Pipes...

[RadMax]

Alright I need to do something. This 2-into-1 turnout I have sounds like absolute s***, and either the baffle is completely rotted, or it never had one to start with. Either way it’s not a serviceable part, so it’s junk. I’m thinking of going back to stock headers (Anyone got a relatively-clean set they’re willing to sell me? No major pitting. Bike is a 1980 XS650 Special.) and slip-ons.

Has anyone had any luck with these?

https://www.mikesxs.net/yamaha-xs650-shorty-megaphone-muffler-12.html

For what it’s worth, I’ve got aftermarket air filters, and I’m rebuilding a spare engine over the winter.

https://www.mikesxs.net/performance...V58AfIw6yn3kjT5rJbo9APNgO-AA1oFBoCkSMQAvD_BwE

I’m thinking about maybe getting a cam too, and I’ve heard you can get a bit more power if you run aftermarket carbs, which I’m not opposed to, but anyone who owns a Special knows what a pain in the ass fitting the carbs up is, do the aftermarket ones fit better?

 

[jetmechmarty]

I’m thinking about maybe getting a cam too, and I’ve heard you can get a bit more power if you run aftermarket carbs, which I’m not opposed to, but anyone who owns a Special knows what a pain in the ass fitting the carbs up is, do the aftermarket ones fit better?

If you can get the BS34 carburetors dialed in, you'll be a bunch of money ahead. New carburetors ARE NOT plug-n-play.

 

[5twins]

A twin runs best with a 2 into 2 exhaust using long, tapered megaphone type mufflers. BMW discovered this when they had an endurance race team back in the late '70s. Stock headpipes are very restrictive. Even though they look pretty big on the outside, the "pipe-in-pipe" design makes the I.D. quite small. The aftermarket 1.5" headpipes they sell are pretty much perfect, bigger, but not too big. Too big is no good either, they rob low end and midrange power, only making good power in the high RPMs new redline. If you've ridden an XS650 for any amount of time, you know running up near redline just isn't done much. This bike's "forte" is low end and midrange "grunt". For mufflers, the original type Commandos with the removable baffle bolt are about the best out there at the moment. You can get them with 1.5" inlets so they fit on without reducers. They can be found at YamahaXS650.com. Don't buy them from Mike's, they're not the "real McCoy", they're EMGO copies and are literally shit.

 

[RustiePyles]

I used to have those shorty mufflers on my bike, I wouldn't recommend them.

 

[jetmechmarty]

(Anyone got a relatively-clean set they’re willing to sell me? No major pitting. Bike is a 1980 XS650 Special.)

I may have something that fits in that category. I took them off my Special last winter for stockers in better condition.

 

[hovel]

.....shorty mufflers on my bike, I wouldn't recommend them

They aren't much of a muffler to begin with, and mine are even less because I gutted them. I have them on my '74 650 only to add length to the system. They're loud until you wick it up and then they become obnoxious. Some days that suits me.

 

[gggGary]

Sportster mufflers are quality, quiet, and flow well, often available in brand new condition for pocket change.

 

[jetmechmarty]

Headers are okay. Mufflers are shit.

 

[2BallCane]

I have pandemonium ya mama exhaust pipes coming and I plan on trimming them to fit mufflers so it's not so obnoxious. It'll also help with the tuning of the carbs

 

[RadMax]

A twin runs best with a 2 into 2 exhaust using long, tapered megaphone type mufflers. BMW discovered this when they had an endurance race team back in the late '70s. Stock headpipes are very restrictive. Even though they look pretty big on the outside, the "pipe-in-pipe" design makes the I.D. quite small. The aftermarket 1.5" headpipes they sell are pretty much perfect, bigger, but not too big. Too big is no good either, they rob low end and midrange power, only making good power in the high RPMs new redline. If you've ridden an XS650 for any amount of time, you know running up near redline just isn't done much. This bike's "forte" is low end and midrange "grunt". For mufflers, the original type Commandos with the removable baffle bolt are about the best out there at the moment. You can get them with 1.5" inlets so they fit on without reducers. They can be found at YamahaXS650.com. Don't buy them from Mike's, they're not the "real McCoy", they're EMGO copies and are literally shit.

