Downpipe choices

[Buzz]

I'd still call 'em up direct and put them on the spot, "saw a set on Ebay for £130" and go from there.  I got these gaskets from Ebay for £5, just make sure the flanges are clean and not caked with crud, any pressure on the gaskets with a screwdriver when trying to seat them and you'll put a big dent in them, they're only thin.

[risticuss]

Aside for Motad/Venom and Sandybikespares, has anyone tried Delkevic.


I bought a set for my CBR and they seemed pretty good, but the ones they stock for the Fazer come in 3 pieces, Cylinder 1&2 together, 3&4 together and the collector, with spring clips to secure the downpipes to the collector. The header sections have the balance pipes on them. They have a 1 year guarantee and cost £180 so about average really.


I emailed them to see if they sold the 3 parts separately, as that was the only reason I could think that they would split them, in case the collector rusted through it could be replaced, but they only sell them as a set.


Anyone tried these or what are your thoughts on them?

[Skippernick]

I noticed this and thought it was weird, interested to know if anyone has bought them.

[Jules-C]

Easier to build as it doesn't have to be quite as accurate since the pipe to collector box will allow for slight misalignment?  Or easier to store and ship?

Some bikes that don't have one piece downpipes and collector box may require the exhaust to be fitted individually due to alignment of exhaust ports and frame frame tubes etc and Delkevic have got used to doing it that way?

[Fazerider]

For those that are interested in Delkevic downpipes, this is how my recent purchase worked out.
The advantage of the separate downpipes and collector design is clear, they fit in a surprisingly small box. In the absence of any included instructions I assembled them off the bike since those springs that hold the headers in the collector looked as if they'd need a lot of force. In fact, they need an amazing stretch... way beyond the elastic limit, i.e. they don't return to their original length once they've been pulled far enough to hook the parts together.





I then offered the pipes up to the bike, locating the downpipes into the cylinder head ports and loosely bolting the rear to the support under the footpeg, and found the fit was not all it could be.
For a start the headers run noticeably closer to the frame where they go past the steel coolant pipe. For most people that wouldn't be a problem, but I'd had to reposition the coolant pipe a bit forward to suit an aftermarket radiator and it was now stopping the left hand header from seating properly. After changing the spacer for the coolant pipe I was then able to get the headers to seal against the cylinder head ok.
Well... ok until I tightened up the rear bolt. The collector wanted to be lower, further forward and to the left of where it should be, with it forced into position by the bolt the strain was enough to cause the downpipes to leak at the head. Removing the rear bolt completely solved that, but I wasn't happy with the entire system supported on the header clamps and the strap hanger for the silencer... and suspected an MOT inspector wouldn't be either.





After an email exchange with Delkevic they advised that the springs are attached afterwards and the downpipes shouldn't be seated fully into the collector. So, after dismantling and assembling again, the fit is better but still not good. I've had to include a spacer of 5mm between the collector bracket and the footpeg support to reduce the sideways strain on the headers, the pipes are about 1 cm from being fully seated into the collector, the springs are about 3x their natural length… it's a bit noisy and I can't work out if it's still leaking at a joint somewhere.


Since Motad downpipes are accurately made so they bolt straight on and are less expensive, I now wish I'd gone back to them rather than experimenting.
Still, at least you don't need to make the same mistake. :lol

[Skippernick]

Interesting thanks for that fazerider, bad luck though :o

[unfazed]

Interesting, about Delkevic, I just bought a set before seeing Fazeriders problems.

I have exactly the same issue of the downpipes not fitting on the 600. The 2 right hand  pipes just will not fit in the head with the rear mounting tight and with the clamps tighten on the head the rear mount was 25mm away from the mounting and stuck up against the stand. :rolleyes

Wrote to Delkevic and they sent me a replacement set, spent 3 hours in the garage tonight and the new set have exactly the same problem, but this time the mounting is 18mm away. and touching the stand bolt. It is just the 2 right hand pipes again. There was to much strain when on the clamp bolts at the head when trying to pull the rear mount in and I am not going to risk foccing up the head bolts by forcing it. :'(

The reason I bought them was that I have fitted them to other bikes without any problem and know a few with fazers who have fitted them without any problems.
I have written to them again and sent pictures this time.
Will keep you all posted

[bandit]

Refund & get some Motad ones.

