MikeP said:
I'm not technically qualified either but I can't really see that whatever difference a little bit of pipe may make is going to be noticable.
I've never ridden my bike without the 41 litre TT panniers and the extension pipe so I can't make any comparison. I'm fairly certain that any performance benefit from not having the extra bit of pipe is likely to be out-weighed by their ferkin enormous drag!
I'm sure I must be missing something here.
Just to clarify (and with all respect
), you may be missing something because you've never ridden your bike without the extension and the 41L TT panniers...
I ride my bike most of the time in town, except when I commute between Paris and London (once a month), or go touring in the South of France (I ride about 12-15 000 miles a year, all year round, as my bike is my only vehicule). I recently replaced my BMW system panniers witht the Touratechs because I needed more packing space when travelling.
When in London or Paris, I take the extension off (the cases are off as well, I use a topcase in town 99% of the time), because believe me, you DO sense the difference. I've never fitted any "performance" exhaust, I've got the stock exhaust on my bike, but I don't like feeling like my engine is underwater (slight exageration, but true).
When I go touring / long distance commuting, I put the extension on, as well as the cases (which are therefore never on without the extension, so no risk of burning / blackenning anything).
Yes, it's long distance riding, but mainly on the motorway, and for a day or two, at a steady - mostly legal - speed. When I get wherever I'm going, off goes the extension, as well as the cases.
I don't see why I should spend 340 days in the year with a choking bike only because I need my cases the rest of the 25 days...
Regarding aerodynamics, I find that the cases (couldn't see a difference between the Touratech and the System cases from that respect) actually make the bike more stable, especially when heavily loaded, and I've never felt any difference with or without the topcase (Givi 52L). I think the hand protectors (especially with the Touratech risers) make much more of a difference, not to mention the screen of course (I got a tobinated CEE bailey adventure on).
But that's only me...
Try riding without your cases and the extension, you may discover a new bike!