Triumph Street Twin De-Cat - Freespirits x-pipe install 

Hey Tony, just to say that I successfully fitted my X-Pipe this afternoon. I bought it from Triumph dealer and bizarrely it came without any instructions. Basically, without following your video it would of been so much more difficult to install. Thanks for the time you spent making the video (and all your videos!) as I followed it step by step and it was spot on. Loving the X-Pipe by the way! Keep up the good work :)

Good job Tony! I've already ordered front chock, rear spools and pitbul stand just to do this! Just waiting for the pipe to arrive! Thanks so much for your tutorials ~ 👍

Just had one fitted at my Triumph Dealership in Cheltenham. It's a pig of a job on the Thruxton R but their immediate response was that the XPipe is very well made and sounds awesome. I already have the American spec exhaust fitted. Add the DeCat and it sounds fantastic. Keep the vids coming Tony! Cheers!

I think this is quite possibly the best xpipe install video on You Tube Tony! Nice work matey!

Thank you for posting this video, and all of these videos! I just installed the British Customs 2-1 Low Pipes GP Edition which didn't come with any instructions. This video made it possible!

Yet another excellent video. And I'm only watching it now (cause I know it's been out for awhile now) is because I'm finally getting around to the x-pipe. That is, of course, once I'm done with the fender elimination kit. Thanks Tony!

Just did it myself thx to your vid!! and she sounds great!! Big improvement !!! Keep on rocking Tony!!

Sounds great. Good mod with the pipes.

Great video, and really helped me get ready for the upcoming task. Would also recommend that you increase your rear sprocket by 2 teeth to 39T

Great video. You saved me countless hours by posting such thorough guidance.

Well, the tongues are waggin on the forums and you know what? They're right! Excellent, thorough video - I've subscribed to your channel and bookmarked this page - It's going to come in very handy. Thanks for all your work on this - Great job !!

Many thanks from France ! Merci beaucoup pour cette vidéo et ces conseils. Tout est parfait, j'ai modifié mon 900 Steet Cup en suivant point par point la vidéo, et tout s'est très bien passé. Avec le Xpipe le bruit est plus puissant mais pas trop, surtout plus grave, les reprises et les accélérations sont bien meilleures. J'ai profité de cette opération pour supprimer les sondes lambda, installer un Booster Plug et un filtre à air K&N. Maintenant tout va bien! Merci encore "Man Cave Moto" you're great !!!

I just leaned the bike's right side up against the garage wall. I removed everything else first to the point where the only thing stopping me from taking the cat out was the frame rail. Then leaned it against the wall, loosened rail, pulled cat, and tightened the rail back up so I could set it back on the sidestand to finish up putting it back together. Not the safest option of course. I wasn't worried if the bike had tipped over, but if you are not confident that you have the strength to hold the bike up then probably not a good idea. Certainly the quickest and easiest way though, if you dont have a paddock stand, etc.

Nice video. I installed one of these on my T120 along with the external conic air filters.. amazing!

This is a great easy to understand video, I feel happier about attempting it now, thanks Tony

The video was great ,the best part was telling all the nuts and a bolt sizes especially the nut on the top frame 14 mm ,Made it really easy !!! Did not have to remove the tank but I do know now how to remove the tank !!

Thank you so much for this great video. I am going to order the x-pipe.

Sounds mint! Great tutorial. 👍🏻

Fitted to my Thruxton today. What a difference! Sounds ace and without doubt more ponies have been feed up!

Very comprehensive video thoroughly explained . However the bike would appear to be a tad over engineered by triumph to comply with new Euro emissions regs. But that's the result of progress I suspect . They are great bikes I was impressed when I test rode one . I'm glad mines a 865 carbed no worries no electronics rejet and straight through exhaust sound sweet .

Thanks for the video, it worked very easily today 🙏🏻

Apologies if i've caused any confusion. The two tubes on the X-pipe do merge to form a balance pipe as they would do in the stock cat. It didn't occur to me at the time that people would assume they were just two individual tubes. It seemed obvious to me (its called the x-pipe) if you look the diameter of the tubes where they meet (they are not full width). But on second viewing now its been pointed out, i may have given the wrong impression.

Thank you for making such useful video!!!

Excellent video !

Very in depth video! I have seen another video which had straight through manifold pipes right into the Vance and Hines slip-ons. The Thruxton in the video did not have the catalytic converter - nor an X pipe. Do you know where to acquire the straight headers that I can fit to the Vance and Hines slip-ons for my '16 Thruxton R?

Very good video. thanks!

It sounds great.. please do a video of just the exhaust only.. like a flyby may be..

Great video! I have my pipes coming in next week and can't wait to use this video to install it. But I have a question. What do you mean by remap?

Awesome Video....Man you keep making me spend more money!!!!

Awesome Video Tony, I just used it to install an xpipe on my street twin over Christmas and it was invaluable so thank you! So far running with stock pipes and no remap and it sounds and runs excellently with lots more character. There is a slight rattle / whistle under hard load and run off from the stock silencers which I'd like to get rid of though. Do you get this with your US spec V&H's?

