Slip on vs Full system exhaust, pros/cons?

[kdvoth]

Hey y'all!
I'm looking for some perspective on switching out the potato launcher of an exhaust my 2008 overweight ninja has (c14). I'm leaning more towards a black widow set up, either just a slip on or changing out the full system. I'm aware that just the slip ok won't change the performance of the bike at all or very very little, whereas the full system has more performance changes. I do plan on getting thr ECU flashed afterwards once I can make up my damn mind, but I'm at a fork in the road.
My only interest for changing out the potato launcher is for the sound, I'm a huge fan of a louder bike/exhaust. I don't ride hard very often, I very rarely race others, the top speed i get to almost weekly is 110, normally no faster than that unless im out innthe country on good roads with my fiance and soon to be brother in law. But when I do I hangout where the most torque is (2nd-4th gear is my preference). I've seen on a couple fb groups that just the slip on and the ecu flash will do just fine depending on the riding done.
On the other hand my curiosity of what the full set up could give the C14 has me interested, paired with the flash? Dayyyuuuum 🤪

My interest right now is just finding a loud slip on exhaust and then a flash later (thinking about shoodaben), but I'm easily swayed. Thoughts and opinions on just the slipon with a tune or a full set up with a tune?

Thanks everyone,
Kenna

[maxtog]

Well, don't ask me   But if you did....

I am not at all a fan of loud.  The stock muffler and lead-pipe are not overly restrictive (they are well-designed/matched).  Unless you also increase the size of the exhaust manifold, it isn't likely to do very much in change of performance... just increase noise.  If you DO increase the manifold (possibly also the intake) AND reflash, then you will lose low-end torque for some additional high-end.  A correctly tuned C14 with stock exhaust system has more low-end power than the ZX14 all the way up to at least 7000RPM (and up to at least 6000RPM vs a ZX14R), which was intentional- more power where most tourers want it/use it, so that is essentially just undoing that tuning.

If you want performance, the reflash, alone, will do much, much, much, much more than anything you can do.  I consider it a must-have for the C14.

[Rubber_Snake]

I would get the tune first.  That will give you more noticeable performance and drivability gains as opposed to the slip on or full exhaust.  I have Shoodaben’s mountain runner and love it.  Much smoother throttle on response and “seat of the pants” performance.  After I had the ECU flashed, I swapped out the potato launcher for a Two Brothers Racing Black Series slip on.  Much lighter than OEM and much louder.  So loud, in fact, I added on of their silencers to tame the noise a bit. 

It just depends on what your goals are.  If you want to max everything out, you can go a full system with a racing flash, but that gets spendy.  For me, I was happy with the overall performance with the slip on and flash.  The 2bros is 18” long, and sounded sweet, but I ride with a group of Beemers for long trips.  The drone was driving me nuts on long days, so I mellowed out the noise level.  If you love loud, I know 2bros has a short “racing” slip on that probably screams.   

Basically, what Max said, but Max always brings more intelligence with receipts!