CT Racing Exhaust - Revised Design

[Blodg]

I have been talking about the ordering of a new CT Racing 400EX exhaust in this thread http://www.atvriders.com/vbb/showthread.php?511522-2001-Honda-400ex-Exhausts but decided to start a new post now that I have received it.

I ordered a new CT Racing exhaust and it came in the mail yesterday and it is has a different design than shown on their website! This is the normal CT Racing EX pipe as shown on their website:
[url=https://flic.kr/p/rQKwzm]https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8685/16960603678_649fed2c2d_o.jpg

The one I just received does not have the reverse megaphone section between the head pipe and muffler:
[url=https://flic.kr/p/rbx7jp]https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7637/16528153883_2c8e2e3f98_c.jpg

[url=https://flic.kr/p/rP1Dgt]https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7683/16940919877_d797c50569_z.jpg

I am concerned with installing it as how do I know if it is going to have the great power and sound that the CT exhausts are known for? I emailed CT Racing and asked why they changed the design to do away with the reverse megaphone and how the power compares. I know it is less costly to manufacture without the reverse megaphone so I hope it wasn't just a cost savings.

I don't know for sure that the reverse megaphone design is better but it does seem that for the EX the best performing pipes in the comparisons and dyno tests were those with the megaphone like the CT Racing, Sparks, White Bros etc... Reverse megaphones can help exhaust pulsing and scavenging at certain RPM's but many other pipes don't use them so who knows? And I have to assume it will sound different too? I am waiting until I hear back from them but I am thinking of sending it back and just getting a Sparks although I guess it is possible this new design could perform better than all of them? In place of the reverse megaphone it has a two stepped diameter straight sections. This stepped enlargement is meant to create an exhaust gas wave that will spread torque over a wider rpm band. But the old design is proven, what do you guys think?

I also didn't get a clamp for between the two sections, do full exhausts usually come with them? For $600 I sure expected it to...

[CJM]

No clamps usually. I use copper rtv on my setups to make sure no leaks. Pipes should fit together snugly.

As for reverse megaphone: Yes it does make more power but I very much doubt its a heck of alot vs a standard pope.

[Blodg]

Oh, so you are saying you don't use a clamp at all between the two junctions CJM? This new one does have a nice snug fit but I still plan to use my old clamp but maybe it isn't needed.

And you are right on the difference in power can't be much as the difference between all the different pipes is usually only 1 or 2 HP. The only reason I bought this in the first place was to try a full pipe to see if the stock header with slip-on was holding it back some in the mid-range and top end. The peak HP difference is usually only a couple but the difference in the mid range can be 3 or 4 HP which is a lot for a 400.

I still think a stock header with skip-on is the right choice for a mostly stock motor but I want to try a larger diameter header with my built motor.

[Zakradu398]

Oh, so you are saying you don't use a clamp at all between the two junctions CJM? This new one does have a nice snug fit but I still plan to use my old clamp but maybe it isn't needed.

And you are right on the difference in power can't be much as the difference between all the different pipes is usually only 1 or 2 HP. The only reason I bought this in the first place was to try a full pipe to see if the stock header with slip-on was holding it back some in the mid-range and top end. The peak HP difference is usually only a couple but the difference in the mid range can be 3 or 4 HP which is a lot for a 400.

I still think a stock header with skip-on is the right choice for a mostly stock motor but I want to try a larger diameter header with my built motor.


You will not gain power from an aftermarket header vs a dremeled stock header unless you have an extreme build.

I noticed no difference from a dremeled stock header vs a fmf powerbomb. This was on a 406cc 11:1 comp, ti valves/springs/retainers, drag port, cammed, etcc..

[CJM]

Not needed at all for how tight it fits Blodg, I have CT on my 450R and the rtv makes for a really good fit besides being so snug regardless.

[MtnEX]

It appears to me that these pipes are no longer made by Supertrapp.

If so, this is a shame.

I am like the last person that is supposed to say so here, but the pipes designed by TC Racing and CT Racing built by Supertrapp were some of the best ever in my opinion.

I have moved on to Yoshimura now because of all of the changing around.

[Blodg]

MtnEX, the CT pipe still comes with a supertrap end cap and 12 disks but I also bought the open endcap. I don't know who actually manufacturers them.

I didn't hear back from CT on reasons for the design change. I did research the net and found one post where Bergstrom bought a new 450R exhaust from CT in 2011 and it was like mine without the megaphone. Strange that none of the pics on their website show the new design if it has been around that long. In that post the guy said he talked to CT and they claimed the new design was better than the previous megaphone version but who knows how true that is. I guess it is a positive sign that they are continuing to research and alter pipe designs instead of staying with the same old thing.

I went ahead and installed the new pipe tonight so no turning back now. I will fire it up tomorrow and take a spin around the yard and hopefully will ride for real this weekend.

