What is this?

[thefooleryoftom]

This is annoying me:


Exhaust Support by Tom Whiting, on Flickr

Some sort of support between the two downpipes. It isn't attached to anything else (like the sump), nor does it serve as a mounting point for the bellypan I've removed, or any other bodywork I'm interested in.

My question is, does anyone know for sure what it is and what it does? It's annoying me every time I look at that side of the bike and I'd like to cut it out and smooth it down. The exhaust is secured at the cylinder head and at the cat via a bracket so is quite secure.

I'm heading to the dealer Tuesday anyway to get their opinion (I can guess what they'll say...).

 

[Alan R]

What model is the bike? The 'bracket' is not present on my 2013 f800gs. Edit: just looked at oem parts and see that the exhaust for 800s gt & st does have the bracket. The down pipes seem to be further apart than those on the 800gs.

Alan R

 

[thefooleryoftom]

It's an 800R. Maybe I'll have a closer look at a GS and see if I reckon it can be got rid of.

 

[outrunner]

I would imagine it's to stop the downpipes vibrating and cracking the welds where they join, but I have been wrong before.



Andy.

 

[v8legend]

Maybe it's for the fairing mount on an ST/GT

 

[Alan R]

If you look at the header pipes on your 800r and compare them to a gs, you will see that they are further apart and include a return bend that the gs doesn't have, to where they join the cat. As said above, that difference may result in the need for bracing that the gs design doesn't need. Grind off at your peril!
Alan R

 

[thefooleryoftom]

The Arrow cat-less downpipes don't seem to have it, but difficult to tell.

 

[Packer]

I would imagine it's to stop the downpipes vibrating and cracking the welds where they join, but I have been wrong before. :...........................

Probably correct. Remove exhaust, get shiny new piece welded onto opposite side where it won't be easily seen, assuming there is space, then cut out old bit, smooth and polish. Happy bike, happy owner.

 

[Dean]

This is annoying me:



My question is, does anyone know for sure what it is and what it does? .

That sir is a reminder , what it does is reminds one to fit a bash plate