[unfazed]

That is the plan now, but I will wait to see what they say in the reply tomorrow first.

The quality is ok, but that foccing jig they are using to make them must be seriously misaligned  :rolleyes

[Jules-C]

Been waiting 5 weeks for new Motad downpipes after sending old set back for replacement under warranty, before sending them back they said they had FZS600 pipes in stock but by time it took the old pipes and they arranged courier to pick them up they had none left.  Took a couple of weeks for them to make a new batch and then they found they had used the wrong head rings.  New batch being made and should have a set next week.

Lucky I have car and access to other bikes or my 20 minute commute would've become  a 1 hour 20 minute bus trip each way!

[Fazerider]

Sorry to hear that, unfazed.


After I wrote to them initially Delkevic offered a replacement, but after another attempt at fitting them and getting a borderline satisfactory result I couldn't be bothered with organising an exchange and going through the fitting routine yet again. I also figured that since they're all bound to have been made on the one jig, they're all going to be pretty much the same anyway.
It's very disappointing that something priced at the top end of the pattern replacement market barely fits despite the flexibility allowed by the joints into the collector.


I just went out to take a couple of photos to give a clearer idea of what was necessary to make the pipes fit.





You an just about make out the extra nut needed as a spacer so the rear bracket doesn't get forced all the way over to the mounting point.







The downpipes were about 10mm from fully seated… and now I find that over the past couple of thousand miles the springs have pulled them almost all the way into the collector. Which probably explains why the thing sounds crap again: the leverage must have opened up slight gaps where the pipes clamp to the cylinder head.


I've just written to Delkevic again. I can't waste more time on finding new ways to bodge these onto the bike so I've asked for a refund.

[Jules-C]

No point trying a third set a you say since there is clearly a problem with their jig.  Shame when you spend the time and effort trying to get them to fit twice with no success.

The Sandy Bike Spares ones don't have a bracket for bolting to the footrest bracket but they are one piece, with the springs holding the pipes into the collector it is an essential part of the set up that it is aligned correctly.

Did Delkevic use a crashed bike with bent frame to build their jig?

[Fazer Forever]

I've got Delkevic pipes and can, bought seperately. Had them a few years but don't remember the pipes in three pieces, and I certainly don't have the springs,
so maybe they've changed the design. No problems with fitting and are lasting well.

[unfazed]

Delkevic were back on to me and are going to check the ones I returned as the second set had the same problem and will let me know tomorrow.
I did suggest possible jig misalignment since one side is perfect.
I fitted a set to a fazer over 3 years ago and do not remember having any problems.

[Inertia_v1]

has anybody tried the black widow exhausts on ebay?

Regards
Inertia

[Ebme Geek]

the shop on those is listed as "sandybikespares", not sure if these are what is refered to on here as sandy pipes and they have been re-branded.

I went with Motad when I changed mine, phoned them and quoted an ebay price, as others here have aswell.
Can't remember how long I have had them, but still happy 

[sinto607276]

the shop on those is listed as "sandybikespares", not sure if these are what is refered to on here as sandy pipes and they have been re-branded.

Exactly the same company my friend

[Inertia_v1]

Are they a good choice? Im new here and to bike mods in general, from what I have seen they all seem to have there own issues?

Regards
Inertia

[sinto607276]

Welcome to the forum,
Go here http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/board,5.0.html and introduce yourself and where your from etc and post some pics of your bike (always a good start) :lol

As far as exhaust pipes, it's all down to personal choice and wallet thickness

Presuming you've read all this thread (but there's loads more in this forum) you'll see there is problems with all aftermarket systems, it's just down to reading up and making your choice.

:eek And of course adding a silencer comes with even more choices :rolleyes

Only thing that is common throughout the threads is get stainless steel

And this will make interesting reading BEFORE you attempt to take the pipes off.
http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,16432.0.html

[Inertia_v1]

At the moment it's garaged with the engine out, broken shift shaft