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Using Standard exhaust on my H2 !

7.3K views 23 replies 12 participants last post by  H2Lou  
#1 · (Edited)
OK calm down I’ve not done it YET .
Prediction time . It’s only a matter of time before owners begin refitting factory exhausts back on their H2s , but don’t worry I reckon another 15 years yet before you start seeing it .

Being an owner of a CBX and buying an original R1 in 1998 I’m well aware of the obsession of owners 20 years down the line of having everything "factory standard " or "stock " . Last year I brought a mint 1998 R1 and always scan eBay for CBX and R1 parts and was genuinely shocked to see an R1 rear reflector sell for £200 , the very same ugly thing I binned in 98 within minutes of arriving home on my R1 (it took another week before the dustbin sized exhaust followed the same fate )
The uglier the item the rarer the it will be in the future, don’t say you weren’t warned.
 
#4 ·
I've kept all the original parts for my H2 as well as the book and the letter from Kawasaki telling me they were filling my order. I don't know whether it will have more value as a lightly modified UK speed record holder in the P/PB/1000 class, with all the photos and certificates, or a showroom stock original H2 from the first batch. I'm hedging my bets.

Years ago I was running a ZZR1100 in quarter mile sprints and doing quite well. After two seasons I thought the motor might be getting tired, the choice was a top end refresh or a new bike. The C3 model had just arrived so I decided on a new bike. This is what surprised me: I expected my dealer to offer a low price as it had been raced but he said he already had a customer who'd told him "if Bob ever sells his Kawasaki I want it". I got top dollar, so you can never tell.
 
#9 ·
I don't consider a bike a financial investment. That's certainly not why I got my H2s. Got them to have fun and to fit me. Therefore, I got rid of that boat moring of a Muffler which was just offensive to me! In its place is a muffler that looks factory, is light, sounds good and is more in keeping with every other component on the bike. Don't regret doing it and pretty sure that won't change.
That's my 2 cents worth.
 
#14 ·
Agreed, that exhaust is not only ugly it’s unbelievably heavy .
My 2015 is almost standard but the exhaust and the equally ugly number plate bracket had to go , at least the U.K. bikes are not fitted with the dinner plate sized reflectors , with that combination of monstrous carbuncles afflicting the looks of the H2 it’s a wonder I brought one ! Luckily easily remedied in half a day .

Despite the above statement it wouldn’t surprise me to find myself bolting all the ugly stuff back on in twenty years (if I can lift the exhaust at 75 .
 
#12 ·
Staying stock

I've always stored away my stock items and in general try to stay stock as much as possible for resale. On my 2018 H2 SX/SE I've changed out the muffler for the Akrapovic for looks and a little more air flow and put in a K&N air filter... that's it. I fantasize sometimes about flashing the ECU, but don't think I'll ever do it in reality as the MPG is bad enough as it is and I still might want to take a long tour with it.
 
#13 ·
You know, I think I remember Brock(?) mentioning that the ECU could be flashed for
MPG as well as performance. In one of his videos.
I've always stored away my stock items and in general try to stay stock as much as possible for resale. On my 2018 H2 SX/SE I've changed out the muffler for the Akrapovic for looks and a little more air flow and put in a K&N air filter... that's it. I fantasize sometimes about flashing the ECU, but don't think I'll ever do it in reality as the MPG is bad enough as it is and I still might want to take a long tour with it.
 
#16 ·
If I could find a quiet, good looking, lighter aftermarket exhaust that was a efficient as the stocker, I would consider it. Having had an original H2 in 73 with chambers, I will never ever have another loud bike. I ride hundreds of miles each time I take it out and the extra noise is mentally fatiguing, big time and we need to be as sharp as possible. It is a road bike, ultimate performance is not required, and if I can't ride around a few extra lbs .... well. I never ride more than 70% anyway. Also masking the noises the SC and the BOV makes would be a crime. It doesn't have a bad shape, it is just large. I didn't buy it for it's looks. Although it is the best looking motorcycle ever made IMHO.
 
#17 ·
Doesn’t have a bad shape!!??
I understand the quiet thing Ted but Jesus it’s outrageously ugly!
Honestly the laughs the H2 comedy silencer gets in the UK, I genuinely wouldn’t park my bike with that tumor hanging off it!
I’ve never, ever seen one fitted here. Ever.
We were thankfully given an option to junk it during original purchase [emoji4]
Designed at Japanese kindergarten on a chalk board! However, beauty is in the eye of the...[emoji106]


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#20 ·
Looks are subjective, actually believe it or not the comments I get from women about the pipe are actually positive (they look at things differently), the comments from men are mostly negative. I tend to trust a woman's opinion about looks much more than a man's. Women just love the look of the bike. The most positive comments are about the wheels.

I try not to comment on the looks of someone else's bike if I don't like it and I won't. But that Acro pipe is the ugliest thing ever hung on a motorcycle. Although it might help the looks of a Harley (I personally don't think anything can). Function before appearance. If I find a quiet, better looking, light pipe, I will probably buy it. Until then I will just have to ride around with people pointing and laughing, got nothing to prove to anyone.
 
#19 ·
Well, how about asking women about the stock muffler? More pluses then negatives in my country, mind you, most men need a woman to tell them what to wear anyway. In saying that I am running an Austin Racing Muffler if you can call it that. The H2 has destroyed the primary baffle but quick repair with boiler rope shut it up somewhat.
 

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