Sportbike undertail exhaust

[BZeto]

I've been looking at CBR's and ZX-6's and really like the look of the undertail exhausts. I was talking to someone at a dealership and they mentioned because of the extra bends you lose some power. This sounds believable and totally logical and is probably why the 09 ZX-6's have side exhausts as well as the 09 CBR1000 (not sure about the CBR600).

Considering I wont be riding even a 600 sport bike to it's limits I don't really care personally. But I am curious about how much of a performance impact it actually is. Also with a side exhaust, which is the first to scrape when leaning it over, exhaust or pegs?

 

[aleckz]

Your buns may or may not get burned? Your performance for everyday life will drop ?

 

[Kelvrick]

Higher center of gravity would probably be biggest impact. You'll never notice the difference. Pegs and boots (titanium sliders look sweet) will usually scrape first, but in the case of most riders, it will be pegs + exhaust + plastics + you.

EDIT: You also lose out on precious trunk space.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: BZeto
I've been looking at CBR's and ZX-6's and really like the look of the undertail exhausts. I was talking to someone at a dealership and they mentioned because of the extra bends you lose some power. This sounds believable and totally logical and is probably why the 09 ZX-6's have side exhausts as well as the 09 CBR1000 (not sure about the CBR600).

Considering I wont be riding even a 600 sport bike to it's limits I don't really care personally. But I am curious about how much of a performance impact it actually is. Also with a side exhaust, which is the first to scrape when leaning it over, exhaust or pegs?

I doubt it makes that much difference really. The current trend is to the lower side exhausts primarily to keep weight down low and at a minimum. A few years ago it was the trend to have undertail exhausts (more aerodynamic but again, more plumbing and more weight up high).

Aesthetically, I prefer the undertail exhausts but on some bikes it can make the seat unbearably hot and it makes it tricky to mount license plates and turn signals.

 

[BZeto]

Ok. Hmm, I hadn't really thought of how it might warm up the seat..

Man I'm really regretting my recent purchase of my 07 Boulevard cruiser. As much as I love it I'm not sure I have the patience to ride for a season until I move to a sport bike. The only deterrent to getting a sport bike is the higher insurance but I think it's bearable.

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: Kelvrick
Higher center of gravity would probably be biggest impact. You'll never notice the difference. Pegs and boots (titanium sliders look sweet) will usually scrape first, but in the case of most riders, it will be pegs + exhaust + plastics + you.

EDIT: You also lose out on precious trunk space.

Pegs flip inwards, exhaust doesn't. The second you lean on top of your exhaust, you'll be sliding off at a tangent. There is a reason why people go for highmount exhausts

It will melt the under tail box if you hack it up yourself - if you notice all the bikes that have it stock include heat shield and insulation.

 

[Saga]

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: Kelvrick
Higher center of gravity would probably be biggest impact. You'll never notice the difference. Pegs and boots (titanium sliders look sweet) will usually scrape first, but in the case of most riders, it will be pegs + exhaust + plastics + you.

EDIT: You also lose out on precious trunk space.

Pegs flip inwards, exhaust doesn't. The second you lean on top of your exhaust, you'll be sliding off at a tangent. There is a reason why people go for highmount exhausts

It will melt the under tail box if you hack it up yourself - if you notice all the bikes that have it stock include heat shield and insulation.

Truth

 

[Greenman]

Originally posted by: BZeto
Ok. Hmm, I hadn't really thought of how it might warm up the seat..

Man I'm really regretting my recent purchase of my 07 Boulevard cruiser. As much as I love it I'm not sure I have the patience to ride for a season until I move to a sport bike. The only deterrent to getting a sport bike is the higher insurance but I think it's bearable.

Why on earth did you buy a cruiser when you wanted a sport bike?

 

[BZeto]

Originally posted by: Greenman

Originally posted by: BZeto
Ok. Hmm, I hadn't really thought of how it might warm up the seat..

Man I'm really regretting my recent purchase of my 07 Boulevard cruiser. As much as I love it I'm not sure I have the patience to ride for a season until I move to a sport bike. The only deterrent to getting a sport bike is the higher insurance but I think it's bearable.

Why on earth did you buy a cruiser when you wanted a sport bike?

Bottom line is i wanted something. My plan is/was to ride the cruiser for a year or so and then decide to go for a sport bike. $500/year for insurance on the cruiser vs $1500/year on a sport bike is the biggest factor right now.

 

[Greenman]

After riding a cruiser for a while you might decide you like it better than a sport bike. I like the grunt cruisers have, I like sitting up and being comfortable on long rides, and I like the looks of them. The other side of the coin is that you can't tear up the streets on one, at least not around corners. In a straight line there are a few big fat fat cruisers that do pretty well, the big brother of the bike you have is one of them. Another plus is you don't need stainless steel trousers to ride a cruiser, your knees stay up of the street, where God intended them to be.

 

[Kelvrick]

Originally posted by: Saga

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: Kelvrick
Higher center of gravity would probably be biggest impact. You'll never notice the difference. Pegs and boots (titanium sliders look sweet) will usually scrape first, but in the case of most riders, it will be pegs + exhaust + plastics + you.

EDIT: You also lose out on precious trunk space.

Pegs flip inwards, exhaust doesn't. The second you lean on top of your exhaust, you'll be sliding off at a tangent. There is a reason why people go for highmount exhausts

It will melt the under tail box if you hack it up yourself - if you notice all the bikes that have it stock include heat shield and insulation.

Truth

Tis true. The only experience I had with a side-mount exhaust was as a noob and I got nowhere near scraping angle. Only had to worry about the pegs and boots on the 05 cbr600rr.

I think I noticed heat coming off the engine around my ankles/feet more than the pipe going right under my ass.