For many of our applications we have used a stainless steel double-walled tip to isolate heat from the outer layer. This prevented the tips from turning the typical "golden bronze" color that can occur with repeated heating. I have spoken to several of our dealers regarding this occurrence on other rotary aftermarket systems (RX-7 and RX-8) and they agreed that it was fairly common. They claimed that most people did not have a problem with the discoloration and just accepted it.

Since we did have a couple of complaints, we decided to try some alternatives. We are currently using a stainless steel double walled tip that collects at the outer edge, under the rolled lip. There might be some discoloration, but not as extensive as on the prior tip. We are testing a chrome-plated stainless steel tip, more will be posted as time progresses.

Jim Langer
Racing Beat, Inc.

 

Jim, we're happy to have you here representing your products first hand to members!

 

Yes, Jim, thanks for staying on this and keeping us informed!

 

Grrrrrr...... GD-it...... Someone get a GOOD sound clip of the exhaust installed. Sheesh, your all slackin. :D

 

Maybe ceramic-coated or powder coated tips would work well? Isn't there some new powder-coating that looks about 95% like real chrome, only it doesn't discolor with heat?

 

there is a good sounclip of the rb exhaust... go to rx8web.com and search for mazdatrix and u'll find his soundclip

 

"A quick video of our 8 at full throttle with a Racing Beat cat-back and K&N Typhoon intake.":
http://www.rx8web.com/videos/mztxracingbeat.wmv

 

Back on point, Racing Beat shipped my system last Friday, June 25, and it arrived in my office today, June 29. According to UPS, the shipping weight was 61 pounds, including packaging.

I opened the top of the box and peeked around the wrapping: It looked simply delicious; heavy-duty, polished and purposeful. My wife then picked it up in our van and took it home.

I'll install it ASAP (maybe one night this week; maybe this weekend) and write up a review under a new thread.

Happy happy happy. Joy joy joy.

 

One thing a friend mentioned to me one day...

"the only thing that takes away from the looks of your car is that muffler(stock RX8 muffler). You can see the bottom edge of it from the rear as you drive down the road. It is dull and dirty looking. Everything else is bright and clean."

So I looked for myself. I found that if you stand far back, it is very visble.....and ugly.
I polished it the best I could with metal polish....and it helped alot, but it was still ugly.

My question is this......How visible are the Racing Beat mufflers and splitter from the same vantage point?

I hope it can be seen like the ugly stock muffler can. I think it would look fantastic with all that polished metal and aggressive looking design.


Anyone have any pictures of the rear of the car fitted with the Racing Beat cat back exhaust system? The video posted by Mazdatrix wasn't clear enough to see the mufflers.

 

Good questions. As and when I do my install, I'll try to take a few minutes to snap some good pix, and weigh the system, too. It may not be until this weekend, though. I will tell you that the whole system is much beefier than I expected, and I already had high hopes. It is extremely imposing in the "flesh."

 

I just sent this private message to Jim Langer: "I'm still trying to decide which installation approach to use, when I install the RB exhaust this weekend. Your instructions don't say, but what's the best way to remove the cat studs? I'm used to jamming two nuts together for such jobs. (I also have a stud removal tool, but I doubt it's the right size or thread.) Any suggestions? Are the Racing Beat nuts and bolts the same size and thread as the OEM studs? Thanks!"

 

The OEM studs where to hard for me to remove I was afraid I was going to break them off, so I decided to remove the plastic part where the tips of the exhaust go through, be careful when removing them, you might brake off some of the clips that hold it. The nuts and bolts that came with it fit perfectly.

 

I installed mine last night. I intend to post pictures and a review soon in a new thread. I wound up removing the frames around the tips instead of the studs.

It was a pretty easy (maybe 90 minutes, going slow) one-person job using Rhino Ramps for the car and a floor jack under a board to support the parts. The hardest tasks were getting the exhaust hangers off, and getting access to torque the cat bolts (for which I used several socket extensions).

The kit itself is extremely clean and I wouldn't change a thing. It is awesome. It weighed in on my bathroom scale at roughly 38 pounds, versus 40 for the OEM kit.

The instructions would be better, IMHO, with the following changes and additions:

• The cat bolts are 14 mm, not 17 mm.
  
• The Racing Beat bolts are 14 mm on both ends.
  
• The best way to prevent breaking the attachment clips on the panels surrounding the tips, is to reach up inside and pop out each clip with your fingers, from behind. They have locking tabs that need to be pressed gently away from the edges.
  
• The bolts attaching the exhaust section to the connecting pipe look better facing forward.
  
• The easiest way to start the four attachment bolts is to fit the connecting pipe onto the cat studs, attach the connecting pipe hanger, then loosely start all four nuts before tightening any of them down.
  

Amazingly, I have yet to drive the car with the new system, since I had to take another car in to the shop today. Just driving it off the ramps, it sounded stock. The tips look simply wonderful at the back of the car, and underneath, the polished cannisters look sweet. Perfect fit and finish.

 

I have seen neither hide nor hair of my exhaust that I ordered in May. I'm starting to get a bit... anxious.

 

Bummer, mon. You should just call them up and ask where it is; they're shipping out maybe 12 a day, so they can give you a pretty good estimate of when yours will go out.

Your avatar affects me strangely.

 

Just picked up my RB exhaust and had it installed yesterday. It sounds beautiful! Low, throaty but not obnoxious. When you step on the gas, it sounds just great; never annoying at any rpm. As for looks, well it puts the stock exhaust to shame. I'm very happy with it!

Jim Langer showed me a picture of the pre-production intake system they're working on...it's gorgeous! Looks like it could have been designed by the Mazda factory team itself. Integrates beautifully with the engine compartment. I'm definitely going to get it; it will be worth the wait.

 

Spiff, please: More details on that intake! Is it still a secret? I want to hear what it looks like, sounds like, power gains, estimated price, estimated production date, CARB legality, etc. This is driving me nuts!

 

Yes details please, I did not want to wait, so I installed the SR intake - really nice. But if the RB is better - I'm there with you. I'll sell my SR at 1/2 price!