Author Topic: What is your favorite exhaust for the CB550? (Read 24276 times)

Two-Bit · « **on:** April 06, 2012, 07:36:05 pm »

I've had drag pipes & I now have 4 into 2 Jardines. The Jardines are low sounding, but I wish they were louder when throttling up. From what I hear on videos, the Mac just kind of sounds brittle and hollow to me. I can't find any fly by videos of the Mac exhaust with the baffle in. What is your favorite sounding exhaust for the CB550?

SohRon · « **Reply #1 on:** April 06, 2012, 08:52:29 pm »

Absolutely nothing sounds better to me than the stock 4X4 exhaust

grcamna2 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 06, 2012, 08:57:33 pm »

Where did you find Those Beauties SohRon ? It's looking like you're entire CB550 matches those Mint O.E. Exhaust !

SaltwaterJays · « **Reply #3 on:** April 06, 2012, 09:00:57 pm »

I just swapped out a Jardine 4 to 1 for a Mac 4 to 1. I loved the sound of the Jardine, but pipe #2 and the front fender were too close for safe turning. The Mac growls. The Jardine sounded more stock to me.

SohRon · « **Reply #4 on:** April 06, 2012, 09:03:31 pm »

Thanks, G2. I got 'em through BikeBandit, and for a decent price, considering. I've always loved the way these sound! My favorite, at least.

Greggo · « **Reply #5 on:** April 06, 2012, 09:06:49 pm »

My favorite is the Yoshimura style 4-1's. I'm sure real ones are the best, but I've never heard one. Carpy sells a pretty nice version, that has a decent baffle for the street. These bikes can sound really mean at high revs with a few mods. I have an almost brand new Hooker 4-1 I'm going to try after I rebuild one of my motors, so I can't comment on that one just yet. The stockers look and sound sooooo good, but they're really expensive, and can look out of place on a modded bike. Used ones are usually rusted straight through, or on their way out, so they're not such a great option when looking for stockers. I've heard a few different 4-1's and 4-2's. My '71 500 has some '80s Honda sport bike muffler welded onto an unknown chrome 4-1 header. I like the way it sounds, but it's ugly as heck. The Mac is the easy replacement. I'm not fond of the way they look or sound, but that's my personal, very subjective taste I'm stating.

luap · « **Reply #6 on:** April 06, 2012, 09:45:37 pm »

sohran AWSOME man, show off!
mac sounds good modified, carpy sounds pretty mean from youtube vid, yoshi pipes sounds nice, people seem to like kerker

Two-Bit · « **Reply #7 on:** April 06, 2012, 10:19:26 pm »

I do like the sound of the OEM and the Jardine 4 into 2. I was just looking for something a little meaner sounding when I "Cafe" the bike. I see that BCR has a 4 into 2 that costs as much as I paid for my bike. I did find a video and like the sound. The guy said he just put some EPCO reverse cones on the end. Does anyone make a header that converges 2 into 1?

CoachDoc · « **Reply #8 on:** April 06, 2012, 10:38:11 pm »

I love the stock 4 into 4's. Just a classic look and sound. I ran the Mac 4 into 1 for a while, and that had a nice clean look while also being a bit lighter. Also had a more throaty sound than stock. Nice that Honda made a new run of OEM replacement pipes to give us the option of going back to stock.

nighshade586 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 08, 2012, 01:56:52 am »

Quote from: SaltwaterJays on April 06, 2012, 09:00:57 pm

I just swapped out a Jardine 4 to 1 for a Mac 4 to 1. I loved the sound of the Jardine, but pipe #2 and the front fender were too close for safe turning. The Mac growls. The Jardine sounded more stock to me.

Do you have to take the MAC pipes off for oil changes?

Dimitri13 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 08, 2012, 02:30:34 am »

^No

I HATE the sound and look of the MAC once I had it for a while. With the baffle in, it sounds tinny. With the baffle chopped it, it's too harsh. With no baffle, the pipe is too large and doesn't have enough backpressure.

The stock 4-4 exhaust IMO is pretty ugly.

My favorite so far is:

Found it on the forum, but I can't remember what member posted it, but it was build by MotoGPWerks.

