DirtRider . Net MX, SX, Arena Cross, Off-Road Community

This is the text version of DirtRider.Net
Click Here for the Full Version

Pages: 1

Thunder Alley CRF450 slip-on exhaust mini-review
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: Rich Rohrich

This is the first of what hopefully will be a series of in-depth product tests using data acquistion equipment to test with some semblance of scientific method. I'm still in the process of getting all the bikes wired for sensors but I thought I would share the initial impressions from me and another CRF450 owner on a comparison between the Thunder Alley and the OEM Honda canister. This is a real world test where I bought the product with my own hard earned cash.

Thunder Alley pipes are designed and built in the US by Bob Murray. Bob is a well known and highly respected pipe builder in drag race circles. Anyone who knows me is aware that I think many dirt bike pipe builders are complete posers selling shiny crap that is usually marketed with dubious "dyno data". Bob Murray is a rare exception to that rule and I for one am thrilled that he has turned his efforts towards pipes for our bikes.

Unlike most current designs the Thunder Alley (TA) secondary pipe is a megaphone design leading into the silencer (see picture). I won't go into the specific pros and cons of megaphones at this point other than to say done correctly a megaphone design has the potential to produce excellent power characteristics at the expense of a pipe that is more difficult to produce.

Knowing how good Bob's work was in the drag race world I was to say the least curious as to how his design methodology would translate to the dirt bike world. I am really happy with the power characteristics of my stock CRF running Phillips B35 oxygenated race fuel and I had a hard time imagining any huge differences that could be found in a slip on exhaust canister. Eventually curiosity got the better of me and I placed a call to Thunder Alley. My first pleasant surprise was I got to talk to Bob Murray directly. It's nice to talk to the person who designs the parts you buy. My second surprise was Bob's willingness to discuss his products without being pushy about buying something. I've never talked to anyone who was so confident in his product's ability to sell itself. I explained to Bob how I wanted to do a real world test on a bike fitted with data acquisition equipment to get a better idea of how the pipe effects the fuel curve and to more accurately measure performance changes. I needed an oxygen sensor fitting welded to the pipe and Bob was nice enough to make up a very slick fitting for me no charge. Outstanding customer service right from the start.

Each of the TA pipes is hand made by Bob. The welding is a work of art and the fit is dead on perfect. The funny part is the TA canister fits better than the Honda OEM piece. I haven't weighed the TA pipe yet but my feel-o-meter says its a bit lighter than stock, but nothing major. The megaphone is made from mild steel with no paint, and the silencer section is aluminum. It has a cool works bike look to it.

I bolted the TA pipe up and noticed it was somewhat louder than stock, but it was quieter and had a much more pleasing tone than the White Bros R4 and the BBR pipes that OT and Okie run on there YZF250s. I felt the TA pipe had a proper race bike sound rather than the shrill bark that tends to come from most aftermarket four-stroke pipes. Far from a scientific observation just a preference on my part. I’ll be sound testing all these pipes versus the OEMs in the near future to quantify the real differences. .

Earlier in the season I had added two teeth to the rear sprocket in an effort to work around the somewhat flat low end on the CRF. It proved to be an excellent solution on our tight SX style practice track. I am in the process of readying my bike for a Motard race so I switched back to stock gearing.

My initial impression of the TA pipe was HOLY S what the hell happened to my bike. Even with the taller gearing it would pull cleanly from a much lower rpm, and would even pull a gear higher in a number of places. Clearing our big table top that has a short approach was easy from a roll-on where in the past it was iffy unless I had the engine revving high enough to get just the right drive. I did a bunch of laps and was thrilled, but the real test would be to cool the bike off and bolt the OEM pipe back on to test with. With the OEM pipe on it was back to lots of clutching and and lower gears. The difference reminded me of going from a stock YZF 400 to a high compression 420 engine. It's that dramatic.
After about 10 laps I couldn't get the OEM pipe off fast enough.

