Lanfranconi silencers v Keihan stainless

S

Shuggie

Full member
Location
Scottish islands
Ive got the quiet option Keihan stainless ones already but have been offered a pair of Nos Lanfranconi silencers for my 1200 TS .....What's you guys take on the chrome, rust resistance and general performance of the Lanfranconis...

Cheers 🍷
 
Only my opinion but unless you want originality I would have thought the Lanfranconi silencers to be more restrictive and heavier than the Keihan
ones,the chrome would be to a standard of the period and not triple plated but would hold up fairly well as long as you looked after them and kept them away from the salt.
Performance wise again I can only compare the Lanfranconi silencers that were fitted to my Jota before I changed them over to Malcom Cox silencers.........a world of difference,lighter,triple chromed,better sound but louder and bike breathed way much better with the Cox system,highly recommended.
 
Sounds like good informed advice...I like the look of originality and the original silencers are lovely looking ,the bike is otherwise stock down to the light blue screen but I also like the notion that the stainless system will not be rusting out from the inside and from what you say , it will make it run better...I have the Mikuni carbs to fit .. cheers
 
I have Jota style resonators on mine, that were custom made, in 1990, before Malolm Cox started manufacturing the ones Shurminater has.
Mine are made of triple chromed mild steel, like Malcolm Cox's. The 'Jota' resonators don't suffer from corrosion, like the Lanfranconis. Mine still look good, after 35 years, here's a recent photograph of them.

2025 07 29 02.JPG

Stainless steel silencers, like Keihan's, are much more likely to fracture than mild steel, don't sound nearly as good: sharp and tinny in comparison, and don't shine like chrome.
They tend to dull yellow as they age.
I would recommend option 3: Get a pair of Malcolm's.
 
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If you are putting or have the Mikuni carbs on the bike, then Malcolm Cox Jota silencers (ha ha ha ) are the way to go. On the other side of things, I have run my 1978 1200 that has the Redax Mikuni carbs with the stock Laverda factory silencers (they have seams), and the performance is great. The benefit of the Laverda silencers is that you really get to hear that big triple motor, which is music to my ears. Once above 2500 RPM, it really is a great mechanical sound.
My 1200 with the Mikuni carbs and Malcolm's Jota pipes definitely wakes the bike up, the neighbors too!
 
Thanks folks I'm getting that standard is restrictive and quiet and aftermarket is freer breathing and loud.... decisions decisions!!
I had a Keihan on my r80 BMW ( sold it like a dummy) and it was good didn't yellow apart from downpipes so I'm leaning that way...
 
Shuggie said:
Thanks folks I'm getting that standard is restrictive and quiet and aftermarket is freer breathing and loud.... decisions decisions!!
I had a Keihan on my r80 BMW ( sold it like a dummy) and it was good didn't yellow apart from downpipes so I'm leaning that way...
Click to expand...
If you decide on stainless Keihan is defo the way to go in the UK. My Jota's system from about 30 years ago and is still good.

If you decide chrome, Malcolm Cox is your man. Top quality products.

West coast Scotland: Um, um. Very wet, salted roads, sea spray (often horizontal) etc. I would be placing an order with Keihan!!
 
Schurminater said:
Only my opinion but unless you want originality I would have thought the Lanfranconi silencers to be more restrictive and heavier than the Keihan
ones,the chrome would be to a standard of the period and not triple plated but would hold up fairly well as long as you looked after them and kept them away from the salt.
Performance wise again I can only compare the Lanfranconi silencers that were fitted to my Jota before I changed them over to Malcom Cox silencers.........a world of difference,lighter,triple chromed,better sound but louder and bike breathed way much better with the Cox system,highly recommended.
Click to expand...
I’ve very recently replaced a pair of stainless silencers on my Jota with a pair from Malcolm and they look, sound and go much better. 😈
 

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Thanks to all of you guys 🙏 👍 👍 I've had my new set of stainless Keihans in the box for over a year time to unbox them today and I'm ready to fit them in a month when the bikes on its wheels for the first time in three years of ownership...I'll stick with them, I was just tempted by the lure of nos Lanfranconis but the forum and others wisdom is that design has moved on and they're not as good.

Help much appreciated 👌😁
 
OneThinBloke said:
If you decide on stainless Keihan is defo the way to go in the UK. My Jota's system from about 30 years ago and is still good.

If you decide chrome, Malcolm Cox is your man. Top quality products.

West coast Scotland: Um, um. Very wet, salted roads, sea spray (often horizontal) etc. I would be placing an order with Keihan!!
Click to expand...
You're right about the weather, it doesn't always rain though and on a dry day down deserted roads early and late summer/autumn before the tourists arrive and have gone, it's a fantastic place to ride. Italian chrome would probably suffer here, agreed 👍 👍
 
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