Often this kicks the factory warranty in the guts, but few care and most go ahead anyway. Our sinisterly black long-term CFMoto 650NK has already lost its spindly but heavy rear end bracketry in favour of a tail-tidy and now its 3kg standard exhaust is under the bench too.

It’s been replaced by a Musarri slip-on pipe in stealthy all-black stainless steel, and if Loud Pipes Save Lives – this bike will live forever.

However, it does let everyone in the street know you’re coming, where you went and if you’ve mucked up a gear-change – which thankfully, simply doesn’t happen on the CFMoto, because the gearshift on the gutsy 650 parallel twin is slick, precise and accurate, five-sixths of the time, anyway. The only time it’s not, is when slotting into first on the grid… err, at red lights. Then, gear selection has the robustness of a swing bridge locking into place. Going up and down the closely spaced ratios is an exact science – made a lot more fun by the Musarri pipe. It crackles, burps, barks and wails by degree, faithfully broadcasting whatever you’re doing with right hand and left foot.

My neighbours probably have a Beanie Kid biker doll with pins sticking in it now, and stab more in every time I get home – meh!

MUSARRI  GP Street Series
black slip-on exhaust

RRP $199.90 + 19.90 Postage

Screaming Demon

  0410311236