exhaust modification

The Motus factory exhaust uses high-end Akrapovic slip on mufflers. Akrapovic is a Slovenian exhaust manufacture with mostly motorcycle systems. Motus uses titanium on the MST and carbon fiber on the MST-R. The cans are fairly expensive on their own and one of mine was damaged in the low-side crash.

I toyed with the idea of a custom fabricated exhaust similar to the Fuller Motus (as it is called) that had a larger head-tube design custom fitted. I would use stubby carbon cans instead of a stainless straight pipe to keep the noise to a more manageable level. 

 The Fuller Motus is a bit more touched than my bike will be. Custom headlight, custom tail section, custom exhaust, repainted everything...

I do like the crossing pipe look, but not at this time for my bike.

Looking at this pic makes my ears hurt.

 The low-side crash of this bike caused some decent inner damage, but the end caps were in great shape.

 Pipes off, time for some modification.

The plan is to take the one good pipe (left side), cut in half, and make two shorty pipes from it.

The pipe construction is simple- end caps are riveted to a titanium tube. Drill out rivets, remove banding, and the end caps come right off.

The exit end is a stainless pipe end with a carbon fiber cover. 

 Drill out the inlet end and pull the cap, perf tube, and packing out. Do not cut the packing retention tape or disturb it if only making the cans shorter.

The biggest challenge is getting the inlet tube off of the outer can. Be careful with using a rubber mallet on the center perf tube, but it can be done with no damage.

Half of the center perf tube will be cut off anyway, but make sure other damage isn't caused by beating the heck out of the center tube.

 The center perforated tube is welded to the inlet end and is covered by a more dense metal screen, metal packing, and another dense metal screen. This is then tack welded to the ends to hold in place. 

The welds are easy to break and pull the tube screen material off the center perf tube. Both will need to be cut down using the cutting wheel.

 Both pipes drilled and pulled apart.

Cutting the non-damaged can in half. A grinder with a cutting wheel is used due to the titanium. An industrial band saw was considered, but the cutting wheel was the correct choice. 

Titanium tends to melt more than cut. The edges needed to be dressed with a file as the molten metal 'rolls' over and tends to be quite sharp.

 Cans cut, center perf tube cut, metal mesh also cut slightly shorter to match original ratios.

 Packing is easily cut with a scissors. This task is MUCH easier if the original retention tape is left in place. I had to re-bind the material together when I should have left it alone.

Make sure you wear gloves, mask, and a long sleeve shirt as the material is very much like fiberglass.

Slide the metal mesh over the perf tube, slide the packing over that. Put the can back over the packing. The exit cap goes on last.

Cut down pipe next to the stock can length. 

Can complete with stainless rivets. 
They look more 'right' on this bike. 

I wouldn't suggest this mod if running luggage as the plastic cases may be damaged by exhaust heat. I won't be using this bike for travel, so the mods will be more hooligan based.

The nice thing about these cut down pipes is that I can still use the DB killer if I need to be more kind to my neighbors...