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GS exhaust system upgrade which type?????????????????

  • Thread starter Thread starter filmxfer
  • Start date Start date
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filmxfer

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I am considering upgrading the exhaust system on my 1982 gs1100. Has anybody had any expierience with the Mac 4 into 1? I would like feedback on it and the vance and hines either way, good or bad...

thanks in advance,
Brian
 
there have been many posts on this forum about this topic. You'll learn alot by searching and reading the response's of people that have made these upgrades.


From my knowledge, the MAC systems seem to be pretty high priced, low quality, and not the greatest in performance. However, they can be found pretty easily.

The V&H are usually pretty old, but good quality, and even better performance gains. However, they seem to be quite loud and draw quite a bit of attention.
 
Mac systems are stock replacement, and normally dont need a lot of rejetting; you also dont get much in return.
V&H are a performance system and may require significant rejetting, but they also give a signicant performance increase, as stated they are generally quite loud.

Dink
 
I agree with Dink.

My V&H system needed jets to match on my 1000.
It's actually quieter than the Kerker system it replaced.

Never had a MAC system, so won't say anything on them.



Just remember, you usually have to re-jet to match the exhaust system.
More $$ but worth it.
 
I have a Mac system, but it's old school from when they used to make real performance hardware. The Mac 4-1 you will likely have to rejet for, but they make 4-2 systems that should run just like stock.
 
all i had too do on my v and h was too weld a bolt onto the stud that holds the back peg in. They are loud, I had too rejet too 120 mm. But thats it. I didnt need to replace the air filter or anything else. One thing you will find tho. Since you have less resistance on the back pressure. To get that first start at a gas pump you may need too goose her alittle. (Just too show off to the h/ds lol). I love mine. mashonline.com too me gave the best price and descriptions on how too jet too. shipping I think was free too.

Motorcycles%20137.jpg
 
I am in the same vote boat as Keith. The V&H will be quieter than a Kerker but will be much louder than stock. It also gives the best performance increase of the three types mentioned here IMHO. The Mac pipes, unless your getting one like Geoff has are usually disappointing in that they rust faster than your bike can burn gas!

If a performance upgrade is what you seak then I would go the way of the V&H. They hold up and last well too. Here is a few pictures of a V&H I had on this bike in the pictures for 10+ years at the time of the photos. When I am done rebuilding that bike the same pipe is going back on. It is now 14 years old but hasn't been used for the last three years.

http://home.ptd.net/~megabyte/gsc2.html
 
I've got a V&H on my '82 1100. As far as loud goes, it's barely louder than stock so I don't see it as an issue. I run pods and a Stage III jet kit. It all works well together. I did have to grind the outside of the collector and the inside of the muffler to get it to fit. That was kind of aggravating but it eventually fit together. It works really well with my setup, better than the old Kerker I had.
 
As an additional note, all I did was jetting.
The stock air box is in with a K&N filter in there.
No other intake mods, or exhaust mods.









Well the Orient Express valves don't count do they ?
Or the block and head being decked.......
 
If its a choice between V+H and MAC then V+H all the way. I had to buy a MAC while on the road in 2005. While it looked pretty at first and it is quieter.... Power band is nothing like the V+H and it is rusting already...(my bike is grage kept).. never again.
 
brveagle said:
The V&H are usually pretty old, but good quality, and even better performance gains. However, they seem to be quite loud and draw quite a bit of attention.
Click to expand...

Old? V&H is still producing the megaphones for our old bikes. If you are easy on the throttle, they aren't too loud. But if you goose it up... yeah they howl a bit! \\:D/
The MAC is more more money. But less if you figure in a new jet kit and pod filters for the V&H.
I put one on my 1000, and except for the fact the two pieces were hard to get together, I love it. It certainly increased the bike's performance. And it weighs LOTS less than the stock set-up.
 
Hoomgar said:
The Mac pipes, unless your getting one like Geoff has are usually disappointing in that they rust faster than your bike can burn gas!
Click to expand...

Mine was a rare find. NOS, box dated 1985, ceramic coated, true 4-2-1 canister system with the crossover pipes. At the can the pipe is 4" pipe- huge. A score for $90.

I've had a newer MAC as well, and a V&H. The V&H is superior to the new MAC's in every way. Finish, fit, materials and performance.

