Spec 2 Chambers

[eyeamok]

Hi all, Ok so after a lot of pestering and browbeating, I finally got Gary to build me a set of pipes for my 500. He only did it because Kim wanted a set also and he won't build them unless he builds at least 2 sets. It is quite a bit of work. It took about 6 months and it was well worth the wait. It was also pretty easy for me to go bug him, he is just around the corner from the Airport where I hang out every day, and I have known him for many years, he did all the work on both my 400's. Yes I keep my toys in my Hangar with my airplanes.

I spent 3 days changing jets to finally get it right, my bike is stock except the airbox has been opened up on top on the 2 sides and now chambers. I ended up with 220 mains in the upper cylinders and 195 mains for the lower cylinders. Pilot Jets are all 25. The bike came alive and has an unbelievable amount of midrange now. Comes on a hell of a lot stronger than it did with stock pipes. When I rode through the canyons yesterday, the bike handles and corners so much better now without the extra 40 pounds. The lowering of the center of gravity by getting rid of those heavy ass pipes on top really made a substantial difference.

The pipes were an exact perfect fit and required Nothing Special to Install, the only modification was opening up the holes above tail light for the silencers to fit through, the top ones also stick out 6 inches further than the stockers. But they look real good and perform really well.

If anyone is interested in some real good pipes, I would strongly encourage you to find someone else that wants a set and have Gary make them for you. It will take a while for him to do it, but it is well worth the wait.

[tacky1]

Can you put up some pics of them on the bike, Did you go with aluminum or carbon cans... I would love to see how they look

[eyeamok]

Here is some pics of Spec2 Pipes. That ugly Motorcycle in one of these pics is a 1975 Z1B900 my Dad bought NEW on 8-15-1974, first one shipped to California, Special Order.

[MK]

You're not serious about the upper cans, are you?
"Ugly" is the most diplomatic adjective that comes to my mind.

[tacky1]

They stick out a lot more than the Toomeys,

[Smoker]

I posted last night... then deleted it.

Seems I'm not alone in my opinion.

I can't believe the customer or the fabricator found the upper pipes acceptable.

[MK]

If the builder is plain too lazy to do a proper curved Layout but dead straight upper pipes ....

And don't take me wrong. I do not run down other people's work.
Performance wise they seem to work, but the design is not what a customer pays for.
And I know what I'm talking about as I already build pipes for the RD500.
The attached pic shows the result.

[two-stroke-brit]

would shortening the silencer a couple of inches affect the performance of the pipe greatly ?.

[giron]

I spoke to Gary a long time ago and the reason for the pipes so long is the performance. Gary goes for the performance of the
engine. We all need to give him credit for that. Its only what the engine is asking.

I have visited and spoken with Brian Turfrey on several occasions and he says the same thing. He mentions something on the cone
size and the length of the pipes. He showed me pictures on Wayne Rainey's and Eddie Lawson pipes for the YZR500 that he build for the
Yamaha GP team and the pipes twist so he can get more physical length on the pipes. There are factors involved such as the track
you are competing in that has to be considered.

I'm sure Gary takes this into account and Brian said the same thing. What RPM will you be on on the street. A happy medium.

[silverstrom]

Unless the silencers have internal stingers I don't see any reason why shorter silencers can't be used.

Lomas and Jolly Moto managed to combine performance and common sense.

[wolfgangh]

I have to say for me these upper pipes are a no-go as well. They are even illegal in my part of the globe since they protrude the back of the bike too much, and they would not be accepted at many racetracks as well for that reason.

@MK
Hallo Martin, I know you are a genius, but these pipes you have posted are beyond my expectation. Did you really make them yourself? They look pretty much like JL´s which is to be taken as a compliment.

I also have contact to Brian Turfrey. YZR500 upper pipes are not crossed, they are straight and shorter than the lowers.

[giron]

wolfgang

Brian also speaks about the pipes coming out of the rear heads should not have a tight turn. The pipes should come out straight back. Its different than the front cylinder
where the turn is more gradual. That's why when he does my RZV500. I will let him alter the frame. Oh great I just open a can of
worms by altering the frame. Another tuner on this site is Rick Lance look at Tommy Crawford pipes for the rear cylinder. They
come out straight back. Its easier to run the pipes straight out on the Gamma. Look at Sugaya racing pipes straight back
I also understand that most pipe builders do the best with out altering the stock mounts for the pipes and the body work.
Then you can also look at the riding you will do. You live in a congested city such as LA where if you use the bike mostly in stop and go traffic. It will be different
for northern California where you have more open roads. Its like going back in the 80's to motor GP where two strokes rule and you see in the back of the trucks. Several
set of pipes for different tracks.
Pipe builders have a hard job. They are always looking for a happy medium for everyone.

[giron]

Wolfgang

You have to admit a big difference between YZR500 and a RZ500. Brian always laughs at guys thinking you can get 140 horses out
a RZ500 motor. You are comparing apples and oranges here

[Questo vecchio rz]

Double post.

[Questo vecchio rz]

Those silencers don't protrude much more, if any than my Toomeys did? looks about 6-7 inches. Looks like Gary probably used similar math and arrived at the same end result, I've viewed a couple other builders this way as well over the years.
I had a RZ500 with Toomeys in 89 and they were a outstanding performance pipe, the bike was much quicker than my friends 500, easily 5-8 bike lengths by the top of 3rd gear, that's Massive! Toomey hands down built the best performing 350 pipes, so I'd trust that his 500 design has no equal for a stock 500. Garys versions look dimensionally similar.
I know Gary doesn't give much thought to form over function...lol he's all about the bottom line. He's a expert...period, non debatable. I'd willing to bet,a BIG Mac and Coke, that side by side his bike is quicker accelerating than most pipes out there probably a great street pipe, and frankly that's all that matters
I'm a visual oriented indavidual, so yes I'd just shorten the silencers a little. my Toomeys didn't really bother me at all, so those IMO really aren't that much diffrent. I do like Toomey silencers, they sound like no other. I saw one of Garys original sets on a 500 about 10 yrs ago in Studio City, doubt he built many sets, brought back good memories.