Hello dear Tony... First of all thank you a thousand time for all your good stuff on youtube, I praise each and every day that good fellows are giving their precious time for free to help us ! I have a new black/silver Triumph Street Cup for a couple of weeks now and I consider also installing this X-pipe decat part. I looked at the downloadable user manual on the Free Spirits website but I can't figure out WHY we have to take out the fuel tank completely ? Is that only to be able to disconnect the left leg of the frame and reinstall it easily because we have to put some large wrench or because there's a risk to damage the fuel tank. Thanks for you answer Tony and of course ton up with the tough guys around ! ;-) Regards from Belgium. Eric.

Thanks for yet another great video Tony. The bike sounds awesome. I´m still waiting for my Street Twin to arrive, but I´m already looking up some possible mods for the bike and this one is one of the possibilities. Still, since we have obligatory inspections starting this year in Portugal (I don´t know how it is in the UK) I do believe it would be a pain in the behind having to undo all the work to put the catalytic converter on the bike every year, so it passes the inspection. Some good sounding slip on exhausts are also a possibility. Either way, it is still on consideration. Two questions though: Where ca we get the Triumph manual (so to know the torque settings for each screw); Can we get a torque tool on any hardware store or are they special made somehow? Thanks for any ideas regarding my doubts.

Tony, I’m curious where you sourced torque specs for the frame cradle bolts...Haynes puts top and rear at 40 Nm and middle at 105 Nm rather than 45 and 80, respectively (though I’ve seen 45 and 80 in several videos)...

Hi, Amazing mod and the sound is definitely more aggressive and throaty. My question is, by fitting the X-Pipe only after decat with stock exhaust, will it stress the engine pistons more in the long term? Will it be in the safer limit by not causing any significant extra wear and tear? Cheers!

Tony, can you share the website for Free Spirits? I'm having difficulty locating their site to place the order for the X pipe. Thank you.

Hi Tony. What's your bike's average FC before and after X-pipe installation? Thanks.

Nice.good video.....

Hi, what do you think between x-pipe + stock muffler and catalytic + slip-ons? Sound and performance

It still sounds great with the stock pipes but really does need the fueling remapped.

Hi, your bike sounds very well Did you put on an off road (US SPEC) Vanes and Hine exshaust ? Thanks for your answer. Thomas From France

Love the mirrors and the fuel cap where did you get those?

Hi Tony. Great video and thx for yours experience. Did you use K&N filter and If not can you wrote why? Coz i didnt find in yours videos that you change Air filter.

Your bike sounds amazing, I don't have the workspace to be able to do this kind of work, might get away with putting the silencers on tho

Does the tank actually have to come off? I guess it makes it a little easier but I suspect the job can be done without the added complication?

Hi there. Did you get engine heat from the twin? I’ve read heat being an issue for the street twin.

thank you so much for doing this!! i was holding off because i kept hearing it was such a pain but this would cut that at least in half. any reason i couldn't do it with just a rear stand? thanks again Sir.

Any idea if you can install an x-pipe on a T120 if it’s sitting on the centre stand?

Thanks for the tutorial

Hi Tony, Do you think it would be very noisy if I put on a V&H US spec with no baffle associated to my X-pipe which is already on my bike? Maybe I can just get a V&H Euro. Will it make a nice difference compared to the stock exhaust sound? What do you have? Thanks for your help. Cheers. Thomas From Annecy in France

Hi Tony, Does removing the cat have any side effects to the motor? Won't this affect efficiency?

DAMN CRAZY THING THIS RU-vid>> THIS IS WELL DONE PERFECT ON THANKSGIVING NIGHT STUFFED TO THE GULLET WITH FOOD I CAN BARELY SIT PANTS UNDONE & JUST CHOMPING AT THE BIT TO DO THIS TOMORROW ON THE TRX R!

Maybe a dumb question, but on the Euro 5 models with the rear mid pipes welded to the cat, will this process still work? I'm hoping to use my center stand, but not sure if only listening one side will work, and also not sure if having to loosen both frame rails will be a problem on center stand. Otherwise I will have to pay somebody to do it. Appreciate this helpful video.

Great vid. Not sure why the tank needs removing?

Hi to the mancave, I contacted my triumph dealer about having a free spirits xpipe fitted and was told they don’t do anything but make more noise, and that triumph do not recommend it now I’m confused. Help!

ALERT! If you have the Thruxton R, things are a bit different. First of all, the headers are connected, which means you won't be able to simply take off the clips or put them back on. At around the 7 min mark in the video, per the demonstration of loosing the frame, you want to leave it loose to put the headers back together. If you don't, you won't be able to fit them back together. I ran into trouble after following the video and tightening the frame and not being able to maneuver the headers back in place. Also when you install put the x-pipe in place make sure the two bolts used to hold it in place are in fact turning into the nut, one of mine I thought was in but wasn't and didn't realize until it was too late and can't seem to get it to tighten. everything seems solid but I'd feel better if I'd gotten that done right. All in all, I'm enjoying the throatier sound. Can't speak yet to power increase as I just took a quick spin around the block and it was late.

