BGM Clubman bad fitting downpipe

[Muttley McLadd]

hardly fair to compare parts from a multi billion dollar industry to a ten bob lambretta cottage industry

mine fit easy as pie but I had to enlarge one of the holes on the mounting bracket a touch, which took around 24 seconds and cost bugger all, compared with the 47 hours it takes to fit a JL or similar, I was quite happy.

Why isn't it fair? Why is it unreasonable to expect the 'small numbers' runs of barrels/exhausts/other stuff to be worth the money you pay for them?

With a sixty quid exhaust, made in the far east, I'd say you have a point. But a (close to) two hundred quid exhaust, expecting the welding to be neat really isn't expecting too much, is it?
My own clubman downpipe is made from two downpipes, and you can barely seen the join, let alone feel it. It's also shaped in such a way you can get the cowling on and off without loosening the exhaust nuts. It can be done. And it was around the same price.

[dirtyhandslopez]

But was there any sexual favors involved as well as the price?
Disclaimer: no wine involved in this post, although a couple of snakebites may have been involved.

[bazabod_downunder]

Ok after an hour of faffing around with my trusty Dremel & needle file it fits together, I have to state that this gripe really has nothing to do with MB just BGM's quality control, the main reasons for it fouling was slight lip on the box pipe, slight non concentric stub/pipe with a burr that was scoring the box pipe stub & raised weld on the inside of the box pipe, which was preventing it seating home fully, all is now good. Luckily I have these tools to hand, ability to & not being afraid to rectify. Again I don't think it's too much to ask that BGM make sure that the pipes fit the box before despatch as they are in the main I would think sold as a kit....so looking forward to fitting it & trying it out.....& as of yet no reply from Scooter Centre to my email regarding this.

[whonatic]

Has any of one of you ever designed, developed and tested a product and put it into a manufacturing process? The chances are you have never done any of it and found the difficulties that we faced.

It's hard enough dealing with UK manufacturers who can not listen or supply to their promises!

We've had people say these boxes fit perfectly and we've had people saying some need a little fettling. We've had complaints where customers have no idea how to even fit an exhaust. Customer have brought in pipes for not fitting, we've shown the customer how to fit it and they don't believe how easy it was when they spent days and loads of emails to sort it. We've not had one that doesn't fit unless it's a later Mugello which is designed wrong on the exhaust port flange height. Pipes and tubes can pull and twiust in mass manufacturing which can usually be tweaked in a vice.

As for paint we can not win, Germany tried and tested lots of different paints and coatings from the manufacturers and were not 100% happy, so left it for the customer to choose - Black or Silver, Chrome or Ceramic coated. We know there have been fitting issues which are really small and easily done at home. And yes - engines do vary, our perfect sample slid on and off our Lambretta jig and needed tweaking in Germany on a bike. We can assure you that it's something we are looking to resolve with a list of problems/niggles/improvements to make these boxes even better for Version 2.

No I haven't put anything onto the market or designed anything for a Lambretta, but that's not my job, it's yours.
I found the pipe a swine to fit, but the increase in power is substantial conpared to other box pipes I've tried.
The welding on the downpipe is poor, and a response "we don't check them, we just send them out" doesn't cut it for me, and left me with an hours labour I had to pay as I don't weld. 3 holes welded up.
As for the paint, give me bare metal pipes any day, for £15 in heat proof paint, I know the paint stays on.
£230 is a fair price as far as I'm concerned, and im extremely grateful for the option to fit a box pipe that works, but cottage industry or not, I don't expect the level of dremmelling and welding required to make it useable.
Bring on the MK2 version Mark.

[Grumpy225]

Apart from tight fitting pipes because of ceramic coating (that was easily fixed in about 5 min with a sanding cone) I found the MB exhaust a very straight forward and easy install (stock DL200). Comes with a great spring tool also. Install loose and tighten up all the mount points in series until its stug on the motor. Just like you would do with any exhaust.

Having made a few one off tools and electrical components for sale I can imagine the headache it causes to produce a big run of anything.

Keep in mind this is not a unique issue to lambrettas, I've talked to lots of riders over the years (Vespa, Harley, triumph etc) and they all have complained about aftermarket parts not fitting correctly or having to modify slightly to make work for their bike.

I for one am grateful that there are good aftermarket performance parts being made for these bikes

[coaster]

.....I for one am grateful that there are good aftermarket performance parts being made for these bikes

I don't have one of these pipes but do agree with your view, the Research and Development on the scale necessary to eliminate ALL possible fitment problems would cost more than any company involved in our hobby could afford. WITHIN REASON, we should expect that some parts are going to need to be fettled to some degree from time to time. I'm not talking about the shite that emanates from the back streets of Delhi or Vietnam, just the products where the supplier is at least attempting to do the right thing

[bazabod_downunder]

So after the initial annoyance of the poor fitting, the subsequent correction it's finally painted & fitted.......does she fly or what slight re jetting needed but WOW!!!!....impressed

[dansuper]

What is the engine spec on the Li, Barry?

[bazabod_downunder]

Not Li....GP150 with Mugello 186 V4 variotronic ignition 30mm PWK, standard 150 gearbox