I ride a gutted pipe. Did the gutting myself and had it welded back together. Not quite as good as FMF woods, but close, and you probably do not need a pipe guard for it. It is a very dirty job to gut it, but if you have the time and are short on funds do it. Makes the motorcycle just a little louder than stock as most of the silencing comes from the muffler/spark arrester. I still use the stock muffler--not the best choice but it is paid for and as for the weight, if I were worried about that, I could lose a few pounds myself. Ride safe Cheers John