Pros and Cons of exhaust crossover pipe?

[Abstruse1]

I now have a pair of Mikunis and chrome exhaust pipes without the crossover. Seems to run quite well.

My memory from when crossovers first came into use was that they're supposed to cut down on noise.

What are their pros and cons? Thanx, guys.

[Kurt in S.A.]

I thought the crossover pipe on the exhaust was to help with mid range power, especially as the timing and carbs were leaned out over time.

Don't think noise was the issue.

Kurt in S.A.

[Mal S7]

My R100/7 had a system with no balance pipe when I bought it. Rode it that way for 8 or 9 years until I had the money for a new ss system. I think it runs better in the mid range with the balance pipe but as i fitted new and quieter mufflers at the same time its hard to tell what caused the change. It used to be just as fun to ride but a whole lot noisier.

[Ken in Oklahoma]

Other than aesthetics, and possibly needing to fine tune a racing engine at a particular narrow rpm band, I think there aren't any downsides to crossover pipes.

But then I don't know everything (which is why I wrote 'think')

Ken, wise in a sense, in Oklahoma

[Rebel]

I use the crossover pipe with a tie down to secure the centerstand from moving while working on forks or whatever, when you don't want to take a chance of the bike coming off of the stand.

[Abstruse1]

BTW, the Mikunis I put on run fine. Just had to tune the idle mixture screws a bit. Runs, idles smoothly. I'll have it dyno'd in a few weeks for the final tuning.