New Pipes / New Sound

My son and I installed new pipes from South Bay this weekend. Now it sounds like a Commando (not really, but much claser than the stock pipes) Installation went well with no major problems.

Now it sounds almost Ducatilike, you are going to love it. Did you get just the silencers, or mid pipe too, Dominator Sport or Torquer???

P.S. From your photo it looks like you have the de-catted x pipe also, you may have a flat spot in the 2800-3200 RPM range until you can get a re-map! The bike should run great with just the silencers! Also check your chain clearance to the pipe!

BPHORSEGUY said:

Now it sounds almost Ducatilike, you are going to love it. Did you get just the silencers, or mid pipe too, Dominator Sport or Torquer???

P.S. From your photo it looks like you have the de-catted x pipe also, you may have a flat spot in the 2800-3200 RPM range until you can get a re-map! The bike should run great with just the silencers! Also check your chain clearance to the pipe!

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South Bay did not explain two options (Sport or Torque) to me. So I am not sure what I got. Are the two options you mention from the Norton menu, or do you know if South Bay actually offers two systems

Had them out for a short ride. Sounds great compared to stock pipes. Did not experience any worse or better overall performance in changing the pipes, only a better sound quality I do not expect better performance until I get it re-mapped (at least that is what the other 961 owners have posted)

I have the higher torque version of these pipes and believe that is what SBT is selling mostly. When I bought mine, Carlos explained that the higher torque versions have roughly similar hp, so it makes more sense to go for the higher torque, particularly given how most riders use the rev range on the new Norton.

In speaking with Carlos at SBT last week, he suggests that the drive chain be kept much tighter than the owner's manual suggests, to avoid coming in contact with either the stock pipes or these after-market pipes.

South Bay offers or at least did last year the Dominator Sport or Dominator Torquer, The Sport is louder. You should have a DS or DT stamped on your pipes about 4 inches forward of the rear end. Did you get the de-catted x-pipe also, it is difficult to tell from your photo angle !

Running the drive chain much tighter then Norton recommends will lead to excessive chain and sprocket wear as well as put excessive load on the final drive bearings ! This is common knowledge to any experienced MC mechanic ! :shock: The chain will get tighter as the rear suspension compresses which is why you don't want to deviate much from Norton's minimum!

My chain will not come into contact with the pipe when using Norton's settings !

BPHORSEGUY said:

South Bay offers or at least did last year the Dominator Sport or Dominator Torquer, The Sport is louder. You should have a DS or DT stamped on your pipes about 4 inches forward of the rear end. Did you get the de-catted x-pipe also, it is difficult to tell from your photo angle !

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Just went to the garage and checked. DT stamped on the silencers, so I have the torque pipes (thanks for the lesson guys)

I did not talk to Carlos, he was busy, so they put me to Matt Capri. He did not tell me about the Sport pipes, but did ask some questions about how I ride and might have made the decision to sell the DT based on my answers to the questions

I did get the "X" pipe and opted to decat the system

I was alerted to the chain clearance issue by DBono. I actually sent him some pics of my stock system as far as clearance on factory system. The new pipes actually had a little more clearance than my stock set-up. Not by much, but still a little more (about 1/8 inch, I measured with a pair of calipers)

Any other things I need to know about this upgrade

G81 Can Cycle said:

Any other things I need to know about this upgrade

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That should cover it, now you need to ride the crap out of it and enjoy, your bike will have a whole new character !

Not sure whether the SBT systems vary or if the Café Racer setup is different, but can tell you that my chain did come in contact with the SBT exhaust when using the Norton recommended chain adjustment?

DBono said:

Not sure whether the SBT systems vary or if the Café Racer setup is different, but can tell you that my chain did come in contact with the SBT exhaust when using the Norton recommended chain adjustment?

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I have encountered the same thing with my SBT exhaust. (actually SBN - SouthBay Norton)
I currently use stainless steel radiator hose clamps on my muffler to protect the pipe from the drive chain.
My chain slack is checked constantly to make sure it is within Norton minimum of 35MM. Otherwise, my muffler pipe would be chain-sawed off by now.
Had to replace one clamp already.
A better muffler-X pipe routing design could have prevented this.
Have already bitched to SBT.

DBono said:

Not sure whether the SBT systems vary or if the Café Racer setup is different, but can tell you that my chain did come in contact with the SBT exhaust when using the Norton recommended chain adjustment?

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Thanks for the heads up on the interference issue. I will keep a close eye on my set-up