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x pipe meerkat vs cone engineering

32K views 167 replies 39 participants last post by  Cap10xs 
#1 ·
I have searched and not found a comparison of the meerkat x pipe vs cone engineering. Looking to put one of them on a street twin. Hoping some one can provide dyno charts, 1/4 mile times and or if there were any issues with quality of build. From what i have read on this forum meerkat is the only one with torque and HP gains but could not find anything on cone engineering which means cone is new making these or no one has had any issues with them.

Next anyone with LOTS of miles on the meerkat? curious how it has held up since it does not have the ability to be bolted to the frame?
 
#2 · (Edited)
Jsobell may have some comparison dynos with those two.

I've run the Meerkat on my Thruxton R for just about a year and half. I've had it on for 19 runs down the drag strip and on the street with no issues. I will be using the Meerkat on the bike at Bonneville next month.

I did do a dyno comparison between the Meerkat and Free Spirit. I found I got about 2.5 more horsepower with the Meerkat over the Free Spirit over the entire RPM range.

I also did a comparison at the drag strip between those two, 4 runs with Free Spirit and 3 runs with Meerkat with no other changes.

The Free Spirit average was 12.475 @ 107.81 mph, the Meerkat was 12.270 @ 110.65 mph.

I'm very satisfied with the Meerkat in terms of performance, build quality, and sound quality .

Here is a recent quarter mile run, and you can hear the sound from rider's standpoint.

 
#4 ·
These mufflers are Vance & Hines without db killers, most of the sound came from the Meerkat x pipe.

Just today Peter Meerkat and I were discussing making a set of Meerkat megaphone mufflers for me to run at Bonneville in a few weeks.

I will post one of these runs sometime in late August so you can see and hear these babies.

Due to the lateness on getting these Meerkats I probably won't get them on the dyno until September.
 
#6 ·
Maybe I'm seeing different x-pipes from Meekrat than what you guys are using but the ones I see don't have the mounting points like the original Cat and it would put all the weight of the x-pipe on the header pipes and the mufflers that seems like a formula for failure down the road of possibly stress cracks or even breaking at the header. This is what I have used on both my Streetwin and my T120 both bikes have over 14,000 miles on them.
 

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#7 ·
The reason for the mounting points on the stock cat is its so heavy and would put a lot of stress on the exhaust, the Meerkat weights bugger all and no need for mounting points to be welded on, the header pipes and mufflers are mounted pretty good and there be no stress on their mounting points from the Meerkat at all, I have been running my Thruxton for 15 months now with my Meerkat and ride every where even on rought roads and dirt roads and have had no problems at all, its still mounted solid from day one, have done 15k or more so far.
As well with the Meerkat the workmanship and the welds are all top quality looking at the pics of the other brands they don't even come close to the workmanship of the Meerkat and the Meerkat is all polished up and its ashame its hidden under the bike it looks so good, Peter at Meerkat is a true tradesman, I think you would have more problems with other decats compared to the workmanship of Meerkat.

Ashley
 
#8 ·
I'm not sure we can even get Meerkat here in North America without insane shipping from Australia- anyone know?
 
#9 ·
That's the rub. The Tec X-pipe fits fine and works well, and was a bit of a bargain at $179 with shipping included. It sure isn't the work of art that the Meercat is. I do like that the Tec allows retention of the guard plate, avoiding a large empty space where the cat was. I suggest careful study of how that plate is mounted before removing it.
 
#13 ·
I’ve had my Meerkat xpipe now for over 16K miles. No leaks or problems. I found out here that it added some HP, while others didn’t. I thought the construction and look of it was better than others too. Sure it costs a little more but I felt it was worth it. I don’t mind paying more if I feel the product warrants it. I’ve never personally met Peter, but I think he’s a stand up guy.

I diligently research beforehand to try and avoid buyer’s remorse. I have no regrets..
 

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#19 · (Edited)
I have heard all good about meerkat, and even seeing "meerkat" pop in on the post shows the passion for the industry. Thats a plus one for meerkat. I am just on the fence between cone engineering and meerkat.

My exhaust is brushed stainless. Meerkat offers 3 types, black, brushed, polished all the same price. Tha's yet another choice to make do i get brushed to match the rest of the exhaust or black to "hide" the x pipe from view, or possibly the polished for a reason i have not thought of?

Is there ever any kind of sale on the meerkats?
 
#20 ·
I have heard all good about meerkat, and even seeing "meerkat" pop in on the post shows the passion for the industry. I am just on the fence between cone engineering and meerkat. Thats a plus one for meerkat.

My exhaust is brushed stainless. Meerkat offers 3 types, black, brushed, polished all the same price. Tha's yet another choice to make do i get brushed to match the rest of the exhaust or black to "hide" the x pipe from view, or possibly the polished for a reason i have not thought of?

Is there ever any kind of sale on the meerkats?
The x pipe is pretty much out of view unless your laying on your back and looking up towards the underside of the engine.

When I clean my bike I like polishing everything including the x pipe so I'm partial to the polished one, but otherwise any choice would be good .

I'll ask him about the price but I've found his prices to be more than fair and reasonable. The great part is I can get the piece I've order from him quicker from Australia than I can from 800 miles away.

I'm a supporter because there are not too many vendors who do what the say they will with great quality, pricing and delivery. It boils down to I trust Meerkat.
 
