Aftermarket exhaust options '96 Bandit 1200

Hey everyone,

I've tried searching for this question on many forums to no avail, so I'm hoping to get some of your valued opinions here.

I'm looking for a "quick win" aftermarket slip-on/bolt-on option for replacing the stock exhaust on my 1996 Bandit 1200, but I've never done this kind of thing before (so forgive me if I'm not clear on some of the jargon, I am a bit of a newbie). I'm trying to do my research first by scouring eBay, other bike forums and google, and I'm getting really confused and excited at the same time by all the possibilities!

My main questions are:
1) What brand have you tried/heard good things about?
2) Will any bolt-on/slip-on work, or does it have to be specifically made to fit my year/make/model?
3) What's the biggest bang for my buck here performance-wise? I'm looking at spending under $400-$500 (and less would be very nice). I'm seeing a lot of claims of 6-10hp gains above stock, this seems like a brilliant deal if it's true!
4) Will rejetting the carb nozzles be necessary or desirable? Can I get the right size from someone that's done this before, or will the aftermarket manufacturer be supplying the jets themselves or at least size info?

I want to do this because the stock silencer looks like it belongs on a steam ship or something and it's so quiet it's silly! (I'm getting tired of explaining that it actually is a very quick and powerful bike). A throatier sound would make me happy, without being *too* ridiculous for the neighbours/motor registry/police to notice and cause me headaches.

I've owned this bike for about 6 months, and have been riding it almost every day - and I'm absolutely in love with it! It's by far the best ever bike I've ridden; she's a reliable, quick + powerful, happy + forgiving beast that was ridiculously cheap!

Thanks for taking the time to impart your wisdom to this new devotee to the Bandit world

Hi Christian, pls don't forget to pop over and introduce youself. Hmm, a can, at my 36k service i'll follow my bro and get the carbon akrapovic (dunno about the spelling...) without the silencer. Look good, sounds bloody gr8 and didn't need any tweaking, in this forum/wiki you'll find many from yoshi to dale walker, so it'll be what you can pay, and, what u see as the ducks guts (apologies to Gus's ducks...).I suspect the can is the main component as the headers can be tricky... good luck!

Thanks Thof, for replying and you get an extra thanks for reading my super-long post!

I'll be sure to introduce myself next ^_^

How did your brother go with it? Is there any noticeable difference with power? What bike does he have and how much did it cost?

Cheers!

GDay Christian,

Do a search in this section, there is a few good threads that will help you rule out a few options that are out there.

I have a 2002 and my dream is to get a Yoshi for it, based purely on preference, don't know what advantage there is just my preference.

Secondly I beleive it would have to be specifically made for your 96, you would have to be lucky to find one that is interchangeable I would imagine

Your budget will get you one with change.

Changing jets = dunno from me just a retune maybe but I ain't as mechanically minded as others on this forum.

PS. Welcome to the Forum.

Welcome mate - I can't help with 1200 questions (as mine is a 1250). But when I changed the exhaust on the old XS750 years ago, it definitely needed to be rejetted to run smoothly (both headers and can were changed).

PS: where do you hail from?

Staintune ,no rejetting required .

I fitted a Lazer to my GSX 1250FA sounds and looks good and didn't need tuning. (Cost $500) Don't ask for a photo, I don't know how to do it as I'm not to good wiff vis compoota thingy, I've only just moved past smoke signals.
Regards
Paul

Christian, bro's scoot is a 2012 bandit, the 1/2 faired blue unit, pipe supplied and fitted with no sex about 850ish, akropovic claim about an extra 8 ponies. Can notice and sounds / looks bloody good, better than the tight fart coming from the 44 gallon drum...

I am interssted if any body knows if another make/model bike is actually interchangeable with the Mighty Bandit?

truck wrote:I am interssted if any body knows if another make/model bike is actually interchangeable with the Mighty Bandit?

Although I never compared the two side by side there is a lot of my old RF900R in the 1200 Bandits.
Brakes, wheels etc. Its a pity the 1200 was 30 odd HP short. The RF had a sensational engine.

truck wrote:I am interssted if any body knows if another make/model bike is actually interchangeable with the Mighty Bandit?

Any can that is suitable for a 1 litre bike orlarger will be fine. Not a big job to get a connecting pipe made to fit the Bandit.

you shouldn`t have any issues finding a can for your bike, but headers will be a different story, if you want a set.
you can get the cheap arse delkevic headers, as a direct replacement that are stainless with single wall, so they`re lighter, but as performance goes, I sent them an email challenging their product, and they replied that it is a direct replacement, not a performance part.
so if you want a performance header, you will have to spend a lot of money on custom, or akrapovic in the UK still have headers for sale, BUT want over $1000 delivered( and that's just the header)
prob is the age of the bike, and supply and demand.
any time you change the breathing of an engine, you should rejet