Pappy
11-30-2004, 09:18 PM
Well, it took me over 5 months to try out 3 different pipes on the 450R. I dont have any fancy dyno numbers, just seat of the pants feel:p
I started out with the HMF Bill Ballance pipe. This pipe worked well, it smoothed out the 450R and felt like a decent gain. The fit and finish were superb. The noise level was a bit more then I could handle for trail riding and the small amount of racing I manage to get into.
Second up was the highly touted White Brothers E2 pipe. They claim this pipe is 96db and it seemed to be alot quieter then the HMF. It came with 2 different end caps...1 for race and 1 for quiet riding. There was a small difference (atleast to me) regarding the db limit but i felt no change in power. The biggest draw back to this pipe is it's billet mount on the silencer. It is weak and although I didnt break mine others have not been so fortunate.
Third pipe is a full blown Curtis Sparks. This is on par with HMF all the way. The power felt less down low but really pulls hard thru the mid to top. Id bet to say that on a modified engine this pipe would be right at home.
I was happy with all 3 pipes, with exception to the noise levels. The White Brothers needs to have its mount redesigned but other then that all 3 made good power.
I did like the length of the White Bros. and feel it would be a decent all around pipe. The HMF is probably the best bang for the buck for the average rider/racer, with the Sparks pipe taking the win in the bad atitude department. i dont know why but it just looks like a performance pipe:p
So there is my unbiased take on 3 popular systems.
I started out with the HMF Bill Ballance pipe. This pipe worked well, it smoothed out the 450R and felt like a decent gain. The fit and finish were superb. The noise level was a bit more then I could handle for trail riding and the small amount of racing I manage to get into.
Second up was the highly touted White Brothers E2 pipe. They claim this pipe is 96db and it seemed to be alot quieter then the HMF. It came with 2 different end caps...1 for race and 1 for quiet riding. There was a small difference (atleast to me) regarding the db limit but i felt no change in power. The biggest draw back to this pipe is it's billet mount on the silencer. It is weak and although I didnt break mine others have not been so fortunate.
Third pipe is a full blown Curtis Sparks. This is on par with HMF all the way. The power felt less down low but really pulls hard thru the mid to top. Id bet to say that on a modified engine this pipe would be right at home.
I was happy with all 3 pipes, with exception to the noise levels. The White Brothers needs to have its mount redesigned but other then that all 3 made good power.
I did like the length of the White Bros. and feel it would be a decent all around pipe. The HMF is probably the best bang for the buck for the average rider/racer, with the Sparks pipe taking the win in the bad atitude department. i dont know why but it just looks like a performance pipe:p
So there is my unbiased take on 3 popular systems.