Exhaust question

[ConnerNA]

OK so I am THINKING about the possibility of putting an aftermarket exhaust system on. What kind of MPG am I going to suffer with changing the exhaust? Is it different from full system vs slip-on. I really enjoy the higher gas mileage and don’t really want to change it.

[philipintexas]

I tried a Muzzys carbon-fiber replacement and didn't see any difference in MPG. It sounded so good that I found myself reving a little more just to hear the music. I found it a little too loud and went back to stock. I would like to find a replacement that is more subdued but still has a growl. You will need to block the air line from the airbox to stop the burble and popping on decel.

[Mighty]

Better flowing exhaust will increase MPG's.

[kennqc]

i like my carbon fiber two brothers.  i prefer the wide open sound but for those thqat want it quieter, you can customize the exhaust volume with a variety of inserts.

ken

[maxtog]

Better flowing exhaust will increase MPG's.

You are assuming the Kawasaki engineers are stupid, then.  There is nothing wrong with the "flow" of the exhaust through the stock muffler.  The stock muffler is designed for the best balance possible for engine performance, fuel economy, durability, and sound attenuation.  They did a good job, although some people think it is too big/heavy, I think it looks just fine.  And unless you are performing tons of other weight-related replacements and mods, the small amount weight doesn't matter much.

Also, it is mostly a myth that replacing a stock muffler will gain any power.  A modern, fuel-injected bike is designed to run with the factory muffler, and unless you also reprogram the fuel injection system, there will be little to no additional performance.  And even with, the change is still small.  It only really matters if you are changing a bunch of stuff too (injectors, ports, headers, FI programming, filters, etc).

Most peoples' motivation to replace the muffler is to create more noise pollution and/or to try and impress other people.

[stlheadake]

I have a carbon fiber Area P slip on which is PERFECT (for me) as far as looks, and sound are concerned.  It's not too loud, on or off the bike, looks way better than the potato launcher, and didn't break the bank.  I like the Two Brothers, but felt the duals and singles were a bit loud for my taste.

There has been absolutely no change in my mileage. 

YMMV!

[ConnerNA]

The Area P slip on sounds a LOT like what I am looking for....did you have to re-map, etc?

[Conrad]

The Area P slip on sounds a LOT like what I am looking for....did you have to re-map, etc?

I have the Area P carbon slip-on and love it. No remap needed. No change in MPG. A little louder at idle but not cruising. But when I crank my wrist and get on it, oh yeah, that's the stuff!

[Mighty]

You are assuming the Kawasaki engineers are stupid, then.  There is nothing wrong with the "flow" of the exhaust through the stock muffler.  The stock muffler is designed for the best balance possible for engine performance, fuel economy, durability, and sound attenuation.  They did a good job, although some people think it is too big/heavy, I think it looks just fine.  And unless you are performing tons of other weight-related replacements and mods, the small amount weight doesn't matter much.

#1. I am assuming nothing and going from experiance.  Every bike I have had (Well over 20) that I changed the exhaust to a better flowing system has improved MPG's including my 14.
#2. You are in the minority as far as looks go.  The vast majority find it to be an ugly, oversized heavy POS.
#3. The last 3 bikes I have had have all been FI.  All three have been improved performance wise with simply a slip on.  I have a Honda TRX700XX quad that is also FI and simply removing the restrictive baffle allows wheelies in 1-3 gears with no effort.  If that isn't increased performance I guess I'm clueless.

I do agree with you on the weight not making a difference. 

[Conrad]

Most peoples' motivation to replace the muffler is to create more noise pollution and/or to try and impress other people.

You really shouldn't presume to know what motivates 'most people' to go with an aftermarket exhaust on this forum, I think that you’d presume wrong.

[gflint]

I have been throwing wrenches at Kawasaki’s since 1970 both professionally and as a garage mechanic.  I do not assume the Kawi engineers are stupid, I know it for a fact.  Remember the Mach 3 that had no shift stop on first or fifth gear?  From 5th to 1st with the touch of the toe.  You really had to know how to count in those days.  Or the KX 500 with a flywheel the size of a Copenhagen can?  Touch the rear brake in the air and look forward to a dead engine landing.  There are lots of examples of dumb like this but Kawi usually gets things right.

