I don't disagree with you. There are two problems with the aftermarket exhaust options.

1. Most don't work with the factory panniers, they will either take up the space the panniers sit in, or melt them. If I didn't want to keep them and use them, then I would just toss a Competition Werkes GP exhaust for it and call it a day. It will be loud, but sounds REALLY good.

2. The ones that do fit all look bad. Even the Akrapovic low mount for said Panniers looks hideous, and honestly doesn't sound that great.

There is ONE exhaust that I like the look and sound of that does work with the Panniers. It is probably the best looking exhaust made for this bike as well. The DAM exhaust, which will cost about 600 bucks from Belgium... Seen here.
http://shaunsaxonblog.com/wp-content...016_161201.jpg

I do plan on getting my hands on one here soon.... BUT. I have other priorities. First big priority is sorting out the suspension, which just took the number one spot after my left fork seal started leaking. Not a big deal, I was going to do the suspension either way, but I was going to wait until next month. It just got moved up.

https://scontent-dfw5-1.xx.fbcdn.net...43&oe=5B34BE67

But hey, at least I have nice new Bridgestone T31 Evo GT spec tires for the bike to not use.
https://scontent-dfw5-1.xx.fbcdn.net...61&oe=5B40CD82

Back to the DAM exhaust. 3 things I like about it.

1. High quality. Dam systems are fully stainless steel and hand made. Every bike they make an exhaust for is fully engineered to the bike with full dyno and road testing.

2. Sound. They give this bike a good smooth tone, and on top of that, they aren't obnoxiously loud. Only hair over 95db without the silencer, and 92db with it, which is actually quieter than the stock exhaust lol. This massive two brothers exhaust currently on the bike is 101db for comparison

3. The styling just matches the bike. The lines match the body perfectly AND expose most of that rear wheel. It also makes the bike look much more elegant and sporty. The stock muffler is so big it makes the bike look chunky.

This is probably the best sound recording of said exhaust on a 1200. The 1:45 mark he switches locations and you get a much better feel for the sound. I can almost promise you that you still don't hear the real sound, but its going to be close. A lot of the deeper tones are muted vs. reality, and after hearing a Two Brothers recording, vs what I know my bike sounds like, very different.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8c2Zu6Br4g

I need a loop recording for my bed time

Nice music

You and me both. The 1200 has kind of a love it or hate it exhaust note. Some people think it sounds like a chainsaw at low revs and too much like an I-4 at high revs :hmm: To be fair, it has a different crank configuration and firing order, so it doesn't sound like half a V-8 like the VFR800 and 750, so lovers of that noise tend to be the biggest critics.
VFR 800 noise for comparison:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfwCETllE-A

Me, personally, love the noise. The crank and firing order were taken straight from a Moto GP engine, and at high Revs, it sounds exactly like it. I have the hardest time not accelerating unnecessarily from every corner or stop. :) The 1200 is also a much smoother engine as a result, and far more linear in power.

Just because I brought it up earlier. This is the Competition Werkes GP Exhaust for the 1200. I love the raw sound at high revs. It's just too bad it doesn't work with the stock bags.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXyYlCJvjgo&t=56s

Careful there Dan, I envision flashy lights in your future

I know what you mean , I have to resist the urge on my strom, technology is grand on these new bikes.

Pft. I obey all laws on the road. :hehe:

To be fair, I won't be doing much of anything on the road with it for at least a month. I went and stripped al of my suspension off to send it away for tuning by a shop that specializes in these. Could I do it myself? Maybe, but I don't have the time and this bike is a pain in the butt to take apart - yay plastic body panels.

https://scontent-dfw5-1.xx.fbcdn.net...81&oe=5B29D970

I did finally find an exhaust that suits all of my desires, but I have to wait for them to release it for sale. Coffman's is making a shorty for them.
https://scontent-dfw5-1.xx.fbcdn.net...90&oe=5B6D11BB

Yes... it will be loud. Thankfully they do have a silencer for them that makes them about as loud as the current Two Brothers, which I can live with. I can't imagine the ear bleeding without it, but I will just have to find out.

Finally was able to mail off my suspension today.

In the meantime, a few other mods and tweaks.

