Just bought an exhaust for my 04 XB9S. This exhaust is from a later model and has a small lever
on the top that seems to open and close a valve maybe in the pipe. How is it actuated and what does it do and is it comparable with my bike ?

It is off a 12. If it fits, no worries.

A forum member who may be along in a minute, has done the same and is loving it.

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08 Specialized Langster

Its from a late xb9sx ... apparently. So how was it actuated and what should I do set it to open or leave it closed ?

Two things here...

1. If it is off a 'late' XB, it will not fit an 04 set of headers as 08/09/10 XBs have a 2.5" inlet at the muffler (and the angle of entry is different).
2. Your use of the word 'apparently' is welcomed, because look here, from the 2010 parts book:







I refer you to:


You could always have a look at these too

viewtopic.php?p=3125#p3125
http://ukbeg.com/archive/modules.php?na ... 4662#44662

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08 Specialized Langster

Muffler valve works fine with XB9, had that for the last two years til I sold the bike. Switching points are 3800 rpm (open -> closed) and 6000 rpm (closed -> open).

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"It is often said that before you die your life passes before your eyes. It is in fact true. It's called living."
Terry Pratchett

Well here's my view;

I was recently offered the loan of a standard XB12R muffler to try on my 06 XB9SX. With no servo or cables, I rigged a wire and hook to the exhaust valve so that I could set it either open or closed from the side of the bike. Adjustment would not be recommended whilst on the move unless you are a veteran Cossack stunt rider!

Starting with valve closed, I have to say that the XB12 unit is very good on my 9. So good I wonder why they didn’t fit it to the 9 as standard after introducing the XB12? Perhaps they had a shedload of 9 mufflers to use up.

From memory, the standard 9 muffler seemed more constricted in that the smaller bore internals gave good low end from tick over, but on my City X it was always indifferent in the mid-range even with a K&N and white wire mod! The 12 muffler on the other hand gives fractionally less snap from tick-over, but once the gases start flowing it delivers a much nicer spread of power all the way through. Holding it in mid gears is more fun. Roll on in top is still good and impressive from 80 upwards. One way to describe it is that it feels more like a shorter stroke 12 than a strangled 9!

One of the best features is the noise, with a deeper more soulful bass note, and the bark at higher speed roll-ons is something to savour.

For my own riding style, I don’t think the 9 benefits much from the exhaust valve, and I have no wish to try it flat out anyway. Likewise, the slightly softer low end probably reduces stress on the gearbox and belt. I think that the 12 muffler makes my 9 feel less stressed generally, although city slickers may prefer the standard 9 muffler in traffic.

I now have my own low mileage XB12 muffler to run on the XB9……….but it is heavy compared to the Stealth!

XB9 and XB12 mufflers are about identical inside, except that two tubes swapped their position because of the valve. All late XB9 came with an exhaust valve installed.

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"It is often said that before you die your life passes before your eyes. It is in fact true. It's called living."
Terry Pratchett

Maybe on later models, but not quite in my case! My '06-9SX muffler has smaller exit tube, and insides look like 42-44mm (I recently cut the rear section off mine, which had Tubbs mod). The first entry tube looks like it once had a vented interference cap on the rear end before it was gutted.

My '07 12R pipe has 50mm exit plumbing and sounds more like a 12!

I wanted to see if this one had a valve but there were no pics of the top...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161076844696

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08 Specialized Langster

I was wondering if late XB9s had the exhaust valve or some confusion arose because Erik released an XB12 City X shortly before the axe fell!