Why is my Maxim so damn loud?

82 Maxim 650 with what appears to me to be a Frankensystem made up of Seca and Maxim headers/cannons etc.

It's so loud that it turns heads from 100 yds away, not something I'm really looking for in a bike.
The LHS is noticeably louder and also appears to have lost an original baffle at some point in time:


The RHS has a single hex bolt inside that I've yet to attempt to remove. However when I cover the LHS with a rag the RHS still seems way louder than a 'standard' system.

So are these bikes notoriously loud in standard form?
What are my options for reducing the dB output?
Being based in the UK I'm not expecting much luck in sourcing a quality Maxim original system. What do you guys go for when your OEM systems need replacing?

 

No, they aren't supposed to be that loud. Someone must have removed or modified the baffles. The exhaust looks pretty good, so you may be able to replace the baffles. Someone on this forum will know.

 

My seca has a Mac 4 into 2 system has a nice sound.. but is not cheap... in the UK you have numerous breakers yards... look in Motorcycle Mechanics magazine lists numerous places... eBay as I understand Germany has a large following. A used exhaust is best if you can view it in person before buying. Good luck

 

Ps pictures of your bike looks to be in good shape... your header looks good you might get away with just new mufflers.. some have put HD sportster mufflers on ... I don't know about the sound... hopefully it does not go potatoe ..potatoe?

 

The baffles are welded into the mufflers during manufacture, and prior to plating. Any attempt to repair will require cutting, re-welding and re-plating.
Search for a better pair, or go aftermarket.

 

On second look, those aren't the stock mufflers anyway.
Might be repairable/ rebuildable Check for a manufacturer's stamp.

 

Yah those are definitely not stock. If not repairable and you want new aftermarket, look into Marving. They make a beautiful 4 into 2 set for the Maxim, you need to reuse your headers but they look to be in great shape in those pictures.

http://www.wemoto.com/bikes/yamaha/xj_650_4k0/80-84/picture/marving_collector_box_-_black/

http://www.wemoto.com/bikes/yamaha/xj_650_4k0/80-84/picture/marving_master_silencers_-_chrome/

 

My stock XJ550 is very quiet in relation to most of the thumpers made today.

 

i bet the missing part looks something like one of these
http://www.ebay.com/bhp/harley-baffles

 

I'm being seduced by that Marving 4:2 set up..

 

I hear ya. I was seriously considering it and found someone to import it but I finally ended up sourcing good exhaust bits within the US48. If you get it, post up some pics and video please!

 

Have you heard/read any feedback on fitment quality and sound levels?

 

Your wish shall soon be my command!

o

 

how much

 

One third the price I paid for bike ...

(don't tell the other half!)

 

Nice! I'm drooling at those pics.

Usually parts are X number of times paid for bike. I'd say you're ahead

 

Incorrect frame of reference.

The metric is, " this is X Dollars cheaper than a new motorcycle."

 

Now you need a mirror to park over

 

Hehe, thanks guys.

Couldn't help myself as my local Wemoto is only 5 miles away and they happened to have one in stock. I asked to 'take a look at it' - how could I possibly have asked him to put it back on the shelf once I had laid eyes on it?

So far I've only offered it up loose to gauge positioning but I'm already liking the angle of the silencers. It looks like a nicely thought out system.
I'll offer big thanks to jayrodoh for the recommendation once it's fitted and doing what it's supposed to do!

Any tips to ensure a successful fit other than a smear of assembly paste on all joints?

 

Had to pull the headers as collector box wouldn't clear the kickstand when trying to remove it. Have now hit a stumbling block:


Headers and collector intake are same diameter. Damn.

Was really hoping for a straightforward swap out. Now completely stumped as to what to do.

Take system back and swap out for a Marving 4:1?
Refit original headers and collector (in fairly good shape) and source alternative silencers?

 

Well that's disappointing! Considering your "custom" exhaust, any chance those downpipes are off another bike? I just measured my stock ones and they are 32mm at the tapered end. Any instructions with the Marving?

 

I have a niggling feeling that the Marving is designed to fit Euro bikes? If you search on Wemoto for my bike model by year (Maxim 82) the Marving system disappears. Although, isn't my model still a 4k0?

I've scoured as many pics as possible for reference and I think my headers are original - I'm not so sure about my collector box, which is either from a different bike or has had the original silencers sliced off at some point (original collector is fixed to silencers).

I'll measure the diameters later. It's really disappointing, and also confusing - as when offered up it appears that the silencers are indeed made to fit, and the LHS seems to also have the bump stop in the right place.

 

The Maxim 650 did not have a collector box that was separate, there is a left and right side muffler that has the collector built in. Yours is either off a separate bike or (more likely) someone cut the silencers off and put different mufflers on. If you go back to stock, I think you'd be better off sourcing some original mufflers but there are others that have had success hooking different mufflers to the "cut off" collector.

