Overpriced Header Pipes

Put me down for one

You're not paying for a piece of pipe, you're paying for a custom designed exhaust header proven to imporve performance and throttle response whilst also helping to reduce noise. This is why they cost more than a normal mandrel bent piece of tube.

That said, I agree, they are still too expensive and should be brought down to reasonable pricing levels. The thing is this will not likely happen as one of the first things people do when they geta new bike is go an buy an exhaust for it, myself included, despite the fact the money would be better spent suspension or a stack of tyres to go riding with.

You can get a company to copy an existing set up, but it won't be very easy from a picture. The headers are also stainless steel and not Titanium.

moto said:

You're not paying for a piece of pipe, you're paying for a custom designed exhaust header proven to imporve performance and throttle response whilst also helping to reduce noise. This is why they cost more than a normal mandrel bent piece of tube.

That said, I agree, they are still too expensive and should be brought down to reasonable pricing levels. The thing is this will not likely happen as one of the first things people do when they geta new bike is go an buy an exhaust for it, myself included, despite the fact the money would be better spent suspension or a stack of tyres to go riding with.

You can get a company to copy an existing set up, but it won't be very easy from a picture. The headers are also stainless steel and not Titanium.

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My Akrapovic is titanium for sure, don't know about FMF...


That said, I also totally agree that the prices are a joke. Take look at Wings for instance, they make mufflers just as good as the Akro ones but for almost half the price.
KTM, in the 2012 powerparts catalouge, are offering Sebring exhausts next to the Akrapovic "as a cheaper tuning entry-point". Guess they are starting to think the same thing.

brian011952 said:

Personally, the fabricator who builds my vintage exhaust pipes does a great job, and I'm quite sure the difference between his header pipe and the overpriced unit when placed on a dyno would be minimal. If you aren't in the running for the number one plate and a full factory ride, I'll bet you would never know the difference between the overpriced FMF/Akoprovic unit. I don't have a dyno at my disposal, but it would be fun to build one and do a comparison test.

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You are quite right. At the same time though the difference between your fabricators header (or the akro/FMF/DOMA one) and the stock is negligable in terms of usable performance anyway. So, using your logic, unless you are running for the number one plate why bother with getting someone to build a header at all?

But now you're talking about exhaust systems as opposed to just a header like you stated in the start of the thread.

Most of the gains to be had will come from replacing the muffler (or cutting the stock one) in order to make it free'er flowing. This is common knowledge. The header pipe alone does very little to improve performance.

My point is, the gains from recognised manufacturers for both the header AND muffler are still relatively small. With the header contributing the smallest amount of the two components. This being the case, no matter how good your fabricator is, you'll be spending moeny for very little gain.

I bought an FMF muffler to help with the heat build-up issue and for better sound as it doesn't do much much for performance. I wouldn't pay anything for a header because it will do even less.

I would buy a header pipe when I damage the stock one and a weight saving would be important and also a performance gain.
I have the Akra muffler and am looking at the FMF header and midpipe to go with it.
If it gets a little quieter that would be great also.
Apparently there is an import tariff on titanium into the US and that is why the Akra is so expensive in N. America I was told.

brian011952 said:

You're probably right about the header pipes, but then why do so many people buy them? I guess because we are addicted to bling!

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Yep! I'm not saying they are bad, I'm just saying if are moeny concious or are looking for a real performance gain it would be money better spent on new tyres.

If you want bling and for your bike to look like a factory rider (who deosn't) then why the hell not. Since you were looking at getting your own made I took it that you were looking for the performance gain without the cost.

As far as weight savings go I wouldn't bother either, you could shave your pubes and save as much. If you already shave your pubes then maybe take a big **** before each ride for the same effect. You wouldn't notice the weight reduction.

The reduced noise from the megabomb may well be a draw for some and I agree, if I mashed my header I'd buy an aftermarket one too, you may as well, they are cheaper than stock.

Hmm....try to hack up a $200 ghetto exhaust for the newer 70deg motors and tell me if it works better than stock LOL.

I've got FMF titanium header and mid-pipe + Akra slip-on combo on my 570. Alot lighter than stock and more power and torque everywhere. You get what you pay for.

