Final Results-Dyno Cobra Pipes - 04 Nomad FI

[dfgpilot]

Hi All,

Just installed the new Cobra Pipes on my Nomad. Ordered them from Cruiser Customizing. The pipes and exhaust gaskets came to $437.90 with free shipping. They even matched the price from another web site. One little hitch on the order, I ordered the Tapered Ends which of course look like stock pipes, the Packing Slip said Tapered Ends, however, They shipped me the Slash Cuts. The Slash Cuts are more popular than the tapered, the sound as per Cobra isn't that much different, and I wanted new pipes on my bike so I put them on.

Negatives on the Exhaust System:
1) The welds on the pipe are not a nice clean cut as the OE Factory Pipes.
Due to this welding design the Factory Engine Exhaust Pipe Clamps
do not have a flush fit against the cylinders.
2)The clamping set up for the heat shields could have been designed
a little better also for a much easier install.

Positives on the Exhaust System:
1) The pipes itself were fairly easy to install. The OE exhaust came off quite
easily also. The process took about 2 hours with clean up.
2) The Chrome finish was in nice shape
3) Had someone else take the bike for a ride so I could listen to the
exhaust as they took off and drove by. The bike sounded pretty good and had a nice
rumble to it.

Performance:
Just a note-I wanted to see the difference in performance with each mod being installed. I wish I were able to give dyno-figures during this process. Hopefully I can when completed. No Idle or timing adjustments have been made. It has been put it on, run it, and see what you get for results. I have not yet added the recommended Fuel Injection Processor Kit (Power Commander or Cobra FI200, etc)

As for the Cobra Pipes with the stock engine set up the bike ran great till about 90mph. That's when I felt the top end performance starting to drop off. This is I believe due to the demand for more air through the intake while using the factory air filter. I had put in a K&N Filter earlier then removed it because of the lean mixture it created (See 9/12/04 K&N Filter/Wagner LazerBlueLighting). Bottom line in my opinion you’ll need to install some sort of Fuel Injection Processor Kit or New Jets for Carbed Bikes along with a High Flow Air Filter System to make your Machine run properly when installing a new exhaust (i.e.-Cobra-Vance & Hines-Jardine, etc)


Conclusion:
When you crack that throttle open people will know your coming. The pipes are louder than I expected especially since I'm used to riding such a quiet bike. I think it will take a little time to get used to. When seated on the bike the sound at idle for no better of an explanation I think is “tinny”. I guess I was hoping for a maybe a deeper bass tone. (I know this is no stereo but we all look for the ultimate sound from our machines). When cruising on the Highway at 70mph the exhaust has a nice smooth comfortable tone.

I’ve decided to go with the Cobra FI2000 Tri-Pot Digital Fuel Processor, which was recommended by Cobra (of course) on the Pipe Installation Instructions. I shall also reinstall the K&N Air Filter at the same time. When done I’ll give you the results. Unfortunately for me as of 7:00PM in NY today the Cobra TriPots are on Back Order till November. Due to this unforseen situation I now shall go with my alternate the Dynojets Power Commander III USB. This unit has been the most popular for a Digital Fuel Processor Unit on the market. I purchased the PCIII/USB today from Direct Parts for $296.32 with free shipping. I hope to have by Friday next week.

Any comments or feedback shall always be appreciated

Good Riding

[Spok]

very good review of your upgrade

[Peewee]

can you let us know what your total cost was for your mods

[dfgpilot]

Hi Peewee46

Thanks for the comment Spok

Just a little note first -
I was going to get Cobra's FI2000 TriPot($180 w/free Shipping). however they are on Back Order till November per Direct Parts & Cruiser Customizing. So I am spending an additional $116 more for the PCIII/USB. As per my Kawasaki dealer in CT the PCIII/USB is their prefered unit to use. I hope to have the PC unit by 10/1

Here are the Cost Figures so far:

Cobra Slash Cut Pipes $429.95 & Gaskets $437.90
(CruiserCustomizing-Free Shipping)

