There's a beast in my muffler.

**Velox** · 18th January 2005, 22:58

It's a bit of a worry that there's a few major holes in the underneath of my muffler, but I was pretty disturbed the other day to see that something was actually trying to come out!!!

It was peeping out throught this triangular claw-like rip (which it must've torn open in a howling rage up the Rimutakas one day) so I shoved it back in and it clunked around and hid. I'm guessing it's some form of baffle-beast that has slowly awoken from hibernation since I crashed into a taxi a few months ago.
I think it's almost time to put the beast out of its misery and get the muffler sorted, so I've been thinking about how they affect performance and sound. Bearing in mind that this is only a little 4-cylinder 250, how much diff in performance would diff types/amounts of baffles/muffler-guts make? Any recommendations?

**Blakamin** · 18th January 2005, 23:06

Originally Posted by Velox

how much diff in performance would diff types/amounts of baffles/muffler-guts make? Any recommendations?

heaps of difference!!! best try to get it close to stock or have a day with a dyno... (my 2c, ask JR)

**loosebruce** · 19th January 2005, 01:42

Any reccomendations? Yeah buy a 600 already

, but anyhow, it proberly wont make much of differnce performance wise to your mighty

250, might give a noticeable (maybe) torque increase, depends on how bad the hole/s are to the loss of back pressure, but in the noise department it's sure to be good for another 15bhp.
Sometimes if you can't find a suitable 2nd hand muffler from a wrecker and you have to buy new, it works out better to buy a new a/m pipe, mate found this on his VTR250, replacement muffler was something stupid like $900, neptune made and fitted one for around $600 i think.
I don't know when you looking at a 600, or weather you'll keep ya Jazz, but if ya gonna sell it, just think of how much extra value will it add to the bike by having it fixed to how much it cost to fix it.
Also if you go the way of the wrecker, if you find anything up this way and need someone to pick it up, give me a yell, got to pay a few wreckers a visit myslef come to think of it.

**k14** · 19th January 2005, 12:26

Major major difference. I got an aftermarket can for my bike last week. Went from the stock can which has heaps of baffels (you can't see light from one end to the other) to the aftermarket, which is just a straight through job.

The sound is more than enough, too much i think. I have to wear earplugs around town now, lol, think i might be annoying the neighbours a bit aswell. I can feel that it has given me a little bit more bottom end (ie, i can pull away without riding the clutch now).

So yeah, i presume your bike has a similar stock muffler and engine to mine. The change for me is noticable, although it could all be in my head. People on the cbr250 forums say the normal increase is about 4 or 5 bhp in the top end (which is a heap considering there is only about 35 to 40 to begin with) and a more linear curve. But this definately comes at a cost, about 10 times more noise than before. It is probably the cheapest option aswell (if you are getting a new muffler). You could try getting it repaired, will most likely be cheaper.

**jrandom** · 19th January 2005, 12:32

A CBR250RR with a straight-through Arrow can was the only bike I've ever been on that was actually painful to ride without earplugs.

Velox, having been down exactly the same route with my Zeal, I'd just look for a stock replacement for your exhaust from a wrecker. Try Vic MCW. If you have lots of cash, get a custom can (and whatever else is necessary to get back to something flanged and bolted) made up.

With anything other than a stock exhaust, though, you just won't know until after the fact whether it'll help the power, hinder the power, or do nothing much at all...

Although like Bruce says, straight-throughs certainly give you an extra several BHP in the noise department, and are good for scaring car drivers at the lights.

**Hitcher** · 19th January 2005, 12:35

Originally Posted by jrandom

Velox, having been down exactly the same route with my Zeal.

What option did you finally settle on?

**jrandom** · 19th January 2005, 12:42

Originally Posted by Hitcher

What option did you finally settle on?

The $200 stocker that had been dropped, from Vic MCW. It looked ratty in the photo, but the Auckland members who've seen it in the flesh and on the bike will confirm that it looks surprisingly nice.

I just figured, AUD200 for a full exhaust system, you can't go too wrong...

Of course, I haven't washed the bike since the new exhaust went on, so the shinyness of the chrome is starting to get hidden under a layer of RoadCrudAndDinosaurSpooge (tm). But under the grime, it looks very nice, as you can see here:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/at...achmentid=5899

**MrMelon** · 19th January 2005, 12:45

Hey Weazle.. that nice looking gsxr600 you were wanting is back up on trademe for $8k again!

**Hitcher** · 19th January 2005, 12:45

Gone all nostalgic now. Don't it look lovely in dem chrome pipes...

**Wellyman** · 19th January 2005, 12:46

Yea as people have said I would go shopping around the wreckers before you break your bank account buying something super expensive.

**Motu** · 19th January 2005, 12:47

I have nothing to say to you Velox - but check out the volumtuous curves of your name sake in my avatar.She's a buxom lass eh?

**jrandom** · 19th January 2005, 12:47

Originally Posted by Hitcher

Gone all nostalgic now. Don't it look lovely in dem chrome pipes...

Well, you know, any weekend you want to do a swap, you just give me a call...

**Hitcher** · 19th January 2005, 12:50

Originally Posted by jrandom

Well, you know, any weekend you want to do a swap, you just give me a call...

I could be up for that! Flogging the ring off a Zeal is one of life's special experiences...

**jrandom** · 19th January 2005, 12:56

Originally Posted by Hitcher

I could be up for that! Flogging the ring off a Zeal is one of life's special experiences...

Pity you don't still have the ZRX.

Actually getting excited about riding an STX1300 is like imagining one's sister naked. Entirely possible, but it leaves you feeling a little unclean afterwards.