G'day just want to get feedback on a header thats done 12,000 miles it looks OK but would it be conciderd getting long in the tooth ! as its out of an 07 ill be rid of the main cat.

I'm not a 100% certain Bean, but I'm sure that I read somewhere that the early headers are a smaller diameter, if that is the case then I really couldn't see a benefit. Would be interested to see what Hub has to say. From a legal stand point it wouldn't be kosher, (but when has that ever stopped us LOL)

Hey Bean just saw these on Ebay, they're off a 2010. You could remove the catalyst from these, then have the best of both worlds. Bigger pipe + no cat. Keep the originals intact just in case? Just a thought.
http://http://cgi.ebay.com.au/2010-ZX14-Standard-exhaust-manifold-header-/110675095069?pt=AU_Motorcycle_Parts_Accessories&hash=item19c4bfee1d

* Last updated by: Brenny on 4/14/2011 @ 8:41 PM *

Yeh brenny ya right the 06-07 is slightly smaller diameter i've read a good exhaust company can easily flare them,but seen as I know your back ground do you think with the main cat removed is it worth the $$$$$ and effort as my curiosity thinks its true a full system gives more HP then im assuming it's only cause the "Full system" bascicaly differs from the slipons by having not Cat in the header pipes from 08 on ? truely I trust your judgement on my thoughts as a you are a Mechanic and should there fore know what im saying sounds right or im wrong?

HEY BRENNY WHERE ON eBAY DID YA SEE THAT I tried to see it but it did'nt come up so what site(ebay) and what did you do to find them mate

Not sure why it didn't work try copy and paste of this url
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/2010-ZX14-Standard-exhaust-manifold-header-/110675095069?pt=AU_Motorcycle_Parts_Accessories&hash=item19c4bfee1d

I fixed the link Bean, should work now

* Last updated by: Brenny on 4/14/2011 @ 8:42 PM *

Brenny yeh I agree I found a brand new 08 header pipe for $250 delivered mate, now as a mechanic is the differance between a Full System and my slipons with a soon to be cat less 2010 header be so similar to what a "Full System" basically is anyway ? just yes or no I think and trust your trade background would know if it is correct or not what im assuming LOL ha ha

* Last updated by: bean07 on 5/22/2011 @ 2:03 AM *

As you know Bean, exhaust can have a big effect on the performance of any vehicle. A smooth flowing exhaust or perhaps a better term an efficient exhaust actually helps with the scavenging of spent gases from the combustion chamber. A term often misused is 'back pressure' probably better refered to as siphoning effect. Too much siphoning effect can make an engine efficient but can also make it unresponsive, not enough siphoning effect will make it responsive but inefficient, so it's all about striking the right balance.

The stock system is a compromise between performance & noise/emmission levels
The Kawasaki engineers would have factored in the increased resistance of the catalyst in the header and made adjustments to accomodate it. So in my opinion it would more advantageous to remove the catalyst from a newer pipe and achieved a higher flow rate, but I could be wrong it may well have an adverse effect. The only real way that you could tell would be to try it and see but would always be a gamble.

And as with any gamble you have to be prepared to lose, so my best advice is play with it if you've got nothing better to spend your money on, but don't spend more than your prepared to lose.

* Last updated by: Brenny on 4/14/2011 @ 10:08 PM *

Yeh mate to true but I read the exhaust shoot-out here and the slipons (leo-vince) were tested against the full system which is pretty much on par with the "CT Duals" that rates as the best, I know the only true mechanical differance is no inturnal cat in the headers of the full system,anyway mate I finaly found the one you posted from my "messages" not the forum ! it's in Victoria it is a 2010 so I asked him for a delivery $$$ to SA so im waiting for that now. thanks for your responce brenny

* Last updated by: bean07 on 5/22/2011 @ 2:06 AM *

Once you clean out that cavity of catalyst you are gonna have a big hole which is gonna slow your exhaust down, I chose to run the smaller early pipes due to this. They are after all designed to flow at the size they are compared to a hacked late-model header. This is just hypothetical arguement of course, since no one will ever do a correct test on the flow differences between stock and altered for either style. Some one should (in the name of science), but no one will...

Yeh edgecrusher the one advertised as 2010 as the four pipes go into a lightly larger one followed by a distintive twin splitter socket whereas my 09 is parallel to where it splits into two! so the one interstate is definately 2010 !

* Last updated by: bean07 on 5/22/2011 @ 2:09 AM *

HEY edgecrusher from what you said you've put the early header on, did you notice any differance also was this with OEM or slipons mate?

