Out with the old and in with the New

[FJTillDeath]

SO I FINALLY got my new exhuast

But before I show you all, lemme show you just how bad the old one is...

First picture:

Other than cosmetics, no damage here.
Second picture:

This is how flattened they were. From the p/o and from my grating over certain bumps.
Third picture:

No I did not break the exhuast off nor did it break in the car while driving it home. Since I was off on Wednesday(when the exhuast was fitted) I visited the dealer and watched them fit the new exhuast(yes they actually let me watch them) And the moment the first downpipes bolts and studs were loosened it simply FELL OFF. I was super shocked as it seems the only thing holding the exhuast was its bolts/studs anyway
Fourth Picture:

As circled this is the damage to the 4 into 1 connector. The first downpipe fell right off and a second one was cracked halfway through! The p/o had also attempted to weld the exhuast previously, so it was my luck I was stuck with it a few months later down the line. The dealership told me they could easily weld the outside, but getting to the inside would be very difficult and judging from the previous welding I would end up with the same problem again later. Other damage which I could not take photos of:
Four blown exhuast gaskets.(causing 2 serious exhuast leaks and one minor one)
Also lots of little metal shards of rust from the exhuast.

Now for the NEW exhuast and then a comparison..
Picture1:

For comparison - the old exhuast as it was when I got the bike from the dealer.
Picture 2:

The new exhuast(Cowley) makes the bike look like a whole new one. Slightly different angle and slightly more ground clearance
Picture 3:

Close up. Nice shape, nice colour, although I need to paint my frame blac to get it to match.
Picture 4:

Some more ground clearance..
Picture 5:

Really it only is a tiny amount more of ground clearance, guess that comes with a 4 into 1 system. I can go over bumps fine by myself but not with a pillion so it looks like a new shock, or rebuilding the old one is in the near future.
Picture 6:

I love how shiny everything is, although the dealer still did not use the correct studs and bolts, so I am going to visit the local "Bolt and Nut centre(yes its called that)" and ask them to make me some more studs. Like I said its a nice colour although I need to now paint the frame to match it up.

                                                    Cowley vs Airage

Note: This is not a revised review but from MY own comparison which in itself may not be 100% accurate under the circumstances

Sound: I will post up a video later for the sound of the Cowley and also of the Airage for comparison later. However, in my opinion the Airage is louder and sounds more agressive with a slightly higher pitch. The Cowley isnt all that bad though. It is softer( I cant rev my engine and scare the sh!t out of people anymore) but it is still loud enough to be taken seriously. It sounds like it has been silenced and from what I hear Cowley is a "freeflow type exhuast system". The one thing I have taken a liking to is the sound it gives in the background under smooth acceleration - it makes the bike sound a little smoother, a little like a jet, and a lot like the new bikes roaming the streets today. I personally prefer the sound of the Airage but the dealer told me that over time the Cowley will get louder(its still brand new)

One thing I did notice is that the actual pipe of the cowley(the black pipe before u get to the tail) is a lot thicker than the Airage, therefore less restrictive and deeper sound.

Note: yes its probably the crappy condition the airage was in that made it sound a lot louder than the Cowley.

Performance/ horses: To my knowledge I cant tell any noticeable change in Power, however the engine runs a lot smoother, starts up easier and has a little more acceleration in the higher revs(so maybe a little less midrange and more top end power?). Then again becuase the Airage was in a shitty condition its performance was probably marred somewhat.

Fuel economy: From what I can see, with the Cowley, the bike appears to use less petrol than the Airage EVER did, so plus 1 to Cowley.

Overall: the Cowley isnt so bad and it doesnt take too long to get a liking to. As far as value for money, you get a little more value for your money when you compare it to the more expensive exhuasts. I would say its personal preferrence when it comes to sound though. Some like a nice quite smooth engine, others (like me) like a roaring beast that makes you leave more than one kind of skid mark down the road. The Cowley has fine enginuity and is made with some good quality. The only real negative thing I have to say is the time service. My dealer is quite close with Colwey(they get massive discounts on their stock) as they deal almost exclusively with them and therefore I got a very good price, but the exhaust was delivered 2 and a half weeks later than it was promised. Had I ordered it myself, it would have taken even longer. Although I guess my countries courier service is also to blame. I would still give them a 4 out of 5 stars though

Final disclaimer: As I mentioned no test are proven(like as on a Dyno or the likes) as all remarks are of my own experience

[Arnie]

Congrats on the new pipework.  Looks good.
Yes, I know that LOUD is nice..... for at least 5 or 10 minutes, but quiet(ish) doesn't beat you up and wear you down after a day of riding.
Very hard to compare your old excuse for an exhaust to this new one. 
The old Airage was falling to bits and would have had a number of leaks.
Each of those leaks and cracks would cost power.

Cheers,
Arnie

[FJTillDeath]

Thanks Arnie, I actually have grown to liking the pipe a little more each day, especially its "jet" sound

Heres the video I mentioned, cant find the old one where I was at a rally though..

http://s1108.photobucket.com/albums/h410/FJTILLDEATH/?action=view&current=Video0004.mp4