MotoGP crews don't just focus on weight, they focus on engine power and useable power.(JINKSTER @ Apr. 08 2007,07:53)bigoltool...motogp pipes are what they are...a race crews attempt at creating a minimalistic ultra-lightweight exhaust system with an emphasis on reducing the size and weight of the least important components of an exhaust system...the mid-pipe and what used to be "Cannister" type silencers...with the more focused and serious efforts aimed at headpipe and collector design..and to achieve this?...race crews...lacking time, the proper equipment and zero reason/purpose to aim their on-the-fly R&D efforts with any sort goal of mass production for sale to the public is NOT their goal...their mission at hand is to design and fab the most eficient headpipe/collector system possible and then cobble the rest of this minimalistic shid togther "Trackside"....advancement is race technology to make a fast bike lighter and faster?..you betcha...but the most efficient way to manufacture a particular exhaust system design to the masses?...nope...no way...ain't even on their minds.(bigoltool @ Apr. 07 2007,20:18) A lot of GP bikes have pipes made this way, and they seem to suffer no ill effects from it. Two stroke expansion chambers have been made this way for decades. Not exactly sure of the ultimate reason for the extravagant fabrication but if I were to guess I would say it is due to the ultra thin wall tubing being used not lending itself to mass production processes such as Hydro-forming. The tooling to make these systems would no doubt very cost prohibitive and due to the number of changes a GP bike goes through in short order it would not be feasible. But ultimately it just looks cool as hell and I like it! Bring on the TIG!
But leave it to the aftermarket to take this "Cobbled Together Trackside Look" and charge a real high premium to maket it to John Q. wannabe Motogp poser...for what?...that "Poser Look"?
Weight isn't as big an issue in MotoGP as other racing leagues. With the materials they have at their disposal, they could make those bikes even lighter, but the rules state that the bikes HAVE to weigh a certain amount.
I think motoGP teams focus more on maximum engine power and useable engine power than they do on weight. There is no limit on HP. And the entire pipe does affect the engines maximum power and useable power.
These just cobbled together exhausts systems cost more than any mass produced system and I'm SURE they perform better also.