Exhaust balance pipe

[Irish GTR]

Maybe somebody can answer this long winded question..

1996 GTR1000, stock bike with 13000 miles when I purchased last year has exhaust balance pipe(the one that runs under the motor ) cut and blocked off at each side  (the cans are the stock european restricted outlet of just 15mm diameter) I have an older GTR also with aftermarket Motad cans (30mm diameter outlet)which has the balance pipe in place and seemed to be a much stronger and louder motor . I am aware also of the later restricted carb tops  in the euro version and have switched the unrestricted ones from from the older bike to the newer one.The narrow 15mm bore exhaust will have to be reworked somehow to allow things 'breathe' more easily.
I have  Steves 2 minute mod done on the 96 and would like to get the jetting and exhaust sprocket done shortly also as I live mostly in the 3000 to 6000 rpm neighbourhood.
The question is.. what effect does the blocked off balance pipe have on the motor/carbs??

[Steve in Sunny Fla]

typically, a balance tube helps make netter low to midrange tirque. Removing it was a mistake. Sometimes folks think they're helping performance when they're actually hurting it. Jim Snyders exhaust uses a large crossover pipe and dumps all 4 primaries out on muffler, and makes about 8# better torque than the stock exhaust at 5000 rpm, mostly becaue of the tube length retention. long is good for torque. steve

[AZBiker]

I used to ride a 2001 XLH883. 

The two best XL systems on the dyno were the Supertrapp 2-2 high pipes and, believe it or not, modified STOCK headers with Cycle Shack slip-ons. 

Eliminating the crossover pipe hurt midrange power and didn't help in peak power either.  The modification was making sure the flow wasn't restricted from the ehaust port--the crossover on a rigid-mount XL is a few inches away from the head.  In order to save money H-D quit "fishmouthing" the crossover pipe where it meets the header, just leaving the square end of the crossover pipe protruding into the headpipe.  Removing this protrusion helped a LOT.  On my bike, the front headpipe had about 1" of crossover pipe intruding--ouch.

IMHO, the reason people think removing the crossover makes more power is that it --seems-- to pull harder in the upper rev range, because it's pulling less in the midrange.  Not a good mod.   

[Irish GTR]

Thanks,
I will have to sort this somehow, as well as increasing the exhaust outlet,

[connie_rider]

Irish, what did you decide on the exhaust outlet and crossover pipe?
Suspect the best option would be to buy a used set on Ebay. Can you buy and install mufflers off of bikes with the larger outlet? (Is it legal to do so)?
But shipping costs may be a BIG factor?

Ride safe, Ted

[Irish GTR]

Hi connie_rider,
I am going to increase muffler outlet as described on the aussie gtr forum, http://gtr1000.yuku.com/topic/957/Westies-Wrench-Session?page=2
I may also have a go at a  re-install of a balance pipe if no improvement is gained from the above, the blocked off ends are just long enough to open up and weld a length of pipe.

Dan.

[connie_rider]

Dan, go for it. Sounds ike a good way to handle it. Let us know your results.
As it happens, I recently cut off my crossover pipe while modifying the exhaust system into a 4 into 1 set up.
I'm attempting to build a 4 into 1 with new bigger head pipes and the muffler on the left side.
Turned into a bigger project than I though it would be!!

Unfortunately I cut my crossover into pieces. But I do have the section that the gasket is installed on.
If you decide to add a crossover, let me know and I could send it to you.

Ride safe, Ted