Do aftermarket pipes/cans really do anything?

[Desolation Angel]

This question was brought up on another board.  Someone's theory being that a pipe is a pipe and a can is a can.  It's agreed that freeing up airflow and rejetting the carbs is beneficial, but that there's really no significant difference between stock and aftermarket pipes if the airflow and carbs are just adjusted.

What do you think?  Wasted effort buying a Holeshot?

I personally have no idea.

[Seanybiker]

I got a scorpion can for my yoke. and apart from the bike sounding like an aeroplane. There is a bit of extra poke mid range.

[Thief400]

I think that the manufactures are leaving less on the table for the aftermarket guys to improve upon now, back in the 80 and 90 you could get a nice power increase with a pipe and rejetting. But with the ever increasing power output now the OEM's systems are far better designed

[WEINERDOGBONE]

I think it depends on the bike. On an older technology engine like the B12's, there are gains to be made with jet kits and pipes as well as cams and other modifications.

In contrast, the Honda 919 could not be significantly improved with simple mods like a header. The engine has already been tuned to deliver much of what it is capable of in factory form.

There are people on this board who are alot smarter than me on engine tuning but I have given my basic opinion based on research and reading.

[smooth operator]

SportRider had a pipe camparo a yr.or 2 back. Used a couple different bikes and a whole pile of pipes w/ data on wt.and dyno readings. They do make a difference but how much gain and wt loss depends on (like Weinerdogbone stated) depends on what you have and what your adding. Fast Lary did a comparo on the Bandit,and the Hindle/Brock came out on top. I have a full exhaust on mine from Holeshot. It definatly makes a difference. A whole bunch lighter,and besides power gains,I get alot of complments on her song at the track.

[mike]

From Dale's site:

Dale designed the 1200 Bandit Holeshot Slip-on to be a true complete slip-on system by eliminating the heavy and restrictive elbow pipe and stock muffler. Just installing the Holeshot without jetting will produce a mind blowing 11 to 13 horsepower gain and up to 9 ft-lbs of arm stretching grunt on the early model 1200s. The late model 1200s pick up about 5 to 6 HP over the stock muffler with our slip-on. Installing one of Dale's jet kits will add another 5 to 7 HP and really make your B-12 run smooth with great power delivery.

Of course the Bandit is notorious for having a very restrictive stock exhaust setup.  I'd imagine other bikes might have a better  free flowing stock system, so the answer is yes and no.  Questtion not specific enough...

[Bob Holland]

about 2 years ago, I changed from a Holeshot complete exhaust on my 1246 Bandit, to a Hindle exhaust, and gained 2/10s of a second, and about 3 mph in the quarter.

[Desolation Angel]

about 2 years ago, I changed from a Holeshot complete exhaust on my 1246 Bandit, to a Hindle exhaust, and gained 2/10s of a second, and about 3 mph in the quarter.

Is this something noticeable in everyday, non-track, riding?

[gsxr400 racer]

pipes still make a difference in power and weight. worth every pennie.
cheers
jay

[Cruisecontrol]

Is this something noticeable in everyday, non-track, riding?

I have a Hindle full system and don't do any track riding and it made a huge difference to performance. Mind you I did have to rejet to fill the hole in the mid-range the new exhaust created, but I would recommend it in an instant.

[solman]

On my Bandit, I definitely noticed a difference in power when I added my high mount slip-on and Holeshot stage I jet kit.  I gained somewhere in the range of 9-11 hp and about 4 ft lbs of torque and dropped about 7 lbs.  Now on bikes like the new GSXR1000, that is a different story. I read a exhaust comparison article for GSXR1000's and it was a different story.  Looking at the dyno charts, Increase in power was small and I only noticed a difference in the top end and weight. Also they had a cost of $700 to $2000.  For cost to benefit ratio, I would be leary on doing an exhaust on the new Gixxers.  As for the Bandit, I feel that it was well worth it.

[Bob Holland]

Is this something noticeable in everyday, non-track, riding?

I don't ride hard on the street, but I can feel the difference.

[Seanybiker]

I rally around the town and city over here. thruth be told I rarely go by speed limit lol.  but I got the scorpion can on my bike. tis an english made supposedly hand made can. I do notice a difference but not much. I only got rid of factory can cos it massive.

[PaulVS]

No... aftermarket pipes don't make a difference.

Except for the 10+ HP on the dyno.  

[mike]

"and they save lives !"