Stock exhaust systems are a compromise.  They need be sound legal in every State, be as cheap as possible to manufacture and not hurt performance of an engine in stock tune.  Kawi could design an exhaust system that performs like the aftermarket systems (they do for their racing machines) but it would increase the price, change the power delivery and put a lot of aftermarket builders out of business. Increasing exhaust flow and fine tuning the back pressure will increase performance.  Tuning the exhaust for higher rpm will increase performance.  A good aftermarket exhaust will increase performance.  A bad one will decrease performance.  MPG is controlled by gas going in, not exhaust going out.  Gas going in is controlled by the thingy on the right end of the handle bars.  If you cruise along at 70 mph in 6th gear your mpg might be affected very slightly with a performance exhaust system since the engine is not working as hard to overcome air resistance.  I have found through the years that installing a performance exhaust has butchered the heck out of my mpg.  Not because of the design of the exhaust system, but because it is so much more fun to twist that thingy hard.

[Mighty]

gflint, you are right about mileage varying with how much you twist the trhottle.  The fun factor being turned up usually resorts in poorer milage because the driver can't control him/herself.  My point was keeping driving habits the same you can actual improve milage.  A good example is my 6.0 diesel.  Before an exhaust change and programmed tunes, it would get 17 on the hwy.  Now it gets 22.  But that's only when I can keep my foot out of it.  You can imagine the looks I get when a 10,000 lb 4x4 pickup truck puts a whoopin on a Mustang GT 
So needless to say, in most cases I get poorer fuel economy now 

[ZG]

You are assuming the Kawasaki engineers are stupid, then.  There is nothing wrong with the "flow" of the exhaust through the stock muffler.  The stock muffler is designed for the best balance possible for engine performance, fuel economy, durability, and sound attenuation.  They did a good job, although some people think it is too big/heavy, I think it looks just fine.  And unless you are performing tons of other weight-related replacements and mods, the small amount weight doesn't matter much.

Also, it is mostly a myth that replacing a stock muffler will gain any power.  A modern, fuel-injected bike is designed to run with the factory muffler, and unless you also reprogram the fuel injection system, there will be little to no additional performance.  And even with, the change is still small.  It only really matters if you are changing a bunch of stuff too (injectors, ports, headers, FI programming, filters, etc).

Most peoples' motivation to replace the muffler is to create more noise pollution and/or to try and impress other people.

    
 
Max the potato lover... 

[okxd45]

I agree with the OP on the area P slipon.  Being a newbie, what is a PC3 and mapped actually mean and how much?  I googled pc3 with no luck.  Please excuse my greenhorn-ish question.

[C1xRider]

I agree with the OP on the area P slipon.  Being a newbie, what is a PC3 and mapped actually mean and how much?  I googled pc3 with no luck.  Please excuse my greenhorn-ish question.

Power Commander III, but if you have a 2010 or newer you should look at the Power Commander V.  They modify the signals to the fuel injectors, allowing you to play with the EFI fuel maps.

[stevewfl]

If anyone tells you bet more and faster air/fuel flow will increase MPG.....  nevermind 

This is the first bike I've owned I did immediately put on a PC/BMC filter/FULL header/exhaust system.  The sole reason is I want max distance between fill-ups. All my other bikes have been raw track bikes or street fast bikes and fuel consumption was in no way a consideration. The faster they processed fuel/air, the faster they went. And that was the only objective.

I agree that exhaust systems can be put on that won't negatively impact mileage (or impact it very little). And thats the same proporation you'll gain in performance.  For example, you can map the PC for better fuel mileage, or put on a slip-on. But either way other than a cool sound at Starbucks and bike night, these solutions don't serve much purpose.

For a gain inperformance, plan to burn more fuel. Kawasaki already tuned the bike for max MPG, its not like the old hot rodder days where "manufacturers inefficiencies"  allowed the aftermarket to increase MPG AND performance with trick parts.

My old ZX14 gained a lot of performance per the dyno with a full system, filter, and PCIII. But geeze, it then got 26 MPG street riding  too LoL

[JS_racer]

newbie question, what maintenance is needed with an after market slip on ??  say like the VH cs1, or any of the others. how often does something need to be done with it?? do they need "repacking" or something. not sure what that is.
thanks for the time.

[stevewfl]

newbie question, what maintenance is needed with an after market slip on ??  say like the VH cs1, or any of the others. how often does something need to be done with it?? do they need "repacking" or something. not sure what that is.
thanks for the time.

I've never repacked an exhaust. Of course I've had some that probably could've used it....

Heads up, Area P is THE exhaust product for the C14/ZX14. Check 'em out here:  www.areapnolimits.com

[stlheadake]

newbie question, what maintenance is needed with an after market slip on ??  say like the VH cs1, or any of the others. how often does something need to be done with it?? do they need "repacking" or something. not sure what that is.
thanks for the time.

According to Area P you should NEVER have to repack theirs.  The only other maintenance is keeping the pipe waxed or polished. 

[Jeremy Mitchell]

According to Area P you should NEVER have to repack theirs.  The only other maintenance is keeping the pipe waxed or polished.

I appreciate it when my pipe is kept waxed and polished too.