I decided to post this in the cosmetic mods sections since:

A) I've never done a dyno run with them
B) I did it for looks

Although I've been running microns (rc51's too but no way related to this thread) for the last few months, lately I've been getting lots of PM's about the stock 51's pictured in my avatar. So......

They don't bolt on and need several mods to work. Unlike superhawk pipes, they are NOT easy to baffelectomize (new word).

They have a larger ID on the inlet side that bolts to the headers so you will need to make up the gap with some sort of gasket material to avoid massive leaks. I used the stock RC51 gaskets and muffler wrap (super heavy duty foil) from the local auto parts store wrapped around the 'hawks header outlets. I'm sure there are more elegant solutions but this worked.

The middle mounts located at the foot peg hangers don't quite match up and need either modifying or cut off. I did both.

The rear muffler hanger mount isn't even close to the stock 'hawks location and requires the most modding. Underneath the cans, I cut (dremel) the welds of the hanger straps which bolt to the RC's passenger pegs. I fabb'ed upper mounting hangers that bolted to the rear subframe. I then slid the now free staps up the can to meet the new hangar location. I had to clean up the old location with some metal polish. I don't run pass. pegs so I didn't work on mounting them on the bike. That looks to be difficult and would probably need to be spaced VERY wide to clear the higher RC cans.

I think they looked WORLDS better than stock VTR exhaust but as you can see they do require some sacrifices to run. I hammered a rod thru the inner baffle (one 1/2 inch hole) that provided a deeper yet still quite sound. I'm back to a standard low mount design with the microns so I can run the pass. pegs since I'm selling the bike.

 

Seems to have the quality of a post that should be put in the knowledge base.

 

Great stuff. Thanks Doug!