ZARDS just fitted.

[GHEZZI]

Zards don't come with fitting instructions either. Took 5 minutes to work out that the 2 supplied 20mm spacers were to move the 'flapper valve' servo motor forward so the pipes would fit.

The 2 supplied carbon 'gap filler' pieces were upside down and on the wrong sides.

The black cover plate had the speed nuts on upside down so you attempt to fit it the wrong way round.

The indicator 'wire tube' comes with a button head cap screw that can't be tightened as there is no access (unless you cut the end off the key). I substituted a bolt with a 10mm hex head and used an open ender.

But I'm not complaining, just pointing out Italian engineering etc.

Received new number plate light yesterday (warranty job), box said 748. The wires were about 300mm too short and had the wrong connectors ( I swapped the looms). Also the standard plastic support for the rear indicator wires was being replaced, except it doesn't exist in any spare parts listing. I had to remove the faulty part to get the part # for my dealer to order. Surprise surprise! Frasers had it in stock, only took 2 days to arrive. And now I dont need it due to Zards.

So if Ducati are falling short, I suppose it's only fitting for a small exhaust manufacturer to follow suit.

Put Staintunes on a Guzzi 2 years ago, had to grind off welds etc. Then other welds suffered stress fractures. So, must be par for the course.

The Zards look senational, but with no db killers and being of straight through design, I expected them to be louder. Suppose the cat is more restrictive than I anticipated .................... and the flapper valve. Well that's in the shed, will see in tomorrows test ride.

[gossa]

Are you talking about the two machined alloy spacers? I used those as depth spacers to refit the side panels?

The only issue I had was the oem tail light bolt earthing out on the metal tail tidy and blowing fuses.

I have the Homologated Pentas with standard pipework and without the baffles I think they sound louder then the full Termis on my 1098s so surprised you say they don't sound loud.

Anyway, getting the Zard collectors bext week so i'll fill you in on what difference they make.

[GHEZZI]

Way togo Gossa! It turns out the pipes are loud when I ride, love em!

All my carbon lined up nicely with holes in the flat black plate, but the front wall of the cross section muffler box was hitting the back of the electric servo motor which controls the exhaust flapper valve. So I used the spacers and long screws there.

I used the original plastic number plate support which also mounts the plate light. I had to change wiring looms from old damaged light to new (supplied under warranty) 748 light. I can see why you blew fuses, the mounting bolts hold in the blade connectors for the wiring. The three holes in the tail tidy match perfectly to the holes in the number plate support. I have a new personalized plate (HYP16) and didn't want to drill holes all over it.

Initial impressions without any tuning adjustment are; runs smoother at lower revs, I can ride a gear higher in town tootling along at a little over 2000rpm.

Seems to have more grunt in the midrange, accelerating from 100kph thought I was in 5th gear, surprise I'm in 6th. Or does the noise just make it feel faster?

Less engine braking and smoother uptake when changing up gears at moderate revs/speed, as if the engine hasn't lost as many revs during the upshift.

12000k service wed week, DP slip-on ECU (thanx Infidel) to be fitted and TPS etc to be reset. Will post results here.

By the way, does anybody know if the air box comes off to do shims etc?
If so I will drill top & bottom and fit BMC at the same time.

[gossa]

I'm switching all my goodies from my red hyper to a new black hyper 's' next week plus adding the zard collectors and a sweet black alloy subframe (and Rizoma rearsets if thet arrive!)

I'll let you know what difference the collectors make but i'm back to zero running in the new bike which I need to get done sharpish as i'm doing a track day at Brands Hatch in a couple of weeks.

I can tell you that the zard slipons added 5mph onto the top speed on my standard bike (135 on the guage), and yes they sound much louder when you're riding it, especially low gears, high revs, bloody nuts!