Motorcycle Repair: Muffler noise, xj550, excessive noise

Question
Will the exhaust off of an 81 XJ650 fit my 82 XJ550?  The part #'s are different, but look similar otherwise.
-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
I have an 82 Maxim 550 with a right muffler that's making a rattling noise at higher RPM's.  The mounts seem to be stable, it sounds like the noise is coming from the muffler itself.  My cheapskate buddy says you can just knock out the inside of the muffler, the bike will be louder, but without the rattle.  Is this really an option, or do I just need a new muffler?  How can I get rid of this rattle?
Answer -
Hi Jim.

What your buddy is suggesting is, in fact, illegal in every state.  All it will do is, annoy the neighbors, ruin the tuning of the bike by reducing the back pressure and  make the bike louder, which will draw unwanted attention and tickets from the police.

If all of the mounts and couplings are tight, and you still have the rattle in the exhaust, then replace the muffler.  It will be a lot cheaper, in the end, than a ton of "excessive noise" and "illegal pipe" tickets.

Good luck and ride safe.
FALCON

Answer
Hi Jim.

Unless the parts are an exact match, then they are not interchangable.

I would say they could be if one or both of the following criteria were met;

1) Both bikes were same year.

2) Both bikes were same model.

3) Both parts are identical in every reasonably measurable way (length, width, mounting points attachment opening, etc.).

Sometimes the manufacturer will change a part number from one year to the next, but many times they will make parts that are similar, but not the same so as to fit only a specific year/model of bike.

Find an exact match and replace it with that.
Good luck and ride safe.
FALCON