exhaust fitament question

[bpguitarbiker]

I have seen where a VFR muffler can be fitted to a R1100S. My question is how can it be determined if a muffler from other bikes would work on my R1100R? (being that a used can is cheap and easy to come by from various bikes vs a new aftermarket) Also, I'd like to eliminate the weight of the catalytic convertor, so why could I not simply have a local shop bend a pipe for me to replace the cat and line up for a replacement can? Has anyone fitted other bike manufacturers mufflers? Thanks

[Tony_K]

so why could I not simply have a local shop bend a pipe for me to replace the cat and line up for a replacement can?

 

So where did you get this idea you can't?

 

You can do whatever you would like just make sure you have to sensor bung installed while they are at it.

 

And the reason you don't see this done more often... Well, this is a BMW forum not a Harley forum.

[Ken H.]

so why could I not simply have a local shop bend a pipe for me to replace the cat and line up for a replacement can?

Quite pipes saves rights.

[ShovelStrokeEd]

The fitment of a VFR muffler is pretty simple on an R1100R and results in very little, if any, more noise. The thing is heavy though so don't expect much in the way of weight savings.

 

There are a number of after market exhaust systems available, some with and some without a cat eliminator pipe. Generic exhaust cans from folks like Yoshimura, Laser, Akropovic, and many others are also available and usually are a good deal lighter in weight than either the VFR or the BMW muffler. In my opinion, the sound resulting is not particularly pleasing. The modern boxer engine is somewhat flatulent in tone and temper.

 

I'm kinda with Ken on this although I fitted an aftermarket pipe to my 1100S when I had it. Noise for noise sake is not my thing and eliminating the cat just makes the bike pollute more, something none of us need.

[T__]

 

bpguitarbiker, yes, the VFR muffler has been fitted to about all motorcycles out there at one time or another.. Not sure what you will gain by going that way as the cat converter isn’t that heavy & it is very low in the chassis..

 

One on the better things I have seen done on the cheap is to leave the cat in place then remove the very heavy factory muffler & install a straight pipe where the stock muffler was.. That removes the higher & L/H side weight of the stock or even the VFR muffler,, allows the stock cat to remain operational,, & actually isn’t that much louder.. Even has a somewhat decent sound to it..

 

The stock cat is probably less restrictive than the VFR muffler (cats are straight through) but does a fairly good job of removing obnoxious engine noise while leaving a slight growl at heavy throttle..

 

 

Twisty

 

 

[Unhofliche_Gesundheit]

are you intending to use modified bike on the street?

 

are you looking for cost saving or performance gain?

 

i'm thinking yes to all of the above. while i cant advise on performance bang for the buck i can say you do typically get what you pay for and - here is the point of the post: if you are going on the street you may be mindful of attracting the negative attention of LEOs.

i might be overly risk averse but this would be a factor for me.

 

cops will see your short pipe and hear your louder exhaust and may stop you for a second look, send you for testing, look over your papers, etc. if you enjoy that well ok, i dont. if they launch a campaign like they did here last summer they will be looking to hit there numbers... i myself have engough to worry about without having to keep eyes open for cops so i know to back off the throttle or not show them my left side...

 

one of the nice things imho about the beemer is the cat and the quiet. my neighbor expressed delight that the bike was not an obnoxious nose maker. as for the cat -ShovelstrokeEd said it well but perhaps even a tad understated with "makes the bike pollute more, something none of us need"

 

 

[bpguitarbiker]

Wow! The question was about the fitament of a exhaust, not my lifestyle. I appreciate the facts about what will fit, what will be gained and lost, but the assumptions are a bit much. Maybe I should have clarified that I like my bike quiet, but the stock can sticks up high, and appears to weigh a lot more than others. I didn't think elimating the cat would be that pollutive as I ride other bikes that have none -- and it is a 2cyl after all. I also figured the cat weighed a fair amount - thanks for clarifying. Good to know that the VFR is not a weight savings. (I guess I got what I paid for.)

[sdpc2]

I have often thought that i would like to eliminate the CAT on my RT, mainly because i believe that the heat that it generates is bad for the tranny, that sits RIGHT above it. I would keep the stock can though.

 

YMMV

[Ken H.]

I have often thought that i would like to eliminate the CAT on my RT, mainly because i believe that the heat that it generates is bad for the tranny, that sits RIGHT above it.

There has never been even the slightest evidence that heat from the catalytic converter affects the transmission in any way on a boxer.