I'll admit I really wanted this pipe to work well. I have a soft spot for real craftsmen like Bob Murray who buck convention and build the right stuff rather than the shiny junk that is easy to sell. So just to make sure I wasn't overstating the positive points of the TA pipe I wanted another opinion. OT's buddy Eric showed up with his stone stock CRF450. Eric runs pump gas in his CRF and hasn't even touched the idle screw on his engine. He had never heard of Bob Murray or TA so he seemed like a good control for my mini-test. After he did a bunch of laps he came in to rest and I offered to bolt the TA pipe on and let him try it. Initially he was reluctant because he likes the way his CRF runs and he has enough experience from previous four-stroke ownership to have little faith in aftermarket exhausts. He relented and I bolted it up and didn’t change anything else. After a bunch of laps he came back in shaking his head and said “it’s like a different motorcycle”. He felt it totally transformed the low end and mid-range behavior of the bike, which echoed my feelings. Our track is tight enough that it’s difficult to really ring out the top end but neither of us felt it lacked top end drive with the TA. This will be tested more completely in the near future.

I didn’t change the jetting on either bike but I felt like my bike was a tad lean on the pilot circuit so I think there may be a bit more top be had down low. As I look at the jetting more critically I'll update this thread. Bob suggests that the main jet may need to bumped up a step richer on some bikes.

Basic test conditions:

Day 1 :
Corrected Density Altitude : 3990ft
Barometric pressure : 29.10
Temperature : 91f
Humidity : 54%

Day 2 :
Corrected Density Altitude : 3010ft
Barometric pressure : 29.20
Temperature : 80f
Humidity : 52%

Bike #1 - Phillips B35 oxygenated fuel (2.5% O2 by vol) , stock jetting with fuel screw at 2.5 turns out.
Bike #2 - No name pump gas, stock jetting with fuel screw at factory setting.

I’ll have a much more complete review with some super trick fuel curve, and acceleration data in the near future but hopefully this mini-review will answer a few questions for you.

Misc Likes:
- Allen head cap screws instead of pop rivets used to secure the exhaust can.
- Two minute installation so it's easy to switch back to OEM if need be.
- Like it or not megaphone exhausts sound SWEET

Misc Dislikes :
- Thunder Alley sticker on silencer is easy to tear up.
- No Thunder Alley sticker for my tool box.
- Now I want to spend $350 and buy a pipe for my YZF444

BUY IT IF
You want tons of low end and mid range performance for a bargain price and you don’t need a big name on your pipe to impress your buddies.

FORGET IT IF
You need a shiny pipe from a big name company to sleep well at night and don’t care about how your bike performs.
You ride in an area where any increase in sound would be a problem.

8 words about this product
Wicked acceleration, trick looks, pleasing sound, real value.

Thunder Alley
1010 East Lacey Boulevard
Hanford, California 93230
(559) 584-8109

http://taliaferro.net/thunderalley/

HONDA - CRF450 megaphone/silencer only - $250.00 (plus shipping charges)
Option: U.S.F.S. approved spark arrestor $45.00

YAMAHA - YZ426F (head pipe and megaphone) - $350.00 (Plus shipping charges)
Option: U.S.F.S. approved spark arrestor add $45.00

Thunder Alley manufactures exhaust systems for most brands of motorcycles. Please call Bob Murray at (559) 584-8109 to discuss your specific needs.

Posted by: yzeater

Nice review Rich. Maybe I'll buy one, just to have a reason to spend money on a CRF. Is that a quad in the background?

Posted by: Jaybird

Very intersting review, Rich.

(good eye yz! lol)

Posted by: MoO_coW

So this $250 was even better spent than the $250 you spent to get Gomer? :D Looks like a lawnmower attachment on that quad...which is all they're good for

Posted by: Rich Rohrich

Quote:

Originally posted by MoO_coW
Looks like a lawnmower attachment on that quad...which is all they're good for

EXACTLY

Posted by: sfc crash

nice review rich, but dang dude...ya gotta' spend some on a new rear tire..that'n so old it's got all the knobs worn off. :confused:

Posted by: Rich Rohrich

Quote:

Originally posted by sfc crash
ya gotta' spend some on a new rear tire..that'n so old it's got all the knobs worn off. :confused:

The new found monster torque musta spun them knobs clean off :scream:

