• Has your topic been discussed? Check this quick video for search tips. You answer/info might already be waiting!

Exhaust choice

Ionutzu33

2015
CBR650F ABS
Aug 29, 2018
Hello,

I've got a CRBR 650F from 2014 and since last year i've been looking for an exhaust at a reasonable price to satisfy some of my more picky criteria:
- i want a deeper tone (similar to V engines or some inline twin ones), not the racy, higher pitched one
- i would like to improve it's small speed jerkyness
- preferaby homologated with catalyser (i'll get back on that one)

Since youtube sound videos are somewhat different from real life i hope some of you heard in real life some of them and can point me in the right direction.
What i've found so far that i thing would fit my requirements are:
Arrow Thunder https://www.arrow.it/en/assembled/1362/Honda-CBR-650-F-2014-2018
IXrace Z8 https://kglracing.com/shop/exhausts...br_650_f_14-_15_z8_full_system_inox_catalysed
Cobra Hypershots XL https://www.cobraexhaust.de/SPEEDPR...-EEC-ABE-homologated-Honda-CB-650-F-CBR-650-F

I had the Mivv GP on my list but after contacting Mivv they said it wasn't homologated for my bike (this year only the CB 650F).
In case of the Arrow i would have the option of making a cheaper purchase by getting the pipes from AliExpress, they should fit or need just minor adjustments.
In the case of IXrace i could tune the sound by removing one of the db killers or manufacturing a bigger bore one.
For the Cobra i've read both bad and good, some complain they get a midrange performance penalty. It;s big plus is that i can fit both a Euro3 or a Euro4 catalyser.

Since i mentioned the catalyser, to improve the small speed handling some said it improved with an aftermarket exhaust, but it's unclear to me if that happens with a decat or as well with a catalyser.
I'm somewhat against removing the catalyser since it increases fuel consumption.

Any input, oppinions and help will be highly appreciated.
 

Ionutzu33

2015
CBR650F ABS
Aug 29, 2018
I've been through most of them already and only asked what remains unclear for me.
- is the low speed handling improved by only an aftermarket exhaust or should it be without a catalyzer?
- cobra exhaust info is very scarce, not only on this forum but generally online
What i got from them is the Akrapovic exhaust is the most favored, but i don't like the sound of it. A lot of info on Two Brothers and Yoshi, but since i'm from Europe, they're mostly a NO.
Only conclusion i could draw is that Arrow is seen as the better quality one.
Power commander or dyno retune might be a necessary investment afterwards...

So, my questions still stand...
 

Road Hog

2014
CBR650F ABS
May 4, 2017
Thailand
Your right, there are many exhaust to choose from. I have the termignoni exhaust on for more than 3 years.

If i had to choose all over again it would be the same exhaust.I like the sound and i got my bike up to 250km/h

on a good road with no power commander.

 

Ionutzu33

2015
CBR650F ABS
Aug 29, 2018
There is a second hand termignoni on ebay. It doesn't seem to have that deeper bass sound i like but it's under which is good. That video is with or without db killer?
 

miweber929

2014
CBR650F
650 Alumnus
Staff
Feb 13, 2015
Woodbury, MN
Riding Since
1975
I don’t have a lot to add than has already been said. If you want your bike to sound deep like a twin, get a twin because a mid-size 4 will always sound like a mid size 4.

As far as a cat decreasing fuel consumption (or as you stated removing it will increase fuel consumption), there is no reason that having a cat or not has any correlation to fuel mileage. Two are simply not linked together as contributing factors.

Low speed fueling will be worse with a cheap pipe that provides little to no back pressure so the “lesser” R&D pipe brands will have crappy low rpm fueling. Your best bet for making that better is to leave your stock pipe on, get a PCV and have a decent racing shop build you a custom fuel map. You’ll have plenty of back pressure and you can undo the lean fueling that OEMs are forced to have to pass emissions.

Not what you wanted to hear, I’d imagine, but it’s what I know. If you are looking for the best pipe to get out of the ones you listed, I’d choose Arrow. But if I wanted my bike to have increased performance to actually gain something from dropping almost $1000 on a shiny bit, well, you know what I’d suggest.

