Step into the exciting world of Guhl Dyno Chronicles! The Burning Question: Which Header Reigns Supreme on Your Suzuki GSXR600? Brace Yourself – The Real Answer Might Just Surprise You!
Our mission: objectively, back-to-back, test every exhaust we could get our hands on. Each header underwent trials on the exact same engine/dyno combo, fine-tuned on our stock 2014 GSXR600 under similar weather conditions to give us accurate results.
Meet the contenders: Beyea, CP Indy, ERC, FTZ, Schoenfeld, Vance & Hines, and Grape. After years of bold claims – headers boasting gains of 8, 10, 14, even 16 horsepower – we decided it was high time to separate fact from fiction.
Strap in as we take on the challenge, putting these claims to the test.
FTZ exhaust:
Retail Price: $595 bare mild steel, add $100 for ceramic coating. Comes with o2 bung, muffler, springs clamp and gaskets.
Weight: 11 Pounds
Performance:
- Top end: Good
- Peak: Good
- Mid range: Great
- Bottom end: Great
The fit and finish: 3 stars out of 5.
- The exhaust is made well and fit as expected. The coating made assembly a bit difficult.
Beyea exhaust:
Retail Price: $515 bare mild steel. Comes with o2 bung and muffler. There is a stainless version available.
Weight: 9.4 Pounds
Performance:
- Top end: Great
- Peak: Best
- Mid range: Good
- Bottom end: Good
The fit and finish: 3 stars out of 5.
- The exhaust is made well and fit as expected.
CP-Indy:
Retail Price: $895 polished Stainless steel. Comes with o2 bung and muffler.
Weight: 14.8 Pounds
Performance:
- Top end: Good
- Peak: Great
- Mid range: Great
- Bottom end: Good
The fit and finish: 3 stars out of 5.
- The exhaust is made well and the polished finish looked the best, but the fitment needs some work, as it was the most difficult to get installed.
Schoenfeld:
Retail Price: $500 painted mild steel. Comes with muffler, but no o2 bung ($35 optional)
Weight: 12.9 Pounds (straight)
Weight: 13.7 Pounds (with up-turn)
The Schoenfeld was interesting as it included an optional up-turn for the collector, so we tested it both ways to see the difference. Check the graph to see the straight vs up-turn comparison.
Performance Straight:
- Top end: Good
- Peak: Excellent
- Mid range: Great
- Bottom end: Great
Performance Up-Turn:
- Top end: Good
- Peak: Good
- Mid range: Best
- Bottom end: Excellent
The fit and finish: 4 stars out of 5.
- The exhaust is made well and the one-piece flange made installation a breeze! The header was painted, but it was completely burnt off by the end of the testing.
ERC:
Retail Price: $1495 bare stainless steel. Comes with o2 bung and muffler.
Weight: 11.7 Pounds
Performance:
- Top end: Good
- Peak: Excellent
- Mid range: Great
- Bottom end: Best
The fit and finish: 4-1/2 stars out of 5.
- The exhaust is made well and fit perfectly. If it had a polished finish, it would have been 5 out of 5 stars!
Vance & Hines:
Retail Price: $1581.25 bare stainless steel. Comes with o2 bung and muffler.
Weight: 13.2 Pounds
Performance:
- Top end: Best
- Peak: Excellent
- Mid range: Great
- Bottom end: Good
The fit and finish: 4-1/2 stars out of 5.
- The exhaust is made well and fit perfectly. If it had a polished finish, it would have been 5 out of 5 stars!
Grape:
Retail Price: $1295 bare stainless steel. Comes with o2 bung and carbon-fiber muffler.
Weight: 10.6 Pounds
Performance:
- Top end: Excellent
- Peak: Good
- Mid range: Great
- Bottom end: Good
The fit and finish: 3-1/2 stars out of 5.
- The exhaust is made well, but the spigots and springs connecting the header to the head are a bit fiddley. The carbon-fiber muffler is very nice and light,
Results:
Drumroll, please! After sifting through the data, the results are in, and the findings are nothing short of fascinating. Brace yourself for a twist – there’s no clear winner or loser. The closeness of the results was downright surprising, showcasing an unexpected level playing field among the contenders.
Take a close look at the data – the peak horsepower numbers tell a compelling story. Within a mere 200 RPM and a slim margin of 2.68 horsepower, the contenders are neck and neck. The competition is tight, revealing a remarkable parity among these headers.
The Hp Delta graph vividly illustrates the power difference between the highest and lowest horsepower among all exhaust systems tested. It’s a straightforward visual guide showcasing just how minimal the difference really is across the board.
In wrapping up, it’s safe to say that all these exhaust systems stand strong, and there’s truly no wrong choice. Whether it’s about budget, car compatibility, or personal preference, go for the header that suits you best. Ensure your tune aligns with your system, and hit the track with the confidence that your exhaust system isn’t holding you back!
Stay Tuned For More Guhl Dyno Chronicles!
Great write up on the exhaust test.
With aftermarket coils legal now in the u6sa rules. It would be interesting to see a comparison between stock coils and aftermarket ones.
Thanks for the writeup! Very interesting, and makes me want to go back to my Schoie. I feel like my ACE header lacks a lot down low on my Honda. I love that you decided to do this.