Best X-Pipe De-Cat Kit.

[nickjaxe]

Hi all....nick from the UK.

Got a 2020 T100 Bonnie....I fancy removing the cat and fitting an X-Pipe.

Over here in the UK there seem to be 2 main kits to choose from.....TEC X-Pipe and Motone X-Pipe.

Not a huge difference in price....but would love to hear your thoughts on the best one....

I have seen youtube vids of bikes with one of these devices....and I noticed a sort of popping noise from the bikes on deceleration....not sure how I would get on with that.

Do all bikes with cats removed have this popping sound.

So any good bad points with the 2 kits mentioned....

The thing I am after is a more classic sound from my bike....its great when pulling hard....but light load in the cruise it sound a bit quite.....not after a loud noisy bike.....just a bit more presence is what I am after.....I want to keep the factory peashooter pipes...I love them.

 

[Gear1]

I have been quite pleased with the TEC X-pipe. The rear pipe clamps are a bugger to install, though. Very nice sound too - snappy bark on acceleration with a pleasant muttering in cruise.

 

[nickjaxe]

I have been quite pleased with the TEC X-pipe. The rear pipe clamps are a bugger to install, though. Very nice sound too - snappy bark on acceleration with a pleasant muttering in cruise.

Thankyou for that....do you get any popping on deceleration?

 

[Gear1]

For a short time I did get some popping on closed throttle. The ECU seemed to adapt to the new lower back pressure and the popping went away within a few miles' riding. I have also installed the TEC de-restrict camshaft in my 2018 T100 Bonneville. This simply transformed the bike. It pulls right up to 6500 rpm with no fall off in power/torque, just as shown by TecBikeParts George Milford. (I have not felt the need to go for the 7000 redline...) Again, the ECU adapted itself quickly to the new setup. I'm a bit puzzled by all of the calls for remap when changing bits; the ECU only knows mass airflow and O2 in the exhaust and adjusts itself accordingly for the correct mixture. I'm going to ride it hard for a few miles, then pull the spark plugs while hot to check the mixture. If I learn anything I'll report.
Craig

 

[nickjaxe]

For a short time I did get some popping on closed throttle. The ECU seemed to adapt to the new lower back pressure and the popping went away within a few miles' riding. I have also installed the TEC de-restrict camshaft in my 2018 T100 Bonneville. This simply transformed the bike. It pulls right up to 6500 rpm with no fall off in power/torque, just as shown by TecBikeParts George Milford. (I have not felt the need to go for the 7000 redline...) Again, the ECU adapted itself quickly to the new setup. I'm a bit puzzled by all of the calls for remap when changing bits; the ECU only knows mass airflow and O2 in the exhaust and adjusts itself accordingly for the correct mixture. I'm going to ride it hard for a few miles, then pull the spark plugs while hot to check the mixture. If I learn anything I'll report.
Craig

Sounds Great Craig....I appreciate your advice and help....love to hear updates.

Any particular reason you went for the TEC X-Pipe Craig.

 

[Gear1]

Nick,
In answer to your question: I found George Milburn at TecBikeParts to be most helpful and his parts and accessories very affordable. I especially appreciated all of the video instructions that he provides to support his products. I had to lower my Bonneville as I am quite small, and TechBikeParts had 30mm shorter rear shocks made for that purpose. Since I was experimenting with ride height and spring rates, and my experience is very limited, I did not want to purchase Ohlins or some other expensive shock until my knowledge and skill level was sufficient that I could appreciate the difference. I'm now on the fourth set of rear springs, and finally feel that the ride and handling is close to what I am hoping to achieve (stock spring rate is 127 #/In, and I have settled on 97 #/In rates on the rear shocks). The TecBikeParts shocks seem quite adequate so far...
I have installed the TecBikeParts front springs, front preload adjusters and the Ricor Intiminator front shock valves; also a great improvement over the stock harsh front damping. Still learning as I go. Further, TecBikeParts sell an adjustable center stand which worked when the Triumph center stand was too tall for my lowered bike.

I hope that this helps!

Craig

PS: I spelled George Milburn's name incorrectly in my first post. My apology, Mr. Milburn!