There is an engine under there somewhere...
https://scontent-dfw5-1.xx.fbcdn.net...06&oe=5B5F3289


My mission as to delete the PAIR valves, hoses, and solenoid. Took 2 freaking hours. The front unit was the worst. Airbox, ECU, a plastic cover, and a bunch of clips have to be removed, half of which can just barely be reached. Technically you are supposed to remove the throttle bodies to get that plastic cover I mentioned off...but I am lazy and just struggled with it for 20 minutes. I am starting to remember why I like old bikes. :ohno:

Anyway, I did eventually get it out and got the block off plates in. What a silly system. A Dual valve unit on the front cylinders, and 2 single units on the rear cylinders.
https://scontent-dfw5-1.xx.fbcdn.net...78&oe=5B6CD461

The ECU will be mailed off Monday for it's reflash, and hopefully I will have the suspension back by the end of the month.

In that time I just want to do my lighting upgrades - HID lo beam and LED high beam as well as adding a USB charging port and my Steering Stem RAM mount.

I have that PAIR system on my CB500X. So far it's not causing any issues with the OE exhaust. I can hear some faint popping when engine braking from 9000 rpm down to about 7500 rpm. There's no aftermarket exhaust available that meets my personal requirements for my CB-X.

I like the bike quite. Where I ride I can get a noise ordinance ticket, trespass ticket, or worse kicked out. It's not technically a private area, but it is considered an area for locals and people associated with certain equine groups. I neither have a horse nor am I considered a local. I only live about 17 miles away in another state. There's also the issues with being in areas that require a forestry approved muffler with a spark arrestor.

My bike doesn't have the stock exhaust, so it pops, snarls, and crackles pretty bad, especially below 4k rpm. Combine that with already lean factory tuning and you can imagine.

It's also necessary in order to get a clean reading on the Dyno.

I am glad I don't really have to worry about noise ordinance where I live. I still try to be considerate of my neighbors, but I can't stand whisper quiet exhausts either. I am pretty sure that Coffman's shorty exhaust will be insanely loud with the baffle out, but according to the owner of that bike, the type of baffle they use is very effective at cutting down the noise to a reasonable level. I think he said it is 103db with the silencer in, which is close to the same as my open 20 inch long Two Brothers that the bike came with lol.

As far as exhausts on the 500X, I think the Arrow exhaust looks really good. Plus Arrow actually makes well engineered systems that give a lot of flow without a ton of noise.

My V Star Classic 650 has a similar system, AIS, and it made the bike sound awful with the factory exhaust. Any time the throttle was released it started backfiring through the exhaust like mad. I removed the AIS and up'd the main jet one size. It never pops or backfires at all.

It has been one long wait, but finally my forks and rear shock are on their way back from DMr. He got backed up and then forgot to install the rebound valve upgrade, so that added an extra week on to my wait time. He was nice enough to toss in the rebound upgrade for free to make up for it. 1.1kg front springs and a 1300lb/in rear spring (heavy duty!) on the rear shock with it's rebuild and revalve. The heavy rear spring is partly because I am a fat giant, but also because I told him I do plan on trips with up to 80lbs of gear on the back. So I got told to turn the remote preload adjuster down to around 5 clicks for just me, and then as many up as needed when loaded (around 20-25 out of 31)

I honestly cannot wait to get this bike back together and see how it feels with properly tuned and sprung suspension. The stock suspension was like riding on marshmallows.

The Coffman's exhaust - I am currently waiting on the batch to come back from ceramic coating, and they will send me an invoice. I may end up regretting how loud the exhaust will be, but at $230, it's not as big of an investment as the DAM system. If I end up not liking it I can probably find another owner to sell it to to recover a decent portion of my money.

Coffman shorty in the mail, and I got these guys in today. Just need my ecu back. I cant wait...

Got the suspension all back together today.
https://scontent-dfw5-1.xx.fbcdn.net...37&oe=5B76C86B

Then got my Coffman's pipe installed. Here are a couple of examples for scale, including a side by side with the Two Brothers it replaced.

https://scontent-dfw5-1.xx.fbcdn.net...93&oe=5B99BB02

https://scontent-dfw5-1.xx.fbcdn.net...de&oe=5B891473


I think it looks awesome. I can't wait to get my ECU back so I can put this bike back together and ride it again.

https://scontent-dfw5-1.xx.fbcdn.net...a6&oe=5B9AE668

"Just the TIP?" :hehe:


https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Z6JMoqbNBFY/hqdefault.jpg