Arrggghhh.... what exhaust for 02 Superhawk?

bigshooter · Post by **bigshooter** » Thu Aug 12, 2004 1:00 pm

I bought the hawk a year and a half ago new for a first bike, and have been in love with it ever since. Even stock I think it sounds better than my buddies GSXR 750 with Yosh slip on, gotta live vtwin.

I am in a dilemma though. I almost went with the two brothers high mount full system, but now I'm reading that the aftermarket headers are pointless. I may break out the dremel or pay someone to take the restrictor out of the right pipe. Will I gain anything from the aftermarket headers? Also, who really makes the "best" slip on? I may stick with the two brothers as it has good sound, but I read about all these other brands and how good they sound. Remus, scorpion, ART, D&D, Moriwaki, maybe even Yoshimura. If two brothers is a bad choice let me know on that too... otherwise I may just shell out the money and be done with it. Also does anyone know where I can get a firestorm decal to stick on this thing? I was never a big fan of the superhawk name.

MDJ · Post by **MDJ** » Thu Aug 12, 2004 1:09 pm

Restrictor? what restrictor? didn't know the vtr was restricted.. does that apply to firestorm? man I can't have a 1000cc bike with restriction.

2 bros are pukka dude, set up more important as long as you get a decent brand I think.
My Micron cans with dyno jett kit makes 110bhp

bigshooter · Post by **bigshooter** » Thu Aug 12, 2004 1:15 pm

That's what I've read. I've never taken off the can to look down the pipe yet. If anyone can elaborate on this that would be great.

Pete.L · Post by **Pete.L** » Thu Aug 12, 2004 2:30 pm

Sorry Guys, it's not a restricter.
It is the end of the headerpipe from the rear cylinder which curves around to the front header. The joint where two are welded together has'nt been trimmed down.
Del put a post on here several months ago saying he had removed his and had no noticable power gains at all from doing it. Personally I think it has more to do with either balancing the gas flow between the two silencers or keeping the strength of the weld joint.

Pete.l
Or maybe honda was too lazy to trim them off

bigshooter · Post by **bigshooter** » Fri Aug 13, 2004 2:06 am

Well at least I know that now. Now i need to find someone who has replaced the headers completely then and see if it's worth it. That may help decide on exhaust.

DD · Post by DD » Mon Aug 16, 2004 8:30 am

Now I did know of that restrictor in the headers, but I have also been told about one in the inlet manafold. Its something like this, Theres a restrictor like a large washer with a smaler hole in it restricting the air flow into the carbs....yes or no?
Anyone cear to alaberate..... I believe its there for emisions and the Jap hp restrictions.

Pete.L · Post by **Pete.L** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 9:37 am

Sorry DD
We don't have a restricter in the UK model.

But I don't know much about other countries spec so maybe someone from across the pond can elaborate.

Pete.l

DD · Post by DD » Mon Aug 16, 2004 10:26 am

Pete.L wrote:Sorry DD
We don't have a restricter in the UK model.
But I don't know much about other countries spec so maybe someone from across the pond can elaborate.

Pete.l

Well its not so much as a restrictor but just the way Honda build the carbs etc. Umm from what I've been told all Storms have this it dosent stop performance its just that (aparantly) with them taken out (they are vaulcanised into the intake manafold rubber) you get a better air flow but proberly need to richen the carbs up a bit.

Maybe theres some one out there that has removed the rubber intake manafolds and can explain this beter than me.

Pete.L · Post by **Pete.L** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 1:52 pm

I've had the carbs out loads of times and haven't noticed anything. There is a lip for the carbs to seat into but once the carb has been pushed home it looks like the diameter of the carb is the same as the rubber inlet manafold.
Egg on my face if it's not

Can anyone else with a better memory than me confirm this?

Pete.l

thehazmatguy · Post by **thehazmatguy** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 8:45 pm

The "restricter" he is talking about isn't in the carbs, it is in the exhaust. Remove the right side slip on and look down inside the header. You will see it.

My opinion is to just buy the Two Brothers headers and be done with it. The headers don't make a big difference performance wise, but do sound deeper. And the stainless steel headers look light years better than the stock exhaust.

I don't understand why so many people get hung up on "the best exhaust" question. Take a close look, and you see there isn't that big a power difference from one exhaust to another. When I have seen magazines fit 3 or 4 pipes to the same bike, the power difference just isn't that big. My opinion is get a pipe that you like, looks good and has the sound you want. I understand people wanting to make the best purchase, but if 2 - 3 horsepower is a big deal.. maybe re-evaluating your bike purchase is in order?

The fit and finish of the Two Bros. pipes is kinda cheesy, but that is what I purchased. After I saw the X-metal on a yellow bike, and heard how deap and throaty the Two Bros. pipes are, I was sold. And, as far as I can tell Two Bros. is the ONLY company that sells the headers separate so you can make a full system later, after buying slip-ons.

Good Luck!!!

thehazmatguy · Post by **thehazmatguy** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 8:52 pm

bigshooter... one more thing...

Since you have a Superhawk, I assume you are in the US. Canada is the closest place to get Firestorm stickers and bodywork. Keep a close eye on Ebay, I purchased a complete Firestorm body kit (fender, tank, headlight, taillight, fairings, seat, etc.) for about $600. Then, you could turn around and sell your superhawk stuff on ebay for about the same amount, or have trackday bodywork.

bigshooter · Post by **bigshooter** » Sun Aug 22, 2004 4:47 am

Thanks for the responses, been on vacation for a week so I haven't checked up. The main reason I was asking for the "best" exhaust is that I haven't seen or heard another superhawk in town here. I have nothing to base my choice on. I think I'm going to just go the two brothers route as long as I don't get dumb and trade the hawk in for a cbr in the spring.

stu9000 · Post by **stu9000** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 3:06 pm

My Brother got a 2000 CBR6000. Black with a blue flame exhaust. V nice. Almost felt sad for the vtr who hadnt been washed for 3 weeks. So finally got round to getting some aftermarket exhausts. Do it do it do it. I got leo vinci titanium race cans 2nd hand. Straight through racing pipes that sound superb. No more (hopefully) idiots pulling out on me as I filter. And the head turning booming exhaust note makes you remember why you liked twins in the first place. Oh and cleaning the bike was a good "mod" too.

bluesman · Post by **bluesman** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 3:27 pm

Don't know if it will help, just in case...
If you do not looking only for high-mount exhaust - I got my Firestorm (lucky me) second hand with nice pair of aluminium oval "Arrow" racing cans. It is Italian, but well made.
Got originals too.
So, I tried to compare and felt no difference in performance (at least - no noticeable).
But sound......
Arrow is known for good sound, but on Storm they exelled themselves - it sounds like good Duke with Termignoni can minus clutch rattle

, so impressive that my friend who helped me to take bike from previous owner got converted into V-twin fan, and to extreme extend - he went and bought himself second-hand Storm without selling his touring bike, just because he wanted same sound...went into red credit zone for couple of months

Only downside is that my cans do not have removable baffle, so if I will ride to Germany I most certainly will be done for noise

VTR1000.ORG

Arrggghhh.... what exhaust for 02 Superhawk?

Arrggghhh.... what exhaust for 02 Superhawk?

I was getting the new bike blues

I got Arrows