 

[nickjaxe]

Nick,
In answer to your question: I found George Milburn at TecBikeParts to be most helpful and his parts and accessories very affordable. I especially appreciated all of the video instructions that he provides to support his products. I had to lower my Bonneville as I am quite small, and TechBikeParts had 30mm shorter rear shocks made for that purpose. Since I was experimenting with ride height and spring rates, and my experience is very limited, I did not want to purchase Ohlins or some other expensive shock until my knowledge and skill level was sufficient that I could appreciate the difference. I'm now on the fourth set of rear springs, and finally feel that the ride and handling is close to what I am hoping to achieve (stock spring rate is 127 #/In, and I have settled on 97 #/In rates on the rear shocks). The TecBikeParts shocks seem quite adequate so far...
I have installed the TecBikeParts front springs, front preload adjusters and the Ricor Intiminator front shock valves; also a great improvement over the stock harsh front damping. Still learning as I go. Further, TecBikeParts sell an adjustable center stand which worked when the Triumph center stand was too tall for my lowered bike.

I hope that this helps!

Craig

PS: I spelled George Milburn's name incorrectly in my first post. My apology, Mr. Milburn!

 

[nickjaxe]

Hi Craig....finding out more about these X-pipe as I go on....ie....the TEC X-Pipe the gas mixes at the join on the center were the each side of pipes are welded together....on the Motone X-Pipe....its more of a H pipe with a sort of tube linking each side.

I was wrongly under the impression the TEC pipe had separate exhaust flows and didn't understand they mix and balance.

So 2 different set ups....and I am none the wiser which what benefit either design if and has?

It was mentioned somewhere different engine toque patterns were evident at different engine speeds??????

If anybody can shed any light on this please let me know.

 

[Gear1]

Nick,

You are right, both the Motone and TEC S-pipes do mix flows, supposedly for more torque than individual pipes. I would suspect that there is no measurable HP or Torque difference between the two; the Motone is a bit more elegant, in that they use a stamped center section, two halves welded together and the TEC is manufactured from stainless tubing. The TEC X-pipe gives about 4 hp at the wheel by itself according to the TEC dyno results. It would appear that the main difference is which one YOU like better. I am very happy with the TEC X-pipe.
Check out the video that George Milburn did on the De-restrict camshaft: he shows the before and after dyno sheets. The stock cam exhibits the torque peak at about 3300 RPM, and it falls off rapidly after 3800, so the acceleration in any gear falls off dramatically above 3800. With the TEC cam, the torque peaks at about 3800 RPM and stays nearly flat above 3800, hardly falling off until approaching redline. I have about 700 miles on the TEC cam so far, and the improvement over the stock cam is remarkable. From my "seat of the pants" dyno, it has transformed the bike. There is an earlier thread that I posted about the improvement with the camshaft where I found a 13+% reduction in time from 3000 RPM to 4000 RPM in 5th gear, So I'm a believer. Some of the newer (2021 I think) Triumph twins have apparently gone with a similar camshaft and a bit more compression to give similar results. They use an ECU program to "restrict" the engine for Euro licensing requirements. The dealer can then "de-restrict" the engine by changing the ECU program to give full power when the rider passes the upgrade test. Maybe there is someone more familiar with this new method of restricting the engine that could post with more knowledge.

Hopefully this helps to answer some of your questions, Nick!

Craig

 

[nickjaxe]

Nick,

You are right, both the Motone and TEC S-pipes do mix flows, supposedly for more torque than individual pipes. I would suspect that there is no measurable HP or Torque difference between the two; the Motone is a bit more elegant, in that they use a stamped center section, two halves welded together and the TEC is manufactured from stainless tubing. The TEC X-pipe gives about 4 hp at the wheel by itself according to the TEC dyno results. It would appear that the main difference is which one YOU like better. I am very happy with the TEC X-pipe.
Check out the video that George Milburn did on the De-restrict camshaft: he shows the before and after dyno sheets. The stock cam exhibits the torque peak at about 3300 RPM, and it falls off rapidly after 3800, so the acceleration in any gear falls off dramatically above 3800. With the TEC cam, the torque peaks at about 3800 RPM and stays nearly flat above 3800, hardly falling off until approaching redline. I have about 700 miles on the TEC cam so far, and the improvement over the stock cam is remarkable. From my "seat of the pants" dyno, it has transformed the bike. There is an earlier thread that I posted about the improvement with the camshaft where I found a 13+% reduction in time from 3000 RPM to 4000 RPM in 5th gear, So I'm a believer. Some of the newer (2021 I think) Triumph twins have apparently gone with a similar camshaft and a bit more compression to give similar results. They use an ECU program to "restrict" the engine for Euro licensing requirements. The dealer can then "de-restrict" the engine by changing the ECU program to give full power when the rider passes the upgrade test. Maybe there is someone more familiar with this new method of restricting the engine that could post with more knowledge.