[400man]

I think later on when I decide to go with a different exhaust, I think im gonna look into the gt thunder custom exhaust. http://www.p4quads.com/trx400ex%20exhaust.html

[Blodg]

I think later on when I decide to go with a different exhaust, I think im gonna look into the gt thunder custom exhaust. http://www.p4quads.com/trx400ex%20exhaust.html

400man, I have looked at the pics of that GT Thunder exhaust many times. I personally would only buy that pipe if I had an extreme build with a 440 or 452 stroker. The pipe diameter looks larger than other exhausts and the length looks short all which make a pipe flow very well and that helps with top end but hurts the performance lower in the rpm's. An exhaust that flows too much for the motor just hurts performance, just my thought. And as Lazarus warned, that sucker would be LOUD too!

[Blodg]

Here is a pic with the exhaust installed:
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8734/17000320518_da8e57a230_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rUg61s)ct pipe installed (https://flic.kr/p/rUg61s) by Blodg15 (https://www.flickr.com/people/94196939@N02/), on Flickr

My initial thoughts:
- bolted up and fit very well
- sounded similar to the HMF slip-on at idle, just a tad deeper.
- riding around the yard and slowly rolling on the throttle again sounded similar to the HMF slip-on
- I noticed the biggest difference in sound when I got moving and then punched the throttle, it definitely sounds meaner and has more "bark" than the HMF slip-on!
- power wise it seemed like the quad had a little more snap when I punched the throttle but overall acceleration felt similar
- the biggest difference in power seemed to be when I was in 2nd gear and when coasting I could go almost to a complete stop before it bogged and I was able to roll on the throttle and take back off. With the slip-on going that slow in 2nd it would bog more and maybe stall when almost coming to a stop if I didn't use the clutch.
- It is hard to tell in the yard, the real test will be when I go hill climbing tomorrow. I knew any power difference was going to be minor but if this pipe helps just a little when I have to back off and then get back on the throttle for a tree root, rut, or slight turn in the middle of a steep knarly hill climb it will be worth it. I have the quad geared down and it works great climbing when I am on the gas but sometimes bogs a little when I let off the gas and get back on it. Of course I then blip the clutch but if this pipe helps at all with me being able to stay off the clutch then I will be happy.

[Blodg]

I should have waited until I actually went riding to comment on the CT exhaust. I rode for 7 hours yesterday hill climbing at Wellsville and when you constantly on the gas going up hills it sounds nothing like the HMF slip-on. A little louder with a deeper tone and more bark as I said earlier. And the CT full exhaust definitely improved the power over the HMF slip-on where I could lug it lower and get off and back on the throttle on big hills without the motor bogging as much. Only time I had to slip the clutch was when slowing to maybe 5 mph to go around a tree on some of the tighter hill climbs.

I will say that I was jetted a little rich with the slip-on with a 190 main in the 450R carb so maybe the jetting is now more spot-on with the more free flowing larger diameter full exhaust. With the slip-on I was going to try 180 and 185 main jets but now that I went to the full exhaust I will leave it at 190.

[atvrider13]

I think later on when I decide to go with a different exhaust, I think im gonna look into the gt thunder custom exhaust. http://www.p4quads.com/trx400ex%20exhaust.html

You must not know that the owner of gt thunder passed away. So there is no more gt thunder

[DragonGunner]

I should have waited until I actually went riding to comment on the CT exhaust. I rode for 7 hours yesterday hill climbing at Wellsville and when you constantly on the gas going up hills it sounds nothing like the HMF slip-on. A little louder with a deeper tone and more bark as I said earlier. And the CT full exhaust definitely improved the power over the HMF slip-on where I could lug it lower and get off and back on the throttle on big hills without the motor bogging as much. Only time I had to slip the clutch was when slowing to maybe 5 mph to go around a tree on some of the tighter hill climbs.

I will say that I was jetted a little rich with the slip-on with a 190 main in the 450R carb so maybe the jetting is now more spot-on with the more free flowing larger diameter full exhaust. With the slip-on I was going to try 180 and 185 main jets but now that I went to the full exhaust I will leave it at 190.


Hope your happy with it then….I feel kinda bad you didn't get the cone shape, I had no ideal they had changed. Maybe this design was better?

[DragonGunner]

You must not know that the owner of gt thunder passed away. So there is no more gt thunder


Ya that was sad when that happened….both Lazerus and his wife killed in plane crash.

[Blodg]

Hope your happy with it then….I feel kinda bad you didn't get the cone shape, I had no ideal they had changed. Maybe this design was better?

Yes I am happy with it. From the countless research I did many of the good pipe manufacturers are now using stepped headers instead of the megaphone cone design. The reason is that it is supposed to spread the torque over a wider range where the megaphone works best at a designated rpm based on the length and diameter of the cone.

[Blodg]

You must not know that the owner of gt thunder passed away. So there is no more gt thunder

There is a company that bought the jigs and materials and said they may make that GT exhaust so that is probably what he meant. Luckily many of the GT Thunder products are still being made by other companies. I had Lazarus doing work for me when he worked in a shed before his business took off and his product designs and innovation will greatly be missed.