Wolf Carbon Fiber Oval Slip-On Review

WOLF CARBON FIBER OVAL SLIP-ON REVIEW (2004) Background: I’m not an expert on slip-ons or exhaust systems. So if you’re looking for a motorcycle mechanic’s review on the Wolf slip-on, this review isn’t going to help you. I’m just a regular guy that rides for enjoyment, averaging about 300-500 miles a week. Have been to the track but not on the r6. I was looking for a slip-on purely based on looks and sound. Performance and price was secondary since I figured the cheapest full exhaust system would have noticeable performance differences than the highest quality performance slip-on out there, and cash wasn’t too bad since “most” slip-ons aren’t too expensive. CUSTOMER SERVICE: Peter from Wolf exhausts in the UK provides good customer service. He answered all my questions via email and was always willing to entertain my stupid questions. I opted to get the slip-on straight from the UK as opposed to the US distributor because I wanted the slip-on as soon as possible. It took 3 business days. I ordered it on Wednesday afternoon, and it came to me on the following Monday. I knew the weekend would delay things, but even so, shipment went smoothly via DHL/Fedex. However, ordering straight from the UK costs a good amount of cash, and I don’t know if Peter wants US customers to go through the US distributor. Up to you on this one, I guess. LOOKS: The carbon fiber oval slip-on is a matte finish carbon fiber that wraps around the entire can from end to end. The seam of the carbon fiber is on the side of the can that faces the rest of the bike so you can’t see the seam once you install the entire slip-on. Even if you could, it’s barely noticeable unless you point it out to someone. The top and bottom of the can is a shiny chrome(?) finish. The pipe that attaches to the bike is also a shiny chrome(?) finish. The exhaust port is a decent size. Bigger than the stock exhaust, but not gigantic like some Jardines I’ve seen – the Jardine one looked like you could stick your fist into it. The overall size of the exhaust is smaller than the stock, but not ridiculously small. But all these descriptions don’t mean much, so here is a picture of the bike with the pipe: http://www.r6-forum.com/albums/ExhaustPics/3a.jpg I wanted to include before and after pictures (complete side looks, before and after, etc.), but I can’t upload them anywhere while I’m at work. If anybody wants to see other pictures (before and after), let me know. SOUND: I was looking for a slip-on that was low, deep, and throaty. I don’t like the high-pitched, whiny sound that is characteristic of most crotch rockets. The Wolf slip-on is deep and low. I love the sound of it. It’s very distinct from other crotch rockets, and the people I ride with say that can hear me when I’m next them or coming up behind or passing them. They all love the sound. Very deep and low. My friend has a Yoshimura can, and the Wolf is a lot lower and deeper and a little bit louder. I didn’t want a really loud can like the D&D, and I’ve read reviews saying the Wolf isn’t too loud, but I still get attention when I’m driving by (a good thing). It’ll set off car alarms if you rev the throttle, but sitting in idle won’t (another good thing). It’s a low rumble in idle and deep rumble as you open the throttle. At high rpm’s, the wolf is still deep -- doesn't whine, but stays deep. Hard to describe, but it’s definitely not the whiny sound of most crotch rockets. I’ll try to get a sound clip, but it’ll be tough since I don’t have the equipment. The slip-on is louder than stock. Will set off alarms if you rev the throttle, but riding around in first is borderline. Some will go off, some won’t. Also compared to the Akrapovics, I’d say the Wolf is just a little bit deeper and has a deeper idle rumble. But I’m definitely not knocking the Akrapovics. They have a fantastic sound too. I was just looking for the lowest sound around, and the Wolf exhaust is one of them. Comparable in sound to Termignoni’s, but different and distinct from them. PERFORMANCE: This I can’t really comment on, since I didn’t get the bike dyno’ed, and don’t plan on it. Plus, I don’t have enough experience to notice any differences. But I can say that the bike has not gotten worse. I don’t notice any power gaps at all. I find myself staying in first and second gear longer, though, but that’s because I love hearing the sound of the Wolf at high rpm’s (and low rpm’s as well). NEGATIVES: Instructions. I’m like a six year old when it comes to stuff like this. The wolf exhaust came with no instructions for the slip-on. Yes, it was pretty damn easy to install, but I nearly had a heart attack when I emptied the box and didn’t see the instructions. I’m sure there have to be others out there like me. At any rate, if the thing came with detailed instructions, life would have been easier. I still got it on without any problems, but there were one or two times that I was confused whether to ease a part in or shove it in with brute force. I’ll include my own instructions in the “How TO” section of the forum later. The metal pipe that connects the can to the rest of the exhaust system is a bit close to the right side rider footpeg. It may have been because I installed it that way, but it may melt some of your shoe when you’re riding if you’re not too careful. But this is a minor gripe. OVERALL: If you’re looking for one of the deepest, lowest sounding slip-ons around, then I’d highly recommend the Wolf slip on. It looks great on the bike and sounds very distinct with a low, deep sound. To be honest, I took a chance buying the Wolf slip-on. I never heard it before, and nobody had sound clips on it. I also read a bad review by some guy about the Wolf slip-on. But you know what, I think the guy was wrong. I’m very happy with the purchase I made. If I had to do it all over again, would I buy a Wolf slip-on again? Yes, absolutely. I hope this helps.

