Exhaust help

[Tcott2629]

I want the Austin racing system but they don’t make headers for the 21 zh2. Has anyone had any luck finding headers that work with this system?

[Stevoiscool]

I just purchased these headers off eBay from "Lextek" they were less than half the price of the Akrapovic headers, but are Chinese-made if that matters to you. I should have them on the 3rd (only one week from ordering even though the estimated delivery was like 3 weeks) and will let you know how they work out after getting them installed next week. These headers have an OEM-style exit so should work with my Brocks pentacarbon slip-on and I would imagine they would work with the Austin racing exhaust as well. If you want a nicer option the Akrapovic headers are available though their exit does look to be at a slightly different angle so the fit could vary depending on the slip-on, though many here have used them with other brands (SC project, graves, etc), so would likely work as well.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185770639189
https://www.chinesemotorcyclepartsonline.co.uk/partno_DWNPP187#image0 (slightly cheaper from their site 15% Off Voucher Code: EBMC2834)

Akra
https://www.cyclegear.com/parts/akrapovic-exhaust-headers-kawasaki-z-h2-se?gclid=Cj0KCQjw9rSoBhCiARIsAFOipllg4WzMq3PCdYGD5kyR_w1KKpsMR4kb5PISW0FmOpfyIu_alSoRnm4aArMVEALw_wcB&sku_id=1841880

[Stevoiscool]

They came in super early somehow only 2 days for them to ship from UK to me having them. I am getting installed next Tuesday hopefully. The end port fits the OEM metal gasket so I believe it would be compatible with any OEM exhaust.

[Tcott2629]

Did they just send the mid pipe or the entire header system?

[Stevoiscool]

Originally Posted by Tcott2629

Did they just send the mid pipe or the entire header system?

The entire header system, the individual headers are in the box below. It didn't come with the bolt to mount the exhaust or header gaskets so had to push back my installation until tomorrow.

[Stevoiscool]

Finally had it installed it didn't come with gaskets, exhaust paste, or the m10x1.25 bolt needed to mount, so keep that in mind. It should fit with any slip on that fits the OEM headers.

Here is the install instruction I found as well.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.chinesemotorcyclepartsonline.co.uk/pdf/20/EXKT6427.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiY-_Gu4eGBAxXGnGoFHeBuBJ4QFnoECBEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2V9h4Ecf40x51jB8_eF_V3
Haven't got to really test them too much since I didn't have my updated slr flash on the bike till I got home from the dealer. But the weight savings is for sure noticable and it isn't too loud where it hurts my ears or anything overall happy especially for the price.

[austin391]

How hard was the header install? I just bought my Z h2 yesterday and want to know if its worth going for he full exhaust install or just a slip on + tune? Is it worth the hassle? How long did it take? Did you run into any major issues?

[Stevoiscool]

Originally Posted by austin391

How hard was the header install? I just bought my Z h2 yesterday and want to know if its worth going for he full exhaust install or just a slip on + tune? Is it worth the hassle? How long did it take? Did you run into any major issues?

If I could do everything over again I would have just went with the Brock's Penta carbon full exhaust right off the bat. I didn't install the headers myself and took it into the dealership for it. I bought these cheaper headers over the akrapovic, so I could use the money I saved to pay somebody else to install though the install doesn't look too crazy difficult. And it looks like you only really need to remove the support for the radiator and the servo motor for the install. The headers I got didn't come with gaskets so I purchased new OEM gaskets which with these headers ended up having to have the flanges be all the way tightened down in order to compress the gaskets properly. I don't have any air leaks on mine so I'm not too concerned about it but I do believe it's worth the extra money to probably get the akrapovic headers instead or just get the Brocks system.

When I first got the bike flashed by SLR I only had the brocks Pentacarbon slip-on with the stock air filter, and felt that the acceleration while fast was lacking compared to other ZH2s I had seen. With my most recent flash for the headers and a Sprint air filter the bike now pulls in the way I was looking for. It may have been my mistake by not having an aftermarket filter for the first flash, but I definitely think it's worth it for the extra power and weight savings to go with headers as well in my experience. I do weigh about 210 lbs so my experience may be different than someone lighter.

[austin391]

Originally Posted by Stevoiscool

If I could do everything over again I would have just went with the Brock's Penta carbon full exhaust right off the bat. I didn't install the headers myself and took it into the dealership for it. I bought these cheaper headers over the akrapovic, so I could use the money I saved to pay somebody else to install though the install doesn't look too crazy difficult. And it looks like you only really need to remove the support for the radiator and the servo motor for the install. The headers I got didn't come with gaskets so I purchased new OEM gaskets which with these headers ended up having to have the flanges be all the way tightened down in order to compress the gaskets properly. I don't have any air leaks on mine so I'm not too concerned about it but I do believe it's worth the extra money to probably get the akrapovic headers instead or just get the Brocks system.

When I first got the bike flashed by SLR I only had the brocks Pentacarbon slip-on with the stock air filter, and felt that the acceleration while fast was lacking compared to other ZH2s I had seen. With my most recent flash for the headers and a Sprint air filter the bike now pulls in the way I was looking for. It may have been my mistake by not having an aftermarket filter for the first flash, but I definitely think it's worth it for the extra power and weight savings to go with headers as well in my experience. I do weigh about 210 lbs so my experience may be different than someone lighter.

Great info here, thanks a lot!