slip on or full exhaust

[kender]

what's the difference between slip ons and a full exhaust? besides the obvious difference of the slipons not including the header pipe. I have dealt mainly with cars when it comes to performance, and I know that with them if you change just the muffler all you get is sound and not neccessarily performance. changing the header to a better flowing header and larger diameter pipe after the collector, makes a huge difference. However with bikes the header pipes are already smooth flowing ( compared to a stock cast header on a car ) and there isn't a collector on the v-twin so the secondary pipe isn't existant, and the rest is the muffler. SO it seems to me from a performance stand point the only flow restriction on a stock vtx is in the muffler, get a bigger muffler with a better flow and sound, and the header pipe can stay the same. Am I missing something or has my knowledge of cars translated succesfully to bikes?

thanks in advance

[Outlaw1800]

One advantage to the slip-ons is that you retain the cross-over pipe. alot/most of the aftermarket complete exausts don't come with a cross-over and that will rob power.

[kender]

"cross over pipe" ?? are you refering to the bike equivalent of an "H" pipe for the muscle cars running dual pipes? I want to make sure the terminology is what it sounds like. If so, what's up with the aftermarket sets not having it? The balance pipe has long been shown to help in performance by balancing the exhaust pulses.

[Retro Rich]

One advantage to the slip-ons is that you retain the cross-over pipe. alot/most of the aftermarket complete exausts don't come with a cross-over and that will rob power.

Right, the most popular full aftermarket double pipe set-up I believe for the X's right now that has a crossover is the V&H Bigshots (they call it the "Power Chamber"). There are also 2 into 1 pipes as well (HK Sideburners, Roadhouse, etc.) to give you a performance advantage as well. Equal length "balanced" pipes are great as well; Rineharts are a great example that have a "stepped" header pipe that if you can tune the bike well will really give you some additional performance.

Some aftermarket exhaust systems have a little larger header pipes (1.75", sometimes greater but not usually for the 1300X). The stock header is 1.5" if I remember correctly. Plus, baffle design/flow is a big thing with pipes on a bike. That's why you see some guys change out their baffles (for example, Thunder Monster baffles) to regain some additional performance.

[Outlaw1800]

Another thing to think about is backpressure. X's need a certian amount of backpressure to run right. I've had 3" hardchrome pipes on mine before and lost a lot of power because they were basicly straight pipes. I put in a restrictor setup in them and got back some of the HP I had lost in the transition. I put on V&H pipes with the "quiet" baffles that actually have a restrictor plate in them. Very notiicible increase in HP and they will pass the cop putting his nightstick up the tailpipe test.

[kender]

I don't think I have to worry too bad about the night stick thing around here, people have sued and won for less "damage" to their cars and bikes. Yes I am looking at backpressure, I know I will be taking in more air with a better breathing intake, so I can open up the pipe a little from that, and I think I'd only run straight pipes if I was also running a turbo, and while I am sure it's possible on a vtx, It really compicates things and one of the reasons I switched from the car project to bikes.

[Outlaw1800]

The cops around here will stick their nightstick or about a 16" wire up the tailpipe to see if you have a spark restrictor baffle inside. If not, it's ticket time. Most won't bother you unless you're just being obnoxious.