Posted by: Shawn Mc

Rich Ive had a thunder Alley pipe on my 426 for about 10 months now. People have been callin me a liar and a dumbass. Then I let them ride my bike.
I met Bob out at Elsinore and he let me Demo the pipe for nothing and put it on for me in about 5 minutes. I'll never forget what he told me. Just as I was riding off to test, he says"Now becareful your first couple of laps, I dont know if you'll like it or not, but its going to be different, really really different". That was the most understated thing Ive ever heard in my life. Kinda like setting off a nuke and saying its gonna be sorta loud!
I feel validated and vindicated reading your review. And by the way you guys thinking about the Thunder Alley's appearance, I had mine ceramic coated. Its beyond bitchen. It caught the eye of Doug Dubach at Saddleback one morning. You can also get a slip on for the later model Yamahas, that have a thought out headpipe, as opposed the stupidity that came on my 2000. And ya just gotta love that sound!

Rich did my post in the mod section prompt you to this? Im kinda wondering how you found out about Thunder Alley.

Posted by: Rich Rohrich

Quote:

Originally posted by Shawn Mc
Rich did my post in the mod section prompt you to this? Im kinda wondering how you found out about Thunder Alley.

I've known about Bob Murray making pipes for a long time, I just wanted to wait till I had my data acquisition equipment before I purchased anything so I could test pipes properly.

Posted by: Okiewan

I've got to question rather or not it's as loud or louder than the T4 or BBR though... to my ear it's louder or at least due to lower freqs, carries farther...def. has a deeper sound; looking forward to the real measurements.

Posted by: Rich Rohrich

That's exactly why I want to measure the sound output properly. Making a subjective call on which pipe is louder is next to impossible.

Hopefully I'll have sound equipment for our next ride.

Posted by: Shawn Mc

Rich, I have sort of an off topic question, but did you know Gordon Jennings? I used to wrench on a superstock flatbottom and know his son Gordie. Its too bad Gordon Sr. didnt live longer, if Im thinking of the same Gordon Jennings.

Posted by: Smitty

Rich, I know you don't ride a lot of woods, but could you give me an idea if the TA would be effective offroad for an expert. It sounds like it boosts the lowend considerably and comes on sooner, but is it a controllable feel? I'm considering a flywheel weight and the Thunder Alley to try and make the bike more luggable and smoother.

Posted by: Okiewan

Smitty... did we move DW close enough to you to make it this year? :confused:

Posted by: Rich Rohrich

Quote:

Originally posted by Smitty
Rich, I know you don't ride a lot of woods, but could you give me an idea if the TA would be effective offroad for an expert. It sounds like it boosts the lowend considerably and comes on sooner, but is it a controllable feel?

Initially I was quicker with the OEM pipe in poor traction situations, but once I adjusted my throttle hand and rode in higher gears I found the Thunder Alley pipe much easier to ride in the slippery stuff. I would imagine this would translate to an easier time in single track.

Quote:

Originally posted by Shawn Mc
Rich, I have sort of an off topic question, but did you know Gordon Jennings?

I never got to meet Gordon Jennings in person but I was fortunate enough to have a few rather lengthy conversations with him on the phone. He was as interesting and funny in real life as he was in his writing. I can't even begin to explain how much of an influence his writing had on my rather odd little existence. I'll always be indebted to him for the sense of curiosity, experimentation and utter disdain for no nothing "experts" that his words instilled in me over the years. I for one miss him greatly.

Posted by: BSWIFT

Quote:

Originally posted by Okiewan
Smitty... did we move DW close enough to you to make it this year? :confused:

According to his posts in the Ride Reports, Smitty knows how to get there.

Posted by: Smitty

Almost do you think someone could come pick me up and feed me breakfast each morning? That way I could sleep in my own bed and everything. Also it would really help if someone could help me wash my bike and gear. Just a couple things to ease the strain of riding so far from home.................................

Posted by: Shawn Mc

If anyone cares, my Thunder Alley pipe made my 426 much more linear as far as the power band goes. Easier to ride basically. And after I had it powder coated, it made even more power accross the board. I had the headpipe and the reversecone along with the perforated core all coated. I am extremely happy with my pipe to say the least.

Posted by: Rich Rohrich

It's my understanding that Thunder Alley offers a ceramic coating option. I'm not sure on the pricing but I'll see what I can find out in the morning.