Power Commander PCIII/USB 296.32
(Direct Parts - Free Shipping)

K&N Air Filter (KA1596) 64.95
(Motodepot.com - $10.00 Freight)

Total cost to date: $799.17

Having a cool bike to Ride ON - PRICELESS

[Peewee]

very good,keep us up to date on the performance of your bike

[dfgpilot]

Hi Y'all,

First off the Cobra Pipes are sounding much much better now. I've never really heard of a "breaking in period for pipes".
As one female said to me I quote
"those pipes make that bike sound better & more throatier"
I guess enough said.

Since I'm still waiting on the PCIII/USB to install I thought I'd give some mpg results I got riding over the weekend with the Cobra Slashcut Pipes and the stock air filter.

Traveled on the highway 130miles-averaging around 70-80mph
used 3.3gals. Got 39.39 mpg


Prior to pipes:
My normal average for around town in NYC(30-40mph)
and highway(40-60mph) is 35-37mpg

My best highway was 47mpg at 70mph
My worst was 25mpg in NYC

You other Nomad Riders I would appreciate letting me know some of
your mpg results based on the mods you've done

Look forward to the posts

Safe Riding
DfgPilot

[Peewee]

hi ,i average about 40mpg,thats city & hwy combined at 60-70mph,very happy with those numbers ps no mods here

[dfgpilot]

Hi Ispeed77 & Peewee46 and of course the rest of The Forum

Finally completed the Engine Mods to my bike this morning.
Sorry for the length. Just trying to be thorough.

Had a Custom Map for my Nomad made at a Power Command Dyno Tuning Location. First off, I'm glad I decided to install the PCIII/usb instead of the Cobra FI2000 TriPot or The TFI Fuel Processor. The reason for this is the cleaner installation, the ability to have a computorized custom map done for your machine, and not guessing that the mapping or settings from any of these popular manufacturers is perfectly right for your bike. Even the down loaded map from PC for a Nomad with Cobra Pipes and Stock Air Filter had the engine running too lean of a mixture at your Cruise RPMS and Speed.

The PC Tuning Center I used is:
Dyno Solutions
84 Mill Plain Rd.
Danbury, CT, 06811
203-748-0741
http://www.dyno-solutions.com/

Dyno Solutions owner John T was great in explaining the whole Dyno Process. He made you feel very relaxed and comfortable while he allowed you to watch him work as he custom mapped your Power Commander. The mapping is created for throttle settings at 10% increments from 0%-Open(idle) to 100%-Open(Full Throttle). RPMS are based from Idle to MAX engine RPM done in 250RPM increases . The process takes about 2.5 hrs. A Dyno run was done with the Cobra Slash Cut Pipes and Stock Air Filter. The Custom Mapping was done withe the Cobra Pipes and the K&N Air Filter.

The Test Ride:
1st Off, nice smooth acceleration as expected!
Not sure I can explain this part as accurately as I would like.
The most noticeable thing I found was that the bikes engine response to throttle no matter which gear you were in was immediate. No lag. You could be in 5th gear doing 40-45mph, crack the throttle to 40% open, and the PCIII/usb dumps the right amount of air/fuel mixture to RPM for a nice clean responsive acceleration.

Note-The mods I've installed are not going to give you major ponies to your bike.
Unfortunately I didn't have my bike dynoed while it was stock to give a really true comparison. However, Motorcycle Cruiser in 1997 did a test on different Pipes with the appropriate jet kits for the Kawasaki 1500 Classic. These dyno results of Horsepower & torque at the rear wheel should do. http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/acc...o97/index.html
The Stock Exhaust Dyno Results are:
Peak horsepower: 48.1@4500 rpm
Peak torque (ft.-lb): 71.3@2500 rpm
The Cobra Slash Cuts Dyno Results are:
Peak horsepower: 51.8@4500 rpm
Peak torque (ft.-lb): 72.8@3000 rpm

