Hey guys, been lurking around this board some time now, just finally got around to starting to work on the bike. Just did the seat spacer mod and wow, what a difference! No more sore butt-bone. Anyway...

I know this question has been asked plenty before, but since I'm new, I don't have stones the start cracking away gung-ho. Doing this on past autos has only left me with more problems.

When I bought this (my first) bike, I didn't happen to look at the exhaust itself. The bike started up, sounded to me like it ran okay, had everything it needed to pass NYS inspection, so I picked it up for more than I care to share. Upon closer inspection, I found that someone modified a harley sportster exhaust by cramming it full of steel wool and bending the mount so that it would fit the frame.

Steel wool? Really? I have a lot to learn. I knew that wasn't right, and probably not doing my bike any good, so I took that off entirely, and put another sportster exhaust on unmodded I got from a friend. I know nothing of tuning and rejetting, so now it sounds like an oversized popcorn maker. Way too loud, sounds like I tried making it into an ghetto mans HD. Really ugly, kinda embarrassing.

I was thinking of going to a muffler shop and getting a longer, more streamlined pipe and wrapping it. Would I have to replace the header pipe in order to make it one solid piece, or some other way? I know that Serowbot posted a rather long and detailed tuning guide, which I studied at length but never actually put into practice. New guy jitters, I suppose.

Cash is really tight right now (recently unemployed) so I want to save myself from going back to the stealership for something I should learn how to do on my own. In other words, help me clean up someone elses mess.

Steel wool? Really? C'mon...

I've considered getting the jardine, I may save my pocket change and do so. I would like to do something in the meantime so people don't think "Jiffy Pop" every time I ride by. I attached a photo of the mess Im dealing with...

Having just installed Jardine rumblers.... i should have done the dyna mufflers.

And btw as I person who was in your situation and finally took a leap into carb jetting. It is not that hard! ( http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?board=tech;action=display;num=1191899985 ) this was very helpful for me and it very much guided me through it.

Also this should be useful for you(its from the companion cd available in the tech section): http://imgur.com/a/knj1F

The hardest part for me was removing and reinstalling the carburetor in the very tight area its in.

It looks like you might have exhaust leaks as well... so maybe doing the exhaust tin crumple gasket mod will benefit you.

I have to admit, if this place has a wall of shame, that should definitely be up there, and Im embarrassed to have to show you guys such hack jobbery. Can't say its all my fault, rather, a lazy ex-owner, combined with a inexperienced new owner leads to such fails. So its time to do it right, hence why Im here. I do have another HD exhaust that will fit, but I don't know what sort of hardware I should use to ensure no leakage. Hardware store or bike shop?

I have $40-$50 to make this right. Can it be done?  :'(

Coaxial wrote on 04/24/13 at 17:36:02:


+1 I followed Serowbots Harley muffler guide to swap out my stock cannon for a harley Dyna muffler. Several ways to do it. I went to the local muffler shop and had an adapter pipe made for $15 Then I used the stock chrome trim. Take it apart, study it for a bit, don't rush it. You want it to be leak free so it won't backfire.

http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/87Savage/media/039_zps206e98e1.jpg.html?sor...

http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/87Savage/media/010_zps416442d0.jpg.html?sor...

Took a trip to a cycle shop around the corner... turns out they had a HD Dyna exhaust taken off a chopped Savage, quieted down the right way (apparently the other exhaust I had was drilled out completely, hence why it was so loud). $20 later, I was on my way.

Direct fit, no mods needed, did the tin can trick and success! No more grand canyon exhaust gap, no leaks whatsoever and saved me the $15 Suzuki wanted for the ring the campbells soup is mimicking. The sound is hushed at idle, though still has a nice dull roar mid and high end, exactly what I wanted.

Still, I would like to get a heat shield to cover the still-ugly joint, but being able to ride a nice-sounding bike is good enough for now until I can scrape the money together for the parts I want.

I came out $30 under budget and met some cool dudes I never knew were right around the corner.  

Good Deal!

Just order a 2" clamp on heat sheild....or go get one from those new friends down the stret.

Dave

Something like this.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Motorcycle-Cruise-Heat-Exhaust-Shield-Guard-Straight-...

& look up T-bolt clamp, Youll be amazed at the clamps available