Posted by: sfc crash

dang-it..you guys! i think my bike $ and leahs patients are about up with my purchases. the thunder alley sounds like it's the real deal. oh well, i got an r4 system,complete ,from a tt brother for 250. i had to type that so i'll feel better about myself. :whiner:

Posted by: Smitty

Well my previous bikes for sale and so is my old truck so I think it would be absurd for me to simply place all the profits from that in some stuffy old bank! I think it may just have to go to Bob for Thunder Alley and Steahly for a 9oz flywheel weight. Right?

Posted by: huffa

You say don't buy it where increase sound could be a problem. Well, thats just about everywhere. Forget it if you don't care how well your bike performs. You really make it sound like every other after market is a waste of $ and it's not. I would think that "factory look" would take a little constant maintance fighting the rust. Some like that look. I don't. I'm sure that pipe out performs alot of them out their, I was just pointing out the negative things that you seemed to ignore. Plus I noticed some got them coated which backs my statement about the maintance free aspect of it and the looks. I have no idea what this cost but would think it would add at least 100 to 125 for coating it maybe more. Sorry if I sound so negative but thats the way I see it.

Posted by: Rich Rohrich

Quote:

Originally posted by huffa
Some like that look. I don't.

If you want a shiny pipe then by all means purchase a shiny pipe.

Posted by: huffa

I don't want any sort of pipe right now , I was just expressing my veiw point on it. Please don't take me wrong, I like the pipe too. If there was only a way to quiet it down some (for my personel use) and wish he had an option that you could order it with it being plated or coated for x amount of $$.

Posted by: steve125

On my 2smokes i always buy the non-plated pipe. When i have the bike running strong the pipe shows me the HP (heat) with some pretty colors! Good review Rich, thats a very trick looking pipe and sounds like it runs well too.

Posted by: Rich Rohrich

Quote:

Originally posted by huffa
and wish he had an option that you could order it with it being plated or coated for x amount of $$.

If you read through my threads you'll see that he does offer a coating option. I think Bob Murray is aware that not everyone wants the raw steel look. I'll have the more details on Monday. The other option with this type of pipe is to send it to Jet-Hot for coating. They do great work and the prices are very reasonable.

Posted by: Swiss

Rich,
Since I have been building custom 1-off meg systems for about 12 years now, I can appreciate that you have finally found Megaphones. The typical problem with most of the "production" megs from the So. CA companies in the past is that their tuning was often wrong. A GOOD meg system WILL provide a good general increase in performance in MOST areas of the powerband. A custom pipe/meg can increase power beyond that, and match the engine for tuning. Getting down to the last available hp is pretty hard to do, and would require adjustments for just about everything else that is tunable in the engine system. It CAN be done, but would require mega hours of Dyno/Track time and would stray from the "perfect" system with each additional mod that you made to the engine. IF you want to try it, a good meg system will allow you to use a LOT more carb than a straight system. In truth, most of the Tapered and stepped systems are just mimicking the tuning of a meg, but less effectively. Megs are sometimes difficult to fit correctly within the typical frame design, and doing so becomes a job for a good fabricator.
I will be looking forward to your testing results. Besides noise, will you be giving out the full dyno results? Looking forward to seeing your info.

Swiss

Posted by: Rich Rohrich

Quote:

Originally posted by Swiss
I can appreciate that you have finally found Megaphones.

Megaphone exhaust systems are far from a new discovery for me, but an off the shelf piece that works well for a reasonable price is a find though.

I don't currently have access to a proper engine dyno facility, and I have little faith in most chassis dyno setups and the numbers they produce so I won't be bothering with dyno results. Instead I'm putting together an acceleration test using an advanced data acquisition system. The idea is to produce real world, repeatable tests that focus on roll-on and transitional response of a product with matching fuel curves. Too many tests bolt on parts that modify the fuel curve and the testers get great increases or horrible results with no idea whether the it was the product or the changes to the fuel curve that caused the change. My hope is to control as many variables as possible to get an accurate guage of the functinality of the product under test.

Posted by: Swiss

Rich,
It seems like even a chassis dyno would enable repeatable testing better than say a track condition where a few inches difference in a turn radius or a small weight shift during acceleration would influence the results. Good luck setting up a valid test without a dyno. I know that a lot of people will deride the dyno testing, but when used without dyno to dyno comparisons, a single unit could be valid enough to show good results that could be compared from run to run.
Swiss

Posted by: jescombe

Swiss - there are a couple of Thunder Alley dyno graphs from my big-bore YZF at the end of this link -> dyno data. When I add the next runs, I'll put the rest of the TA details in.

