Author Topic: Benji vs. Kerker vs. Mac  (Read 12294 times)

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Offline KB02

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Benji vs. Kerker vs. Mac
« on: October 31, 2007, 07:39:46 AM »
As my project nears a more consice direction in my mind, I have been thinking about exhaust.

The Benji's CafeRacer exhaust definately gets the vote for looks.
http://www.benjiescaferacer.com/exhaust.html

The Kerker has the "Quality system without completely breaking the bank" vote
Kerker at Dennis Kirk

The MAC wins the "I'm crappy but within budget" Vote.
Mac at Dennis Kirk

What do you all think. Any performance gain one way or another?
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Offline MRieck

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Re: Benji vs. Kerker vs. Mac
« Reply #1 on: October 31, 2007, 07:51:02 AM »
 Out of the 3 I'd go with Kerker Bob. Put a 1.5 comp baffle in it too.
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Offline ekim98

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Re: Benji vs. Kerker vs. Mac
« Reply #2 on: October 31, 2007, 07:58:16 AM »
If you are just going to put the exhaust on and use as is the mac will do, but if you want to fine tune your exhaust(get the max. preformance) then the others are the way to go.
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Offline gerhed

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Re: Benji vs. Kerker vs. Mac
« Reply #3 on: October 31, 2007, 08:00:32 AM »
I like my MAC--plenty loud, good chrome and thick metal.
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Offline mikedialect

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Re: Benji vs. Kerker vs. Mac
« Reply #4 on: October 31, 2007, 08:02:52 AM »
I like my MAC--plenty loud, good chrome and thick metal.


nice bob's sticker :)
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Offline tinyrobot

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Re: Benji vs. Kerker vs. Mac
« Reply #5 on: October 31, 2007, 08:04:39 AM »
You could buy the Kerker and a few different baffles and jetting kits for the price of Benji's set up (unless twins are the look you are trying for).  I would go Kerker, in fact that will be mu next purchase for my bike as well this coming winter.

Offline MRieck

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Re: Benji vs. Kerker vs. Mac
« Reply #6 on: October 31, 2007, 08:15:53 AM »
You could buy the Kerker and a few different baffles and jetting kits for the price of Benji's set up (unless twins are the look you are trying for).  I would go Kerker, in fact that will be mu next purchase for my bike as well this coming winter.
My thought too. Actually you'd just need the 1.5 baffle. You could also purchase K&N individual filters or a OEM K&N filter for the price of the 2 into 2.
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Offline Badger 5

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Re: Benji vs. Kerker vs. Mac
« Reply #7 on: October 31, 2007, 08:17:07 AM »
I'm a sucker for the peashooter.  I'll be getting the Benji system next spring.  I have to save up my pennies but I like it so much that I would regret getting anything else.
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Re: Benji vs. Kerker vs. Mac
« Reply #8 on: October 31, 2007, 08:17:33 AM »
If you're not looking to squeeze that little extra unnoticable performance out of your bike just get the Mac and save some green. The mac is good quality you just dont get the cool name.

Offline Geeto67

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Re: Benji vs. Kerker vs. Mac
« Reply #9 on: October 31, 2007, 08:17:58 AM »
I like my MAC--plenty loud, good chrome and thick metal.


good chrome?!?!?! must be some good drugs to have you believe that.... Mac is known for crappy chrome. Heck even their black paint is pretty thin and somewhat crappy. There is a 1 year old mac on a 73 K3 I just picked up from a friend. Already it has rust and not just that light surface stuff either, I was there when she put the pipe on and I can't believe that it is the same pipe.

If you are going to go with mac - get black and before you even use it put a good coat of hi-temp black on it. I will say this, the mac has a pretty sound to it, much more mellow than the kerker I have and not as loud (although still loud when you get on it).

I am very pleased with the kerker I have on a 78F. It hauls the mail and then some, looks great, and has yet to rust despite spending over two years living outside parked in brooklyn at the hands of another friend who owned the bike before me. My only complaint is at idle it is still a little loud, which makes it hard to sneak in at 3 am. The neighbors have a new baby and so far I have woken it up 3 times with that bike.

The one and only reason I would choose a benji setup is: STAINLESS STEEL. So my question is how long to you plan on owning your bike? I usually keep bikes I like for decades so for me a benji system makes the most sense. Never have to worry about corrosion, plus it looks pretty good and I know how peashooters sound so I imagine it doesn;t sound too bad either (although I don't really know on a cb750). If I were building a nicer than the usually nick and scrape riders I bomb around on I would probably go with that.

And by the way - y'all want to hear loud? come over and hear the RC engineering pipe I have without baffels, shook the windows in the garage and the bike was outside.
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Offline Badger 5

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Re: Benji vs. Kerker vs. Mac
« Reply #10 on: October 31, 2007, 08:20:09 AM »
And if you ask Benji can make them repackable.
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Offline CrisPDuk

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Re: Benji vs. Kerker vs. Mac
« Reply #11 on: October 31, 2007, 08:20:34 AM »
I went for the BCR pipes purely for the looks 8)



They were expensive, but the quality is superb, and the sound is just fecking awsome ;D
Unfortunately, the rest of the bike is currently a work in progress, but give it time ;D


There's definitely an improvement in it's ability to rev over the stock pipes, but compared to a Kerker or MAC system I don't know because I've never tried them :-\
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Offline MRieck

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Re: Benji vs. Kerker vs. Mac
« Reply #12 on: October 31, 2007, 08:43:58 AM »
 Sound certainly is a consideration. The 4 into 2 does sound very different from the 4/1. Personally I am partial to the 4/1. The 4/1 will be lighter as well.
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Offline KB02

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Re: Benji vs. Kerker vs. Mac
« Reply #13 on: October 31, 2007, 08:48:30 AM »
I used to have an old nighthawk 750 with a Mac Can on it. I was never really impressed by it. I kept trying to come up with way to "Fix" it.

