[ST] Blue Flame

[TrmpetDave@xxxxxxx]

FWIF, my Blue Flame Experience:
I phoned in my order for a titanium double outlet race can for my '99 ST with 
hard bags to B&B Extreme Racing of Norman, OK around the middle of September, 
and was assured that the order would be shipped later that week. Three weeks 
later, I was told the same thing, with the excuse that things were turbulent 
in US Customs just then. The next time I called, a few weeks later, they 
didn't seem to know who I was, but said they would get right on it. Around 
the end of November, they suggested I e-mail my order to them, so that they 
would be sure of getting my address correct, as a muffler they had shipped 
out recently had just been returned to them.  They said they would have the 
muffler sent directly to me from the factory, to save time. At all times they 
were cooperative and sympathetic, and I got the impression that much of the 
trouble was at the factory end, in England.
Around the beginning of December, the muffler finally came, from England, 
followed a week later by another one, which turned out to be just as well.
I found the installation instructions to be useless, as they were generic, 
for all makes and models. All they said was to install the new BF in exactly 
the same manner as the stock one had been installed, which was incorrect for 
the ST. I called B&B again, and spoke to Brad, who said he would call England 
for me. He did, and found out that I should use the bolt and nut which had 
secured the stock muffler to the sub-frame, to secure the new  muffler 
band-clamp to the hole at the  long end of the L-shaped bracket they 
supplied. The short end of the bracket is then attached to the passenger foot 
peg support by removing the lower of the two stock bolts that attach the 
pannier bracket in that area, using the longer bolt and spacers they supply. 
They give 2 spacers, the thinner one of which is the same thickness as the 
pannier support, and looks as if it is meant to be used when the pannier 
support is off, and the muffler is in the high position. I found I had to use 
both spacers, with the pannier bracket in place, to prevent the bolt from 
bottoming out. The L shaped bracket actually is quite clever, as it would 
permit the muffler to be moved between high and low positions, with just 
loosening some bolts and clamps, and removing and replacing  only the one 
above-mentioned bolt,  together with the other one, which secures the pannier 
bracket. (I have not done this, as I prefer to leave my panniers on)
The first muffler I received had a securing band with flanges that met in the 
middle, at the top of the oval, and this is is the one they told Brad I 
should use, rather tan the off-set one that came with the second muffler,  
with flanges bent in such a way that they came together above the inside 
surface of the muffler. I found that I had to use the off-set one. From 
pictures I have seen on the list, I think the clamp that meets in the middle 
is for the RS.
A slight disappointment was the appearance of the can, which was blue only 
over the front 1/4, and chrome-look over the back 3/4, as contrasted with 
pictures I have seen, in which the entire can is blue. Does anyone know if 
the blue look will extend, with use? 
The weight is only 5lb 13 oz, with connecting tube, compared to 13.5 lb, for 
the stock can.
The sound is great-fairly loud, but not obnoxiouly so, as they say, and with 
a nice mellow tone.
My ignition map and CO output are currently being adjusted at Rocket 
Motorcycles, here in San Diego, so I can't comment about performance. On the 
Blue Flame factory website, they show some before and after torque curves 
that indicate substantial gains in the lower and mid RPM range, which would 
be nice, if true. I thought freer flowing exhausts usually affected the 
higher range. 
Would I recommend the muffler to others?-Yes.
Would I recommend going through B&B? I would, in spite of the trouble I had-I 
doubt if things would be any better trying to deal with the factory in 
England. I would ask for some diagrams of the ST installation, which B&B told 
me they were working on, however, especially if my written description is not 
clear. Sorry I con't have photo e-mailing capability at present. Dave 
Collins, San Diego

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