DavePhipps · « **Reply #11 on:** April 08, 2012, 09:38:19 am »

My 2 cents..... I don't like loud pipes. What I do like is cornering clearance. I scrape my MOTAD 4-1 on every fast right hander. In with that line of thought a baffled carpy pipe, MAC, or a Marving would be best for me. With a few tools and some knowlege the MAC can be rebaffled to suit your ears.

nighshade586 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 08, 2012, 10:14:03 am »

Alright, so WHICH of the 4-into-1s have to be removed for oil changes, and which don't? This will be a deciding factor in the pipes I choose to get. Any help is appreciated.

Stev-o · « **Reply #13 on:** April 08, 2012, 04:27:57 pm »

I love the look of the stock F model 4 into 1 header (I have one on my K). The Yoshi muffler I have is a little on the quiet side, I may modify it.

sixthwisconsin · « **Reply #14 on:** April 08, 2012, 05:07:21 pm »

I'm running a MAC 4 into 1 with their "performance" baffle.
I like it...

Stock vs. performance baffle

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #15 on:** April 08, 2012, 05:11:24 pm »

That stock baffle would be easily modified to provide a noise level between the stock and performance baffles. By tuning the number of holes drilled in it you could make it as loud or quiet as you liked.

sixthwisconsin · « **Reply #16 on:** April 08, 2012, 05:22:50 pm »

for the record...
You do not have to remove the exhaust for oil changes with the MAC 4 into 1.

sixthwisconsin · « **Reply #17 on:** April 08, 2012, 05:39:17 pm »

Quote from: LesterPiglet on April 08, 2012, 05:11:24 pm

That stock baffle would be easily modified to provide a noise level between the stock and performance baffles. By tuning the number of holes drilled in it you could make it as loud or quiet as you liked.

Thats a really good point...
Drill holes in the baffle pipe and it should start opening up nicely. I did not like the quietness of the stock baffle. The performance baffle from MAC was not that expensive but start drilling on the stock till you get what you like.

72500john · « **Reply #18 on:** April 08, 2012, 05:51:37 pm »

i have a motad 4 into 1 and do not have to remove the exhaust for oil changes. close but it is doable(is that a word?)

nighshade586 · « **Reply #19 on:** April 08, 2012, 06:20:33 pm »

Quote from: 72500john on April 08, 2012, 05:51:37 pm

close but it is doable(is that a word?)

Sounds fine to me.

Where did you get them from, and what do you have to go through to get them installed and running right?

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #20 on:** April 09, 2012, 04:37:23 am »

As far as I am aware the Motad is a straight swap without needing any changes.

Two-Bit · « **Reply #21 on:** April 10, 2012, 04:24:44 pm »

Quote from: sixthwisconsin on April 08, 2012, 05:07:21 pm

I'm running a MAC 4 into 1 with their "performance" baffle.
I like it...

Stock vs. performance baffle

I'd love to hear the difference between these two. Is the metal used for the performance baffle thicker?

Two-Bit · « **Reply #22 on:** April 10, 2012, 04:41:58 pm »

Quote from: Dimitri13 on April 08, 2012, 02:30:34 am

^No

I HATE the sound and look of the MAC once I had it for a while. With the baffle in, it sounds tinny. With the baffle chopped it, it's too harsh. With no baffle, the pipe is too large and doesn't have enough backpressure.

The stock 4-4 exhaust IMO is pretty ugly.

My favorite so far is:

Found it on the forum, but I can't remember what member posted it, but it was build by MotoGPWerks.

To me, this looks just like the Mac only with a Yoshimura label on it. Does this have a baffle in it?

Two-Bit · « **Reply #23 on:** April 10, 2012, 10:13:04 pm »

Has anyone ever put on the Mac 4 into 2 exhaust? http://www.jcmotors.com/p-10230-mac-performance-4-into-2-flare-tip-honda-cb550k-76-74cb500k-73-71-slip-on-exhaust.aspx

Greggo · « **Reply #24 on:** April 10, 2012, 10:29:48 pm »

Quote from: Two-Bit on April 10, 2012, 04:41:58 pm

To me, this looks just like the Mac only with a Yoshimura label on it. Does this have a baffle in it?

You would be amazed at the difference in sound. Those can be baffled, but that one doesn't look to be.

