I noticed my front pipe was blowing so just now removed the bolts at the header and the thing at the top is not connected to the pipe. [/url]

Should be rock solid - if the clamping bracket is tight, the header pipe is likely to have cracked around the collar as mine have twice....................................

So what now, remove and get welded or is it a new pipe needed?

Had mine welded.

I've just flexed the header out and could remove the end part and can see where it has cracked and let go.

We have a place in my town that do exhaust welding so I suppose I'll remove the pipe and take it to them.

Any tips on getting the system off?

I have the front clamp loose, the whole studs came out so just clean up and re-use or replace?
Will the exhaust pipe to head gaskets be ok to re-use or are they replace each time item?
How about the graphite one on the rear (re-use or replace)?

Not sure about SD but for SDR, best way for me has been to remove the whole lot starting with the silencers - best to replace cylinder head and graphite seals ( and isolation washers to support bracket under the engine, if SD is same as SDR) if only 'cos, if you don't do it now, you'll have to remove/loosen off the whole system again when they do go...........................best also to replace copper nuts on front studs (you may have to angle grind/split off current ones on studs) with lots of copper slip or similar on threads.

So get the copper nuts off and replace but re-use the studs, I guess I'll see how the studs look after I get the nuts off them.

Replace all 3 gaskets and isolation washer thing (mine looks pretty crushed and knackered now anyway).

It'll also be good chance to clean & polish that pipe, or have it coated...

Had mine satin chrome plated here https://dougtaylor.co.uk/

How are they holding up?

Not fitted yet......

Got the bugger off!
I did it in the wrong order but still managed it with the help of a second pair of hands to keep it still whilst I wiggled the rear pipe out - that graphite seal did not want to give.





Will be setting off for the exhaust shop soon to see what they can do.

Yup..., that CB1000r I almost bought is still laughing at me.

Just picked the pipe up from the exhaust shop, pretty happy with that.



Ground out the inner before welding and even managed to put three fillets of weld on the rear face to reinforce it a little.

Almost refitted the pipe this afternoon.

Anyway... that's now done and the pipes have had a bit of a clean up.

Will try again to finish this job tomorrow.

Got it all back together and had a quick ride to meet my good lady for a pint.

It's definitely quieter at the front now, and there is no popping on decal anymore, but I didn't get her maga hot.

What is interesting was looking in the exhausts ports, you can see (i think) where the front has been cleaned by the air coming in. I wonder if it was flaring where the fresh air was meeting any unburnt fuel.