The gain off the bottom was impressive, but I lost too much off the top end for Motard use. I'd like to experiment with some alternative pipe dimensions before giving up on the meg design, but every text book I read for inspiration has subtly different formula for pipe tuning..

Posted by: Swiss

Thanks, I will look them over. Can you give me valve diameters, and you are running the stock carb right? You shouldn't really be losing anything off the top end. Needs some study of the info.
Swiss

Posted by: Shawn Mc

IN my seat of the pants test, as unscientific as it is, I didnt notice any loss anywhere. Top bottom mid, all were much stronger. The biggest change I noted was the linearity, if that's a word, of the power, as opposed to the hit it had with the White Bros. T-4 or the stock pipe.

Posted by: jescombe

Swiss, Yes - I'm using the stock 39mm carb, have run a stock (27mm inlet & 28mm exhaust) head, and a ported head with 1mm oversize inlet valves. The head configuration didn't seem to change the overall characteristics of the pipe.

Shawn, Maybe it's down to my engine configuration, I would certainly like to get it running stronger on top too. My Akrapovic pipe is gorgeous, but the silencer is long & vulnerable (like the Arrow pipe) - I gouged it at the weekend making an over agressive pass.

Posted by: Patman

What a GREAT experience! I called and talked to Bob Murray last Friday about a pipe and then decided to buy it Monday. Well I left a message on his machine and Bob himself called me back, took the order, verified every detail and then said to send him a check or money order. No messing around with an order taker that can't hardly speak english let alone answer a technical question.

Posted by: sfc crash

rich, i'll be interested in your db tests, as i understand it, you could have two pipes, both with the same tail pipe db level, but at a distance a greatly different level becuse of freq of the pipe. i'm thinking that a lower freq note, tho sounding/emitting lower dbs at the pipe, would carry over a larger distance than a higher freq at the same distance. maybe i'm splitting hairs here .

Posted by: Jaybird

Lower frequencies do in fact carry farther than higher frequencies. Exactly the technology behind the Navy's new sonar.

Posted by: Shawn Mc

Have you ever heard of Power news? Check out this link www.mototuneusa.com/success_stories.htm. Im dubious, but Im also curious. I understand velocity and how that can effect ultimate output, by simply carbureating better. Now a fuel injected engine, I dont get it. But smarted people than I are a foot!

Posted by: TMÒÓ

I put a TA pipe on my son's '01 XR50. It added a little power, for being a 50cc engine with my fat a$$ on the back. What I did notice is that it smoothed out the power making it easier for him to ride. Now, the sound is great. His bike sounds like a baby thumper. We take it to the track and everyone can't believe their ears. Everyone just stares at the bike with huge smiles on their face.

I am in Fresno, CA and most of my friends, who race, swear by these pipes. I hate when they pass me because I eat a roost like you cant believe. The bikes shake the ground as they go by. He has worked real hard in getting the noise down, close to OEM db's. Bob is a great guy and will work with you to get it right. We also put one of these on a '02 <a href="http://www.dirtrider.net/cgi-bin/clickpro/click.cgi?id=10" target="_blank"></b>Honda</b></a> 400EX. WOW, what a difference. The quad pulls from the time you roll on the throttle, all the way up. It is still pulling even know you feel the quad is going to explode.

Hopefully, I will build them a new website as soon as we can get all the updated info on which bikes he makes pipes for. I have a working model but am waiting for the go ahead from Bob. It will make it easier for customers to get in touch with him.

Posted by: Smitty

Rich,

Have you done any further testing of your Thunder Alley vs. Stock? Namely how loud is it? Are you still convinced by the performance? I think a wider powerband and hefty low end could only improve this thing.

By the way, had 5 lap, 40 mile battle with a guy Sunday in wide open grass track and tight trees all covered by freshly moistened and perfectly bermed soil. Is there a better feeling than stretching the throttle cable on one of these babies while it blows out of a perfectly carved arc and launches down a 50 yard straightaway. Need bigger brakes!!

