"A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world." (Oscar Wilde)
Maybe I'd been dreaming to build rather than buy a sexy exhaust but the reality was I'd woken to a nightmare, and I fully understand Mr Wilde's musing above. I knew the dream was fading long before I gave up on it, working away at it was just the tossing and turning trying to stay asleep and somehow re-enter the dream. But it never works does it? The penny was already rolling around on the floor while I was refusing to acknowledge it had actually dropped. Reality can be brutal, it's not always easy to face, but eventually there is no choice.
After all the time and effort I was quietly seething at even being in this position: I mean, jaysus, I'm a complete amateur with virtually no training, only basic equipment, yet here I was looking at a professional's work with the sneaky suspicion growing in the back of my mind that I could produce something a little better. It shouldn't happen. I wasn't boiling with rage, but I was definitely on a low simmer.
And the voice would not shut up. I have no TIG/MIG, and even if I did I didn't know how to use it, nor would I be able to learn in the near future.
But I'd found this:
Some of the tips and tricks I couldn't apply with tube vs flat but at least I knew it was possible.....
....and eventually I was just pissed off enough to go "Fuck it!" And set myself the challenge: if you think you can do better, have a bloody go ya mug.
Yes, more Dutch courage (beer) was definitely required (hey, it's hot work and ya gotta stay hydrated) but with a couple more metres of tube and a few more bends in hand it's on like Donkey Kong:
No, the polished finish isn't staying, my welding isn't good enough to pass that muster no matter how much polishing I do! And it's not a "pretty" build anyway, so it'll be a brushed finish.
FYI, the horizontal header was the only thing salvaged from the Plan A Mk1 disappointment:
Here you go, physically complete but obviously some housekeeping required to tidy things up (exhaust, not work area....although that could obviously do with a touch up as well):
Ok, go and do whatever you need to do to calm the farm, but this is what we eventually find ourselves looking at:
No, I'm not 100% happy with it, but If nothing else it beats the hell out of this:
Comparing it with the ugly Plan B exhaust is complicated: this obviously suits the tail as they were literally designed for each other, even allowing for my bush-mechanic efforts….but there are some trade-offs for the more integrated aesthetics:
- the RS-esque system is nearly 3kg heavier than the “barely there” Plan B unit (mostly in the muffler).
- the 63.5mm system is sized for a 999RS revving to 13500rpm in WSBK/BSB where it will make 195rwhp.....but need a rebuild every 500km. As a result I’m only revving it to 11500rpm for longevity (made 168rwhp with the "small" 57mm Leo Vince)…so will the slightly smaller 60mm primaries on the “ugly stick” exhaust be more suitable for the reduced redline?
Now, in the interest of full disclosure, plans are afoot for a reworked arse end to work with the earlier lighter uglier exhaust so it won’t always be quite such a visual assault, but it will be an interesting day if/when they finally make it to the dyno.
