I've been amazed and befuddled by some of the questions people have (mostly on FB...) about exhaust for the 350F. Thought I would start a thread that discusses some of the options, and hopefully get some responses for other options and/or people's experience. I just got a set of Busso colelctors and silencers but haven't mounted them, and have only heard one thing about them and... it wasn't good. So what are the options?
Stock, of course. The 350F came with nice 4-4 exhaust, the pairs on each side connected by a rubber grommet and clamp, and there was a small stop on the lower left pipe as well. Great option, but practically unobtainium -- although sets do pop up every once in a while for big bucks. Honda used thin metal for the silencers and they were quick to rot out, thus many people replaced theirs soon after buying them. The mounts for the original exhaust also have a space for a tab mounted to the passenger/pillion foot pegs that keep them from rotating.
Other 4-4 options include Busso and DSS. As of now (8/9/23) the Busso site is shut down but may reopen. They have received comlaints about customer service and fitment issues, and delivery time can be months not weeks as promised. Anyone mount them up? Someone on FB claimed that the Busso fit the early manufacture years ('72 and '73) but not '74, but I'm calling BS because I don't think there were any changes -- but someone let me know if I am wrong. DSS sells 4-4 exhaust sometimes, but they are out of stock. They occasionally offer OEM, but I believe they also sell aftermarket (Yamiya?). Will reprot when I try to set up my Busso exhaust, but it's going to be a while.
Another 4-4 option is to use the original collectors, cut them off before the muffler, and slip or weld on replacements. I have seen exhaust tips for VW bugs used, and they are the same diameter. Dunno about performance.
There are also 4-2 options, although I am not sure if anyone is making them now. They are generally slip on type and go over the original collectors once they've had the mufflers cut off. I believe Jardine made these, but I think there were others. cocktail shakers, open ended and turned out, etc.
For 4-1, one option is to use the stock set up from a 400F. They bolt on, but you've got to use pegs, brake lever, and linkage from a 400F. I turned the linkage backwards on one side and grind away a little to make it work smoothly. You will also have kicker issues -- it won't make it past the pegs. Mounting a 550F kicker will do the trick, although one person told me he counted the ridges in the550F lever mount and they were different than where it mounts on the 350F. I dunno, I just wedged a screwdriver in the slot to widen it a little and it seemed to slip right on and I haven't had any issues. This replacement will also entail some kind of mount for the exhaust in the read, but a simple metal bar with a 90-degree bend (for where the 400F exhaust mounts) on the inside of the passenger peg mount (with a little shim for angle) does the trick. You'll also need some kind of stop, but the same bar to mount it works for that. There is no interference with the center stand, but i shaved the loop off of the side stand as it interered with the linkage.
Other 4-1 options include period and newer stuff. I have a 350F with a Kerker mounted, and it works just fine but touches a ridge on the oil pan. Mac has been making 4-1 for 350F and 400F for ages, but IMHO they are pretty poor quality and rust out pretty quickly. Although I haven't tried Delkevic, they look and sound great and IIRC aren't much more than a Mac set new. I am not sure if there are inteference issues with the center stand with Delkevic, but not for Kerker or Mac, IIRC.
What won't work? 550 or 750 exhaust, SOHC or DOHC. Too big, different shape.
I'd be psyched to see this fill up with some brands or options, because those are the ones I have the most experience with. Let 'em fly.
