Stainless Exhaust Options

[Luca]

I know that Keihan and Staintune are both popular.  Staintune is changing hands; I sent them an e-mail last week but they haven't responded yet.  I wonder if they'll still make exhausts for our old beemers.

Does anybody have a preference for one over the other, or another exhuast manufacturer they're happy with?  I want to stick with stainless from stem to stern.  Going on my 82 LS

[dogshome]

I Have Keihan. Very well built, fits perfectly and will last indefinitely. Not noticably any heavier than the original front pipes and Campbell mufflers but much sturdier than both. Mufflers are quiet. Not in the same way as a modern machine, but definitely not going to get you in trouble or annoyed on a long run.

[georgesgiralt]

Hello,
I just checked that I bought the Keihans in 1996 and the SS headers in 1998. Since I've made about 100 000 km on them, melted a couple of plastic bags on them. Once cleaned, they look and sound like new.
I can't speak for Staintune, but IMHO the Keyhan are the way to go if you can afford them.
(when I bought them, I was changing one Zeuna OEM per year, odd one, the right side, and the other side every other year... So the price seemed right then)

[304065]

It looks like Staintune now has new ownership but no link to parts at this time (March 2021)

Siebenrock are showing out of stock on theirs.

On eBay there is only used stuff which looks to be in poor condition, at least it's expensive!

Keihan may be the only option at this time, I need a set as some  PO literally welded the left muffler to the header pipe.

[Luca]

I went with Keihan from Motobins.  Package is stateside and should be delivered soon.

[dogshome]

Just remember one cylinder is in front of the other and the headers are different lengths, before wielding rubber hammer. Not like numpty here who got all confused!

Let us know how it goes, I expect you'll be happy.

[Luca]

Just remember one cylinder is in front of the other and the headers are different lengths, before wielding rubber hammer. Not like numpty here who got all confused!

Let us know how it goes, I expect you'll be happy.

The crossover stubs indicate the left vs right, but I might mix em up just so it looks like a drag car!  Build quality of the Keihan looks excellent.  The bends are smooth, the welds are beautiful, and surface finish is outstanding; much, much better than the aftermarket stuff I put on Harleys at the dealership.

I'm going to have to cut both exhaust nuts off.  I sort of expected that at least one would give me trouble.  I keep one spare, but not two, so I ordered another and also a thread chasing die.  I'll probably gently lap the nuts/heads with some fine valve grinding compound before cleaning and applying anti-seize.

[dogshome]

Whoa! Don't get any grinding paste near any of the aluminium! It tends to embed and never come out.

Brass brush on the threads and about 1/4lb (per side!) of copper grease :-)

[georgesgiralt]

Hello !
As already said, refrain for abrasive compound. They use very hard aluminum oxide compound (second in hardness to diamond...) and won't quit the aluminum of the heads once used...
If your heads have suffered, you can find a die of the correct diameter and pitch to clean/restore the threads (around 100 € apiece) or you can find engineers restoring the threads (two options : put some aluminum back in and thread it, or make a sleeve soldered in place and thread it. ).
u!se your Dremel to cut the nuts loose. Don't try to unscrew them. If you force unscrewing, you'll bring the thread with the nut... And a nut is cheaper than either a new head or a repair....
When you reinstall the headers and exhaust, apply anti seize liberally, on the threads and on the tubes (at the crossover) and undo the nuts regularly to break the oxidization loose and apply new anti seize. You won't have any dismantling problem.
I bought a set of Keihans as soon as they became available, complete with the headers. if i recall correctly, it was somewhere in the early 90s and was around 180 000 km ago... Still running and looking like new.
So these are the last one you'll ever buy....

[dogshome]

P.S. And a 4lb hammer and couple of sizes of cold chisel (metal cutting chisel). A small one for cracking open the remainder of what you've Dremelled and a dirty great big one for jamming between the fins of the old nut to sprag it apart. I had to cut one of mine in a couple of places to get it to split properly. I also nicked the thread slightly by using the Dremel too much, but that is of no concern. Always looks profeshonal to the neighbours using a big hammer on a bike. Farting and cursing whilst prying old exhaust pipes with a big bar and hammer adds to the local opinion that I don't have a clue.

Hm my recent posts also all include the word "hammer". Please don't get the wrong idea about me! 

[steek]

There's also Feked in the UK  -  https://www.feked.com.  I've got a pair of Staintunes if anyone in Australia wants them.

Cheers,
Keith

[wilcom]

I just checked out Feked in the UK  -  https://www.feked.com. and with their pricing I can have "stainless" for L$249 for the headers and L$325 for 2 mufflers!  That's about $800 US,,,,,,, I may be confused but the last time I checked pricing on stainless it was way over a $1000