The right set of pipes can either make or break the look of a motorcycle, especially a chopper. When shopping for a new set of pipes, there are several factors to consider, such as performance, looks, sound, and function. You may find that what you think are the perfect pipes don't have the throaty sound you're looking for, or maybe they shoot exhaust gas into your passenger's face.
After a hop-up kit install, our BMC 918 ST ended up with a RevTech 2-into-1 exhaust system, and even though this system worked perfectly well, we wanted something with a little more flash and chopper styling. When in the market for a new set of pipes, one of the first places that comes to mind is Samson Exhaust in Anaheim, California.
We took our BMC for a quick ride over to Samson to check out its new line of Extreme Series pipes, and to see if there were a set of pipes that had the necessary styling to make "Chopper" Tony Frey -- the main mileage guy on the bike -- happy.
To get better performance,...
To get better performance, Samson offers these Performance rings. The rings mount in the back of the pipes and help disturb airflow to create backpressure.
Although Frey liked how the...
Although Frey liked how the Bone Shakers looked, he knew that there were several more sets of pipes to look at...
...such as the Hell Raisers....
...such as the Hell Raisers. These pipes have a nice downward curve that sweeps just below the passenger peg and ends with a slash-cut tip. These pipes are a good idea if you have lines running along your frame and you want to cover them up.
Next to go on were the Sinners....
Next to go on were the Sinners. They are similar to the Hell Raisers, except they curve in the opposite direction. The downside to these pipes is that they were designed for one-up riding, so you'll have to remove the rear footpeg to install them.
The Sinners are a good choice,...
The Sinners are a good choice, if you have a chrome or polished transmission that you want to show off.
Samson offers 220-degree full-cover...
Samson offers 220-degree full-cover heat shields for the Hell Raisers and Sinners. The heat shield slips on over the pipe and is secured with a hose clamp.
Check these out...
...the Grim Reapers provide...
...the Grim Reapers provide a nice clean and straight edge and draw the observer's attention directly to the rear wheel.
You can squeeze some extra...
You can squeeze some extra horsepower out of the Grim Reapers by installing Samson's 10-inch baffles.
We decided to leave the Extreme...
We decided to leave the Extreme series for a moment and check out a set from Samson's original Big Gun Series.
If the Sidewinder pipes don't...
If the Sidewinder pipes don't scream old-school chopper, then you must be deaf. Heat shields and performance rings are also available for these pipes.
Back to the Extreme Series....
Back to the Extreme Series. We tried on a set of Zoomies.
Just like the Bone Shakers,...
Just like the Bone Shakers, the Zoomies are short enough that they make for a quick-and-easy mount. Samson makes what it calls a Shorty baffle that can be slid into these pipes to help increase performance.
Another performance accessory...
Another performance accessory that Samson offers are Torque cones. The Torque Cone slides into the front of the exhaust system, and the cone shape forces air into a smaller area, thus creating backpressure and better performance.
With the Zoomies installed,...
With the Zoomies installed, Frey got up close to get a better look, and after six different sets of pipes, by the expression on his face, I think we have a winner.