All-

I've now got just over 1k on my new ZX. Obviously, I've done more riding than reading in the past two weeks, so I am behind the eight ball on a couple questions. I have seen some posts here and elsewhere about the Ninja's operating temps, etc. I can live with the engine being a bit on the warm side, but I was looking for info on the exhaust itself. I rode to the Superbike races yesterday, and actually had to stop extra times because my passenger couldn't stand the heat displacing off the pipes. She was afraid her shoes were going to melt! It was bearable for me, but I have to admit it was not comfortable. I have owned over a dozen bikes, and I've never had one heat your feet and lower legs while running the interstate at 75-80 mph. Pretty poor design IMO.
Now....I thought I read somewhere that an aftermarket 4-1 almost eliminates this issue due to removing the CAT. I was also told that by one of the reputable shops around town, but I wanted to run it past you guys before I drop the $1200. Honestly, the bike would have gotten a pipe and PC eventually anyway, but I think it is BS that Kawasaki would put out a machine that damn near REQUIRES it to be comfortable. I've owned it less than a month and I am already dropping serious money on it.

Any of you with full exhausts that can comment??

When I put my CT-Duals exhaust system on, the heat around the lower legs and feet dropped drastically. Of course, I had my exhaust ceramic coated before I ever put it on, so a lot of that is the ceramic coating inside and outside on the exhaust.

Frankly, if I get her apart enough again during winter projects, I might wrap on top of the ceramic as well, from the head to the muffler.

Others here have remarked that putting an aftermarket exhaust on seemed to lower this area of temperature.

Hub will tell you his runs ice cold, but thats Hub. Motorcycles sit up and beg for him. :)

When I first got my 2008, my first observation, before I ever got to observe the OMFG-ITS-FAST effect, was under 4,000 rpm during break in. My feet and lower legs flat cooked even on trips with the mc moving 70 mph in hot weather. My whole first winter of modifications was focused on a) piggy and best exhaust I could find, and b) reducing felt heat.

It worked. Even though my pegs are lowered 1-1/2" and come within about 1/4" of the exhaust pipe, I feel almost no heat on my feet and legs anymore. To protect my heels, I put a set of anodized aluminum heat shields on the top 1/2 of the pipe starting under the peg going back to the muffler spring hooks. So my heels never touch the pipe, and the shield is just enough off the pipe to make a big difference.

Targa Sportbike Exhaust Heatshield - Black 18-500BK-L

I had to buy two, they list as "each". Simple thing, easy to install, made riding a lot more pleasent.

Here they are on my bike (old picture, but not going to take them off!) -

So for you, I'd say buck up and bear it for the rest of your 4,000 mile break in, then get a high-end exhaust system (I'm biased to Brock's CT Series but they are big $) and a piggy (v3 USB is enough) and a good map, and watch as the miles pile on how she started to run cooler all on her own.

Yesterday I was riding around Gettysburg PA and it was so hot I rode in my t-shirt, which if you know me I consider an unnecessary exposure to risk. It was shrieking hot in the valley I was in. And she never got over 3 bars except for 20 minutes I was running in 2nd and 3rd gear on some sweet twisties. Then she went back down.

It gets better. Until then, no advice. I don't believe in modifying a bike before its broken in, because their character changes as they get broken in, and the mod might not be needed.

Others have differing opinions, which is what makes this forum so good!

* Last updated by: privateer on 7/10/2011 @ 8:05 AM *

+1 on the Brocks. was on an all day ride saturday and it was 90 degrees out. mine is not ceramic coated and i dont notice any heat from the exhaust but man the heat pours out around the foremans lol. we stopped for lunch and i was putting my helmet on the helmet lock and the guy i was riding with freaked out thinking i was gonna melt my helmet on the exhaust lol i told him to chill and i grabbed the can to show him it wasnt hot. gotta love those titanium cans

Well, I take a step I have used for decades just to be sure. Before I put the D-ring in the helmet lock, I put the passenger peg down, and then rest the helmet on the peg, which keeps it plenty far enough away from the heat.

Titanium or no, ceramic or no. Just to be safe! :)

I like that one man tour bike, Priv. Color is sharp too. Nice choice. OK, here it comes...

Show us her shoes! She is on the hot seat, not the pipes.

Don't have brocks..... yet... I do the passenger peg thing too!

Hope you can get a CT-Series exhaust dk, especially the -Duals which are just sweet as heck. The -Single is a bit lighter but also makes a couple less ponies. And no other aftermarket exhaust under $3,000 makes as much power as the CT-Duals.

Plus when you are up in the twisties keeping the revolutions up in the 8k+ range, the CT Series sings a beautiful melody which is impossible to describe.

Not loud like a meg or shorty, and not hollow like a Muzzy, but like something a Banshee in heat would be proud of.

And since my bike's skin is all carbon fiber, I was worried the heat might burn some of the panels, but that titanium the CT Series are made out of really runs cool (compared to stock).

"Something a Banshee in heat would be proud of".....I can honestly say I would have never expected to hear a bike described that way. LOL.
I know the Brock's systems are the hot ticket, but the cost was just to hefty for me right now. I found a weekend super sale on the 2 Brothers full 4-2-1 SS M2 system. Got one shipped to my door for $719. Now I am just awaiting the arrival of the PC, and should be able to get it on the dyno this Saturday.

I will keep you all posted. Thanks again.

* Last updated by: Red14 on 7/20/2011 @ 4:05 AM *

Well, she sure isn't some demure angel......