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Four Pipes or Not Four Pipes; that is the question?
Otis:
Im certain this has been debated many many times but I happened to be a Kawasaki Dealership recently and did a double take.
In front of me was a brand spanking new 2025 Z900 with Four pipes. For a good few minutes I was just staggered at what I thought was an original 1970's legend until it dawned on me that this was a new bike. The Salesman informed me that the Four pipes were an optional extra for £2K and Kawasaki cannot believe how this bike has been received.
I am very old school and believe that there should be a pipe for every cylinder for no other reason than balance and aesthetics. (Ha,ha I know someone will bring up the triples but hey ho). Through the 70's; 80's; 90;'s and to date I have never seen any attraction for going multi cylinder into one pipe. I completely accept that beauty is in the eye of the beholder but I would love to receive comments from the enthusiast's for reducing pipes.
Happy and safe riding.
Cheers
Graham
Bryanj:
I agree, back in the 70's only reason for replacing with 4 into1 or 2 was cost
McCabe-Thiele (Ted):
I always thought a 4 into 1 silencer was to improve the exhaust extraction due to the back pressure in the exhaust system.
On cars a replacement manifold for the standard cast ones was a nice curvy manifold that paired the right cylinders together for maximum extraction into the rear silencer.
On tuned ADO 15 Minis BL special tunings answer was the long center branch manifold with a Y piece pipe at the bottom as it was cheaper than a decent Mangoletsi super curvy system, other considerations included chassis/body clearance.
Ken4004:
--- Quote from: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on November 20, 2025, 03:42:12 PM ---I always thought a 4 into 1 silencer was to improve the exhaust extraction due to the back pressure in the exhaust system.
On cars a replacement manifold for the standard cast ones was a nice curvy manifold that paired the right cylinders together for maximum extraction into the rear silencer.
On tuned ADO 15 Minis BL special tunings answer was the long center branch manifold with a Y piece pipe at the bottom as it was cheaper than a decent Mangoletsi super curvy system, other considerations included chassis/body clearance.
--- End quote ---
A few years ago I bought a Z1000 fitted with a 4 into 1 Harris by the previous owner, now this was probably due to cost but I thought it looked and sounded amazing , the neighbours were less than enthusiastic but I’ll let you make up your own mind please see video I made when selling it on.
Please forgive the heavy breathing in the sound track!
https://youtu.be/JYC-xFpoFAg
I still am in contact with the current owner and he has now fitted an original exhaust at great expense
Otis:
--- Quote from: Ken4004 on November 20, 2025, 04:28:24 PM ---
--- Quote from: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on November 20, 2025, 03:42:12 PM ---I always thought a 4 into 1 silencer was to improve the exhaust extraction due to the back pressure in the exhaust system.
On cars a replacement manifold for the standard cast ones was a nice curvy manifold that paired the right cylinders together for maximum extraction into the rear silencer.
On tuned ADO 15 Minis BL special tunings answer was the long center branch manifold with a Y piece pipe at the bottom as it was cheaper than a decent Mangoletsi super curvy system, other considerations included chassis/body clearance.
--- End quote ---
A few years ago I bought a Z1000 fitted with a 4 into 1 Harris by the previous owner, now this was probably due to cost but I thought it looked and sounded amazing , the neighbours were less than enthusiastic but I’ll let you make up your own mind please see video I made when selling it on.
Please forgive the heavy breathing in the sound track!
https://youtu.be/JYC-xFpoFAg
I still am in contact with the current owner and he has now fitted an original exhaust at great expense
--- End quote ---
Quite the most stunningly lovely bike and the sound is amazing but just think what it would have looked and sounded like with 4 pipes?
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