Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Ok,

I am probably a bit behind the 8 ball here but i'm looking for some info on under seat exhausts. During recent days the temptation to update my zx9r has been growing. I'm not much a fan of the new look zx10r's but very much like the look of the 06 / 07 models with the underseat exhausts.

What i'm curious about is whether there are issues with underseat exhausts i am not aware of? personally i really rather like the look of them. However i notice most of the japanese bike manufacturers seem to have used them for a period of time and then quickly moved on to the GP style exhaust systems.

Is there a reason for this? is there some downside to underseat exhausts i am not aware of? Just seems they seemed to have lived a very limited life span which leads me to think that there was something driving the quick move away from them.

For a start you don't have enough room under the seat on the 9, presuming that what its for?

no no no, sorry wasnt very clear.

Now, looking at perhaps selling the 9 and upgrading to an 06 / 07 zx10r. Mate just got one and im actually rather partial to the look of it. All i was wondering is whether there is a known issue with the underseat exhausts on these bikes? Im just surprised that the design change only made it into the one series and was replaced soon after.

My understanding of it is they claim "improved weight distribution" when they have relocated them back down on the side, but I wouldn't be surprised if they had claimed the same thing when they put them under the seat in the first place.

I's say go for what you like the look of!

yep was alot about lower centre of gravity.

For road use though I found the heat around the exhaust on the inside of my legs was a pain in the arse on my Gumby. Not enough to notice when you were riding just when you stopped at the lights on a hot day. Winter was another story but

maraach wrote:no no no, sorry wasnt very clear.

Now, looking at perhaps selling the 9 and upgrading to an 06 / 07 zx10r. Mate just got one and im actually rather partial to the look of it. All i was wondering is whether there is a known issue with the underseat exhausts on these bikes? Im just surprised that the design change only made it into the one series and was replaced soon after.

Cool, seems they cant make their minds up , the 07 10 exhaust is not directly under the seat as per the six & tends to make the ten's rear look quite bulky IMO.

I like the look of the Gumby rear but like Russ said when I had mine the inside of your legs were really hot esp in city commuting over summer. However over long distances found it a fairly comfortable bike.

Let us know what you think after you test ride one

Blurr wrote: For road use though I found the heat around the exhaust on the inside of my legs was a pain in the arse on my Gumby. Not enough to notice when you were riding just when you stopped at the lights on a hot day. Winter was another story but

Never noticed any heat from the ZX6R undertail exhaust..... not sure what it's like for a pillion tho.......

Wait till a hot day in summer

Blurr wrote:Wait till a hot day in summer

Hmm good point, I did start riding it in march


*Edit, back on topic maraach, Russ has a fine example of a Gumby for sale!

Bug for sale.

No underseat exhaust heat issues

Maybe it was only a Gumby thing Tim, I could be wrong

side note,

I should add it was only on the right hand side where the exhaust came up and under the tail. There is a shield there but you could still feel the heat

Blurr wrote:Bug for sale.

No underseat exhaust heat issues

Maybe it was only a Gumby thing Tim, I could be wrong

AHH

maraach wrote:no no no, sorry wasnt very clear.

Now, looking at perhaps selling the 9 and upgrading to an 06 / 07 zx10r. Mate just got one and im actually rather partial to the look of it. All i was wondering is whether there is a known issue with the underseat exhausts on these bikes? Im just surprised that the design change only made it into the one series and was replaced soon after.

I had an 07, 10R, no issues with heat under the seat and as said above a little hot on the legs in traffic, but not enough to stop you buying one........... I agree with the look issue, i reckon exhausts are the ugliest part of most bikes and at least under the seat they hardly noticable and dual exhaust gives a balanced look as well......

tim wrote:Russ has a fine example of a Gumby for sale!

Russ has an 08 (bug) for sale Tim, but with a very sexy looking exhaust IMO..............

No under seat heat issues on mine - I do notice a little heat on the right lower leg, but nothing to write home about (and I've city commuted on 40+ days in full leathers). Honestly I think it made it too hard to do the legal rear mudguard thing with the underseat exhaust. It could be to do with the lenght of the header pipes, or the centre of gravity, or a styling issue everybody jumped on the band wagon with, or a combination of them all.