#24 ·
It would help to take photos of the clamps before removing the cat. Make sure you have a T55. Threading the kickstand kill switch out and back in is easy. You don’t have to take the passenger pegs apart to remove them. Loosen the entire exhaust before deciding if you have to remove anything (everything) to get the cat out. You could save a lot of time. You don't need to remove the tank. The Meerkat doesn’t need any frame mounting. The exhaust is more than rigid enough to hold it in place. I didn’t use torque settings for the clamps. Just ride it for a while and retighten periodically if needed and check for leaks. Here are the torque specs.
 

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#25 ·
When I installed my Meerkat I just did it without looking at any video's or look at pics, I just got straight into it, like I have said before the hardest part is getting the stock cat out, once its out putting the xpipe on is easy, I didn't torque anything down just tighten everything up and was all good to go, so far after over 12 months nothing has fallen off, taking my time took just over 2 hrs taking my time, just takes comon sense to do and the right tools, I didn't even touch the side stand safety switch, but then a Thruxton might be different to the other Triumphs, but I found it wasn't a hard job to do.

Ashley
 
#33 ·
Just about to dive into meerkat install. Do you guys who have done it think it would be possible without taking the right side exhaust off? Looking at it, i reckon it should all come off from the left, and if the rhs pipe remains it should help locate the meerkat (I'll be doing the job myself and trying to hold everything in place with one pair of hands looks a tad tricky...)
 
#42 ·
Each model is different the T120 is easier than the thruxton the bobber is easier than the t120 . the overall concept is the same best piece of advice is" there are no shortcuts" , ( I used a 5" grinder with a 1mm cutting wheel on my T120 ,it still wasn't a quick fix )

The DIY cat removal is not a rite of passage into "man"hood ,if it is call me Shirley ,,,

I figure the time I spent on cat removal could be more productively spent, on the fabrication of something to sell, to pay a more mechanically skilled person to do the task (much less stress)
Peter H
 
#48 ·
Peter shipped my Meerkat on Monday and I received it at my house in Arizona USA on Thursday! It is polished and has flawless tig welds. The install was quick and I used tips from this forum like slide the tank back 3" and hang the exhaust pipes on a bungee cord without removing the 02 sensors. Upon start up I found the new exhaust note to be "just right" and I do believe there is 3 more horsepower on tap now. Thanks to Peter for fast shipping and a very well built product!
 
#50 ·
Just rode home from the dealer. The bike sounds way better than it did before, definitely the best mod I have done to the bike. I also noticed that it does accelerate a little bit quicker now, but the main benefit for sure is the sound. Im also curious to see if it runs a little bit cooler as some people have said.
 
#56 ·
They might perform very simlar but the quility of the finish is better with the Meerkat less welds, better welds and all polished up, the Tec looks like its just come from the welding shop with burned heat marks where they been welded, I seen other brands and they come no where for looks compared to the Meerkat, its a shame it sits under the bike.
But of course its your choose in what ever you buy or put on your bike, I did a lot of research before going the Meerkat way and I only live a 100 miles away from Peter, he also openned my mufflers up :grin2:

Ashley
 
#62 ·
When I decided to get rid of the stock cat and put a xpipe on, I did my homework, I reserched every brand for our bikes, take notice on who had what, didn't take any notice of any advertising, looked at each ones web sites, checked out the quility build then decide Meerkat was the best, I never seen any advertising on this forum for Meerkat at all only other Triumph owners opinions.
As for not having the orginial mounting points of the stock cat is that the stock cat is so heavy, I am also lucky I only live a 100 miles away from Peter at Meerkat and talking to him on the phone about my mufflers and expipe and taking my mufflers to Peter to do his magic on them and meet Peter and to comfirm I made the right decision on my choice.
Now if someone decides Meerkat is not for them then all good, in my opinion their lost, but like I say their decision and no one is going to twist their arm to change that, this is the good thing about forums, if someone had good service or brought a good product for their bikes of course they will tell everyone about it, but if anyone that has a problem with that, then so be it, just don't say things that are not true or get their facts right, before coming out with silly comments and as I have said many times, if you want top quilit product then Meerkat will out do the rest and not made on a production line like most.

Ashley
 
#70 ·
I have met Peter, and seen numerous examples of his work at the shop ['works'?]. Great guy, a master craftsman, the pieces I saw were truly excellent. Most aftermarket stuff we see is third-party Chineseum - Meerkat pieces are the kind you show people on your bike, they add points to anything nearby.
 
#73 ·
I'm a sceptical person by nature so when everyone is saying let's go with Meerkat maybe I should give it a go. Just ordered it and will report back in 15,000km if there are any stress fractures which was my concern that has been answered.

What convinced me to buy was the sound of that quarter mile posted above with the V&H and the looks. The x pipe is like two half circles of beauty rather than unnatural curves of the other xpipes.
 
#74 ·
What convinced me to buy was the sound of that quarter mile posted above with the V&H and the looks. The x pipe is like two half circles of beauty rather than unnatural curves of the other xpipes.
I also like how it looks when mounted. You will be able to remove the heat shield / mounting bracket that is bolted to the base of the motor. Then when looking at the bike you wont see the ugly heat shield mounting bracket combo, but rather the "meerkat" logo.
 
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