quality write up Ed, cheers mate

Nice review, i'm also really into this pipe, you wouldn't happen to have a nice profile shot of your bike would you. Decently far away angle so that i can see the way the pipe looks in comparison to your back fairings. Find somebody to help you sound clip

good reivews thanx for all the info. you cover. i needed :hammer

zlee and anyone else, if you want to see more pictures, shoot me your email address in a private message, and I'll send you the rest of the pictures I took. they're all before and after, so you can see the bike in comparison with the stock exhaust and the wolf exhaust

Update: 2,000 mile update. I've had the Wolf Carbon Fiber Oval Slip-On for over 2,000 miles now. Sound is still great. Very low and deep. Louder than a Yoshimura. But still low and deep up to 10,000 rpm's. Gripes: The carbon fiber doesn't sit flush with the edges of the pipe. I can see a small cm of space between the edge of the carbon fiber and the edge of the can near the exhaust port. Not too aesthetically pleasing, but you can't notice it unless you're anal. There's also a small crack in the carbon fiber at that particular edge -- barely noticeable unless you're looking pretty hard, but it bothers me -- it might be my fault, though, I'm not sure. The Wolf label seems like it's peeling off a little as well. The stainless steel parts of the can seem to have tarnish spots on it as well, but that's probably because I live close to the ocean. All in all, the aesthetics are the only real complaint I have with Wolf. The sound is still great, though - low and deep. If they'd work on the carbon fiber wrap a little more and maybe made the label more solid, I'd be completely happy. Not to say I'm not happy with it. I still like the pipe. Just hoping they'd fix a few of the details...

Ed, Are you in Socal? If so, I would love to swing by to check out the pipe. Thanks, Duke p.s. Great review!

Yep, I sure am. I live in Orange County for now. Where are you located at?

I am from El Monte.

I'm new to California. I have no idea where that is. Do you live near huntington beach? if so, I can cruise on by one of the bike nights...

Has there a sound clip of this pipe yet? - just wondering.

Ed, How about Wedensday night at the Bravo burger place at Beach Blvd. Duke

Yeah, I'll definitely try to make it to the Bravo Burger this Wednesday (june 2nd, right?). If I can't make it, though, I'll post up on the forum, but I don't see any problems.

Ed The small gap between the carbon and teh end plate comes from thermal expansion and when teh pipe has cooled down just tighten teh two inlet end bolts half a turn and it will disappear. Cans with rivets expand and contract and eventually the rivets cut a hole in teh carbon and it falls apart - the way we do it means they never fall apart but you do need to tighten the end bolts every few hundred miles.

Inlet bolts? Where are they located? By the exhaust port, or where the can connects to the midpipe.

just above and below the inlet pipe (link pipe) set in to the billet

I see them. How far do I have to screw them down?

Just tighten them...

I just wanted to make sure I didn't break them if I tightened them down too far.

Alright, I tightened the 2 screws down as far as they go, but there's still a some space between the carbon fiber wrap and the end of the can. Any further and I'd break the allen wrench I'm using. I also heard something rattling around in the exhaust. It sounds like a rock or pebble got into the exhaust. I tilted the can from side to side and up and down, and it sounds like a rock is rolling around in it. Is this something I should be worried about?

Great review man. Carbon fibres are badass

Hey Ed - thanks for the review. I grew up in Huntington but I now live in Irvine. Let me know if you go to bravo burger sometime soon, or if you would be willing to meet up one day, I'd like to check it out. I just got my bike a couple days ago.

Yeah, my ass lives in Irvine now too. I'm originally from New York City, so I'm still having problems trying to adjust to California life. You'll probably see me blazing around Irvine after work on my blue r6.

Yeah, my ass lives in Irvine now too. I'm originally from New York City, so I'm still having problems trying to adjust to California life. You'll probably see me blazing around Irvine after work on my blue r6. We should ride down to HB for bikenight sometime. I'm ordering the Wolf Undermount by the way. How long for delivery?

We have the under seats in stock so can deliver in about 4 days to CA Ed - if you have a stone inside just take teh two bolts out, that will let the end plate come off and you can tip it out - easy when there's no rivets!

I might go to HB tonight...

I might go to HB tonight... OK - I'll try and make it. I'll be on the mostly bone stock blue R6.

We have the under seats in stock so can deliver in about 4 days to CA Ed - if you have a stone inside just take teh two bolts out, that will let the end plate come off and you can tip it out - easy when there's no rivets! Peter- I am just trying to decide between the powder coated or stainless undermount system. If you get a chance, please email or PM me with a price and shipping to Irvine, CA USA (92602). Thanks

I like the powdercoated one better...

Any pictures available yet ? If anyone has a nice pic of a r6 with a carbon wolf slip-on I'd appreciate it if you could send it to me. barryvanbarschot@yahoo.com I'm really curious about how it looks :jump Thanx, Barry

the picture is on the link on the first post. or you can try the images section under exhaust pics.

Thanx for the reply. I've already seen that picture and I love it. The nicest looking slip-on available in my opinion. I was hoping to get some more pictures of this carbon normal/ high mount wolf slip-on though :idea: Greetz, Barry

sure, i'll email them to you.

Thanx alot ! Please email to barryvanbarschot@yahoo.com (got a lot of space there) Greetz, Barry

sent them to your email...

is it possible to get a pic of that awsome wolf slip on to koolalan1981@yahoo.com ?? I'm really thinking about getting it...jsut dunno if the oval or the round.... and dunno if the oval is the one that might have that gap by the inlet...thanks for ur time.