Stock XR650R and full exhaust system?

[philipstjohn]

What would be end result of putting a full exhaust system on a uncorked XR650R? Does the motor have to be tricked out to benefit from a full exhaust system? Its seems the only complaint people have with an aftermarket header is losing a little on the low end? If anyone has any experience with an uncorked XR650R with a full exhaust and would like to share it that would be great. Thanks guys...?

[HawkGT]

I've got a full Moriwaki system on mine. I might have lost some bottom end--never had it dynoed so it's hard to say for sure. I know I lost several pounds of weight and the sound is more agreeble (compared to the HRC tip it seems quiter with the s/a, louder without). Looks real nice too.

The Moriwaki is very well built and seemed a steal at $400 so I got it.

[Billahjack]

if you are looking for "bang for the buck" get a stage 1 or stage 2 cam. They are about $170 and you can probably get a shop to install it for another $100 plus gaskets (engine cover and valve cover). The stock exhaust flows well.

The cam will give you more top end than a full exhaust alone.

[BWB63]

I have tried quite a few on stock bikes and open bikes. If not on my bikes then on others, stock is all bottom end and falls off fast compared to anything else. That is because it steps down to a smaller diameter pipe just out of the head. Look for yourself. If you like the jump right off the bottom the stock header can't be any better for that but, after that it just does not flow well. If you are keeping the stock header on the bike then White Bros "E" pro meg is the way to go. Best compromise in getting more mid to high end power without losing to much low end would be the XR's Only header with (or whitebrothers header but, that is real hard to find) an R4 (white bothers) or T4 (Pro Circuit) muffler or Using the Pro Circuit is about the same with a powerbomb little better up top, (we still argue about that). I really like the bike with the Staintune full exhaust as well, very, very nice. White Bros header, White Bros "E" Series muffler, FMF Power core on a stock bike are all great. The Big Gun was a little flat on the bottom, we messed with the jetting but, it just wasn't that responsive but, great mid~top. Muffler fell off the bracket in a crash and spots of rust showed through the ceramic coating. The new setups are told to be better. How much power and where and how (the personality of the power) is the difference between these setups. How much power you see on the dyno has allot to due with the other mod's you add with the exhaust. Pumper carb., holes in the air filter cover, UNI air type filter, Jetting, spark....Once you got to the HRC kit (11:1 piston & cam), or just a bigger cam the Big Gun gave real good even power or once you go 680cc then the Full free flowing systems are the key. Moriwaki, Barnum's pro, Akrapovic exhaust, I have ridden stock bikes with the Moriwaki and Akrapovic exhaust but, there was a real lazy bottom end, the Akrapovic exhaust system wasn't as bad as the Moiwaki down low but, when we put the spark arrester in the Moriwaki it was better on a stock bike. Barnum's bike is 680cc and has his exhaust on it, it was a little more responsive off the bottom and dropped just a little on top compared to mine with the Moriwaki but, totaly different engines so hard to tell what would happen if the exhaust was switched. The Moriwaki is the lowest sound for the most exhaust flow but, it weighs a little more then the other mufflers. All weigh a lot less then stock. 3~3.5 pounds lighter in most cases. There are a lot of guys that haven't tried a pumper carb. or header muffler and will tell you that stock is great! It is not true for every type of riding. If you race or hual butt through the whoops the stock header sucks. You can gain over 5rwhp at about 6200rpm over stock with an after market header. This is not peek horsepower (that would be only 1~2hp) but in the upper rpm you do gain quite a pit. If you are dropping into a wash and need the power now to pop out the steap wall on the other side then the stock carb sucks and you need a pumper. The suspension just sucks stock and should be the first thing you change!

[loufish]

I have the complete T-4 system, and I did lose a little low end, and fattened up the mid-range. Now I'm a big guy, but a more average sized rider would feel less low end lost...

I have the un-cork kit, and complete exhaust, thats it(did replace the stock air filter element) and am very happy.

