Handmade Exhausts and Consequences

[GoodFoodGuyd]

Dear Points of View

Ok, time has come for me to ask the question that has been nagging at the back of my mind for a wee while now.
I would dearly love to replace the stock exhaust on my 05 VA5 Vara. I have approached Longlife Exhausts concerning a hand built, stainless steel system. It would be a complete system with custom tail pipes and a note to suit.
What I need to know is, is there any precautions regarding the mapping of the fuel injection system to suit the new exhaust or do we think it would be a simple case of pug and play?.
If the mapping is affected and it then requires tuning, who do I turn to?
Would/ should a power commander be needed/ purchased?.
Would/ should a better air filter be needed/ purchased?
As the exhaust is not something I have taken a lot of notice of or paid any attention to in the 3 1/2 years I have had the bike I don't even know or am aware of it having a cat. Does it? If it is removed as a result of the new system will the old system have to be in place for it to pass the next M.O.T.

A Confused Greg

[Dee Duble Yuh]

The FI would almost certainly have to be remapped, and that usually means a Power Commander. I believe Commanders come with suggested settings for common replacement exhausts, but for a custom-made exhaust the Commander would have to be set up on a dyno.

Personally I'd retain the original filter. I've heard lots of reports that after-market, free-flow ones do not protect the engine properly and you get accellerated engine wear. If you decide to use one, ensure it's fitted before setting up on the dyno; continue to use it afterwards or pay for another dyno session!

Can't speak definitively about catalysts sorry. I'm pretty sure a VA5 has one, but also pretty sure it's not a legal requirement for it to remain on. Can anyone else confirm?

(And I think I've asked this before: are you sure it's a VA5? Mine was registered by the same dealer at the same time and it's a VA4. Check the log book.)

[GoodFoodGuyd]

The FI would almost certainly have to be remapped, and that usually means a Power Commander. I believe Commanders come with suggested settings for common replacement exhausts, but for a custom-made exhaust the Commander would have to be set up on a dyno.

Personally I'd retain the original filter. I've heard lots of reports that after-market, free-flow ones do not protect the engine properly and you get accellerated engine wear. If you decide to use one, ensure it's fitted before setting up on the dyno; continue to use it afterwards or pay for another dyno session!

Can't speak definitively about catalysts sorry. I'm pretty sure a VA5 has one, but also pretty sure it's not a legal requirement for it to remain on. Can anyone else confirm?

(And I think I've asked this before: are you sure it's a VA5? Mine was registered by the same dealer at the same time and it's a VA4. Check the log book.)

Thanks for that Dave, I'll keep an eye out for a confirmation answer regarding cat and legislation concerning whether it needs to be there.

BTW...............
WHOOPS It is a VA4, easy mistake

[D2NY R]

Sod the " hand built, costom made, Longlife" exhaust
Get some nice Ally Remus Cans, Last longer than you will have the bike and sound GREAT....i have them.

[GoodFoodGuyd]

Sod the " hand built, costom made, Longlife" exhaust
Get some nice Ally Remus Cans, Last longer than you will have the bike and sound GREAT....i have them.

I do believe those are just slip on end cans??????
This would be a complete system. And with Remus quoting anything between £420 and £600 for a pair of cans alone I think it is a no brainer. Remus also won't provide a life time guarantee for their cans, Long life will as long as you remain the owner of the bike they will honour any repairs to the system free of charge

[jasonbc]

Dear Points of View

Ok, time has come for me to ask the question that has been nagging at the back of my mind for a wee while now.
I would dearly love to replace the stock exhaust on my 05 VA5 Vara. I have approached Longlife Exhausts concerning a hand built, stainless steel system. It would be a complete system with custom tail pipes and a note to suit.
What I need to know is, is there any precautions regarding the mapping of the fuel injection system to suit the new exhaust or do we think it would be a simple case of pug and play?.
If the mapping is affected and it then requires tuning, who do I turn to?
Would/ should a power commander be needed/ purchased?.
Would/ should a better air filter be needed/ purchased?
As the exhaust is not something I have taken a lot of notice of or paid any attention to in the 3 1/2 years I have had the bike I don't even know or am aware of it having a cat. Does it? If it is removed as a result of the new system will the old system have to be in place for it to pass the next M.O.T.

