Let the mods begin!
I’ve ordered most everything I want off of my spreadsheet but had to make a few concessions due to money for right now. One of them is the Wings Exhaust. I’ll get that but for now I have better places to spend the $600.
So for now I have to deal with the stock exhaust. It’s inherent problem is that it contains a catalytic converter and so it get’s very very hot. So hot that you cannot run saddlebags without melting them.
To address that problem you need to install some sort of heat shield. You can wrap your end pipe with that heat resistant stuff which I was heading to do but then Tomm suggested I look into this option; The Giant Loop Heat Shield.
It’s small, sturdy and looks like a pro style mod – and for $30 who could complain?
Here’s a quick video from Giant Loop.
The one that I got was the smaller version. I didn’t even see the larger one available on their site.
INSTALLATION:
Installation was a breeze. I undid the hose clamp, fed it through the slots of the plate making sure I had it in the direction I wanted the clamping bolt in, then slid it on from the end and tightened it down. 2 minutes job at the most.
BONUS:
I didn’t cut the end of the clamp as this is just a stop gap solution for right now. I might need this with my Wings Exhaust. They include a small little rubber thing for the end of the strap which is a nice touch.
Since I didn’t cut the strap and didn’t want all that dangle under my fender, I did a little safety wire to hold the excess to the strap. Since I was in there I also didn’t want the hose clamp coming loose so a little safety wire for that too!
THOUGHTS:
It’s a nice, clean and looks like it should work great! I had to adjust mine a little as it interfered with the rack so I put it as close to where I could without it hitting the rack.
The engineering is simple and perfect. The design would fit on a round pipe just as easily as on the polygon that I have. The strap was way too long but that’s ok, you are going to cut it to fit anyway.
The finish is a burnished aluminum which is fine but if I had my choice, I’d offer it up in a polished aluminum, black anodized, or Stainless. I think that most stock mufflers are spun aluminum or stainless like mine. From a design standpoint since you can’t match the stock pipe’s finish you need to compliment it instead. Sorry, if that makes me sound like a BMW owner!
Speaking of the length of straps… I also bought one of their Lift Straps (https://www.giantloopmoto.com/product/giant-loop-lift-strap/). A simple but great idea. I did a quick test on my forks and was disappointed that the strap is just a tad too short. The straps should go around the fork tube under the lower triple clamp, then up and over the fender. Unfortunately my headlight mask is in the way. It need maybe like just another 6″. I’ll have to figure a way to make it work later.
Eeek! that whole last paragraph could be one long That’s what she said.
UPDATE: It was close but the strap is just barely long enough.
That’s what she said 😏
He's an avid hockey fan, rides a mountain bike, sometimes rides a road bike, has a few motorcycles (he had a really fast one, had a big cool orange one, rode a really slow one, and is currently building a perfect "BDR Weapon"). If that isn't enough, he makes cheese and sourdough bread, loves strong beer and good red wine, and poorly plays the Mandolin.
- LAB2V 2024 - December 2, 2024
- PRE LAB2V Prep - November 11, 2024
- The NORCAL BDR (part 3) - October 29, 2024