Done deal i'll start pulling her to bits in a few days for the poor-mans fullsystem LOL

* Last updated by: bean07 on 4/18/2011 @ 1:19 AM *

No. I just got the headers sittin in a box for now. Gonna run the stock for one more season due to money. I've got so many new things this year anyways. I'll wait till next year to buy my slip-ons and try the headers out. Maybe 06-07 exhausts will come down in price by then? lol

Mine will be here soon & i'll post here when its on, I'll get Goody ride it try her out to see how she runs before/If it needs to be re-mapped, when we took the OEM mufflers off & insalled the Leo-Vince S/O's it didn't do any popping or backfiring at all !! so we will see soon

It turned up this morning 9am it's a 2010 header pipe with the cat !So now I've opened it up & removed the cat by 10am dam that @#!$%$^%&$#@ is really closed-up & dense know so why so much heat comes off it! it's like HEATING HOUSE ROOM RADIATOR Over 4 inches long ! I assuming it would be at least 70% blocked of the whole diameter in that area of that pipe I took it to where I still can't go to work yet To get it re-welded up at work as my own MigWelder is set up for just Mild Steel only & this is a 304 Stainless Steel header pipe, also getting a solid Aluminium plug made up to turn her into a four to one Exhaust System now as the cat-less cavity is larger than 07 so I'll run her with the left side Off !temporary plugged to Hear how she sounds then. If it's OK then I will seal that Hanger cap plug up then! !

* Last updated by: bean07 on 5/22/2011 @ 2:10 AM *

YOU hooo their ready for tomorrow !er no it's 1.08am right now so after I get some sleep(Saturday already LOL) to be installed.

* Last updated by: bean07 on 5/20/2011 @ 9:42 AM *

Looking good Bean! What did you paint the repair with BTW? I've got my '07s still hanging from the rafters in the garage till I get some other household things done... bummed to hear those pipes ended up being cat headers. so you ended up with two sets? dang... I've been racking my head trying to think about the draw backs to using either type with slip-ons from a performance aspect and it's driving me nutty.

Cat headers-ended up having extra expense of cutting out the cat. Now you have a big cavern. Will this be advantageous or slow down flow as fills the bigger space? can you even begin to compare since the stock mufflers will be binned and that is the only thing that would allow a comparison and those are designed to work with that cat as well...

Cat-less headers-no modification unless youu want an 02 bung. No cavern but supposedly it is smaller. Smaller collector? Or smaller pipes all the way up to the exhaust ports? I would imagine it would be worse if they were smaller diameter all the way up where as the other way would be closer to an aftermarket header without all the fancy welding, materials, or bending. If the cat was in the muffler stock on these, why would the header pipe going to the muffler need to be any other size than the right size for flowing the best up to that muffler? That's the sticky I can't get around.

In my mind, there's every possibility that a cat-less header matched up with free-er flowing slip-ons should equate to an appreciable increase in performance over a cat with the same S/O's... especially running duals. Maybe not Brock's level performance, but backyard special, you really got a good idea for the money kinda performance.

If you lived just a wee-bit closer I'd say let's get together and swap headers on your bike so I can see the results on a dyno with the same bike in a controlled setting. But your way down there... or am I really under you? lol

G'day edgecrusher,i've just got up & turned the computer on mate ,no my mate is turning up in half an hour and his partner and my wife want to go out to the Adelaide Hills today so i'm not sure if where going to get it installed today now LOL I decided to not get it painted yet as my workmates just grit blasted it and some freinds and family have talked me out of going to 4-1 until I try both Slip ons first on the catless Header pipe, so just a bit later I'll post if their done today or tomorrow. PS.we ended going down to Stathalbin today

* Last updated by: bean07 on 5/23/2011 @ 9:30 PM *

Bean can you make a video of some sound as you go?

I would if I new how to do it mate,im not realy into computer knowlege,but i'll leave some feedback it may take a few hours to instal it so it might be late by time I post it! it's 9.20 am right now so say by 3-4 pm here which I think will be 1 am their

Finished it it took 4 1/2 hours and i'm really happy with the outcome ,I weighed the OEM full Exhaust, then my custom system and it's 7.2 kg lighter ! there was noticeable smell of unburnt fuel that was the same as when the Leovince slipons were fitted ! before the PCV/Dynoed Map was done, So that means it's got "HEAPS Better Exhaust Flow" and just requires to be tweeked/remapped slightly, the Sound is a lot more Deeper/Gutsier & Meaner but not to much Louder !! I gained 10 rwhp before hand, so i'm thinking by time it's re-mapped I might get about another 6-10hp more If right ! as it was 154rwhp (stock).Then 164 rwhp with Leovince Slipons/PCV & Dynoed, Hopefully then around 170-174 rwhp after! the possible extra hp would be just a Bonus because the Sound & Weight Loss of 7.2 kg Alone to me IMO are well worth the Small cost OUTLAY under $600 for a Complete Poor-Mans FULL SYSTEM ,the first photo here is one side of the Leovince Pipe Weighed & the second photo is one Stock Pipe (x two = 7kgs + .2 kg(cat gone) OFF !

* Last updated by: bean07 on 5/22/2011 @ 6:49 PM *

Looks like it's taking shape nicely Bean, I'm sure you'll keep us posted with the progress.