Virago exhaust

[Brant]

I'm new to the forum so hello to everyone.

Just started to convert a Virago XV1100 to a softail three wheel jobbie and my first question is to ask if anyone out there has experience of, or can suggest a scheme for, routing the exhaust system.

I would prefer to use the original exhaust setup but it seems unlikely that I can as its original position would interfere with the rear axle framework.  Also both silencers are connected in such a way as to make it difficult to reposition them.

1).  Has anyone found a way to utilise the original Virago silencers on a softail setup?  (I don't mind a bit of cut and weld).
2).  Can anyone point me towards a pair of sensibly priced individual silencers that might suit?
3).  If I end up fabricating an exhaust system does anyone have comments on including a balance pipe between the two exhaust pipes  and positioned close(ish) to the cylinder heads?

[terry t]

Hi Brant. welcome dont know much about the viago but theres guys on here that do.got any photos thought ill ask before some one else dose terry

[zakboy]

hi brant, i think like you i wanted to keep my origanal system which on the 750 is the same as the 1100 and how ever much i thought about the design of the rear frame wheather i was to come of the swing arm or from the out side of the frame,, it was always the top pipe that would get in the way if like me you want to keep the ride height of the trike the same height it was as a bike so as not to alter the fluid levels oil etc, it is quiet easy to get around the bottom pipe with the frame but not the top, what i plan to do now to keep my origanal system is to cut and separate the two pipes witch would mean cutting through the bracket and the small pipe linking the top pipe to the collector box seen hear in the( pic) then simple weld in another longer piece of pipe from the collector box to the top pipe so the top pipe is higher up then make two new brackets and a new mounting point for the top pipe.

[BikerGran]

Ther's your answer Brant - wait till Zakboy's done his and see if it runs ok!   

[Cabman77]

most Viagra trikes I`ve seen utilise a swingarm inside the frame as per the bike, this means the pipes don`t interfere with the mounting and the bend outwards on the swingarm doesn`t start `til after the end of the pipes. Shouldn`t be any problem then.

[Brant]

Thanks for all replies so far.  In particular Zakboy.  Shall be grateful if Zak will keep me abreast of his schemes and post results.

My rear axle frame arms will be pivoting at the the bike swingarm bearings location but outside not inside the bike frame so exhausts will have to avoid clanging the axle frame steelwork.

I intend to support the rear axle as close to the wheels as possible (to resist twisting forces in the axle frame) so shall extend the bike frame back and mount shocks/springs at right angles outwards from the extended bike frame.  I've limited experience but haven't seen many done that way so comments on whether it's worth the extra effort involved would be welcome.

[zakboy]

i think brant you should do what i found my self doing when i first decided to do this project, that is  to spend a lot of time  sitting and just looking at the bike and thinking of your options, we rarely go with our first ideas, i think when a good idea comes to you its best not to act on it straight away but to play on it for a week or so, just to make sure theres not a better one ( it also saves on wasted materials ) i also think its a good idea to concentrate on one part of the project at a time and not to think to far a head i think if your thinking about to many things at once you get less work done, like you when it came to the exhaust system i wanted to keep it origanal because that way i knew it would run ok, but in my case i think it was just to make it easier on my self, big mistake i now think that to get the trike you want in the end, you have to be prepared to set your self some challenges,the confidence in setting your self these challenges comes from the guys on manky monkey motors who are always happy to share there knowledge and ideas with you, i will be coming to  the time soon when i will be getting round to my exhaust system and will be happy to share any ideas with you, i would also appreciate any ideas on this subject you may have or may come up with your self. look forward to watching your build  plenty of pics. all the best zak

[Brant]

Thanks for your comments Zak.  It all sounds sensible to me and if I decide to do something a little off-the-wall I'll post it on Mankey Monkey first so that those who know better can advise me.

I take your point about thinking things out before cutting steel to save materials.  Sometimes though I find the more I think about it the more options I come up with and decision making gets difficult (I used to be indicisive but now I'm not so sure), nowt gets done.  For me sometimes it may be quicker to act on first impulse, rough the job out, stand back, see where it could be done better (it usually can) then start again if needs be.

My build will probably go in fits and starts (as time allows) so postings will be like my bowels, irregular.

[Cabman77]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230553474668&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:GB:1123

Take a look at these, they may be a part way solution to your problem. Just look how low they sit.

[zakboy]

i think i agree with cabman77, these pipes the way they run would be perfect for my project.

[BikerGran]

I take your point about thinking things out before cutting steel to save materials. 

The bloke who built my trike hadn't done one quite like it before so he tacked something together with bits of old angle-iron to see if it would work.

[Brant]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230553474668&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:GB:1123

Take a look at these, they may be a part way solution to your problem. Just look how low they sit.

Thanks Cabman, well spotted.  Being two seperate pipes they would, with a bit of fiddling, give the option of having one each side the bike frame or both same side and side-by-side rather than one above the other.

I wonder if anyone here has tried Gemini pipes?  It's nice to hear the engine pumping but I'm not wanting too much noise.

Bye-the-bye, I'd think I'd prefer a balance pipe between the two exhausts.  Any comments on that?