Note: exhaust wise the CBR and CB are exactly the same, at least through ‘18. So if a pipe “fits” a CB, it’ll “fit” a CBR. Not sure if that helps you or not.
 

Ionutzu33

2015
CBR650F ABS
Aug 29, 2018
Thanks. It's just a prefference since i've previously had an yamaha fz6 with leo vince which was way to whiny and high pitched. Also I noticed when fitting the decat that it increased fuel consumption. Asking other mechanics around gave me the conclusion that an "empty" pipe would give you hp at the expense of extra fuel.

The sound of the bike before that, an Kawa ER 6N with a Mivv Cone something was way better.

I know other exhausts made for the CB will work but i'll do extensive europe touring and hoped to avoid fines. Here in Romania it's not a big issue since a lot of riders go without baffles and some insanely loud pipes.

That being said, I'm bothered mostly by the quietness at low to medium d rpm and was hoping to smooth out it:s low rpm jerkyness (other suggestions such as throttle cable tightening was done).
 

Brammers

2014
CBR650F ABS
Staff
May 30, 2014
Hampshire, England
I've heard a TBR (because I have one), an Akra (both baffle in and out) and an Ixil in person.

Akra has a lovely note, but too loud with no baffle. TBR is similar, very throaty but damn loud without the baffle.

Ixil is just a screamer and didn't excite me at all.

J
 

RoadSafeRider84

2018
CB650F ABS
Jun 13, 2018
I've heard a TBR (because I have one), an Akra (both baffle in and out) and an Ixil in person.

Akra has a lovely note, but too loud with no baffle. TBR is similar, very throaty but damn loud without the baffle.

Ixil is just a screamer and didn't excite me at all.

J
Do you know if any of these fair the test of time better than another?!
 

Brammers

2014
CBR650F ABS
Staff
May 30, 2014
Hampshire, England
Akra is all stainkess/titanium so that will go forever.

My TBR is showing some signs of age, and I've just repacked the can. The carbon on it looks as new. The paint on the end piece is flaking, but that's an easy part to fix/replace.

J
 

Ionutzu33

2015
CBR650F ABS
Aug 29, 2018
Quick update: I got the Akra (mini gun type exhaust model) and it's great. Caught a great deal on ebay. Tone is deeper and nice, sort of complements the engine sound. I was surprised it wasn't so loud (baffle in, no cat) but it's enough.

As mentioned akras should past the most. I've seen second hand ones on bikes from 94. I've seen videos of Tbr broken especially on the joining point between baffle and pipes or the part holding the db killer. Ixil should last, but i woudn't bet on it considering the price. A friend had one of those dubble barrel ones second hand slip on and it kept up pretty well.

I hope this helps
 

Brammers

2014
CBR650F ABS
Staff
May 30, 2014
Hampshire, England
Most of those TBR videos are of older cans - they used Carbon that wasn't thick enough with bad results.

The tarmac can that the 650f uses is made differently and will last, just take care of the painted parts.

J
 

Drewster123

2017
CBR650F ABS
Feb 16, 2018
Akra is all stainkess/titanium so that will go forever.

My TBR is showing some signs of age, and I've just repacked the can. The carbon on it looks as new. The paint on the end piece is flaking, but that's an easy part to fix/replace.

J
Did you enjoy your repack lol
 

Brammers

2014
CBR650F ABS
Staff
May 30, 2014
Hampshire, England
It's even worse when you're putting new packing back in. Agreed the old packing didn't look too bad so it'll be a loooong time before I do that again.

TBR say every 3 to 5 thousand miles - yeah, right! Mine had even been on a Dyno, which TBR says you shouldn't do.
 

Drewster123

2017
CBR650F ABS
Feb 16, 2018
Ahah yeah mate it looks so easy, but its horrible a real pig of a job 😄. I think they must say that just as a fail safe ! My exhaust was used and i did at least 7k miles msyelf and the packing was fine.
 

RoadSafeRider84

2018
CB650F ABS
Jun 13, 2018
I had no idea that exhausts needed maintenance beyond cleaning and anti corrosion treatment. Do the standard exhausts need owt?
 
Top Bottom