Ok let me preface this by saying that this is a hypothetical question right now... my bike doesn't run properly stock yet and until it does I will not be putting any go-fast parts on it. But I am curious about this topic so here it goes.


What are the advantages and disadvantages of slip on vs full exhaust systems. I have found 3 that I like, the V&H full system because I like the hissy, poppy, crackly sounds it makes and supposedly is one of the better ones as far as potential power increases. But I also love the looks of the delkevic full system and the delkevic shorty 200 slip on. I also like the sound of the delkevic slip on system, it sounds equally as brutal as the V&H but the delkevic has a more composed note to it vs the hissing, popping, and crackling sounds the V&H makes (I like the way both sound though). How do these different exhaust systems compare? are full systems always better than slip-ons?

I think that changing the exhaust for a better sound is a more compelling reason than changing it for a performance gain. If your pipes are rotted or damaged then a full system would be cost effective. Other than that, save your money and go with a slip-on. I'm not being a killjoy, I have been down this road before and this is just my opinion.

But if you really enjoy the bike and plan on keeping it for a number of years..spend all the money you want on it, just remember that adding $500 worth of pipes is not going to increase the resale value of the bike by $500.

Well my 02 came with the full V&H system.  If you in a sort of closed in neighborhood it will kind of rattle the windows.  It's pretty loud.  If you run through the gears and take it to about 9 thou in each you are going to get the attention of any cop within a quarter mile.   Listen to the sound clips that are available on another thread - stock really does sound wimpy.

I agree with above post on slip-on/vs/full system.  It is basically a sound thing.  Your trying to make a silk purse out of a sows ear if you are trying to make a crouch rocket out of the GS.

Quote from: Alan_nc on March 15, 2014, 01:51:37 PM
Well my 02 came with the full V&H system.  If you in a sort of closed in neighborhood it will kind of rattle the windows.  It's pretty loud.  If you run through the gears and take it to about 9 thou in each you are going to get the attention of any cop within a quarter mile.   Listen to the sound clips that are available on another thread - stock really does sound wimpy.

I agree with above post on slip-on/vs/full system.  It is basically a sound thing.  Your trying to make a silk purse out of a sows ear if you are trying to make a crouch rocket out of the GS.

I am not trying to make a crotch rocket, I could have bought a ZX6R for the same price I paid for my GS500E (although it was older and had way more miles)... if I wanted a crotch rocket I could have bought one. But that is not to say that if I am going to be forking out the money for sound anyway I might as well consider performance as well... I would just want my bike to be the best GS500 it can be, but still just a GS500. And yes sound is my primary concern, can you link me the thread with the sound clips?

I have a Staintune on my Wee Strom and it sounds A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!
Not overly loud and not cheap if I remember correctly.
I'm also a fan of Yoshimura slip on's (also not cheap),  Staintune's and Yoshi's are probably the quietest aftermarket choices, louder/cooler sounding, but not annoying.

http://staintune.com.au/exhausts/suzuki/Suzuki_GS500_Muffler_SUMSGS50_04.htm

I really like the look of the delkevic full exhaust system with the 9" oval carbon silencer... and I like the idea of it having a removable baffle. I also like that is the same width as a system for a larger bike but has the stubby muffler... looks cool to me. Does anyone have any experience with this system or the all stainless version? any good as far as quality and design is concerned? Is this one of the ones that you have to drop to change the oil?

Couldn't find the thread but here are several from Utube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7-Z_3ZNz9g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Dc0fxmpyDE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjkCC2qv3p4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGpDH2cT6Pg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGVx63H2Ty8

Quote from: Alan_nc on March 15, 2014, 03:00:27 PM
Couldn't find the thread but here are several from Utube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7-Z_3ZNz9g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Dc0fxmpyDE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjkCC2qv3p4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGpDH2cT6Pg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGVx63H2Ty8

wow I cannot believe I didn't think of looking on youtube...

not to hijack your thread, or be a debbie downer-

a slip on that is stainless steel wouldn't match the black header of the suzuki

so it won't be nearly as aesthetically pleasing -

unless you paint the pieces one color, but doing that would likely only be a temporary fix. would need touching up every now and then.

I have the Delkevic SS70 stainless slip on and I think it's awesome.  Sounds great, looks great, and only $160 shipped.



