Stock Pipes: Old vs. New

[chris900f]

I found an 1989 exhaust in decent shape. I noticed that the can seemed smaller and that the whole thing felt a few pounds lighter than
my F exhaust. It turns out that there is about a 2 inch difference in the circumference of the two cans. (~14" for '89 and ~16" for the 2005)
I haven't put a caliper on it, but it also looks like the piping is all slightly smaller(and the welds are less sloppy looking).

Aside from saving a few pounds, is there any advantage in using the old style pipe?

I've read the old style was a Hemholtz phase-cancelling design and the new one is different and has a cat-converter.
Any thoughts?

[The Buddha]

The newer collector has a noise reduction baffle in it. The can also may have the same type of baffle. A cat on a bike looks like a corrugated scroll made of metal. Irs ~2" in from the mid pipe. Hot exhaust at full speed need to hit it and push through it. And I doubt the GS has it, cos my 2017 Bolt didn't.
I really dont think the 89 is worse - in fact its much better for the bike.
Cool.
Buddha.

[Bluesmudge]

Old is probably better for weight and maybe performance. New is probably better for noise. I think the "new" style had a revision in 2006 so there are probably at least 3 different versions. '89 - '00, '01 - '05 and '06 - today (still in production in Columbia). I like a quiet bike so I may prefer the new style.

I think the sloppy welds is a product of trying to make the GS500 as cheap as possible and moving production from Japan to Spain and then to Columbia. I imagine the Japanese produced bikes were made to a higher standard.

[chris900f]

Yeah, mine is a Spanish bike, the fit and finish is kind of marginal.

I really dont think the 89 is worse - in fact its much better for the bike.
Cool.
Buddha.

Yes, I was thinking it would be better as well being lighter. The headers seem to be a smaller diameter too, probably
more in-line with the port size. Also, I think Suzuki was trying to kick a little ass with the '89's...there's probably
some good math going on there, that may have been compromised to lower db's in later years.