Kawasaki Triples WorldWide

Seriously here...

Quality (very good craftsmanship) Stainless Steel Denco knockoffs

American Made!

What would they be worth? polished? Raw?
Do you feel there is a market for them? H1? H2? S2?
Would being all stainless steel be worth more?

I have a crazy idea of actually going into business on this one, and am trying to hash out the details. I need some input!

I think it would all depend on the final price.

There are lots of guy who might want them, and stainless eleminates the biggest problem, chroming, which is difficult to get done right and expensive.

Wayne

+1

I think that you will find that the extra time required to fabricate out of stainless will run the price up to the point that most will pass.

If you are serious about this, make a prototype set in either steel or stainless, determine a price for both materials, and post here with a 1/3 deposit to start production.

I'd also suggest sending this prototype set to an impartial 3rd party for testing of fit, finish, and performance

BTW, Chandler H2 on this board made some sidewinder drag chambers for his race bike out of mirror polished stainless; MUCH harder and slower to weld but look perfect

Cost-wise, may end up the best way to offer them would be bare steel like the former Tomcats, and current FBGs and WTFs. Then, the purchasers could choose however they would like to have them finished on their own, whether it be painted, ceramic-coated, or chromed depending on how much each individual buyer wanted to spend in addition to the chambers cost. They could also choose to leave them in their welded-look bare steel and coat them with VHT hi-temp clear.



And keep in mind, Denco replicas will always be replicas, and therefore may not be worth as much to some as actual Dencos, even if they look, work, and smell the same.

I might buy some if they really are available...I have looked (a little) and I seem to run into dead ends all the time.

My $.02 though is, I agree with the raw steel look. I'd paint mine black. No worries about rusting internally !

Oh yea, and I definitely would not want a peaky pipe. I'd want something that works in the 2-5k range.

Great guys thanks for he feed back...

The idea of modeling them after Dencos is because it is a proven design and has the look of the period. This saves me the R&D of coming up with a new successful design and not ripping off someone like Tomcat.

If Porschedave is out there, I know he has a set of Dencos on one of his H1's Can you comment of the effective power range / peak power RPM of these pipes?

This could be a good alternative to restoring stock pipes.

Offering the pipes in Mild Steel would keep the cost lower for sure due to cheaper material cost and labor, this would be no problem, but I will probably proto-type in stainless, as I think it would be a selling point.

Didn't realize the FBG's were still/are available, but only for H2?
(not a bad price at all either!)

I was going to start with the H1 design because I don't have an H2, and want a set myself!

Don't get too excited yet, but...
What I may do is generate a prototype set and let board members try them for free, you just pay the shipping put them on your bike, take pictures, post to the board, write a review, then send them to the next willing individual.

I do have the Denco street pipes on my 70 and knock yourself out if you want to copy them fine. I just put new jet needles and clip change last night. This bike is running really good now with those pipes on! The front wheel is flying off the ground with those jet needles. I may have been running too rich and did some testing.I have some stocks,Wirges and Denco exhaust pipes to compare!

H1 WTFs should be available shortly, as our Canadian triple brothers are working on them now I believe.


I believe the Dencos by design, are inherently "peaky", but no doubt give good power, and would probably work very well with a reed conversion. I have a set of WTFs on the way for my S2/S3 that are designed to produce a more even, broader power range like you described. These are their "fatties".

OK here is Jeff measuring for hours every detail for his Denco H1 pipe making. He was very thorough im taking all angles and making them exact. This was after taking the 500 and Hybrid for a test run out in the back roads! I really think he will do great and Im anxious to try a set!

Now if you really want to create interest, make some for the 750's.
I would love to have a set of Denco stinger pipes for an H2 (so I could put good silencers on them and make quieter than street Dencos).

Hey Dave, riding your H1/H2 hybrid was a blast it would sure knock the socks off a Prias!

Making progress on the project...

Have spent many hours researching material availability, and taking careful measurements of Dave's pipes...

From the drawings and measurements the cones for the left, right, and center pipes are parameterized into five parameters that can be used to make computerized flat projections for laser cutting...

Note how the weld seem will run along the bottom like the orig. Dencos...




As a test the flat cone projections are printed on paper, transfered to poster board and used to make a full size mock pipe...

THAT LOOKS AWESOME!!! PAINT THEM BLACK, BOLT THEM UP TO AN H1 AND START IT UP!!!

Really, it's looking great already. I can't wait to see your very first prototype! Keep the posts coming!




Darrin

I want to see the paper headpipe!

Cool!

The mock ups look great.

Sent you a PM

Jeff

Jeff you got Skills and if anyone will do it and follow through its you. I want a polished stainless set that really shines! Next time your out Ive got a frame to use for mocking up pipes as you begin welding.Keep in mind that if you get the H1s dialed then we have a set of H2 here as well! The pipes are early frame but I do have a 73 frame as well if you need the bracket dimensions for longer bikes.....