Sweet! You got a link?

 

[nj1639]

Look around in here......
https://yamahaxs650.com/

 

[RadMax]

These any good? https://www.mikesxs.net/yamaha-xs65...otorcycle=Yamaha/XS650/XS650G+Special+II/1980

 

[RadMax]

If you can get the BS34 carburetors dialed in, you'll be a bunch of money ahead. New carburetors ARE NOT plug-n-play.

Good to know, I’ll keep my BS34s, at least for now.

 

[5twins]

With those small mufflers, that Ascot system will be quite loud I'm sure. It also mounts both mufflers on one side (the right). I don't care for either of those "features" so I would never get one.

 

[RadMax]

No, “loud” is fine as long as it gives me some power - and sounds “good”.

 

[RadMax]

At the risk of sounding like a tosser, I want it to be a bit of a “ground pounder”.

 

[hovel]

My preference is for a 2 into 2, left and right sides, 1-1/2" pipes, un-muffled with a system length of about 50"(purely a guess). I have a left and right ear, somewhat in sync, that can alert my feeble brain when the exhaust pulse and "crack" in the pipes is a little off. I hear it more on closing part throttle decel and though I've tried, I can't hear it as well through mufflers.

 

[RustiePyles]

Sportster mufflers are quality, quiet, and flow well, often available in brand new condition for pocket change.

Sporty mufflers are great, I got a free pair and put one on the 2into1 OEM header on my wife's 360 Honda twin. It sounds fantastic and throaty but not obnoxious.

 

[RadMax]

So here’s a question: Ideally, I want 1.5in ID headers?

I found these:

https://yamahaxs650.com/product/xs-performance-chrome-1-5-od-headpipes/

It says 1.5 OD, but doesn’t list the ID.

And I found these:

https://yamahaxs650.com/product/stainless-steel-1-75-od-headpipes/

It says 1.75in OD, 1.65in (42mm) ID...

Which would you guys recommend?

Also, here’s a few silencers I like:

https://yamahaxs650.com/product/commando-style-megaphone-muffler/

https://yamahaxs650.com/product/taper-tip-muffler/

https://yamahaxs650.com/product/commando-style-megaphone-muffler-2/

https://www.mikesxs.net/yamaha-xs650-oval-megaphone-muffler-17-5.html

https://www.mikesxs.net/chrome-17-shorty-reverse-cone-megaphone-muffler.html

https://www.mikesxs.net/yamaha-xs650-shorty-megaphone-muffler-12.html

What combination do you guys think would give the best performance increase with a nice, rich, throaty “parallel twin growl”? I want it to be a bit “louder”, without being “all bark and no bite”.

 

[jetmechmarty]

So here’s a question: Ideally, I want 1.5in ID headers?

I found these:

https://yamahaxs650.com/product/xs-performance-chrome-1-5-od-headpipes/

It says 1.5 OD, but doesn’t list the ID.

And I found these:

https://yamahaxs650.com/product/stainless-steel-1-75-od-headpipes/

It says 1.75in OD, 1.65in (42mm) ID...

Which would you guys recommend?

Also, here’s a few silencers I like:

https://yamahaxs650.com/product/commando-style-megaphone-muffler/

https://yamahaxs650.com/product/taper-tip-muffler/

https://yamahaxs650.com/product/commando-style-megaphone-muffler-2/

https://www.mikesxs.net/yamaha-xs650-oval-megaphone-muffler-17-5.html

https://www.mikesxs.net/chrome-17-shorty-reverse-cone-megaphone-muffler.html

https://www.mikesxs.net/yamaha-xs650-shorty-megaphone-muffler-12.html

What combination do you guys think would give the best performance increase with a nice, rich, throaty “parallel twin growl”? I want it to be a bit “louder”, without being “all bark and no bite”.

What I've chosen starts at post #104.
https://www.xs650.com/threads/xs6502f-xs650sk-mash-up.58192/page-6
I will probably use Cone Engineering stainless mufflers.