Laser cat replacment

[SteveN]

I just installed my Laser cat replacement pipe on my '99 S. Talk about a great deal! For less than $140 (US) including shipping I got the pipe delivered from The Netherlands (JAMA) to Oregon (USA) in 8 days. Love the sound improvement; just enough deeper sound to add to my riding pleasure. And I do belive that the bike runs even smoother than before and has more guts. Even if it doesn't, it's the feeling that counts. The fit was great and instllation was easy once I got the small boat called a catalytic converter removed.

This is my first post, but I want to say how valuable I find this BB. No crap, just very useful information. Thanks.

[andreas]

8 Days wow!! I have been waiting 3 months
unfair!!

[TOMMY MURRAY]

Sounds like a bargin. Do you have the adress of where you purchased it E-mail address would be fine thanks

[Malc]

Laser are on-line at http://www.laser-jama.com/

I ordered mine from http://www.vanharten.nl

[SteveN]

The email is Gertjan@laser-jama.nl. Their website is They have both the cat replacement pipe and new mufflers as separate items.

[Gromit]

Hi Steve,

This sounds good!

Are you using the standard exhaust cans? I've heard and read from more than one source that the standard cans are very good indeed (annoyingly so) not a lot of power is gained top end or otherwise by replacing them.

I've got ART cans on mine but the cat is still in place. The engine only 'feels' quicker - probably as a result of the nicer noise! It's just loud enough for me, although they are not as loud as the Vanderlinde system. Does removing the cat result in more noise? Or does it just 'improve' the noise?

Sorry for all the questions but I'm dying to know!

Regards,

Richard.

[Malc]

.com works for me. Anyway, I hadn't looked at either site for a while but Laser have a chip "coming soon". I seem to remember seeing something on the Van Harten site that looked like a price for a chip but couldn't find it this time.

Gromit,

I have the laser mid section and ART cans. Only put the cans on for a day. The bracket they supply is not very good, I will cut and re-weld it when I have time. Cannot comment on the cans with the cat in place but with both parts on it seemed noisy enough. Not sure about the power though. The bike feels nicer with the stock cans. Can't say I noticed any increase in noise by loosing the CAT.

[This message has been edited by Malc (edited 11-17-2000).]

[Gromit]

Malc,

Wow, that was quick!!

As usual, this BB comes up trumps again

OK, looks like the standard cans are going back on. The ARTs make the engine smoother I have to say but I do very much agree that the bracket they supply is absolute crap.

Many thanks for the info,

Best wishes,

Richard.

[SteveN]

I have the stock cans; thought I'd wait and see how just the Laser cat replacement works. Best dollar value I've spent so far!

The sound is just enough deeper that it sounds great to my ears; not annoyingly loud when riding for 75+ miles at a time.

As for performance, I think it's definitely smoother and it seems somewhat quicker in mid-range. I arrive at that a couple ways:

1. gut feeling, which is probably most important to my psyche.

2. Stop watch timing from a STEADY 60 to 80 mph roll-on in 6th gear. I'm only a 200+ ft. above sea level and now I routinely see 4.1-4.2 seconds. Pre-cat replacement this was 4.8-4.9 seconds. Anybody else done any "timed" roll-ons?

3. A friend has a '99 Ducati ST4 and at equal RPM roll-ons, my 1100S has improved a couple bike lengths. It's hard comparing different bikes roll-ons because of gearing differences, but the 1100S is as fast as the ST4 from 60 up to 90. It wasn't with the stock catalytic box.

Also just installed a Moto-Techniques GS paralever arm today. Very nice quality product and the bike does seem smaller and more nimble on its feet. What a great bike to play with.

Happy riding...

[Gromit]

Steve,

Well put!

There's nothing like hard evidence, the side to side comparison of two bikes. An ST4 owning friend of mine keeps accusing the S of being 'gutless'. However, in the all important 40-90mph region he always says he has 'some difficulty' in holding the S when following. Seems the BMW has duch great urge in the lower midrange (3500-5000rpm). Here's the proof!

When the roles are reversed (if he rides his ST in front) the S does really struggle and will not gain any ground, in fact it loses ground gradually until 100 where the ST romps away. I'm not too worried though - over 100 on UK roads is asking for trouble if you're not absolutely sure there are no speed cameras or Old Bill (cops for our US cousins) about.

Looks like the Cat Eliminator is the way forward for me too.

Regards,

Richard.

[carl tyrer]

Steve & Gromit

If you fit the lazer pipe go for a BB Power chip i did and the performance benefit was excellent. More aggressive midrange combined with a better top end, No losses anywhere throughout the rev range.

Carl

[johnty288]

Will the centerstand still fit with the Laser replacement?

[doberman]

My dealer have just installed the Laser Sport Collector and a K&N filter.
I already had the BBPower chip installed.
I haven't tried it yet (waiting for spring),
but the report says an additional 7bhp under
4000rpm and 3-7bhp througout the range.
That is on top of gain i got when i initially installed the BBPower.

[roger albert]

Hi,

always good to see some numbers; thanks.
Were those back to back direct A/B comparison runs? 7 would seem like a VERY nice return for the cat-elim and chip together, or even a full exhaust, much less a cat eliminator alone. Please fill us in. Don't get me wrong, I'll be running that same combo at some point this year, so that would be great, but it does seem like a lot.

later
roger

[doberman]

I had the BBPower installed this summer, and
dynoed at the dealer.
The Laser and filter was installed this month, and dynoed again. (Same dyno as the first time).
The dealer was very surpised as well, so he doublechecked the test, but the result stands.
I cant wait to try it, but I am afraid I have to wait a couple of months, before the weather improves.

------------------
Safe Riding

Bent

[lennie]

Doberman,

What did you get with the original base line and then with the last runs. It would be good to see what the numbers are. BMW have done a good job with the mufflers and the cat eliminator with the stock cans may actually work quite good.

Regards,



------------------
LENNIE

[rob_wijhenke]

Yo Bent! How about posting the graphs on the forum? As I have the same setup and noticed MUCH gain I'm very interested to see something tangible.

(*_*)

[mark albers]

Steve N

I have the Two Brothers replacement pipe on my R1100S ($140)
The weight savings was impressive
I also have the Two Broters Slip ons

I see my machine idleing at 1500 rpm a little to high)

Do you see any diference to your idle ???

Thanks

Mark

[dfaber]

I have the same setup (2Bros). Idle is a bit high, about 1300 rpm. I think the chip is over-compensating for the lean condition. I hope to add Lennie's or Chris' performance intake and a K&N to balance things out, but I am also considering a BBpower chip or moving to the VanderLinde system.

[roger albert]

Hi Guys,

It is EXTREMELY unlikely that the chip is overcompensating at idle (or anywhere else) as the control limits aren't wide enough to even adequately compensate, much less overcompensate. Remember, though this system is nominally closed loop, it doesn't monitor airflow, so it doesn't really 'know' what mods you've done to improve that flow.

More likely, is that the motor is responding to lower pumping losses of the less restrictive system. The brass airbypass screws may be able to influence this downward somewhat, and will help _very_slightly_ reduce leanness, but there's not much to do short of a chip reprogram.

Its an evil of the Alpha-N injection system.
Wish it weren't so, but that's still the nature of most bike FI systems (most ducs respond well to new chips too)

later
roger

p.s. I'll try and remember to post back and see if I see the same effect after installing mine, and whether and/or how much the BBP interacts at idle.