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I have the delkavic full system with 350mm can with removable baffle but its never had the baffle fitted . Its a great sounding exhaust very pleasing to the ear.

Dont believe delkavic though . . It says the carbs dont need rejetting but mine did but i waited for my k and n lunch box filter to be fitted before i rejetted.

Now she runs perfect , sounds great and has a very noticable gain in acceleration through the gears it sounds like a bigger bike so more respect on the road from other bikers and car drivers alike.

Thanks Crasm. I do like the delkevic exhausts... especially the 225mm (9in) full exhaust. I have a question about something I noticed... both the stock header and the delkevic header has pip that crosses over to each side of the exhaust, its like a cross spar between the pipes. However the V&H full system does not appear to have this additional pipe. What is it for?

To be honest i dont have a clue , my initial thought was that its a brace to keep the headers
Square with each other but i genuinly dont no , im sure soneone on here will know
Though?!
i went for the 350mm oval purly because its the shortest road legal system here in the uk thats available. I use my bike every day so need it to pass annual mot test plus with out baffle its quite
Loud but still road legal but i still carry the baffle and an allen key under the seat just incase

Quote from: joweaver88 on March 16, 2014, 03:08:28 PM
I have a question about something I noticed... both the stock header and the delkevic header has pip that crosses over to each side of the exhaust, its like a cross spar between the pipes.

What is it for?

It's just to provide some additional support/rigidity to the headers; though it isn't really necessary.

I've got the jardine and hurd its just a bit quieter then the V&H............... depending who you talk to you have to take the headers off the block to get to the oil filter with V&H some say you do some say you dont.................... also with a full delkevic you may have to adjust the rear brake peddle (has been reported)

changing the exhaust is all about the sound, there is no performance gains worth mentioning, maybe 1/1000 sec here and there, I did mine because its my bike and I intend to keep  it till it dies but I was under no illusions as to the "performance gains"

now my old man got a power commander for his 650 versys that thing is inane now mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm 4V head

Quote from: TheOzTurkish on March 18, 2014, 04:56:26 AM
changing the exhaust is all about the sound, there is no performance gains worth mentioning, maybe 1/1000 sec here and there, I did mine because its my bike and I intend to keep  it till it dies but I was under no illusions as to the "performance gains"

I got some marked performance gains from a new exhaust.  How much improvement depends on the exhaust itself ind if/how much you change the jetting.

A good balanced job of jetting, intake mods, and exhaust mods all together will give you about a 10% increase in HP and will extend the power curve in a fairly flat manner dropping only a bit until redline while a stock GS engine will take a dive after it's 8500 rpm peak.  Doubt you'll get any more than that without adding a couple valves.

Typical stock:

http://www.gs500.net/gallery/data/500/MikesGS500dynoRuns.jpg

Typical modified:

http://www.gs500.net/gallery/data/500/AnniesGS500dynoRun.jpg

Yer I can feel it tighter and has more pull esspessally at WOT but were talking sub 5 hp gain and were at the limit of what we can do with it,

A question gsjack do you know of anyne thats fitted a 4V head to a GS? Ive only briefly read stories about someone thinking about fitting the middle of a gixxer head to the gs

Quote from: TheOzTurkish on March 18, 2014, 02:46:47 PM
A question gsjack do you know of anyne thats fitted a 4V head to a GS? Ive only briefly read stories about someone thinking about fitting the middle of a gixxer head to the gs

Maybe the studs would line up... I'd be surprised about oil channels... and then you have the issue of cams. Would definitely be interesting to see.

On the other hand, I've often wondered about shaving a couple of tenths off the head or doing a gasket delete. Those are simple enough that they may even be practical.

Quote from: Badot on March 18, 2014, 02:57:58 PM

Quote from: TheOzTurkish on March 18, 2014, 02:46:47 PM
A question gsjack do you know of anyne thats fitted a 4V head to a GS? Ive only briefly read stories about someone thinking about fitting the middle of a gixxer head to the gs

Maybe the studs would line up... I'd be surprised about oil channels... and then you have the issue of cams. Would definitely be interesting to see.

On the other hand, I've often wondered about shaving a couple of tenths off the head or doing a gasket delete. Those are simple enough that they may even be practical.

Ive heard of the gasket delete being done with no issues but I dont know what results were gained I might have to jump on the old google and kook up the head swap again