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #25 on:** February 21, 2014, 08:00:12 am »

Resurrection time.
Could members post sound bites of different systems? This would be great as I'm considering replacing my Motad muffler with something a little meatier.
What parts are needed to mate a cone engineereing muffler to my original Motad headers? The headers are stacked in a 70mm square formation.

alacrity · « **Reply #26 on:** February 22, 2014, 02:33:44 am »

I normally hate loud pipes... On other people's bikes. But on this one it just sounds right. Carpy's 4;1 ceramic coated pipe has a truly fun, raspy growl to it

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

dave500 · « **Reply #27 on:** February 22, 2014, 03:59:21 am »

the sound fidelity isnt carried well on computers with moblie phone capture etc,they all sound wrong,i think most 4-1 use a too short muffler?i used a straight through resonator for a while,i used a reducer in the outlet to cut the head numbing drone,as good a performance as anything less the looks?dig.
engine revving
anyone want to live next door to me?
heres that same bike a few years on and a couple of engines later with another sound,one open and the same pipe with a wrapped perforated tube straight through,the oval automotive ones are fine,a bit heavy and ugly though,speedway bikes always used them!
open then repacked
with the tube installed it sounds so much more tuned,they run better aswell,open pipes on the street are for dumbarses!

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #28 on:** February 23, 2014, 08:48:37 am »

I did some mods on mine. You are correct, camera phones don't capture the sound at all. It is much throatier than this sounds.

Modified Motad Honda CB550F

FunJimmy · « **Reply #29 on:** February 23, 2014, 09:50:03 am »

I like the Cone megaphone mufflers too.
Here's a 12" meg mounted to a Kerker header.
Sound clip coming real soon, but for a teaser, it sounds deep throaty and muscular.
Can't wait to wind it up to red. :-)

bwaller · « **Reply #30 on:** February 23, 2014, 10:40:37 am »

I like that mega Jimmy. The Mac header itself isn't a bad piece. I cut it off at the back of the collector and used one side rail of my swimming pool ladder to make a new mid-pipe and welded on a flange for a GSXR muffler. I'm not going to bring it out of hibernation to fire it up but it sounds like a mini GSXR, good exhaust note.

sourjon · « **Reply #31 on:** February 23, 2014, 11:42:52 am »

Quote from: bwaller on February 23, 2014, 10:40:37 am

That thing is drool worthy!

John

dave500 · « **Reply #32 on:** February 23, 2014, 11:52:48 am »

ive always liked that,the factory couldve made it?

FunJimmy · « **Reply #33 on:** February 23, 2014, 02:07:37 pm »

Quote from: dave500 on February 23, 2014, 11:52:48 am

ive always liked that,the factory shoud've made it?

+1

That just looks so a "Factory".

Airbusboy · « **Reply #34 on:** February 24, 2014, 05:40:12 am »

Guys I've been going crazy trying to find a pristine #4 pipe for my '74 CB550 so when you said Honda made another run of these pipes I was REALLY interested! Trouble is, I can't find WHO is selling them! Was this run done recently?

wowbagger · « **Reply #35 on:** February 24, 2014, 07:03:49 am »

I have to say I like the set of Winning Performance 4-into-1 pipes that came with my 500. They look good, sound good, and I can change the oil without pulling them.

It's alive! 1971 Honda CB500 cafe.

Two-Bit · « **Reply #36 on:** April 13, 2014, 08:47:15 pm »

Here is a link to my nerdy YouTube channel of just motorcycle stuff. I have put several videos of exhaust sound clips. Most of them being 4 into 2 Jardine exhaust. I think that all of the videos were made before I had a tune up, so it isn't running as smooth in the videos as it does now. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk1YoQGnzuvrwI2e7TSjPNA

Personally, I have always liked the look of 2 pipes coming out from either side of the bike. I have always thought that it looked more balanced visually. If I were actually trying to save weight and build a fast cafe racer, I would go for the 4 into 1.

Two-Bit · « **Reply #37 on:** April 13, 2014, 08:55:19 pm »

Quote from: FunJimmy on February 23, 2014, 09:50:03 am

I like the Cone megaphone mufflers too.
Here's a 12" meg mounted to a Kerker header.
Sound clip coming real soon, but for a teaser, it sounds deep throaty and muscular.
Can't wait to wind it up to red. :-)

This exhaust & bike look really nice. I usually don't like 4 into 1 exhaust, but I like this. It's nice and tidy and just looks like it is supposed to be on it.

News:

Author Topic: What is your favorite exhaust for the CB550? (Read 24276 times)

72500john