Delkevic Pipes


RE5Guy
Forum Regular
Forum Regular
Posts: 37
Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2008 7:00 pm
Location: New Zealand

Delkevic Pipes

Post by RE5Guy »

I have just received a nice new shiny set of Delkevics to put on one of the '79s. The other bike still has the original exhaust on it so I can do a good comparison of the two exhausts.

Whilst I was not really expecting an exact copy, I was expecting a lot better than I got. The right hand exhaust set is fine. The left isn't.

On the originals there is an indentation for the centre stand arm. This isn't present on the Delkevics and they have made the prop that the centre stand sits against when up longer to compensate, so the centre stand arm isn't tucked away as well as you would expect.

However the real issue is the side stand prop. On the originals it is on the "inside" of the pipe, that is towards the frame. On the Delkevics it is on the outside of the pipe and is much bigger than on the originals. To be frank it is just plain UGLY!

Be warned if you are after replicas, they aren't quite there.

Still look heaps better than the old set they replaced though.

Cheers

Tony

steve murdoch icoa #5322
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 4066
Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2003 9:12 am
Location: St. Catharines, On. Canada
Location: St. Catharines, On. Canada

Re: Delkevic Pipes

Post by steve murdoch icoa #5322 »

Thanks for the quick review, Tony.
Have you had a chance to ride the bike for a seat of the pants power comparision.
The set that i heard run through the gears had a terrific sound...very similar to stock to my ear.

RE5Guy
Forum Regular
Forum Regular
Posts: 37
Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2008 7:00 pm
Location: New Zealand

Re: Delkevic Pipes

Post by RE5Guy »

No I haven't.

It didn't occur to me that I needed the two gaskets that pipes 2 and 4 need to connect to the rest of the set. So I am waiting for them to arrive.

I have gone back to the people I bought them off asking what they are prepared to do as the goods really aren't "as described" although to be fair it isn't the retailers fault. So I'll wait to I hear back, but what I may do is take them to a guy I know who is good at metal fabricating and get him to fix the two props and get the pipe re-chromed. If I do this I won't start it up until after it is fixed so I don't have any issues with the chroming guys and contaminating their tank.

Joner
Forum Regular
Forum Regular
Posts: 186
Joined: Fri Dec 29, 2006 12:12 pm
Location: Gloucestershire, UK
Location: Gloucestershire UK

Re: Delkevic Pipes

Post by Joner »

Tony.
I am having a slight discolouration problem with the No. 1 header, not blueing but going slightly black, on my Delkevics.
They sound brilliant on the bike but I like you am not overly happy with the finish, I will contact Delkevic when I have checked the plugs etc, but she is running sweet at the moment.
Cheers
Chris J.
p.s. yes I will post a pic when I get time.
Grey-haired bikers don't get that way from pure luck.

EMS
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 10151
Joined: Wed Mar 05, 2003 7:55 am
Location: North East OH, ICOA 3904

Re: Delkevic Pipes

Post by EMS »

Well...I can't really make a substantiated judgement about the Delkevic exhausts, because I have never seen one in real life. But I can speak based on my own experience from other industries and products: You have to consider that they come out of China and one thing China does not measure up with is Quality Control. They can copy designs, they have cheap labor, they can still do things there that we can no longer do in the "Western World" because of government and environmenatl rules and regulations, but they have an absolute inefficient quality control. You reject a part because of a defect and next week, you get a shipment of parts with the same defect. :roll: :roll:
It is all part of the greater scheme of things...

Larry Zimmer
ICOA Web Post/Pix/Video Archive Mgt
ICOA Web Post/Pix/Video Archive Mgt
Posts: 2192
Joined: Mon Dec 15, 2003 2:32 pm
Location: Brighton, MI
Location: Brighton, Mich
Contact:

Re: Delkevic Pipes

Post by Larry Zimmer »

That's one of the problems with off-shore sourcing. You get a pipeline that's 6-weeks long! A real booger. Joner, I'd think the black would be either an exhaust leak or chrome coming off. Check the flange for a hair-line crack.
Larry Zimmer
cbxlarry@sbcglobal.net

Terry
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 2306
Joined: Thu Jan 30, 2003 9:45 pm
Location: norcal
Location: Northern California, USA

Re: Delkevic Pipes

Post by Terry »

RE5Guy wrote:I have just received a nice new shiny set of Delkevics to put on one of the '79s. The other bike still has the original exhaust on it so I can do a good comparison of the two exhausts.

