Who has gutted the Goat's Belly?

Also, what year is your bike and is it a California or non-California model?

I'm posting this because of the debate over whether the goat's belly is a catalytic converter, or just a "Chamber: pre-muffler" as stated in the Kawi parts manual. Judging by the prices they charge for one, we should all have got converters, but they certainly don't call them that.

From the photos I've seen of gutted goat's bellys, they do just appear to be mufflers, but the 2008 owner's manual definitely calls it a converter.

[rlfaubion]

Mine looked like steel. Worth $8 a pound. maybe 2 pounds I'd guess. Mines a California model '06.

I'm so embarassed that I'm going to further embarass myself by reposting this passage I just posted in the Garage section:

After some more investigation it appears that I am dead wrong, and you all (except for California residents) may have been getting the big weenie from Ma Kaw. Read on...

First, my repair manual indeed says the same thing as LW's and it says it on the fifth page of the book, which is the first page of actual text. (I wonder how I missed that? ::) )

To wit: "The exhaust system of this model motorcycle manufactured primarily for sale in California includes a catalytic converter system."

California requires a catalytic converter and has for over two decades. Most other states have not, until recently, I believe. But as far as I can tell so far, from reading the on line parts manuals, every Vulcan "88" model, 1500, and 1600 model manufactured since 1987 (except for the "b" models for some reason) has a catalytic converter, regardless of whether it was a California model or not.

They are all, however, listed as "chamber-premuffler" or simply as "chamber", and nowhere in either the parts or repair manuals I have researched are the words "catalytic converter" except in the mandatory emissions compliance statement pages. (Perhaps someone with the manual on CD can do a word search on this?)

Furthermore, I have examined internally both my California 2004 exhaust and Mac's 2001 (from Massachusetts) exhaust and both appear to contain a honeycomb-type catalyst, typical of such used in all Japanese cars I have worked on over the years.

So the bottom line is tactfully subsumed in that phrase "...manufactured primarily for sale in California..."

All you non-California types have been paying for a catalytic converter for 20 years, whether your state required it or not. Kawasaki has evidently been more concerned with the economies of scale inherent in manufacturing only one type of exhaust system than in the extra costs to those of you non-California people who (according to page 5 of the repair manual) were clearly never really intended to own Nomads. http://s2.images.proboards.com/tongue.gif http://s2.images.proboards.com/tongue.gif http://s2.images.proboards.com/tongue.gif

[audiogooroo]

I have a 99. I was going to gut the goats bladder but wanted an extra so I could always take it back to stock if required too. (They're pretty weird about that stuff here in the Springs) I located one from an 03 but when it arrived I discovered the difference...larger intake openings. The 99 has the same on all 4 openings. Also noticed when I had mine off that there ain't much in it. Just a metal screen on each intake. Quite a bit more in the 03. I'm not convinced that gutting the 99 would make much difference, but I can sure see how gutting the newer one would really open things up.

So perhaps I am still wrong, and what is universal is only the converter as a replacement part. I just can't see them charging $400~$600 if it hasn't go platinum in it. Do you have a '99 manual? Does it have emissions info on page 5 or thereabouts?

[skimo]

So perhaps I am still wrong, and what is universal is only the converter as a replacement part. I just can't see them charging $400~$600 if it hasn't go platinum in it. Do you have a '99 manual? Does it have emissions info on page 5 or thereabouts?

Just out of curiosity check price for exhaust for a 1600 classic. Its my understanding they have cat built into the front part of the muffler.

I too find in hard to believe a pre muff is 400/600 dollars

Muffler assembly for a 2008 1600 classic runs about $550 (without the chrome covers) at Bikebandit. It appears the two mufflers are welded together at the factory. Nothing there mentions catalyst. I'm sure they have it though.

So perhaps I am still wrong, and what is universal is only the converter as a replacement part. I just can't see them charging $400~$600 if it hasn't go platinum in it. Do you have a '99 manual? Does it have emissions info on page 5 or thereabouts?

I have the '99 Kawa Nomad Repair Maual at my office... I'll check it tomorrow morning...

[skimo]

Muffler assembly for a 2008 1600 classic runs about $550 (without the chrome covers) at Bikebandit. It appears the two mufflers are welded together at the factory. Nothing there mentions catalyst. I'm sure they have it though.

Bikebandit now bookmarked, how did I miss that web site.

I believe the reason why the mufflers, exhaust, baffles are welded up is to keep us out.

[VulcanE]

Mine is an '05, non-California model. The very first Mod I did was gut the goats bladder. I cut it in half right beside where it's welded together, and had a buggar of a time cutting thru the cataylst with all the honey comb shaped holes in it. I was using an industrial band saw made for cutting steel, and it wore the blade out on that one cut. I am a tool & die maker, so I know my metals pretty well. I don't know what material it was made of, but it wasn't soft (plain ol steel) http://s2.images.proboards.com/shocked.gif. It made no difference in the sound or preformance of the system that I noticed. So I went ahead and gutted the mufflers, made a moderate change in sound and performance, but still wasn't what I was looking for. I then went with the V&H baggars and was happy with them for 3 years untill I heard dkdixie's bike. http://s2.images.proboards.com/cheesy.gif I got the info from him, and modified my baffles like he said, and now they sound SWEET!, and seems to have regained a lot of the lost torque from when I went to the baggars. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[Yellow Jacket]

Considering the cost of replacing the goat belly if you have to pass emission checks in the future you might want to look at the Mammoet Bypass (also known as the Dutch bypass). There is a write up about this on Gadjet's page but the link has been changed. Here's the new link:

http://www.motorshopdemammoet.com/mammoet_bypass.htm

[VulcanE]

After thinkin on it today, I realized I made an error earlier, the goat bladder that I gutted was off an '02 1500 non-Cal model. I got the complete exhaust system from one of my friends so I could modify it, and keep my OEM "Just in Case"

[rlfaubion]

If I may step back in here, I'd say some of us are looking for the sound, with performance being secondary but an added bonus for sure.

With the v&n, the sound is good, but it is louder - even with baffles. I've run both. Others will like it a little less loud but desire the rumble the after-market pipes bring. Gutting, drilling, and ripping away on your stock system will accomplish this.

Now another issue is the cost. After market pipes are about 4 to 5 hundred bucks. You can do the home & garden version for $125. However, they do sound different, and there's your choice.

As far as destroying a stock system you may need in the future due to local laws, environmentalist, your own guilt or Al Queda, you can find stock systems for sale on the net if you make the effort to find one. I've heard of folks buying them for $50. I bought a complete pipe/muffler, converter (goat) for $150 new off an '06 from a guy that went to the other side. So with this, I have $275 in the deal, and I sound so sweet, women are smiling all throughout the highways and byways again. Alleluia!

[blowndodge]

Todd, I heard, was going originally going to gut his goat belly but the chain saw blade got dull cutting through his navel!!

Cadd, since California leads the market in motorcycle sales by a wide margin, most, if not all, bikes that needed a cat converter to pass emissions were equipped with cats regardless of the state they were sold in. It is too costly to manufacture different exhausts components for states outside California. Federal air quality guidelines usually follow California's lead.

This is why you would see aftermarket exhausts components with the claim "certified in all 50 states". California is the yardstick.

I think my exhaust system claims, "Certified in Elbonia."

[blowndodge]

hahahaha. No chance your moving there anytime soon huh???

I'm not a fan of mud riding.