I'll probably go with the Kerker. I love the look of Benji's pipes, but they're just so expensive.

I've got the stock 4 into 1 on my 76F and when I really get on it, I just feel the restriction in the air flow. Plus, with Mike's "head message" on the K8, (I can't wait to get it back  ;D ;D ) I'll need something a bit freer flowing.
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Offline ColinMc

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Re: Benji vs. Kerker vs. Mac
« Reply #14 on: October 31, 2007, 08:54:10 AM »
Another important consideration is whether you want to retain the stock passenger pegs. As far as I know the Kerker doesn't...not sure about the Benji system. I know for a fact the MAC does and you can get the MAC systems cheaper direct from MAC btw...I went with the MAC all black 4-1 for now, but plan on a 2-1 Benji style if I can find one that retains passenger pegs.
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Offline CrisPDuk

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Re: Benji vs. Kerker vs. Mac
« Reply #15 on: October 31, 2007, 09:08:24 AM »
Colin, the rear pegs fit fine with the BCR system, I just chose not to refit mine.
Besides if you're concerned about it just speak to Benji, the beauty of them being custom built is that he can set them at an angle to suit your requirements.  Compare Doug id's to mine for instance, and you'll see that his are at a steeper angle, and also slightly further apart, because that's how he wanted them :)

Partly because I have a Giuliari seat and a set of Hayabusa rearsets waiting to go on, but mainly because my 550 is for me, and I don't do sharing ;D


KB02;  Yes Benji's pipes are expensive (mine cost more than the bike by the time I'd paid shipping and import duty ::) ), but IMO they're worth every penny. The workmanship is flawless, the fit is spot on, and the chrome will never rust because there ain't any, they're stainless steel from header to tailpipe;D
« Last Edit: October 31, 2007, 09:12:03 AM by CrisPDuk »
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Offline ColinMc

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Re: Benji vs. Kerker vs. Mac
« Reply #16 on: October 31, 2007, 09:18:04 AM »
Well that seals the deal! Benji pipes it is...after christmas lol. What setup did you get? baffles or the "vintage sound" setup?
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Offline goon 1492

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Re: Benji vs. Kerker vs. Mac
« Reply #17 on: October 31, 2007, 09:35:37 AM »
man the benji's look sweet kinda like rockets just waiting for someone to lite the fuse :P, i'm am partial to the kerkers though they are niiiiice, my wifes 73 500 came with some old mac 4 into 2 (she got twice pipes!) and they look pretty sorry, on the flip side my 76 750k has mint condition factory 4 into 4's and they will hopefully help me with fundraising money when i get to get new 4 into 1 kerker. You'll have to post a sound clip of the benji's when you get them.  8) 8) 8)
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Re: Benji vs. Kerker vs. Mac
« Reply #18 on: October 31, 2007, 10:51:45 AM »
Dont forget about the X-Pipe! thats pure mad max look...

http://www.x-pipe.com/motorcycle.html
« Last Edit: October 31, 2007, 10:56:43 AM by Andoo »

Offline KB02

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Re: Benji vs. Kerker vs. Mac
« Reply #19 on: October 31, 2007, 12:16:50 PM »
I don't know about the X-Pipe... It definately looks different and I'm sure it has a quite unique sound... doesn't quite float my boat, though... so to speak.
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Offline ColinMc

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Re: Benji vs. Kerker vs. Mac
« Reply #20 on: October 31, 2007, 12:28:37 PM »
Yeah I like the retro look of the Benji pipes....BUT my FZ750 needs a new set of pipes...perhaps i'll give the X-pipe a shot for that. Again...not until after x-mas  :(
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Offline JMURACN

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Re: Benji vs. Kerker vs. Mac
« Reply #21 on: October 31, 2007, 12:42:59 PM »
ha i've been trying to find a 4:1 collector  that might work with hacking the stock pipes... or a 4:1 with a messed up muffler for cheap so i can make my own exhaust.  i found a guy in detriot with one, but he hasnt written me back yet!  bastards! 

I have 3 out 4 good stock pipes, and one pipe that rusted off at the muffler... the rest of it is good.  i dunno what i'm going to do! 

but i'd vote for the cheapest one... if they hold up well like people are saying, just do a color change to the can and call it a day... you can make them fit the theme of the bike with a little "fun" in the garage

Offline gerhed

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Re: Benji vs. Kerker vs. Mac
« Reply #22 on: October 31, 2007, 02:02:43 PM »
I like my MAC--plenty loud, good chrome and thick metal.


nice bob's sticker :)
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« Last Edit: October 31, 2007, 02:08:20 PM by gerhed »
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Offline seaweb11

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Re: Benji vs. Kerker vs. Mac
« Reply #23 on: October 31, 2007, 02:49:33 PM »
anyone have a side shot of that x system on a 750?

Offline MRieck

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Re: Benji vs. Kerker vs. Mac
« Reply #24 on: October 31, 2007, 06:32:05 PM »
anyone have a side shot of that x system on a 750?
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