[JKL]

A full Akropovic exhaust with an Edelbrook carb and more airflow gives smooth power at all rpms. At higher rpm's it is most noticable and it gets loud.?

With some engine work it will get even better.

[loufish]

At higher rpm's it is most noticable and it gets loud.

Maybe I'm getting old, but the "too loud" bike thing is soo over for me...

[pgiinc]

it will run bad unless you open the air box/change carb boot/and jet it

[trailsurfer]

That set-up feels smoother because you have lost low-end power. The bike is actually slower.

[philipstjohn]

So, a XR 650R uncorked, stock motor, stock header- which is best- the White Brothers E series pro meg, T4 Pro Circuit, or the FMF Powercore? Any comments? Suggestions? Thanks guys... ?

[trailsurfer]

I have come to the conclusion that either leave it stock, with HRC tip, or use the FMF Q or maybe the Procircuit 496 (which is a better built muffler) to quiet it down a little which is probably the best way to go.

The only other viable option is a full Procircuit T-4 system along with other mods, and the one we can buy is not what Team Honda uses on their race bikes.

[philipstjohn]

I have come to the conclusion that either leave it stock, with HRC tip, or use the FMF Q or maybe the Procircuit 496 (which is a better built muffler) to quiet it down a little which is probably the best way to go.

The only other viable option is a full Procircuit T-4 system along with other mods, and the one we can buy is not what Team Honda uses on their race bikes.

I have a drilled out stock exhaust tip now. Bike seems to run great uncorked and jetted properly. I am in favor of toning down the volume if I do not have to give up any performance. It seems most would agree I am not going to gain any HP horsepower with an aftermarket exhaust. So, if horsepower remains the same, regardless of exhaust selection, why not tone it down?

[brp2004]

I initially was using a drilled out stock exhaust tip with proper jetting. After drilling it out it had more mid to upper end power, however it lost the low end power that the stock exhaust had and I didn't like the noise. I replaced it with a Procircuit 496. It replaced the lost low end torque and made the bike quiet. If you like the low end torque and quiet, then it is the way to go.

[BWB63]

I have a drilled out stock exhaust tip now. Bike seems to run great uncorked and jetted properly. I am in favor of toning down the volume if I do not have to give up any performance. It seems most would agree I am not going to gain any HP horsepower with an aftermarket exhaust. So, if horsepower remains the same, regardless of exhaust selection, why not tone it down?

If you are not running in the higher RPM and mostly grunting around, not looking to save weight, then the stock setup is the way to go. Only thing you will get going after market is less weight, eye candy and a lot less money in your wallet. There is a big gian of horsepower in the upper rpm's going to a more free flowing exhaust system. Not only does it show on the Dyno but, you can feel the bike keep on pulling from 5400 rpms on up were the stock exhaust just does not allow this. Not very many run the bikes hot and heat where they need this extra power. When pulling through the whoops mid to upper fourth this is needed to straighten out the bike when things get out of rythem. 2hp peek horsepower is not much when spending $500+ but, further up the rpm range there is a much bigger gain over stock drilled out muffler exhaust. If you are not riding/racing there then save the money.?

[trailsurfer]

That sounds just about right BWB63. I have never heard anyone who has put a full system on otherwise stock (uncorked) XR650R say, "oh my god-that thing really rips-what a difference"! And I think that is what we are all wanting to hear. Now maybe to save the 3lbs. or so difference and gain a little power, ok I might go for that. But I use my xr as a dual-sport bike and feel strongly that I want my bike as quiet as possible so that means a quiet muffler.

Procircuit's 496 is a muffler only, they don't have a headpipe to use with that muffler on our bike, which kinda sucks and really dosent make sense to me. Next, FMF Q, the other viable quiet muffler. We can get that with either the powerbomb head pipe or the hi-flo header. I have heard some say they were not really happy with the powerbomb but I'm not really sure why, would like more feedback on that one. I think the hi-flo with the Q might be one way to go and I might end up trying that.