Note that you may lose your center stand if you have one. I won't go without mine.
 
filmxfer said:
I am considering upgrading the exhaust system on my 1982 gs1100. Has anybody had any expierience with the Mac 4 into 1? I would like feedback on it and the vance and hines either way, good or bad...

thanks in advance,
Brian
Click to expand...

My header is a MAC 4 into 1. Contrary to many opinions, The MAC is a excellent quality exhaust for cheaper money than the V&H Meg, or the Jardine canister system. I do agree the MAC is only a very "basic" system, that doesnt offer huge performance gains. You get what you pay for. My MAC system fit excellent, and the pipes use excellent thick guage tubing. The coating however was only "OK". Click my links, you will see a pic of my MAC/D&D "fraken-exhaust" . I hated the so called MAC "canister" muffler, so I went a different route.
 
Road_Clam said:
My header is a MAC 4 into 1. Contrary to many opinions, The MAC is a excellent quality exhaust for cheaper money than the V&H Meg, or the Jardine canister system. I do agree the MAC is only a very "basic" system, that doesnt offer huge performance gains. You get what you pay for. My MAC system fit excellent, and the pipes use excellent thick guage tubing. The coating however was only "OK". Click my links, you will see a pic of my MAC/D&D "fraken-exhaust" . I hated the so called MAC "canister" muffler, so I went a different route.
Click to expand...

Rich, I gotta disagree with you. My late model MAC header was a total POS. The exhaust flanges must have been made of recycled Renault Alliance engines, becasue their material composition more closely resembled Play-doh than steel. I couldn't even crush the exhasut gaskets without bending the flange into a boomerang. One bolt even tore through the side of the flange, like butter. The header pipe itself wasn't that bad, but the flange for the cansiter hanger must not have been zinc coated after welding and before chrome, becasue it rotted off the can in under two years. Maybe I just got a bad unit, but I'll avoid them at all costs in the future.
 
Jethro said:
Rich, I gotta disagree with you. My late model MAC header was a total POS. The exhaust flanges must have been made of recycled Renault Alliance engines, becasue their material composition more closely resembled Play-doh than steel. I couldn't even crush the exhasut gaskets without bending the flange into a boomerang. One bolt even tore through the side of the flange, like butter. The header pipe itself wasn't that bad, but the flange for the cansiter hanger must not have been zinc coated after welding and before chrome, becasue it rotted off the can in under two years. Maybe I just got a bad unit, but I'll avoid them at all costs in the future.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you got the "friday, post liquid lunch" manufactured unit. In all honesty, I had zero fitment issues. My flanges were as solid as a rock.
 
Kerker rules!..

Kerker rules!..

View attachment 1027

I get lots of compliments on the sound of my Kerker.I like it for the performance.Just don't like the way it just "hangs down".Had mine for 5 yrs. or so,got it used w/the bike.Still shines up pretty good!! Just don't see many of em' out there anymore.Wish they were still in business...I also have a V&H pipe on my other GS1100,definately louder than the Kerker.
 
Jethro said:
Rich, I gotta disagree with you. My late model MAC header was a total POS. The exhaust flanges must have been made of recycled Renault Alliance engines, becasue their material composition more closely resembled Play-doh than steel. I couldn't even crush the exhasut gaskets without bending the flange into a boomerang. One bolt even tore through the side of the flange, like butter. The header pipe itself wasn't that bad, but the flange for the cansiter hanger must not have been zinc coated after welding and before chrome, becasue it rotted off the can in under two years. Maybe I just got a bad unit, but I'll avoid them at all costs in the future.
Click to expand...


No that is the norm Geoff. I install Jim's (Can-o-tuna) on his Kat when we were at the cliff house last year and the flanges did the same thing to me. I know how to install an exhaust system and figured Jim would think I was a newb when he saw them but what else was there to do? Also, Jim's exhaust is 1 year old now and I saw him comment that it already has the hereditary MAC rust cancer that they all get.

Again, that is why i said what I said, unless it is one of the vintage high quality ceramic coated pipes like you have they are not worth the money IMHO because in the case of these pipes you do not get what you pay for. Jim bought his out of necessity, they didn't have anything else that could be shipped there next day or I'll bet he would have got a better pipe.

My V&H is almost 15 years old and unless you look under it looks like it is about 1 or 2 years old. Money well spent.
 
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