...and with the exhaust emitting approximately 30 inches closer to the ground, why heck that woud help slow down global warming, it'd get to the ozone layer just that much later, Al Gore would invent it.....ooops....wrong thread....then again...maybe not.

sure wish i hadn't found out that my $1,500 staintune system can be swapped out by a $4.99 baloney cut chrome pipe at pep boys.

what time do they close?

Yep. I played with modifying a stock system before i shelled out te $$ for a used Staintune (think I paid $650). Ran the bike with no rear muffler, just cat and up pipe, I was surprised how quiet it was. I went ahead and gutted the rear mufflers, still too quiet, so I gutted the cat, and there still was very little increase in the sound over stock. So Staintune it was.

Remember it is not just the sound level, but the tone that is music to your ears, and I think that tone would be missing from that stubby set up.

OK, so two of us have actually heard an 1100 boxer with only the factory cat installed and say from personal experience that it's pretty quiet in relation to aftermarket full systems vs others with "theories". I personally think leaving the stock exhaust alone is a better solution then trying to manipulate the factory guts, but the best option for me has been a good quality aftermarket full exhaust system (and for the record to the original poster Two Bros is the lowest on my list of worth while replacements, not that my opinion necessarily matters, lol)

...you guys must be deal or near deaf.... when I took off the cans with the cat installed, it was considerably louder than with the cans installed... then I mounted the Two Bros. Cat eliminator and it was louder and deeper yet...

Now, loud might mean something different to soem than it does to others... but it is NOT quiet with no cans cat or not...

Have you heard my BC2 full race system lately? lol That's loud. Loud is every Harley with an aftermarket pipe, not so loud with stock pipes, but louder then any BMW. I would put the Harley with stock pipes in the same realm as a boxer with factory cat only installed,.....louder then stock, but not remarkably.

My 1150RT with the Laser full system is louder than my GS with only the cat. And the cat only GS doesn't backfire on the over run like the Laser or Staintune full systems. My best sound preference on R bikes has been the cat/Staintune slip-on combo.

Actually, the Akra Exhaust on my 12 has a really nice growl to it... but then, I have never heard that one with the stock exhaust...

Yes everyone's opinion matter, hearing everyones thoughts on the matter is why I asked the question. I just wanted to make sure that I wouldn't damage the engine if I tried it out. Nothing is ever written in stone as far as modifying the bike, for the most part. My plan is simply to make sure that I don't change anything that I can't change back if and when I want to trade it in or sell the bike (not for many year I think)

Again thanks for everyone's input, and please keep it coming.

...not expensive enough?

I have had the 2 bros cat eliminator since I got the 11S (first mod... well, second, after the cannister-ectomy) and it works fine, fits well and gets just as golden as any other pipe... yet, I only paid about $270 delivered!

Works for me...

The Two bros cat eliminator is the exception, their product quality and more importantly customer service on the cans is another whole story

Ah, I see... well, Bobby... I have never had the "pleasure" of experiencing their customer service... nor do I have their cans, but you are right, I have heard some concerns about the quality of their cans... they sure look good, though!

But good quality customer service seems to have become more the exception that the norm these days, ANYWHERE... sad to say!

I bought and then sold a Staintune for the GS when I read on Adventure Rider that some guys have over 50k miles with only the cat and no adverse issues with the motor. I'm not sure if it may decrease the hp a bit as some say but they never commented on it and I'll find out soon. I ran it in the garage with only the cat and isn't much louder than stock. That cat is till very heavy so I'm looking at a system from Hattech that has a smaller cat and has un up-pipe that will work with the full sized left Jesse's that I just installed.

I want them to mate this cat ....

http://www.hattech.de/bmw_R1150GS_system12.html

to this up-pipe ....

http://www.hattech.de/bmw_R1150GS_system_U2.html

They are in Asia till the end of the month so I won't know till then