So, I’d been riding my 2017 Yamaha FZ-07 for a bit, and you know, it’s a fantastic bike. Super nimble, great engine, love the torque. But, and it’s a small but, the stock exhaust… well, it was just too polite. Too quiet. It felt like the bike was whispering when I knew it wanted to shout, or at least speak up a bit.
The Decision and the Arrival
After a bunch of back and forth in my head, watching videos, reading what other folks had done, I decided to go for a full system exhaust. Wasn’t looking for anything too obnoxious, just something with a bit more character, maybe shed a few pounds off the bike too. So, I placed the order and waited. The day the box arrived, it felt like Christmas morning, not gonna lie.
Unboxing it was the first step. Laid everything out on the garage floor. Instructions, pipes, muffler, a bag of springs and bolts. Looked straightforward enough. Famous last words, right?
Getting Down to Business: The Removal
First up, getting the old system off. This is where the “fun” usually starts with any vehicle project. I got my tools ready:
- Socket set (metric, obviously)
- Wrenches
- Spring puller (thankfully I had one)
- Some penetrating oil, just in case
The O2 sensor came out easy enough. Then, the main clamp holding the muffler. Loosened that. Then, the header bolts. Now, these can be a real pain. I gave them a little squirt of penetrating oil beforehand, just to be safe. Thankfully, they weren’t seized solid. Slow and steady, they came undone. Wrestling the old, heavy one-piece system off the bike was a bit awkward. It’s surprisingly bulky when it’s not tucked under the bike.
Once it was off, I took a moment. Looked at the exposed engine headers. Looked at the new, shiny pipes. Okay, game on.
The Installation: Patience is Key
Next came fitting the new header pipes. This part always requires a bit of finesse. You don’t want to force anything. I made sure the new gaskets were seated properly in the exhaust ports. That’s super important if you don’t want leaks. Then, gently offered up the new headers. A bit of wiggling, a bit of gentle persuasion, and they slotted into place. I loosely fitted the header nuts, just to hold them there.
Then came connecting the collector pipe and the muffler. This is where having a full system with multiple pieces actually helps a bit – you have some wiggle room to get everything aligned. Slipping the pipes together, making sure they were seated fully. Then came the springs. Oh, the springs. Those little suckers can be tricky. The spring puller earned its keep here, for sure. Hook one end, stretch, hook the other. Repeat. My fingers were definitely feeling it after a few of those.
Once everything was connected and looked lined up, I started tightening all the bolts and nuts. Started from the headers, working my way back. You want to tighten them down evenly. No need to go full gorilla mode, just snug and secure according to whatever torque specs the new exhaust recommended, or just good old mechanic’s feel if you’re experienced.
Reinstalled the O2 sensor into the new pipe. Double-checked every connection. Gave everything a wipe down to remove any greasy fingerprints – those can bake on and look nasty on a new exhaust.
The Moment of Truth
Alright, tools away. Bike off the stand. Stood back and admired the new look. It definitely looked meaner, more purposeful. But the real test was the sound.
Took a deep breath, key in, ignition on. Hit the starter.
And BAM! Oh yeah. That was it. A deeper, throatier growl. Not crazy loud, but definitely more alive. It had that aggressive tone I was hoping for. A few blips of the throttle confirmed it. Success! The grin on my face was probably pretty wide.
The first ride was even better. The bike felt a little more responsive, maybe it was just placebo from the sound, but it definitely felt more engaging. And that sound on deceleration, a nice little burble. Perfect.
So yeah, that was my little exhaust project on the FZ-07. Took a few hours on a Saturday, a bit of sweat, but totally worth it in the end. Made a great bike even better, at least for me. Every time I start it up now, I get a little kick out of it.
