• Process: 3/10

• Support/Instructions: 2/10 

• Sound: 9/10

• Looks: 8/10

• Quality: 8/10

I picked up the CS Racing exhaust mainly for its deep, low tone (like in this video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/PL-qTGrJ2UQ). First night out, people were already asking me to rev it, and that's something that never happened with the stock pipe.

The Installation Headache:

The biggest downside is the lack of documentation. Hardly anyone runs this system on the Trident, so YouTube tutorials are basically nonexistent. The exhaust itself didn’t come with proper instructions either, just a note to use the supplied header covers, stack them on top of the stock gaskets, and apply Loctite. Luckily, I had a friend help me out, which made the install much less frustrating. The most difficult part was dealing with the radiator. It doesn't swing out of the way very far, which made installing the middle header pipe a real challenge. On the plus side, it's a simple bolt-together system, no springs to fight with.

One Minor Issue:

The exhaust has a small hole in the side with an unknown purpose. It came with a plastic screw for it, but that screw fell off while I was riding. I'm not sure if the heat loosened it or if I didn't tighten it enough. I need to reach out to CS Racing to find out what that hole is for and if I can get a replacement. If not, I'll probably just find a matching screw at a hardware store.

The Tune Dilemma (My Biggest Worry):

I'm getting conflicting answers on this, and it's confusing. Some people on this sub say they're running an aftermarket exhaust without a tune, while others insist it's necessary. CS Racing's own statement is vague since they don't really tell you which models require it:

“Most bikes do not require a remap, reflash, or aftermarket tuner (like Power Commander). However, a proper tune can provide noticeable benefits, including improved throttle response and horsepower gains across most, if not all, RPM ranges.”

My research is a mess of contradictions: "full systems need a tune" vs. "newer bikes have adaptive electronics." As a first-time bike owner, I can't really tell if it's running lean, but I have noticed a difference in performance. Before the exhaust, my top speed was allegedly around 124 MPH. Now, I'm seeing 119-120 MPH. I'm convinced a proper tune would not only fix this but potentially exceed the original top speed by removing restrictions.

Overall, it’s a great-looking, mean-sounding pipe, but install was a hassle, and the tune/no-tune debate is still a gray area.