear it when I'm going down the road with
earplugs in and fullface on, to hear a nice bark when I blip the
throttle, and sounds mean and killer when I open it up all the way
either parked or when I'm slamming all the gears to redline flying
through the twisties. But its never really loud. Its also quiet
enough at idle (not much louder than stock), at cruising speeds for
miles and miles (you don't get tired of hearing it at all), and you
can easily "sneek" around your neighbors even if its at 1:00 in the
morning, just don't give it the gas hard and you will not be much
louder than stock.
In 4500 miles, I think it got just a touch louder while it settled
into the bike and broke in and then that was it. It has not changed
tone or note or loudness at all. It has not vibrated loose and it
still looks just as good as new. The "s" shaped piece that mounts
between the tail pipe and header has turned gold a bit, but you can't
really see that part much anyway. There are just 2 cheap pieces
that you need to buy in addition to the exhaust, and they are
mentioned to you in the very thorough instructions that someone has
posted online. (I forget who did them, but just ask the list)
As far as power gains go, like someone already mentioned, its a KLR.
Spend big bucks in the suspension to go fast as hell in the turns,
beating every sportbike rider you come up on, and scraping the side
soles of your boots off,(like I do often now) and you will think you
have a crapload of power, and so will everyone else. (I have people
come up to me and ask "what the heck I did to my motor" when they try
to keep up with me in the twisties)
I got some power increases, however they were not much, but it is
noticable and I like it. I did take alot of time adjusting the
mixture to get it right, and I am still working on it a little at a
time. Thats one of the reasons I like the Pro Duro so much, because
after spending so much time and energy to get it all just perfect, I
want it to stay that way, and if your exhaust is blowing out and
falling apart, your mixture will be changing all the time, for the
worse.
With the Pro Duro race, K&N filter, airbox "L" cutout, screen removed
mixture screw out 2 turns, K&N jet kit with 150 main(I am going to
try the 145 main next, it keeps getting better the more I lean it out
from what K&N says to do)and the clip in the number 2 position, I am
getting 49 mpg when I ride it hard hard hard in the twisties, and 51
mpg just cruising down the freeway and doing errands and such. I do
not go on reserve till 245 miles! and can go 300 miles on 1 tank!
I love it.
MrMoose
A8 (Barbie and Ken special)