I guess the only way to know is to just get one and try it out, probably won't ever notice the weight difference but what the hell, might end up happy. It's just so tough to be smart and leave these bikes stock and just ride with no problems. I was thinking about going with a full exhaust, stage 1 cam and opened side pannel and then I read Baja Bounds post and know he's very experienced and knows these bikes very well and realize for dual-sport, long distance riding where realibility is #1 it's best to leave it stock.

[pgiinc]

So, a XR 650R uncorked, stock motor, stock header- which is best- the White Brothers E series pro meg, T4 Pro Circuit, or the FMF Powercore? Any comments? Suggestions? Thanks guys... ?

I found the stoch with HRC tip to loud I got a deal for $150 on ebay for this Q2 And I love it sounds great(better)pulls great

[BWB63]

That sounds just about right BWB63. I have never heard anyone who has put a full system on otherwise stock (uncorked) XR650R say, "oh my god-that thing really rips-what a difference"! .

Well, I am saying for those that really push the bike it does make a real big difference going to a header/muffler (more free flowing then the 'Q') very few really take on the big whoops at brake neck speed but, you have to be one that pushes it up in the rpm's above 5400 to see the difference. But, it is not worth the money if you are not looking for the edge or racing. None of them even the 'Q' is worth the money for 80% of those that ride the XR650R, inless you want eye candy or less weight. If you want a tip that isn't as loud as the stock drilled out to two inches then the stock tip drilled out to only an inch and a half makes the bike a lot less noise without it plugged up. That just leaves the inner ring but, removes the inner baffle and leaves the spark arrestor.

[philipstjohn]

Well, I am saying for those that really push the bike it does make a real big difference going to a header/muffler (more free flowing then the 'Q') very few really take on the big whoops at brake neck speed but, you have to be one that pushes it up in the rpm's above 5400 to see the difference. But, it is not worth the money if you are not looking for the edge or racing. None of them even the 'Q' is worth the money for 80% of those that ride the XR650R, inless you want eye candy or less weight. If you want a tip that isn't as loud as the stock drilled out to two inches then the stock tip drilled out to only an inch and a half makes the bike a lot less noise without it plugged up. That just leaves the inner ring but, removes the inner baffle and leaves the spark arrestor.

This is my first XR650R. Where I live, most Honda Dealers do not even stock the bike. (I am a native San Diego, CA guy??) Since I never get to ride another 650R, or a bike set up different then mine, it is hard to figure out what works and what does not. I bought the bike with the suspension revalved and re sprung for my wieght. So, I probably will never appreciate the suspension work since I never rode or will be able to ride a stock bike. I am just looking for all you XR fans to give me feedback on what works. It sounds like I should buy a larger tank and some larger pegs, and new carb, or whatever but a exhaust upgrade. It seems money better spent then buying "eye candy". I do push the bike over whoops in the 4+ gear range, and tend to ride it like a "2 stroke" one buddy I ride with says. So, what should I do?

[BWB63]

Buy, an Edelbrock, IMS pro pegs, Steering stabilizer, Do something to move the bars forward and higher. Get some stickers, the small ones (if they are for something cool) add one horsepower, the mid size ones add 2~3 horsepower and if you are really looking to go fast gat a big sticker for 5rwhp!!!!?

(if you get to many sticker it can actualy slow you down)

[philipstjohn]

Buy, an Edelbrock, IMS pro pegs, Steering stabilizer, Do something to move the bars forward and higher. Get some stickers, the small ones (if they are for something cool) add one horsepower, the mid size ones add 2~3 horsepower and if you are really looking to go fast gat a big sticker for 5rwhp!!!!?

(if you get to many sticker it can actualy slow you down)

If you want I can send you all the stickers... Bike came with the BRP triple clamp upper w/pro taper mids... seems to be close for me... what about the carb? best bang for the buck?