Mufflers - Impact on Carbs

I just got my '81 XJ650 on Monday night, its running well, but I'm starting to go over things to replace. The exhaust is thoroughly rusted and unpleasant to look at and needs to be replaced. I'm not a huge fan of the megaphone mufflers. Are there any replacement options out there that can be used that won't require a significant re-tuning of the carbs? I'd also like to see if I can obtain a slightly louder sound out of the exhaust. Any suggestions?

 

you can use sportster mufflers off a harley. a lot of people like the sound and no re-tuning is required.

 

Shooot, I'd sell you my complete exhuast system if I could get my custom pipes done.
I got stock xj700 megaphone mufflers in pretty good shape

 

how much for the exhaust?
I am stripping and painting my headers this weekend but would like chrome!

 

thanks for the tip, I'll look into that. In the meantime can I paint over the rusty exhaust just to make it look nicer for the time being? Where do you get hightemp paint like that? I think they would look good in black

 

get some high heat barbeque paint at the hardware store

 

Just remember- - BBQ paint turns grey under this kind of heat.
It does not stay flat black.

 

Wrap it with that special tape. Can't recall the name, but does give it a sweet look.

 

you can also buy header paint. it's cheap and any parts store carries it

 

i was pleased with my sportster mufflers when i had them. they are VERY plentiful and cheap.

 

I had heard about the tape. A friend of mine said that the tape might worsen the rust I'd be coving by increasing moisture conditions when not driving the bike...sounds like bs to me, but I also like the tape and originally thats what I was going to use. After all the headers are really the rusty pieces, the mufflers are still in good shape. Just not the style I wanted. If I get a sportser muffler does it matter if its for the 883 or the 1200, also would there be any special rigging involve to mount them? They look like they have brackets on them that should be mounted to something....

FYI - I appreciate all the feedback this site is great. I am trying to search through the forums before asking questions so that people aren't repeating themselves, but there is so much information returning on searches it makes it hard to find sometimes, so if I am breaking any forum ettiquette please let me know, I'm not new to the internet but I never really used anything but a yahoo search engine before. Let me know If I'm getting annoying!

On that note, I think I will break a rule by asking an exhaust unrelated question...I'm going to be bleeding my brakes this weekend, one of the screws on the master cylinder is stripped, does anyone know the appropriate replacement size screw? If not I'll pull the non-stripped screw off and take it to sears, but it looked metric, and I always have a hard time identifying proper replacements for metric screws. I worked at Home Depot for a while and I know our metric screw collection there was slightly more than pathetic....hopefully sears carries something that will fit. DOn't want to extract the stripped screw and not be able to find a replacement!

Again thanks for all the help, its truly appreciated!

 

you need to do a little fab'ing to mount them, but nothing more than some flat stock, hacksaw and hammer wont get done. very easy.

one thing you need to be aware of is there are crossover pipe ports on some years mufflers. you can block it off by getting the right size engine freeze plug and tack welding it in the ports.

i dont think the engine size matters, but i just did an ebay search for "sportster mufflers" and bought the cheapest non-crashed ones i could find.

chacal will know your thread size question....i do not.