Hola ! Cuáles son los beneficios del xpipe ?

Hello, i have purchased the x pipe two days ago from the dealer and he is telling me that i need to install a pc5 and get the bike remapped as well after fixing the pipes. I have checked with other users and most say there is no need to as the 2019 model, the ECU will tune itself and there is no need for any pc5 and mapping. Is that true? Apparently all i need to do is make sure the fan comes on before i start moving after starting the bike. Can you advice if it is really necessary to remap? The cost for pc5 and mapping is triple the price of the pipes itself. Thank you.

That was a total stripdown wow

The problem with mods to the intake and exhaust systems on modern ECU controlled motorcycles is that the engine will not be in proper tune without re-mapping. Worse still is that manufacturers are making it difficult to access the ECU for proper dyno tuning. With a less restrictive exhaust would not the engine be running leaner and hotter? (motorcycles don't have a Mass Air-flow Sensor like the cars do). The stock engines are already tuned as lean as possible in order to meet emissions requirements. I installed a full Arrow 3-1 system (no cat) in my 2010 STR but it also has the OEM Triumph-approved mapping to go with it and the fueling is flawless along with a 5 hp increase. Maybe a Power Commander will be available soon for the Bonnevilles?

Question: Having the exhaust make a sharp 90 degree turn, then a horseshoe-shaped "U" turn, and then another sharp 90 degree turn adds a lot of resistance, and causes the exhaust to slow down. If you added a piece of straight pipe between the header and tail pipe, wouldn't it increase the flow and increase the amount of scavenging, thereby adding even more performance, if it could be anchored to the frame for added strength?

Decat will change the air fuel ratio. Does change in air fuel ratio damage the engine ?

Very cool vid again tony... How do you know so much? And how are you so fearless on your brand new bike? Were you a mechanic? A triumph one maybe...

Hi.!!! I'm purchasing a new bike , which one do you recommend more. T100 or new speed twin??. Best regards

Anybody know if this will work with the Vance & Hines high pipe installed?

Hi Tony. Some people have made comments about the legallity of taking out the cat. From what I can tell, it may fail it's first MOT if it's emmisions are too high, but mine is a 2018 model so it's first MOT is two years away. I assume you've got to tell your insurance company if you do this mod, same as any other modification you make? Otherwise, your insurace might be void?

Hey Tony, are you planning to do the Air Filter from Free Spirit too? I'm in doubt because it could tough my leg.... Keep up the great work. ;)

Lovely sound but is it really worth the hassle?

Do I have to remove the kickstand be be able to remove the catalytic converter

did you try it with the stock silencers?

Hey man, do I really need to re-map? I just intall the XPipe for my T120, backfire and running out of fuel quickly is what I feel.

Same process for Thruxton 1200? Or any other modern classic?

Newbie question, Would removing the catalytic converter make the bike no longer legal to ride on the road? Also did you declare this to your insurer and it was no issue? Thankss

I will never do this even though the bike sounds fantastic! Way too cumbersome. Especially with the workspace I have! Not sure I will pass the emission test either in my inspection in a couple of years time. But a fantastic video nevertheless! Short but yet comprehensive. Tnxs Tony!

Do you need to re-map the ECU since now there's less restriction from the exhaust? how about the high pipes from triumph?

Does the ECM need to be reprogramed after this mod ?

Are the twin and street cup the same since they have the same motor?

Does anyone know where I can get one of these in the UK?

I have a Bonneville T120, do you think I can get away with installing the x-pipe just using my center stand to keep the bike stable? A mechanic will charge me at least $80.00 an hour, and a bike lift is a bit expensive.

Thanks for the (as always) interesting video. Q. How long did this job take you? (I figure I'd double the time for my level of competence :) )

Tank removal 1:54

What's the score with insurance companies on fitting a de-cat?

Can you use this exact free spirit x pipe on Bonneville T120? Will it fit perfectly?

Would it void warranty?

Will the bike need a remap after a decat?

How much horsepower would i gain from an x pipe?

Would this fit the 2014 Bonneville t100?

Merci Tony le problème nous en France aujourd'hui il va falloir tout re démonter dans trois ans pour la visite obligatoire, de simple silencieux devrait suffire à faire un son plus agréable et seront beaucoup plus vite mis et retirer non?

TEC parts in UK make a better piece of kit imho. Proper custom bends rather than off the shelf bits.

How much for the Xpipe Triumph T100 900 cc

Does anyone know what the weight of the original cat and the x pipe are?

I see no benefit to removing the gas tank. This is an exhaust project on the lower end of the bike. Unless you're a clutz, the tank could stay on.

I would imagine that this mod would void the warranty wouldn't it?

What are your thoughts about the British Customs competition header made in USA which is the same as the X-pipe from Free Spirit

For us who have the Thruxton R 2016 I've yet to see it on anyones vid.

Give us some DB readings

Where to buy this x pipe?

Why take out the Cat and put in an Xpipe?

Good video, but after seeing how excessive it is to switch the cat out I’m don’t think I’m going to do it

Job one: disconnect the battery. Always :)

Excellent video. I assume the down votes are from euro 4 lovers