Posted by: Rich Rohrich

Quote:

Originally posted by Smitty
Rich,

Have you done any further testing of your Thunder Alley vs. Stock? Namely how loud is it? Are you still convinced by the performance? I think a wider powerband and hefty low end could only improve this thing.

Between and injury and crappy weather I haven't done much riding in the last 6 weeks. The only testing has been riding the bike with the TA can and tweaking the jetting. The more I ride it the more I like it

If my batteries arrive in time I'll have some DAQ data on the fuel curve this weekend. Okie has a sound meter now so we'll do that testing and compare to OEM this weekend as well.

Posted by: Smitty

Sounds good. Thanks.

Posted by: techman

If you want to get fancy with your sound testing, set up the SAE1287 rigging and tap the sound meter output into your data acquisition system so you can get not only dBA vs rpm, but the throttle opening as well for a bit more eye opening data. It would be neat to see the SAE spec rev dB as compared to the highest values when the throttle is blipped to peak out the revs, i.e. like juicing it out of a corner, off a jump etc. The less fancy way is just take multiple manual readings all the way from idle up to high revs, perhaps at 1000 rpm increments.

gratuitis dancing banana

just had to, it's so entertaining

Posted by: Rich Rohrich

Quote:

Originally posted by techman
If you want to get fancy with your sound testing, set up the SAE1287 rigging and tap the sound meter output into your data acquisition system so you can get not only dBA vs rpm, but the throttle opening as well for a bit more eye opening data.

The sound test equipment that will output to my DAQ system has already been ordered. It should prove interesting.

Smitty - we didn't get the opportunity to do any static sound tests over the weekend but we should be able to this coming weekend.

Posted by: MoGwai

Hi,

I am riding a 400EXC, looking into the TA full system with ceremic coating. Email Bob about the header, he noted that it is not a tapered header but a straight thru one.I like riding with minimum gear change thus my bike is always revved out.

I would like to ask, wether the TA pipe helps with the over-rev of my bike or its just improving the low-end with a drop in the top and over-rev? The straight thru header pros and cons against a tapered header pipe.

Thanks for all comments.

MoGwai

Posted by: Shawn Mc

Mogwai, Id be surprized to say the least if you lost any top end with a Thunder Alley pipe. Ive heard guys say that they run out of top end only to see that they are painfully lean on the main jet. They go up a size or two and its "how cow" this and "I almost flipped it" that. You'll get more out of a reverse cone meg with a straight pipe, than a tapered head pipe with a regular straight through glass pack muffler.

Posted by: Rich Rohrich

Thunder Alley has a new website www.thunder-alley.net

Now that DW02 has come and gone we'll try and get back to the business of pipe testing. Sounds and some performance testing info should be coming up soon (weather permitting

)

Posted by: wy4tt

rich, have you been able to record any data on the TA pipe yet? i talked to bob a few days ago, and he's a great guy. i was really impressed with how much info he was able to give me over the phone. didn't seemed rushed at all. when i asked him about sound levels and the new 96 db limit being imposed in CA in '03, he said he's working hard to come up with a fix. he said retrofitting units should not be a problem either. he said with the spark arrestor in, the sound is down to 97-98 db. i ordered one with the SA. anyway, just curious if you'd had time for further testing. by the way, i really respect the scientific design of your testing. much appreciated.

Posted by: Rich Rohrich

Sorry I must have missed this when you originally posted it.
The weather didn't cooperate in the late fall so testing will resume this spring.

Posted by: tchamberlain

Does this company make anything for 2 strokes?

Posted by: Rich Rohrich

Nope. Thunder Alley builds four-stroke singles pipes exclusively. But they will build pipes for ANY four-stroke single.

Posted by: Rich Rohrich

Thunder Alley now has a dirt track down pipe for the Honda CRF 450, and I'm talking to them about making a downpipe for my YZF SuperMoto street bike.

Incredibly crappy weather has made additional testing on the CRF pretty much non-exsistent so far this year, but that should change in the next few weeks. I'll post an update as soon as I can.

Posted by: marcv125

Ok Rich i was determined not to spend money on a pipe for my new bike, but thanks to you i had to order a full system for my 250f..I got a low boy header with the system ....I cannot wait for this pipe..Ive been looking at the threads on various forums and really there was nothing bad said about the TA...We shall see. Bob is a great guy also, very informative..

