Pipes -- ZipTy and FMF Gnarly

[Albertan]

I'm on pipe number three on my bike, and looking for comments from other members.  After I crushed the stock pipe, I got an FMF Gnarly (not the desert), and found it really added to the bottom end power, although it went flat on top a little earlier.  For motocross, I thought it was an improvement on stock; maybe for hill climbing or wide open stuff stock would be better.

After I got landed on in a race (another story) I cartwheeled down the other side of a tabletop and really banged up the Gnarly (which is hard to do, because it was way, way stronger than stock and really dent resistant).  I then moved to a Zip-Ty, which fit beautifully, had a better mounting system, and looks cool.  I seems strong, and has less bottom than the Gnarly, but more on top.  I'm not sure how the Gnarly Desert would compare to the Zip-Ty, so if others have feedback, I'd love to hear it.

I managed to get some of Destry Abbot's used stuff and spares last year, so I now have a brand new, undented Gnarly (I just need someone to match up the old one with the undented version).  I've also got an FMF Silencer with a Cobra Sparky welded on, and I'm really impressed with having a forestry improved spark arrestor with no noticible power loss.

[Platypus]

I was always wondered why there were not any team green bikes running the zipty setup.  I would need to ride one and feel the ergos before I went out and spent 600 bucks for a setup that "looked cool".  If it really helps the feel of the bike then I'd go for it since I'm in the market for a new dez tank anyway.  The biggest drawback I see is being locked into that pipe no matter what.  I would rather maintain the variety of pipe options that come with a standard dez tank.

[Albertan]

The real problem is that Zip-Ty isn't making any more tanks, although they have (or had a few months ago)   the pipes.  Apparently they had IMS build the tank to their specs, and the tank, with their pipe, allowed for a lower center of gravity than the usual desert tank, and couldn't be used with the standard pipe.  In short, I think the Zip-Ty pipe might work with other desert tanks, but the Zip-Ty tank only works with the Zip Ty pipe.  I know the Zip-Ty pipe works with the stock tank without issue.

If I could buy the Zip-Ty tank I would; my only worry now is buying an aftermarket tank only to find it doesn't work with the pipe -- I do have a fresh FMF Gnarly, but I like the added top end of the Zip Ty pipe.  Also -- like a lot of KX-500 riders, I've had the upper pipe mount break, and even after being re-welded, it has cracked again.  I like the Zip-Ty mounting better.

Does anyone have comments on wether other desert tanks work with the Zip Ty pipe?

[Platypus]

My guess is any tank will work with the zip ty pipe.  It is called a "lowboy" and any tank designed for a standard desert tank is going to be way higher up on the right side.  So I will be bet dollars to donuts any tank works with that pipe.