My friend has full titanium Akra on his -10 YZ450F, and that exhaust is just work of art. Yoshimura, Akra, Leovince etc. full systems for sport bikes are easily $1000 to $3000, so 500-900 for dirt bike is not that bad!

I had $2500 Yoshimura Japan full ti system on my old gsxr...again work of art and really lightweight + nice power gains.

Do you even know how much R&D Akra takes when they design exhausts for one bike model? Tons of dyno time and alot scrap models which ultimately is sh*t tons of $$$$ and time for one working product. All exhaust work differenly and give different performance gains and power delivery charisterics. One likes Akra for nice smooth rideable power and one likes FMF for nice peak figures and top end rush.

But hey, if you can get Akra quality and performance gains for $200 count me in! I'll buy a whole backpack full of 'em and sell them for nice profit.

I'm with you Brian, however, the price of anything is what people are willing to pay. Since people keep paying for the products at this price point why would any business reduce it?

Look at KTM here in Aus, stupid expensive prices and they whined for ages about not being able to drop price when asked. Now everyone buys from the States look how quickly they cut prices to try and compete!

IMO, 98% of dirt bike riders don't possess the skills to use even close to 75% of their bikes potential, yet they think the stock exhaust is crap and is somehow holding them back! You exhaust guys crack me up. Just try to hang with my buds and I with our stock pipes in the tight, dangerous Idaho single track! :lol: Yes, we go fast! First you'd poop your pants, then you'd wish the factory wouldn't have put on such a high performance exhaust! Prolly spend $900.00 on an FMF de-tune kit. :mrgreen:

F'n benchracers............ :jerk: :ky:

^
Ever thought about that some people ride supermoto and stock bikes just doesn't cut it on long straights or street?
I can honestly admit that I can nowhere near ride what the 570 is capable of even in stock trim, in the woods or single track. Power is not mandatory there, more likely skills and smaller bike to begin.

If I would ride mx I would buy a new 250, rather than 450. Because my skillz sucks and 450's are way too powerful for me to learn.

On the street I like all the extra power I can get from my 570 and I do like 5th gear power wheelies or some wheelspin on dry tarmac. 8)

Not everyone buys exhausts for just huge power increases. Most get them to have less weight. Nowdays sport bikes oem exhausts are DAMN heavy and make the bike harder to turn. I lost close to 23lbs with my gsxr's exhausts and maybe 5-8lbs with Berg exhaust.

Less noise but still not restricting flow and making the bike run cooler and having a different power delivery charisteric. -10 yz450f stock exhaust was really peaky in the mid range and the bike was very hysterical to ride with alot wheelspin.

Full Akra made the power delivery alot softer and smoother, giving same time really nice top end boost all the way to rev limiter. Bike was immediately easier to ride, and ask that from other yz450f riders who installed Akra. They tell the same story.

Oh, and did I already mentioned the build quality that comes with Akra? Second to none.
Even my FMF that looks good and is better quality than oem exhaust, is nothing compared to Akra.
So the C63 AMG and R35 GT-R owners who have $5000-8000 Akra exhaust on their cars are benchracers, or the Panigale owners with over $3000 system (Ducati full systems are darn expensive) buy them for their 200hp spaghetti rockets are just plain stupid?

It's not all about performance every time...some owners prefers the quality to look at, and they can afford that quality. Some of you need to look the image from bigger scale and come out of your sandbox enduro playground.

logjump said:

IMO, 98% of dirt bike riders don't possess the skills to use even close to 75% of their bikes potential, yet they think the stock exhaust is crap and is somehow holding them back! You exhaust guys crack me up. Just try to hang with my buds and I with our stock pipes in the tight, dangerous Idaho single track! :lol: Yes, we go fast! First you'd poop your pants, then you'd wish the factory wouldn't have put on such a high performance exhaust! Prolly spend $900.00 on an FMF de-tune kit. :mrgreen:

F'n benchracers............ :jerk: :ky:

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Spoken like a true bench racer :lol:

I can't remember one person that has told me they 'go hard' actually goes really hard when you meet them. The people that can ride don't feel the need to seek the admiration of people on the internet because, like it or not, they get it on the trail.