Varadero Exhausts

[africajim]

Hi all, I fancy a set of after market pipes to save my new standard ones

Steve T, I believe you might still have your pipes from your last one? Fiona said she spoke to you in the local dealers on Monday? I've not got your number mate, also there's a few T's in the phone book! Ha ha!

Any how, the question is will my Vara adapt itself to the aftermarket pipes being an all singing EFI job? It has a lambda sensor and cat as it's a VA9 model. Has anyone tried after market pipes on a new model? Also, I've not paid much attention to the bike, is the cat in the original cans or under the bike somewhere? I know, I should really have a good look at it sometime and stop tearing around the countryside!

Oh, as a sideline, the tyres are almost done, can't believe it, 3000 miles and down to the last couple of mm. Well, any info gracefully accepted.

[Snaphappy]

Exhaust cat is under the bike separate from the end cans.

as for rest

[Steve T]

Steve T, I believe you might still have your pipes from your last one? Fiona said she spoke to you in the local dealers on Monday? I've not got your number mate, also there's a few T's in the phone book! Ha ha!

Hi Jim.

Yep, still got the Motad Venoms - the Mountie is eyeing one of them up for an @ that he's hoping to capture - the can looks like it will just slip onto the link pipe on the @.

I'll pm you my home number via the new Elgin Biker website.

[Dee Duble Yuh]

Since the originals are made from stainless steel, I wonder what you mean by "save my new standard ones"? Come time to resell the bike I doubt the buyer will pay much extra because the exhaust hasn't been used.

[africajim]

Thanks for the replies,

Snaphappy, I've not looked that closely to the exhaust as I've been too busy tearing around the countryside since I bought the bike! So thanks for the info mate, at least I know the cats are not in the cans.

Steve T, I've an @T possibly, a 2001 for around £1500 in black. Any how, I may be interested in your cans once I figure out if they'll fit. I've not been on the Elgin bikers site for over a month now due to issues which I'll discuss when I see you mate. I did get your e-mail from your work account with the number though, cheers mate.

Dee Duble Yuh, I would sell the bike with original pipes fitted and would prefer them to be clean and shiny, there's stainless and then there's stainless, after a couple of years I think the original pipes wouldn't be very pretty, also, apart from the weight saving, I would prefer a deeper sound from the bike, merely personal preference.

[Muzz]

Yep, agree with Africajim about the originals - I removed mine early doors for a pair of Leo Vinces and they're stored pristine in the garage loft.

I can vouch for the Leo Vinces - they were about £300, they sound great baffles in or out, they're about a quarter of what the originals weigh, and I've made no adjustments to anything: the FI sorts itself out.

Fitting was about an hour with a mechanically retarded mate (by his own admission), who nevertheless can lift heavy weights.

[africajim]

Next question, how much work is involved in changing the cans and link pipes? I'll have to go see Steve T over the weekend and see his pipes!

Hopefully not too much involved in changing them and should come off ok while still fresh and new?

[Steve T]

Hi Jim.

On the '99 version I had, the rear end plastics had to be stripped off to get to the rear pipe mounting points.

I'll e-mail you my address - beating a new kitchen into submission this weekend, so expext to be given a hammer and / or a stilsons on your arrival

Steve T

[africajim]

Oh well, hopefully an easy enough job,

As for the stilsons, I've plenty of them in my van!

Got your mail Steve, I'll try and pop round this weekend mate.

[africajim]

Thanks for all responses, I've been over to Steve T's today and came away with a set of Motad Venum road legal cans fitted!

It was quite a struggle to get the standard cans off as the Givi luggage bracketry gets in the way! A couple of hours work and a quick botch job to space out the link pipes due to no replacement seals but not undoable!

Thanks for the spanners Steve, also the makeshift spacers we made up to replace the proper seals!

The bike has a rumble about it now and echoes a bit off houses etc in town but it's not loud enough to be annoying, out of town I can't hear the pipes over the induction roar!. I think it feels more responsive at lower revs, seems to pull smoother from 2000rpm where it was lumpy below 3000 before but otherwise no big power gain to be felt. Sounds peachy though!

Cheers for that Steve.