Posted by: Swiss

I have been building exhaust systems locally that are the same basic design as the Thunder Alley pipes since about 1990. The design enhances both the mid-range and the top end power. Never seen a loss in bottom end either. They flat out work like they are supposed to. They work well with fairly stock engines and with the full built radical ones also.

Swiss

Posted by: Rich Rohrich

Swiss and I have talked a lot about pipes over the last few months and we both came to the conclusion that guys like him and Bob Murray at Thunder Alley will never get rich building pipes because they take the time and extra effort to build them by hand the RIGHT WAY , instead of cranking out shiny garbage on some mass production CNC pipe bender. It always makes me happy to see smaller companies get rewarded for providing good products.

Posted by: marcv125

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich Rohrich

Swiss and I have talked a lot about pipes over the last few months and we both came to the conclusion that guys like him and Bob Murray at Thunder Alley will never get rich building pipes because they take the time and extra effort to build them by hand the RIGHT WAY , instead of cranking out shiny garbage on some mass production CNC pipe bender. It always makes me happy to see smaller companies get rewarded for providing good products.

I totally agree Rich. I am actualy very exited about this pipe..I am not worried how long it takes to get to my door. All i care about is how it performs, and from what Bob was saying it sounds like it will be great. I was thinking about the big names. FMF, PC, Akra...but i wanted to try something differant and hopefully it will be one of the best exhausts i have ever tried...Kudos to all the "small" big guys..

Posted by: Rich Rohrich

Marc - Make sure and post a ride report once you get your pipe.

Posted by: marcv125

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich Rohrich

Marc - Make sure and post a ride report once you get your pipe.

Oh no doubt about it Rich..He shipped it out Fri from Cali and im in CT so it should be here by mid-end of the week...Rich should i have to jet with my full system...Im not sure it your familar with the JD jet kit from Thumpertalk, but i have it dialed in on my bike really good..Very noticeable gain from stock..Just wondering what i should do if i have to do anythting..I am getting the full system with a low boy header..? Thanks Rich..

Posted by: Rich Rohrich

Quote:

Originally Posted by marcv125

..Just wondering what i should do if i have to do anythting..I am getting the full system with a low boy header..? Thanks Rich..

I've never used any of JD's kits so I can't say how they will react with the Thunder Alley. I guess you'll be the one who tells us. :thumb:

Posted by: marcv125

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich Rohrich

I've never used any of JD's kits so I can't say how they will react with the Thunder Alley. I guess you'll be the one who tells us. :thumb:

Haha alright Rich No Problem...

Posted by: marcv125

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich Rohrich

I've never used any of JD's kits so I can't say how they will react with the Thunder Alley. I guess you'll be the one who tells us. :thumb:

WOOT just got the pipe today ..will have a full review on sunday!!! looks beautiful...

Posted by: Rich Rohrich

Quote:

Originally Posted by marcv125

WOOT just got the pipe today ..will have a full review on sunday!!! looks beautiful...

Look closely at it and you'll see how Bob Murray hand formed all the cones that make up the pipe. It's a real work of art. :thumb:

Posted by: SFO

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich Rohrich

Look closely at it and you'll see how Bob Murray hand formed all the cones that make up the pipe. It's a real work of art. :thumb:

We used to have a section of a Murray collector on the front display case at Kosman.
It defined attention to detail, inside and out.
He built full merge collectors tig welded outside and inside.
The inside detail was part of the convergent flow smoothing in addition to the merge neck that showed what was inside was really the key and how much he cared. The coping and finishing required to create the requisite perfect single bead of tig weld that joined it all together really defined a level of detail only a tradesperson could appreciate.
Hence it was on our display case and we sold Murray sidewinders.
Sidewinder is a sick name, BTW...

This is the text version of DirtRider.Net
Click Here for the Full Version

This is the text version of DirtRider.Net Click Here for the Full Version

Thunder Alley CRF450 slip-on exhaust mini-review

This is the text version of DirtRider.Net Click Here for the Full Version

This is the text version of DirtRider.Net
Click Here for the Full Version

This is the text version of DirtRider.Net
Click Here for the Full Version