BSA A7 & A10 Downpipes

[zitman]

Hi all,

Can anyone tell me if A7 & A10 downpipes are the same?

Cheers

Z

[RoadRunner]

Hi, not to my knowledge - been through sourcing down pipes for my A7 which turned into a bit of a nightmare and at a cost £££!.
Lots of "These will fit Sir!"

A10's though should be more available being as manufacturers tend to go for the mass market.

Hope you have more luck than I did.

RR

[Beezageezauk]

The A7 barrels are not as high as the A10's because they have 1 less cooling fin.  As both engines sit in the same position within the frames the exhaust manifolds will be at different heights. 

Because of this the exhaust pipes will need to be different for the position of the mounting brackets and the overall height.

I've just checked the part numbers and they are different.  Should have done that first eh??

Beezageezauk.   

[RoadRunner]

Hi,
Agree with the difference in barrels and using part numbers but some manufacturers don't appear use such things!
The two well known companies I've used both have an actual bike rigged up to fit their pipes to - though the first (and totally un-helpful and rip off) company I used must have had their lugs in different places to mine - had no chance of fitting despite the size of hammer.

If I was to replace the pipes again I'd try and buy the pipes unchromed and brackets seperate - then get them to fit properly, weld up and then re-chrome but.... that's next time as if.

RR

[chaterlea25]

Hi RR,
Time to name and shame??
To save the rest of us!

Regards
John O R

[brackenfel]

Hi RoadRunner,
I'm looking for downpipes or a siamese system for my A10 & would be interested in who to avoid also... A PM would do if you are not comfortable with displaying the culprit in public!!

Thanks,
Adrian

[jfligg]

Hi guys

  Thick flange and thin flange barrels have slightly different hieghts on swingarm models.  Plunger frame models are also there own kettle of fish.  The plunger models also have fitment issues at the kick start area.  Oh the joys of restoring a A.  Jeff

[RoadRunner]

Hi,
Don't know if my experience was a 1 off but having spoken with at least 5 companies in the motorcycle/restoration business and when you mention problems with exhaust pipes they do mention the company* I first used and wern't surprised  - but in fairness (hard to grasp that concept at times) this is only what I've been told - but the experience did cost me £45. * They have an address in the south which starts with the 2nd letter of the alphabet and their company name starts with the first.

I bought my 2nd set from Wassells of Cannock (not to be mixed up with Wassells from Lincoln) who were v.helpful and fitted them FOC when I went back with a slight fitting issue while I waited which wasn't long.

Helpful hopefully.

RR

[Butch (cb)]

Do not under any circumstances buy from Armours. I'd heard they could be a bit shaky on fit but figured they surely couldn't screw up with something as common as an A10. Wrong. Really nasty bends, and perhaps more importantly wouldn't even fit into the head.

[a101960]

Do not under any circumstances buy from Armours. I'd heard they could be a bit shaky on fit but figured they surely couldn't screw up with something as common as an A10. Wrong. Really nasty bends, and perhaps more importantly wouldn't even fit into the head.

I had exactly the same experience, and when I complained about the poor quality he said to me that with all the experience that he had in making exhaust systems he was not going to take any criticism from somebody like me!!

John

[RoadRunner]

Ah - and I thought I had all the bad luck  , now people have jogged my memory the RH down pipe fitted just but the left's bracket was about 1.5 inches further back - even when you laid the pipes side by side it very pretty obvious (to a non engineering person like myself) that it wasn't quite right! I sent lots photos with rulers along side but alas to no avial; like the previous comment I got the old story  'we been doing this for....blah, blah blah'. They just wouldn't listen to reason or common sense. Perhaps I could offer them some Customer Service training?

Cheers 

RR

[Stu55Flash]

We have different experiences:

I have had 2 systems from Armours, one for the fanny B and one for the plunger flash, both with no problems whatsoever. I give Armour's my business because they actually manufacture in the UK. They have given me good service with the systems arriving quickly with courteous service and a high quality product. 

Cheers

Stu

 

[Goldseeker]

Hi RoadRunner,
I'm looking for downpipes or a siamese system for my A10 & would be interested in who to avoid also... A PM would do if you are not comfortable with displaying the culprit in public!!

Thanks,
Adrian

Can't tell you who to avoid but I have recently bought a set of RGS siamese from Cake Street Classics. They were very well made with thick gauge tubing and excellent chrome. I had to tweak the bracket by half a hole but other than that I was well pleased.

Price was a bit steep at £250 + carriage, but I think you get what you pay for.

[Pete Gray]

Ah - and I thought I had all the bad luck  , now people have jogged my memory the RH down pipe fitted just but the left's bracket was about 1.5 inches further back - even when you laid the pipes side by side it very pretty obvious (to a non engineering person like myself) that it wasn't quite right! I sent lots photos with rulers along side but alas to no avial; like the previous comment I got the old story  'we been doing this for....blah, blah blah'. They just wouldn't listen to reason or common sense. Perhaps I could offer them some Customer Service training?

Cheers 

RR

I had exactly the same problem with them - 3 or 4 years ago now - the left pipe bracket was miles out. I complained and got a similar respnse but persevered and after some discussion about my lack of, and their superior, knowledge I had the pipe exchanged for one which fitted.
I was always lead to believe that Armours products were the doggys do das !
I recall that their final comment was that a faulty batch must have slipped through quality control.

[a101960]

I have recently bought a set of RGS siamese from Cake Street Classics. They were very well made with thick gauge tubing and excellent chrome.

Yep, Cake Street Classics RGS siamese pipes are excellent. Good fit and correctly bent with no kinks. Highly recommended. See picture below of Armour RGS siamese pipes, and draw your own conclusions about quality! Armours response was "file the ring to make it line up"


John