 

What's the consensus on switching to a 4/1 set up? Are they generally louder? I thought that the idea behind the collector was to balance the back pressures - does a 4:1 eliminate this need?

What about in a 2/1 system without a balance pipe/collector?

 

The setup style doesn't determine the "loudness", the baffles and overall design does. Yes the 4 to 1 eliminates the need for a crossover to help with scavaging. A lot of the MAC aftermarket 4 to 2 do not have the crossover. I don't have any personal experience with then but I suspect Yamaha knew what they were doing when they put it in place. Personally I do not like the 4 to 1 setups on that particular bike but it's up to you. I'm bummed that it didn't work out for you. Maybe you can find some sleeves that fit over both and clamp down.

 

Yeah I've been searching old threads tonight and saw lens excellent write up on the original system and how well it works, so I'm keen to try and find a way to stay OEM now.
I was wondering about sourcing some sleeves like you mentioned but am not sure how that would measure up, it may require cutting of the new mufflers in order to account for the sleeve length.
At the moment I'm still trying to work out what's fitted to my bike as I've seen mentioned on numerous threads that the Maxim came without the separate collector box - and have seen versions of this set up on eBay etc to back this up - however I've also seen reference to 'Maxim header to collector gaskets' on Lens parts list for example. My headers seem to fit perfectly around my frame but, of course, they don't have the balance pipe built in so I'm not certain if they are original or not?
I suspect I may have headers and collector from a 750 Seca or similar - but would love to be able to verify this.
The headers are in great shape and the collector would scrub up just fine so would be good to use them on my bike, but, I've read how it's best for the engine performance to stick to an OEM set up so would prefer to do this if my current set up has indeed been cobbled together at some point..

can anyone verify the 650 Maxim set up? Did it ever change during the production run (or regionally) or was it always the 'non-seperate-collector' version with shortish trumpet mufflers?

 

Tubing is cheap. All you need is to sleeve the existing collector so the new exhaust will fit the sleeve.

 

Yah, but the collector and headers are designed to slide into each other by a couple of inches, if I just butt them together and sleeve up then it will have a knock on effect to the position of the collector.
Actually, I was wondering if I could get a metalworker to reshape/expand the collector openings so that they slide neatly over the headers.
In which case, how much clearance would need to be built in to account for exhaust gaskets?
Or just stick to paste and clamps?

 

The exhausts can be stretched. There is even a tool for that at most muffler shops.

 

Had a proper dry run fitting test today - bottom line is that none of the components are angled correctly for fitting to a Maxim.
It's a real shame because if it were designed to fit you can tell that it would really look the part. I'd highly recommend any Euro XJ owners that are thinking about this system to give it a go.

I've possibly sourced a full Maxim exhaust from a breaker.. It's in Holland but may still be a go'er!

 

Ok guys, I need some help determining which system/s are correct for the 650 Maxim.

I'm lead to believe that the original system was effectively without a collector, but incorporated a balance tube. This came made up as separate headers, plus silencers +2/1. Much like:





However, I'm also finding results for a system that encorporated the headers - much like this:



All of the above claim to be original 650 Maxim systems. Are they OEM?
My bike has very clean headers aNo may have had its silencers chopped off at some point in the past but I've sourced a system in Holland (pic 4) that I'm interested in - but I can't understand why it's headers are removable.
Did the systems change per model year?

I suspect the last pic is possibly either aftermarket or perhaps from another bike (550?).

 

The first 3 are from Yamaha. The last one is not.

 

And in an instant, his hopes were dashed..

Still, looks a fairly well put together system.
At this point it's looking likely that I'll strap some alternative mufflers to my exisiting set up.
There's quite a few traders selling aftermarket XS mufflers which look nice. Is it a case of strap it on and see how it goes or should more be taken into consideration?
I'd quite like to keep a stubby set up so that I can retain easy access to the rear wheel.

 

So i've done some more exploratory work on my existing system and am coming around to whats been written and said elsewhere - its a damn well made original system!
The double walls, general finish and quality are about as good as i've ever seen on a bike.
In fact, I inititally thought my 'collector' (chopped center section) was pretty corroded, but I have taken a dremel to it and started taking it back to bare metal and its coming up great!

In which case, im now sold on the idea of having mufflers fabricated/welded onto the OEM system. I may have found a local welding specialist so will soon hopefully have a better idea of cost and options.

Any ideas what I should roughly expect price wise (man hours?) for a a pair of custom made mufflers c/w baffles, welded neatly onto the original system?

 

also forgot to ask - does anyone know what type of steel the OEM pips are made of? Im guessing it may have a bearing on what/how they weld the new mufflers on.