Understanding aftermarket exhaust, need help

[smakawhat]

Hi all, some of you may have seen my past posts about this and that. You may recognize me from my latest f4i that I purchased about 2 weeks ago which contains an RS-3 Yoshimura exhaust/slip on. Plus I've been around the board before just hangin out.

And that's kind of why I am posting in this forum.

I really don't know anything about this thing that is on my bike and I figured this would be a good place to ask questions and get them answered. When I bought my used 2005 Honda f4i it had this 'thing' on it.

I keep hearing exhaust vs. slip on. I am getting confused is there a difference between the two? Or do people just seem to use the two names interchangeably??

Secondly, aside from sound what are the main reasons (aside from ego) that people get these things? I went to the Yoshimura website and tried to find info about my RS-3 but I got completly lost. As stated from the dealership I bought it from it is an RS-3 slip-on, what exactly is that, does that just slip on OVER the existing exhaust?? Or is the old one history and replaced with this thing?

Can anybody give me a primer about this product and pipes on sportbikes in general? I never would have wanted this thing but it was on the bike to begin with, I have no regrets about it either cause it sounds great without being obnoxious, so feel free to answer away..

Thanks.

[OFFICER737]

A slip on just bolts right onto where the stock exhaust was mounted, it's primarily the can section of the exhaust system. It can add 1-2 horsepower. A full system replaces the entire exhaust system from the header pipe back.

Some people change exhausts for different reasons. Some like the raspier sound, some like the bling factor, some do it for performance gains and some do it just because all their friends are doing it.

[ChrisP]

what officer said. With a slipon you get better sound and better throttle response if tuned properly.

[kevin-ross]

I don't know if you're into cars or not, but it's kind of like the difference between a "cat back" exhaust vs. a full exhaust. It's mostly the muffler which is "slipped on" over part of the existing exhaust pipe, instead of changing the pipes from the engine all the way back, usualy with larger diameter pipes. Stock mufflers have to be quiet, which means they have lots of sound deadening stuff in them, making them heavier and more restrictive to the flow of exhaust gasses. Aftermarket exhausts and slip-ons are louder, lighter, and let your bike breath easier (which helps increase HP).

[smakawhat]

This all makes sense now, this is a slip on that I have and the company website describes it as one as well.