Exhaust Dilemmas - Holy Pipes!

So, having been a long time coming, my OEM steel downpipes have given up the fight following a British winter of salted roads and endless puddles, and are now holed, causing some fairly dramatic backfiring during overrun.

I am in two minds as to a resolution, largely because I'm not sure of the result of fitting a set of aftermarket stainless downpipes, and was hoping someone with a little more knowledge of the subject might have some wisdom to impart. So the questions are:

1 - My bike is a later model 5th gen, so has a Catalytic converter unlike the earlier model I had prior to it. The Delkevic systems I've been looking at do not come with a cat, so does fitting one compromise the bike's fueling or cause problems in some other way with the feedback from the exhaust o2 sensors? I've heard suggestion that this might be the case, and that fitting a power commander (or similar) would be necessary to rectify this, which is not really an option for me, but I had thought that the sensors were before the cat, so don't really understand how this is so...

2 - The reports of fitting a new Delkevic set that I've read seem to suggest problems doing it with the centrestand on, but if it's necessary/easier to fit with it removed, is it possible to do so with the bike on its sidestand? I'm not flush enough to own a bike-lift...! And is there then issue with fitting the centrestand after the new pipes are in place? I'm wondering if the mounting points are accessible or even whether the new pipes will accommodate the centrestand at all, as I wouldn't want to put up without having mine!

Any help from someone who's done this job, or just has some insight would be much appreciated, as my only real alternative is to bodge it with some exhaust repair tape to get me through my MOT in a couple of months, and although it'd be alot cheaper than the £200/$300 for some shiny new Stainless Steel, I'm not really that fond of the idea, as I reckon I'd be doing it again and again in the future, and I'm kinda keen on sorting it properly!

 

Oh, and on a related subject...





Thoughts on choice of silencer? Spot the difference! the shorter was salvaged from my old bike and is a standard can that was chopped by the previous owner (a welder by profession). It sounded beautiful on my old VFR but for some reason not quite as sweet on my current one, perhaps a result of the addition of the cat...

 

I have the delkevic (haven't installed, bought for the day when I need it and they're no longer made). The two O2 sensors are before the CAT on the stock exhaust. They read the downflow from each pair of cylinder banks. The delkevic collector comes with two bungs installed. They are plugged with brass fittings for us 98-99 guys. For your 2000, just remove these plugs and thread in your sensors. Shouldn't have to do anything else.

I'm not sure on the center stand for install, but you can always order a rear single sided swingarm stand from pitbull or equivalent.

 

Thanks Red99. Yes, that was my understanding, that's why I was confused by the supposition that removal of the cat would cause fueling issues that would need rectifying...

I'll have to give it a go I reckon, although not relishing the prospect of doing an exhaust change on the side of the road, as I have no garage! (or the damage to my wallet to be honest) :disturbed:

Still, I've started dousing the header bolts in WD40 already, so fingers crossed it won't be too much of a pain in the arse.

 

Soooo, the result: One very shiny new set of headers courtesy of Delkevic's Ebay shop...



Having thoroughly applied the rule - Time needed for completion of task = Time expected for duration of task X 3 or more...



I got six of eight studs out in one piece. Or, to be more accurate, left those which stayed in place when the nut came free. The other two (pictured. both at the front, predictably) sheared after all the mighty resistance of a wet cardboard box. Thankfully I was left with enough exposed of both to encourage them out with the assistance of a pair of molegrips, a blowtorch and a hammer. The latter two of which caused me no end of pained expressions - I don't like treating my bike that way! Still, with extremely careful application they did the trick.

After a trip to my local bike spares shop (god bless 'em - Ebay can be useful, but when you're in need...) for some new studs, and a knackered back from a long time on my knees, the reward was a very sweetly burbling V4 breathing through some new pipework.

My centrestand went back on neatly after fitting, no clearance issues, and all in all I'm pretty impressed with the quality of the Delkevic kit, especially given that it seems to be the cheapest option. Also came with everything required - clamps for both rear pipes, for connecting pipe and for silencer, sealing paste, rubber centrestand stop (even though as I ordered without the silencer, mine still has it's rubber stop), copper crush seals for manifold, gasket for silencer/connecting pipe fitting et al.