Hopefully this helps to answer some of your questions, Nick!

Craig

Hi Craig...thanks again for your advice.

With me 'm not looking for big gains in power....I am not a fast rider....just looking for a more pleasing sound.

But saying that...I dont want to loose power or mess up the bikes performance.

I have seen the TEC vid....and the figs they give....but am really just looking for comparison's between the 2 designs from actual owners experience.

I have heard from owners who have fitted the X Pipe design but nothing from anybody who has fitted the H section pipe.

 

[brooke]

Hi Craig...thanks again for your advice.

With me 'm not looking for big gains in power....I am not a fast rider....just looking for a more pleasing sound.

But saying that...I dont want to loose power or mess up the bikes performance.

I have seen the TEC vid....and the figs they give....but am really just looking for comparison's between the 2 designs from actual owners experience.

I have heard from owners who have fitted the X Pipe design but nothing from anybody who has fitted the H section pipe.

Hi Nick
Before I installed the Motone on my Thruxton R I did a fair bit of internet research on x pipe vs h pipe . There was lots of comparisons using V 8 Mustangs and Camaros and very few on motorcycles at that time . My conclusions were that both types produced the same power improvements , the angles and quality of welds had no effect . The improvement is to due to being better able to share the quieting duties by both mufflers but to a much larger degree by the removal of cat . Since the motone seemed to have advanced construction techniques and materials , it was my choice .

 

[nickjaxe]

Ok update.....TEC X-Pipe fitted some weeks ago...very pleased with the results....

Bit tricky....and with my bike being a T100 Bonnie I needed to remover the petrol tank....I could have just slide it back a bit but wanted it out of harms way....bought the tool to help remove the HP fuel connector....moving the tank is not mentioned in the TEC vid as the are workjing on a street twin.

Sounds great....not to noise which is what I wanted....more grunt....smoother throttle action at low RPM....used to be a bit jerky going back on the power.

One major plus point to me....the really heave engine braking with the cat is now as you would expect with engine braking.....rolls along with far less resistance.

MPG seems around 5mpg better....not 100% on that yet.

Yes those rear clamps are tricky....I hear some bike popping on the over run....I put that down to those clamps not being fitted properly.....I needed to raise my bike a bit to get my head under the motor to get a better view of those clamps.

To do this I ran the bike up on blocks gave me around an extra 3in or 75mm.

I had a ctr stand so that also needed blocks under it.

Taking the tank off fully is tricky.....with 2 electric connectors and its hard to see how the come apart.....but I managed it without damage.

 

[brooke]

Ok update.....TEC X-Pipe fitted some weeks ago...very pleased with the results....

Bit tricky....and with my bike being a T100 Bonnie I needed to remover the petrol tank....I could have just slide it back a bit but wanted it out of harms way....bought the tool to help remove the HP fuel connector....moving the tank is not mentioned in the TEC vid as the are workjing on a street twin.

Sounds great....not to noise which is what I wanted....more grunt....smoother throttle action at low RPM....used to be a bit jerky going back on the power.

One major plus point to me....the really heave engine braking with the cat is now as you would expect with engine braking.....rolls along with far less resistance.

MPG seems around 5mpg better....not 100% on that yet.

Yes those rear clamps are tricky....I hear some bike popping on the over run....I put that down to those clamps not being fitted properly.....I needed to raise my bike a bit to get my head under the motor to get a better view of those clamps.

To do this I ran the bike up on blocks gave me around an extra 3in or 75mm.

I had a ctr stand so that also needed blocks under it.

Taking the tank off fully is tricky.....with 2 electric connectors and its hard to see how the come apart.....but I managed it without damage.

Thanks for that . Some good thoughts there ..