I've attached the Completed Dyno Results Graph.
Max HP at the Rear Wheel 54.93@4800rpm approx increase 6.83HP from the 48.1hp
Max Torque Foot Lbs 76.57@3000rpm " " 5.27ft-lb from the 71.3ft-lbs
As you see these figures are not far off from the 1997 tests
Fuel Performance on Ride Home:
42.37mpg at 61.3mph average with the PCIII/usb

Here are the Final Mod Cost Figures:

Cobra Slash Cut Pipes $429.95 & Gaskets $437.90
(CruiserCustomizing-Free Shipping)

Power Commander PCIII/USB 296.32
(Direct Parts - Free Shipping)

K&N Air Filter (KA1596) 64.95
(Motodepot.com - $10.00 Freight)

Custom Mapping - $265.00 Tax included.
(Dyno-Solutions)

Total Cost: $1064.17

Having a cool bike to Ride ON - PRICELESS!!!

Any imput, comments, or questions always appreciated.

DfgPilot

[bikeaholic]

awesome job pilot

documentation is the real story

i posted it in the faq forum - hope you don't mind

[dfgpilot]

Hi bikeaholic

1)Thanks for pat on the back.
2)Don't mind at all.

I really enjoyed doing it and I like my ride even more now!!

DfgPilot

[ispeed77]

thanks for the results pilot. if you don't mind me asking, what did they charge you ? i am hoping to get mine done before the winter teardown and just wanted to see what the going rate is. with the tuner where it sits now, and my happy throttle hand, i am getting around 32-37 mpg depending on speed, wind, rate of throttle, you get the idea. i'll have to see what the right tuning will do for the mileage. have you checked your high speed response, if you ride that way ? i noticed a significant increase in throttle response just by going to the V&H pipes.

[dfgpilot]

Hi Ispeed77,

Most of the PC Dyno Tuning Centers want $300.00 plus tax. Maybe $300.00 flat if you pay cash.
I did put my cost figure with the results - $265.00 tax included.
You must have been tired when you wrote part of this

The bikes throttle response with the factory map was great. No lags when you cracked the throttle while in a high gear at low speeds. With the custom map the response is way better. The reason is the maping is done
in 250RPM(idle to 6000 for this bike) & the range of throttle opening percentage positions (0,2,5,10,20,40,60,80,100). This creates a smooth and immediate engine response.

As far as the V&H Pipes and throttle response goes you may have improved the air flow through the engine by the V & H pipes being less restrictive compared to the Cobra Pipes you removed, which is allowing your hypercharger to be more efficient with air intake. This improvent can
increase HP. Just putting in the K&N filter on my Nomad gave me almost 1hp compared to the Stock Air Filter.

IF you have downloaded the PC Tuning Center you can print or review the
difference in the mapping between the Cobra & V&H exhausts.

I cruise on the highway around 70mph. When I crack that throttle the bike has excellent performance till 90mph then starts dropping off slowly till 100mph. There isn't much left of top end after that. MaybeI could get to 105mph. However, the bikes performance going through the gears from a stop to 90mph is awesome. The only way I'll be able to improve on this bike (without internal engine mods) is by increasing the air intake. That's another project.

See ya
Good riding

DfgPilot

[ispeed77]

dfgpilot
thanks for the cost update, i guess i was sleeping when i read your other post ! sounds like you've got your bike running good, hopefully i will be soon to follow suit. thanks for all the info.

[dfgpilot]

Hi Ispeed77

Your Welcome. Look forward to your post when you have the bike Dynoed. I'm sure you'll be well pleased when you do.

DfgPilot

[Duce_Drifter04]

I have a "04" Drifter with V&H Long Shots, Samson Fish Tails, PC III and a "CADDIE MAN KIT" W/ K&N . My DYNO run was 57.6 HP and 59.9 Torque. what year is your Nomad and is your K&N a factory replacement filter or did you opt for a "BAK" kit