BMW R1100RSL dual exhaust

[Automag]

So, I bought a ‘95 RSL. I’ve always thought they were a great looking bike, and I liked the way it rode. It had under 30k miles, and ran nicely. It has dual exhausts... other than the visual symmetry of the duals on a twin, I’m seeing (and hearing) few advantages. Am I missing something, or was this an answer to a question no one asked?

[dirtrider]

5 hours ago, Automag said:

So, I bought a ‘95 RSL. I’ve always thought they were a great looking bike, and I liked the way it rode. It had under 30k miles, and ran nicely. It has dual exhausts... other than the visual symmetry of the duals on a twin, I’m seeing (and hearing) few advantages. Am I missing something, or was this an answer to a question no one asked?

 

 

Morning Automag

 

It is basically "an answer to a question no one usually asks", no power gain & more than likely a slight power loss as well as a tuning issue due to exhaust reversion concerns.

 

Having dual isolate pipes means the single o2 sensor will only read off of one cylinder so that is a problem as the Motronic can only process (1) o2 sensor input.  So if using independent pipes it really should have the o2 sensor input eliminated. (assuming a US motorcycle)

 

Unless very low pipes with small or limited (re loud)  mufflers then dual exhausts probably preclude using side panniers.

 

If you like the looks & it runs OK at light throttle then no big problems (but probably no performance gain & more than likely some performance loss, especially at lower throttle openings).

 

The (remote)  exhaust sound is probably not the best as  the BMW boxer is a 360° firing opposed twin & those have terrible firing pulses to make sound decent without a significant camshaft improvement & higher compression. On the BMW 360° boxer engine, you can easily make them loud, but it is 'very difficult' to make them sound pleasing  (especially at a distance)

 

There is a reason that you see very few BMW (2) cylinder boxers with aftermarket exhausts &  see even fewer with any sort of dual pipe conversions.  Now if it had a 90° engine configuration that would be a different story.

 

 

 

 

[Jerry Duke]

A friend had a set. It came with a performance chip. After 50+ years of two mufflers on airheads it looked right for the new oilhead, just wasn't worth the price I guess.

[Automag]

Dirtrider and Jerry Duke-

 

Thank you. The bike does actually go to a single pipe off the headers with an O2 sensor, and then Ys to a separate cans. The luggage does fortunately fit. I’d just never seen another set like this on an RS/RSL. I didn’t  think there was any advantage, so I guess someone just wanted to be different (though there is possibly a weight gain). Thank you again.

 

Auto

[dirtrider]

3 minutes ago, Automag said:

Dirtrider and Jerry Duke-

 

Thank you. The bike does actually go to a single pipe off the headers with an O2 sensor, and then Ys to a separate cans. The luggage does fortunately fit. I’d just never seen another set like this on an RS/RSL. I didn’t  think there was any advantage, so I guess someone just wanted to be different (though there is possibly a weight gain). Thank you again.

 

Auto

 

 

Afternoon Auto

 

With it having a Y pipe then that sounds like a decent system.

 

I would like to see what it looks like it on the bike, can you post a picture? 

[JamesW]

Dual exhaust on an RSL??  Now, I would like to see a picture of that.

[Automag]

Dirtrider and Jerry Duke-

 

Thank you. The bike does actually go to a single pipe off the headers with an O2 sensor, and then Ys to a separate cans. The luggage does fortunately fit. I’d just never seen another set like this on an RS/RSL. I didn’t  think there was any advantage, so I guess someone just wanted to be different (though there is possibly a weight gain). Thank you again.

[Automag]

It does make it easier to find in the vast sea of black RSLs...

[dirtrider]

24 minutes ago, Automag said:

Dirtrider and Jerry Duke-

 

Thank you. The bike does actually go to a single pipe off the headers with an O2 sensor, and then Ys to a separate cans. The luggage does fortunately fit. I’d just never seen another set like this on an RS/RSL. I didn’t  think there was any advantage, so I guess someone just wanted to be different (though there is possibly a weight gain). Thank you again.

 

 

 

 

Evening Auto

 

Pretty good looking system, seems to fit the look of the bike nicely.

 

[Automag]

Thank you.

[Paul De]

Thanks for sharing.  I've never seen that aftermarket kit and really like the look. A high quality kit for sure,

[Automag]

Thank you. It does appear to be well built- though it’s not labeled by the maker...makes me wonder if it might be one of the RB exhausts, or the copy version of the RB that someone supposedly made for a bit...dunno.

[Jerry Duke]

I believe it was Luftmeister. Here's about the only info I could find.

 

https://bikez.com/msgboard/msg.php?str_id=12309&type=bike&id=766

[Jerry Duke]

Here's one on Ebay.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1994-Bmw-R1100rs-Full-Exhaust-System-Headers-Pipe-Muffler-Luftmeister-/292539507365?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10

[Automag]

Jerry 

 

Thank you. I’ve been puzzled, as it is not labeled. I know RB originally built some stuff for Luftmeister...and this looks nicely made. Thank you again.

[Automag]

Mr. Behn at RB  responded to my query (I’d sent him an email with a photo). This exhaust is an RB exhaust, built for Luftmeister back in the day. Thank you all for the pointers. This board is populated by an amazing group of people.

[kcteun]

Can you describe the sound and volume? I have a staintune on my R11S and love the noise. I wouldn't mind the luftmeister on eBay but don't want it to sound like a ducati with a race muffler.

[Automag]

Kcteun,

 

Apologies for for not replying earlier. The bike with the duals is loud. Not horrible at speed, but quite noticeable in town. It is a bit throaty, but no one is going to mistake it for a Duc, or a Harley, for that matter. I don’t think I would have done it, had they not been on the bike when I bought it.