I was chatting to a very well known BMW engine specialist while we were having a poke around a K1100LT I'd bought earlier this year.





He looked where the headers joined the collector box and commented that they weren't cracked. He then went on to tell me that when the Police used to run the K11's, they would place a Jubilee or worm drive clip just ahead of the collector to move any resonance away from the welded joint, that's why the headers to crack.
I took his advice on board and did just that in the hope of keeping my exhaust in perfect working order; see below.




I just thought I'd pass this tip on because for the price of the parts needed, it's worth a try.

Mike.

Thanks Mike

Prior to my Norway trip earlier this year (K1100RS) I had to remove the exhaust (to clean and adjust the clutch actuator).

Unfortunately one of the pipes was loose and required a bit of stainless welding.

I know what I will be doing now to hopefully stop this re-occurring.

Worth a shot!

Thanks Mike!

Rosskko might be keen to try that little clamp addition on his K1100.

I will be sure to give it a go. I have also heard they weld a strap welded across the four pipes as close to the ports as possible while still being able to get the nuts on, it probably has the same effect

I've got a similar clamp on my outfit;  the weld at the silencer is cracked and the Jubilee clip stops the rattle, it's been there for more years than I care to remember.

Paul.

Any updates on header cracking with the jubilee clamps?  I just bought another K100RS4V with an uncracked factory exhaust and will be installing a clamp.   

On my old K100RS4V the exhaust was replaced for cracking under warranty 3 times in the first four years.   I finally installed an 8V K100 exhaust that worked quite nicely despite being a bit of a bother to get installed.

I got tempted by the 8v exhaust option for the K1100LT but in the meantime a complete brand new Remus fell into my hands for very reasonable money.

I now have the old K1100LT exhaust with only one header attached........ keeping eye out for a collector but I also seem to have a complete 8v exhaust in my shed.

It's also been recommended over at K11OG that keeping all of the attachment points and header flange nuts properly torqued is a good idea.  (Like checking them every time you do an oil change.)

Can't hurt.

The exhaust on my K11 is still sound.
It could be a coincidence but I'm leaving the Jubilee clip in place.

That's good news Mike,  I'll get the torque wrench out and retighten all the fasteners and install the jubilee clamp.  My first K100 four valve had a Remus, and I found the exhaust note a bit embarrassing when motoring slowly through town.  I really don't want to ever need an aftermarket exhaust on my bikes.

If I wanted to make a lot of noise I'd have bought a Hardly Dangerous.

FYI: There's two versions of the Remus.  The one on my K11RS is just slightly louder than stock.

Staintunes are pretty quiet too.