Fuel Exhausts

**James Deuce** · 9th May 2009, 10:28

No so much a review of the product as a review of the service.

Once upon a time, the US led the way in mail order/web based service responsiveness.

No longer. Another KBer has ordered stuff from the UK for his recent bike purchase and experienced the same stunning service I have.

4 Days.

It takes 4 Days from order to doorstep from Cumbria of all places. Not only that, the actual muffler looks fantastic, and including shipping cost $521 landed. Shipping at 75 quid looked extravagant, but was packed beautifully and even included branded confectionary. This is a couple of hundred cheaper than sourcing locally, at least, and a 4 day turn around is better than a lot of bike shops manage.

The list of bikes supported includes a lot of older 400s that people struggle to get exhausts for in NZ, and I strongly suggest that if you are in the market for a basic after market muffler, that you consider these guys in your top 5 options.

I did the Stainless oval with removable baffle, and after striking a stunning overnight exchange rate could well have afforded the Titanium oval with my insurance provided budget.

Bugger.

Having said that the stainless one is beautifully finished, the mounting gear is significantly better than the stuff provided by my scooter rider muntered Micron and I'm dead chuffed. The thing that looks like a cake of soap is a "mint cake", which I shall savour with a coffee once I have installed the new muffler and test ridden with and without the baffle.

Excuse the crap photo. I'm too excited to take a million and get a nice one.

**Blackbird** · 9th May 2009, 10:50

Very nice indeed James - pity we can't hear it!

I've bought stuff from the UK from a specialist Blackbird supplier for the last 7 or 8 years and it's never been longer than a week and often less. Stuff I've ordered via the USA is 4-7 days too and prices are normally more than competitive. Give you an example... your fellow Wellingtonian Freebird has just ordered a complete set of EBC HH pads for his 'bird from the UK 'bird source for ~$200 delivered and the best price he could apparently find over here at trade rate was $285.

I'm happy to buy local wherever I can, but not at that price differential. Looks like you got a heck of a good buy too

.

**James Deuce** · 9th May 2009, 10:52

Mufflers from the UK are substantially cheaper than those sourced from the US. With currency conversion and shipping, US sourced stuff often costs more than locally sourced product, thanks to ridiculous FED-EX and UPS insurance costs.

You'll hear it soon. I have this camera thing.

**vifferman** · 9th May 2009, 11:15

What's the muffler for, Mr Deuce? Does "insurance provided budget" and "scooter rider muntered" mean a scooter rider wreaked havoc on your bike?

I too have received excellent service from overseas - it's a pity our exchange rate isn't currently too flash. In the past, I've had some bargains from both the UK and the US. The main difficulties (apart from the exchange rate) are dealers who won't sell outside "continental North America" or "the lower 48" (easily circumvented via contacts in NY and FL), and some dealers who will only ship first class to guarantee delivery. My Elka shock, f'rinstance, cost me $250 for shipping.
Best deal was new APE manual CCTs for the FahrtSturm, and a new TPS, in 4 days from a gent in the UK. Cost me $350, which given that I was quoted $185 each for the CCTs by the NZ agent, and the list price for the TPS was around $400, was a bargain.

Other good deals (when the exchange rate isn't silly) are Sonic Springs for fork springs (very good prices, excellent service), and Honda parts from RideNow Motosports. I checked out David Silver Spares, but the prices for many parts are the same as NZ retail, so not worth it (apart from saving 2 or 3 weeks).

**hayd3n** · 9th May 2009, 11:16

nice linky????

**James Deuce** · 9th May 2009, 11:50

Originally Posted by hayd3n

nice linky????

Click on the Picture.

**James Deuce** · 9th May 2009, 11:50

Originally Posted by vifferman

What's the muffler for, Mr Deuce? Does "insurance provided budget" and "scooter rider muntered" mean a scooter rider wreaked havoc on your bike?

Bike got blown over. The Micron was screwed over by an Asian Gilera rider more than a year ago.

The stock pipe did sterling crash bar work. Structurally intact, but cosmetically naff.

**James Deuce** · 9th May 2009, 12:41

**vifferman** · 9th May 2009, 13:02

Originally Posted by James Deuce

The stock pipe did sterling crash bar work.

*gnorfl*
Reminds me of when I had the FahrtSturm, and tried stuffing it through a gap that was smaller than it looked. The mufflers stuck out a bit, and were WAY overengineered. Fortunately.
Saved some crushing of my legs.

**AllanB** · 9th May 2009, 13:47

Nice unit there. Even with the db killer out it sounds sociable

Deeper is better - get the T-shirt now.

**James Deuce** · 9th May 2009, 17:34

Quick ride down the road and back and the 5500rpm flat spot is gone. You can hold it at those revs without it feeling breathless like it used too.

Much less woolly at the bottom end of the rev range, and it gets "on the pipe" so to speak, a bit higher in the rev range.

**Hitcher** · 9th May 2009, 17:45

That doesn't give me as much wood as a Mivv Suono on a Shiver, but it sounds pretty darned gnarly nonetheless. And the standard of finish looks as good as most high-end after-market mufflers I've seen. Tres nice.

Four days from the UK, plus confectionery, beats my seven day radiator guard delivery!

I've now bought an Aprilia fly screen, a radiator guard and a rear hugger from the UK, all from different suppliers and have found the standard of service faultless. The Poms occasionally get slagged for being a nation of grocers, but with customer service like this I hope they get rich!