Mikes "stock" vs "commando"

jpowell · Posted: September 10, 2008, 9:13 pm Post subject: Mikes "stock" vs "commando"

My bike was laid down before I got it, and the pipes are pretty beat up on one side, and broke at the weld between the header and muffler on the left. I've been looking around for a whole new exhaust. Mikes had a replica for $450, and the "performance" commando for $299. I'd like to think the performance would be better, but have always been a believer in "you get what you pay for" anyone use either of these? Mine is a 78 special, so may be a bit different. also, with the commando, do I need to change my jetting?

whynot2

I have posted several times about mike's XS replicas. I put a pair on my 1981 and changed the carbs with john's needles and the bike is my favorite out of my four. I have not tried his others, but I like the XS relicas so much I am going to buy another set for my 1980 SG and sell the BUBS. Greg

xackley

i bought the commando. The fit is good, and they look good and sound good.
As to performance, I would not re=jet your carbs until you have them installed and run some test.
They quiet down with some miles. I took the tuning bolt out of the mufflers the other day as it was sounding too muffled (and to test what removing the bolt did to full throttle at 4000+ rpm). Removing the bolt did help remove a slight stumble at 4200

xs1961

Our (UK)proper commando silencers (mufflers) dont have any baffles in them & sound great , those 'Mike' silencers look nothing like Norton items..

motoretro · New Member Joined: Sep 27, 2008 Posts: 5

whynot2 wrote:

I have posted several times about mike's XS replicas. I put a pair on my 1981 and changed the carbs with john's needles and the bike is my favorite out of my four. I have not tried his others, but I like the XS relicas so much I am going to buy another set for my 1980 SG and sell the BUBS. Greg

Are your Bubs the Commando style? Can I ask why you did not like them?
How much for the Bubs?

thanks,
Motoretro

whynot2 · Posted: October 2, 2008, 9:32 pm Post subject: Re: Mikes "stock" vs "commando"

My BUB's are the commando style. There are the ones described in the "Minton Mods". They are also about 16 years old. They are loud, and I like to wear a full face helmet, and the noise is too much for me. Earplugs just make it worse. I don't know why. Performance wise they are great! As good as my '81 is with Mike's replicas, the '80 with the BUBs is better, faster, revs freer to redline. They sound fantastic on a hot humid summer evening after the sun goes down. I just can't deal with the noise everyday. Having said that they'll stay on the bike for a while. I've been riding the '80 since june of '89 and although I am going to change it, I'm not in a rush. Greg

motoretro · New Member Joined: Sep 27, 2008 Posts: 5

thanks for jogging my memory, I had a set of these on a 74 Commando and 79 Bonneville and they were very acceptable on noise. I put a set on my 78 Yamaha in the early 90's and they were noisy as you stated. Seems like either the inlet or outlet or both were larger on the 650 specific Bubs and header pipes were shorter leading to alot of BLAT. Embarassed

Motoretro

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