Whilst I was not really expecting an exact copy, I was expecting a lot better than I got. The right hand exhaust set is fine. The left isn't.

On the originals there is an indentation for the centre stand arm. This isn't present on the Delkevics and they have made the prop that the centre stand sits against when up longer to compensate, so the centre stand arm isn't tucked away as well as you would expect.

However the real issue is the side stand prop. On the originals it is on the "inside" of the pipe, that is towards the frame. On the Delkevics it is on the outside of the pipe and is much bigger than on the originals. To be frank it is just plain UGLY!

Be warned if you are after replicas, they aren't quite there.

Still look heaps better than the old set they replaced though.

Cheers

Tony
I wrote to Delkevic about this and this is what they had to say. They included a pic of their left side pipe next to an OEM pipe and frankly its a bit dark to really tell any difference but at least they didn't ignore my inquiry.

"Hello Terrance
Thank you for your email, our CBX system is as close to the original Honda system as we could economically produce & there is certainly no other system produced today that is as close. We recently attended the Euro CBX rally & received nothing but positive comments & I am sure that if the stand stops where an issue we would have certainly have been told by one of the many owners that were there with systems fitted to their bikes (the systems have been on sale for over 12 months & this is the first we have heard.)

I have attached a photo of our system next to an original Honda system & the comment that the stops are much bigger & positioned differently is very puzzling, they look pretty close to me

I would suggest that you speak to a few CBX owners club members who have purchased the system & see what they have to say, I am sure the vast majority of comments will be positive

If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us

Regards
Dave Fisher

Image
It ain't the destination, its the journey...

RE5Guy
Forum Regular
Forum Regular
Posts: 37
Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2008 7:00 pm
Location: New Zealand

Re: Delkevic Pipes

Post by RE5Guy »

Now that is really interesting! The OEM pipe in the picture does not look like the OEM pipe that is on my second bike. That pipe is a Sakei (spelling??) and has the correct stamp on it. I have no reason at all to believe it isn't the correct original pipe

When I get home I will see if I can take a photo and paste it here.

cheers

Tony

RE5Guy
Forum Regular
Forum Regular
Posts: 37
Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2008 7:00 pm
Location: New Zealand

Re: Delkevic Pipes

Post by RE5Guy »

Hi all,

as promised here are some pictures of my two bikes with the two exhausts mounted.

What are peoples views? Are the pipes Delkevic supplied come from a pro-link maybe???
Sankei.JPG
HM422.jpg
Orig.JPG
Delk.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

Terry
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 2306
Joined: Thu Jan 30, 2003 9:45 pm
Location: norcal
Location: Northern California, USA

Re: Delkevic Pipes

Post by Terry »

In re: "Are the pipes Delkevic supplied come from a pro-link maybe???"

Their ads state they make one set for all CBX years which means there is no center pipe between the cans and no internal differences?. But, they may have modeled the exterior of their repros (only) after one model (79 or 80) or another (81 or 82). I have the OEMs off the 79 currently but the 82 has the OEMs on. Never noticed any difference between the exterior of either pipe where the stands go but I've never fitted an early model exhaust on a Prolink either to see if the stands line up the same, or not.

Just took a look at mine, the HMMA2 A on my 82 has the side stand stop similar to your bottom pic, one longish rubber pieced onto a raised brace. The rubber part ends up in front of where the front of the side stand leg fits up against the pipe. This allows the side foot portion (the part that your foot lifts) to snug up tightly against the pipe w/o hanging too far away from the pipe or too far down.

The 422s from the 79 do NOT have one longish rubber side stand stop like the Prolinks. It has two smaller separated raised stops with rubbers quite a ways apart from eachother, quite different from the Prolinks. The other smaller indentation for the center stand seems in a similar position between both versions. I don't see an indentation in your bottom Delkevic pipe like my 82 has.

From the looks of the Delkevics in the bottom pic it appears they modeled them after the one on my Prolink. See the loop for your boot to raise and lower the stand? On my 82 the long rubber stop (like yours) fits in front of the larger side stand leg (when up) and on top of the smaller loop. I can't tell from your pic if the rubber stop is completely against the stand in the up position or not. Does your stand fit snugly up there behind and against the rubber or does it stick out or hang away from the can in the up position?
It ain't the destination, its the journey...

