Modern Buddy

Anyone have trouble the with ground clearance after installing a Prima exhaust? It seems to be lower under the cooling fan than the stock header. I've scraped mine on a couple occasions at what I'd consider relatively moderate lean angles. (I have the stock shock and weight about 160).

Yep. I've scraped mine a fair number of times. I'm worried that I'll wear a hole in it.

Thanks, Tocsik. Wearing through the pipe is exactly what I'm concerned about. I don't know the wall thickness, but it looks pretty thin. I guess I could always weld a piece over it if that happens. I just wish it hugged the cooling fan shroud a little closer.

Prima pipe skid plate by benandangie, on Flickr

Wow, how are you guys scraping THERE?? I always scraped on the canister before ever scraping the pipe!

Lagerhead - what material did you use for your "header guard"? I may have to do that.

Kaos - maybe you're hitting the can first because your front wheel is off the ground while you're at a lean.

I guess it's completely possible that the Prima exhausts aren't all the same. Mine is a recent one, if you had an early one with the cracking issues, they may have changed some of the angles to prevent the cracking. Just speculating here.......

I had the same problem; the Prima Pipe was a center-stand protector.
This is a two year old picture; the pipe is now worn even with the center stand so now the center stand and pipe touch at the same time.

Bcon wrote: Kaos - maybe you're hitting the can first because your front wheel is off the ground while you're at a lean.

I guess it's completely possible that the Prima exhausts aren't all the same. Mine is a recent one, if you had an early one with the cracking issues, they may have changed some of the angles to prevent the cracking. Just speculating here.......

Ohh, that could be. Mine is the second design of the pipe, the one where the header cracked off the canister. Over and over.

My pipe is the original design – they went back to that design?

rajron wrote:My pipe is the original design – they went back to that design?

Yours is the strap on version?

The first was strap mounted
Second had L shaped brackets that tended to break.
I've not actually SEEN the 3rd, current design but its supposed to have fixed the bracket breaking issue.

I’m not sure what the strap on version is; mine is seamless - edit: it is welded edit: I got mine in Feb 2007.
– don’t you have an upgraded rear suspension? I'm running stock rear suspension.

rajron wrote:I’m not sure what the strap on version is; mine is seamless - edit: it is welded edit: I got mine in Feb 2007.
– don’t you have an upgraded rear suspension? I'm running stock rear suspension.

Yeah, that could have something to do with it as well. I've got an NCY rear shock.

I’m thinking your rear (scooter) is sitting a little higher, and also it could be dependant on the OD size of the rear tire, pressures etc.

Bcon wrote:Lagerhead - what material did you use for your "header guard"? I may have to do that.

1 5/8" copper street ell.

buy a longer rear shock!

rajron wrote:I’m not sure what the strap on version is; mine is seamless - edit: it is welded edit: I got mine in Feb 2007.
– don’t you have an upgraded rear suspension? I'm running stock rear suspension.

Rajron,

Do you by chance know( Approximately) how many times you scraped your exhaust to date? I was curious after looking at your pic.Wonder how much longer before you scrape thru the inside? Thanks...

rajron wrote:

Looking at the position of the center stand, it looks like it would be fairly easy to weld a piece of steel to the leg of the center stand that would extend out enough to act as a skip plate for the exhaust header. My center stand retracts a bit more since I cut down the rubber bushing to prevent center stand scrape on the left side of the bike. This probably leaves my header even more exposed.
I guess it would have to be rugged enough that it doesn't get bent upward into the pipe if/when contact is made.
I haven't welded since high school, but maybe I'll ask my neighbor if he is interested in giving it a try.

Most of my riding with the Buddy was in rural country and mountainous roads, the roads are not in good shape, a lot of undulations bumps etc. Around the city it is rare for me to scrape anything, I am no bonzai rider so most of the scraping was cumulative, a little scrape here, a little scrape there and they added up. At first I was also afraid that it would wear through but the initial hits and dents pushed the pipe clear and now the main contact is with my center stand on a bumpy turn; I don’t fear the pipe wearing through.
If you ride on Boulevards and or smooth roads being careful not to go too crazy I would be surprised any modifications would be necessary – if you ride on funky roads are heavy (I’m 175) or are a hard rider, well then I would consider something to protect the pipe, more along the lines a new shock.


Edit: Here is a current picture of the pipe – not much different, but the bike looks less for wear.

Ok, I'm not going to modify mine. I may upgrade my shock sometime, but I really don't want to change the ride height or geometry by adding a longer one.

Go figure. Adding a "performance" muffler also means adding a "performance" shock if you like to lean in the twisties. The Voodoo curse seems to be eternal........

Bcon wrote: The Voodoo curse seems to be eternal........

You're tellin me...

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