for those with bolt-on exhausts, what did you do to connect the can to the headers?  Did you buy a mid-pipe somewhere, have a muffler shop make a flange or something else?  Any details about where you got what you did and how much it cost you would be appreciated.

any exhuast shop can make you a mid pipe fore prob like 50 bucks

for my 2002 E

i got the pipe for $150 or something and welding was free

first cut a flange out of 1/8" steel to match the bolt patter/flange on the bolt on exhaust can.
then i cut the original exhaust can off
slid on the flange over the original mid pipe and lined up everything how i wanted it, including bending the midpipe out an inch or so.
welded both sides of the flange, installed the pipe and gorund everything down smooth and this is how it came out... the video really didn't capture any of the 'grunt' the pipe has. also the K&N is really loud. i plan on cleaning the exhaust up and painting it black eventually...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff59xgt2zeo

I talked to a guy at Midas that has worked on his GSXR, Busas, etc that would do the slip on for $40 bucks.  Said he'd have to look at the pipe and can for the price on the flange work, but I can't imagine it would be a whole lot more on that - maybe another $40.

Quote from: hotrodstu77 on October 14, 2008, 02:08:28 PM
any exhuast shop can make you a mid pipe fore prob like 50 bucks

You'd be surprised ...
I deal with a muffler shop all the time ... they will do anything as long as it does not involve a motorcycle directly ...
Like they will spread the headlight ears ... they have bent muffler pipe for me, they have welded things for me ... they just will not actually do motorcycle stuff. if its steel and pipw and general stuff like that, they will cut and spread and weld and hammer away at it.
Some places can be better, some worse. Some cities can be worse ... a lot worse ... like when I was in the bay area ... 100's upon 100's of muffler shops will turn me away ... I finally had to have stuff done in modesto or tracy ...
Cool.
Buddha.

When you say the wont do anything that involves motorcycles directly do you mean that you took any part you wanted worked on off the bike? Didn't that make it difficult to line things up?

i've been having problems with shops agreeing to modify the midpipe because it is "too thin" and the welder would blow holes through it

I made up the flange for mine, got some pipe from an exhaust place and welded it all to the mid pipe myself.

Quote from: psyber_0ptix on October 21, 2008, 04:28:33 PM
i've been having problems with shops agreeing to modify the midpipe because it is "too thin" and the welder would blow holes through it

inexperienced welders!

or the welds they are working on are focused on function ONLY

not function and clean!!!

i had a young wipper_snapper that could TIG copenhagen dip can lids together

if i can find a dam pic of that i'll post it....

Find a HOG shop with a Hayabusa/ZX-14 parked outside and they will help you out

actually, i just got it done at Monro's muffler.

they talked to me, i voiced my ideas they listened and tried it out. The welds arent that pretty, but the pipe is on there, it has plenty of clearance for the rear brake and consisted of shortening and rotating the midpipe. no new material, just a cut in two places, and weld in one.
JUST enough clearance for the swingarm and it sounds awesome. Definately function over form, but it cost me $30. i'm happy

bike seems faster, accelerates quicker sounds amazong