EMS
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 10151
Joined: Wed Mar 05, 2003 7:55 am
Location: North East OH, ICOA 3904

Re: Delkevic Pipes

Post by EMS »

The never ending CBX mysteries.....
Here is a comparison between the different CBX exhausts. From bottom to top: 79 -422- exhaust, 80 -469- exhaust and 81/82 -MA2- exhaust. Clearly visible is the difference in stand stops, in spite of the -469- missing the rubbers.
The -422- has two round rubber stops and short bracket, the -469- is a hybrid between the -422- and -MA2- with a round and a rectangular rubber and a short bracket, while the MA2 has a round and a rectangular rubber and a long bracket.
Now, compare this with the Delkevic and consider the location of the indentation and it may show that they patterned the outside after the -469-. Maybe. Decide for yourself.
I remember the fellows from the U.K. club, when they announced the exhaust, said it was patterned after the CBX-Z (422) exhaust up to the last detail and internals. You may also consider that Europe never officially had a SC03 CBX and whoever supplied the part to pattern after, may have had the wrong exhaust. The one shown in Mr. Fisher's picture is definitely a MA2 (Prolink) exhaust

4176

RE5Guy
Forum Regular
Forum Regular
Posts: 37
Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2008 7:00 pm
Location: New Zealand

Re: Delkevic Pipes

Post by RE5Guy »

Getting more interesting isn't it?

My side stand does sit up snug against the prop when it is up. The metal part of the stand that holds the rubber foot is the piece that sits against the prop.

Cetainly looks like the Delkevics were modelled on the pro-link and there are significant differences between that and the 422 exhaust I have.

Any chance of further comment from Dave Fisher from Delkevic?

Terry
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 2306
Joined: Thu Jan 30, 2003 9:45 pm
Location: norcal
Location: Northern California, USA

Re: Delkevic Pipes

Post by Terry »

RE5Guy wrote:Getting more interesting isn't it?

My side stand does sit up snug against the prop when it is up. The metal part of the stand that holds the rubber foot is the piece that sits against the prop.

Cetainly looks like the Delkevics were modelled on the pro-link and there are significant differences between that and the 422 exhaust I have.

Any chance of further comment from Dave Fisher from Delkevic?
I initially wrote to this guy from ebay, and here is his recommendation that I forward my question to him.

Terry I'm working on an answer to this for us.
If you want copy and paste your question over to the United Kingdom store for hopefully a quicker answer (sales@delkevic.co.uk)
thanks!
- steelesnewparts

This was his response in full, along with the pics I already posted,

Thank you for your email, our CBX system is as close to the original Honda system as we could economically produce & there is certainly no other system produced today that is as close. We recently attended the Euro CBX rally & received nothing but positive comments & I am sure that if the stand stops where an issue we would have certainly have been told by one of the many owners that were there with systems fitted to their bikes (the systems have been on sale for over 12 months & this is the first we have heard.)
I have attached a photo of our system next to an original Honda system & the comment that the stops are much bigger & positioned differently is very puzzling, they look pretty close to me
I would suggest that you speak to a few CBX owners club members who have purchased the system & see what they have to say, I am sure the vast majority of comments will be positive
If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us
Regards
Dave Fisher

I agree that, good or bad, they decided to compromise in the exterior's design in order to accomodate all years of the CBX...or, they used only one set of whatever year (Prolink maybe?) eliminated the crossover pipe and came up with what Dave refers to as,

..."our CBX system is as close to the original Honda system as we could economically produce & there is certainly no other system produced today that is as close."

And he may be right!
It ain't the destination, its the journey...

EMS
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 10151
Joined: Wed Mar 05, 2003 7:55 am
Location: North East OH, ICOA 3904

Re: Delkevic Pipes

Post by EMS »

Terry wrote: ..."our CBX system is as close to the original Honda system as we could economically produce & there is certainly no other system produced today that is as close."

And he may be right!
Maybe he is, maybe he isn't. :?: What about the Sankei system that was commisioned by the Dutch club :?: They are still being sold...

dcmcmunn
ICOA Membership Director
ICOA Membership Director
Posts: 29
Joined: Sat Jun 06, 2009 7:37 am
Location: Knox, PA, USA
Location: Knox, PA, USA

Re: Delkevic Pipes

Post by dcmcmunn »

RE5GUY:
If you straighten your sidestand, it will fit the stops on both pipes much better. It should tuck right up next to the pipe. If you look closely, you will see a bow in the stand. It should be perfectly straight. The Delkevics are copies of the '80 pipes, as I think EMS said. Looks like the stop should hit right if the stand is straight.

Dave

Post Reply

Return to “EXHAUSTS: What works and fits...and what doesn't.”