A Confused Greg

You would need a power commander then anybody with a dyno can set the bike's fueling up difficult to find a good one i think. Fueling can be adjusted at every 250rpm through the complete rev range so you should have nign on perfect mixture all the way through you may even gain a few horses if the guy is good and knows his stuff. It does have a cat (99% sure) but if fuelling is set up from optimum to lean emmissons would be very low anyway as for the mot i wouldn't worry about it most of the gs brigade take there y peice out and replace with a remus straight through pipe and they all get MOT's, but technically shouldn't. Be carefull about the quality ofthe system you get, my firestorm had an ART Carbon Fibre race system on it and it shook that to death in about 6months. I know it's a different bike but the engines the same old lump

[GoodFoodGuyd]

You would need a power commander then anybody with a dyno can set the bike's fueling up difficult to find a good one i think. Fueling can be adjusted at every 250rpm through the complete rev range so you should have nign on perfect mixture all the way through you may even gain a few horses if the guy is good and knows his stuff. It does have a cat (99% sure) but if fuelling is set up from optimum to lean emmissons would be very low anyway as for the mot i wouldn't worry about it most of the gs brigade take there y peice out and replace with a remus straight through pipe and they all get MOT's, but technically shouldn't. Be carefull about the quality ofthe system you get, my firestorm had an ART Carbon Fibre race system on it and it shook that to death in about 6months. I know it's a different bike but the engines the same old lump

Thanks jas,
Constructive advise there. My primary concern is/ was the mapping issue but you have just thrown the vibration issue into the basket and that indeed will be an issue if the right system is not sought. I have however not heard of any issues with Long life regarding vibration nor have I experienced any problems regarding vibration on all the systems I have had fitted to cars I have owned but will bring it up when I meet with them to discuss price. As I want to make sure this is done right I will source a good Dyno service in my area and before I do anything I'll make sure that they are up the job as most Dyno stations locally only deal with cars. JEBS Performance Engineering http://www.jebsuk.com/index.php have very good pedigree but it is the logistic's of getting the bike to them that is my only concern but if I want to do this properly then I must be prepared to travel.
Where the Cat issue is concerned I am pretty sure that I can find a garage locally that has Stevie Wonder doing the M.O.T.'s . I have got round that issue previously with the noise issue on cars and just between me and the gate post I am pretty sure it can be " sorted " without too much trouble.
Thanks once again for the constructive advise.
Regards
Greg

[D2NY R]

Sorry Greg,
i must opologise for my "non constructive advice".
Yes they are just cans and yes they are pricey, very satisfiying to know the previous owner absorbed the cost of mine!
But on the Lifetime Gaurantee thing, proving they are made with a decent grade of Stainless Steel ie. 316, wot would you expect to need repairing over time?

Sorry once again, dont mean to offend anyone,
Dan

[GoodFoodGuyd]

Sod the " hand built, costom made, Longlife" exhaust
Get some nice Ally Remus Cans, Last longer than you will have the bike and sound GREAT....i have them.

That would appear to be an opinion not advise.

This is the constructive advise I was grateful for

Be careful about the quality of the system you get, my fire-storm had an ART Carbon Fibre race system on it and it shook that to death in about 6months. I know it's a different bike but the engines the same old lump

And bearing that advise in mind it was the vibration issue that would possibly result in repair's to the system as stress fractures would possibly develop initially as the bike is put through it's paces and any weaknesses in welds would become apparent. The grade of steel is indeed grade 304. It is the most commonly used steel for exhausts and by far the best for keeping the cost of the manufacturing of the exhaust within an acceptable range.

Type 316—the second most common grade (after 304); for food and surgical stainless steel uses; alloy addition of molybdenum prevents specific forms of corrosion. It is also known as marine grade stainless steel due to its increased resistance to chloride corrosion compared to type 304. 316 is often used for building nuclear reprocessing plants.

[D2NY R]

Just out of interest how much will this longlife system cost?