Couple 1000R questions

Some 1000R questions

So I've been waffling back and forth whether I want to sell my bike or dive into restoration. I've been thinking about restoration a bit and have a couple questions that have been rolling around in the back of my head for a while.

First, is there a MAJOR difference between the 85 and 86 upper fairing? I was thinking the difference had to do with a couple extra tabs on the '85 that the '86 does not have in the headlight area. Is this correct, or am I missing something bigger?

Second, as far as exhaust goes I have access to a tubing bender so I've been thinking about making my own 4 into 1 system. What are the recommendations here? Do all 4 pipes need to be the same length for optimum power and balance, or is it pretty much, get all 4 cylinders into one can and you're good to go? Is there likely to be enough performance gain over the stock setup that it's worth it?

On the wheel swap. I see people referring to "F2" wheels. By that I'm assuming CBR 600 F2 wheels, correct?

I'm sure more questions will come up, but it's a start at least...

Thanks in advance for the help!

-Paul

 

They are pretty much the same thing. I think the color lines are slightly different, but that's the only difference I know of.

No, in fact equal length is not good. Remember: you have a 90° phase difference between the front and rear cylinder banks. Equal length only works when the cylinder pulses come out at exactly equal intervals. The V4 does not. The front two should be the same length as each other, and the rear two the same as each other, but you need to experiment to phase match the front and rear correctly into the same collector (4-1). There is tons of science involved with figuring this out, so for most people it's easier to make a series of prototype headers and dyno each version to tweak in the proper configuration. This takes copious amounts of time and lots of access to a dyno.

Yes, exactly. Check out this link:

Daugherty Motorsports - Motorcycle Suspension Performance and Modification

 

Thanks Jamie! I will start figuring out what I need/want to do and hopefully save up some money to have you do some suspension work for me too! Hopefully F2 wheels front and rear, full front fork rebuild and an upgraded rear shock, but we shall see!

It sounds like maybe I'd be better off sticking with the stock exhaust, unless there's TONS of power to be had by doping out the correct 4-1 exhaust setup?

Any gains to be had with a better flowing 4-2 system?

 

There is certainly not tons of power to be had with any exhaust system. At best it's a couple of hp on the top end, and a 4-1 will lose a bunch in the midrange.

A 4-2 is not bad, just make sure you tie the fronts together and the rears together. The V&H 4-2 systems (for example) were not done this way, so they are really no better than stock from a performance standpoint.