I have been putting my new Z8 through the paces this weekend with only two things I will need addressed by the dealer when I get home.  1st when putting into Park at one point the shifter cover popped off and the black shifter cover/slider underneath broke off. Still works fine you can just see down inside now.  2nd after the first long ride and letting it cool down overnight I can hear an exhaust leak until the engine warms up.  Once warm it's fine but when cold there is an obvious loud leak.  Other than these two issues I have been very impressed.  I really put it through some difficult mountain terrain today and have to say it worked great.  Even had a guy on a rzr 1000 question me when I told him where I had been.  Have to say she did well in mud, snow, and the steep.  Even had to try out the winch to get through a snowbank..

[2015 Z Force 800 53/Trail EPS]

Good. Yeah I and some others have had some issues with the exhaust springs not holding the joints together.  An easy fix. And mine broke that little black slide strip the first time out. Made my own..a little longer.. from a plastic bucket...been fine ever sence. Just wish I had a black bucket...lol

What is the easy fix for exhaust springs? Have you found a good replacement?

[2015 Z Force 800 53/Trail EPS]

What is the easy fix for exhaust springs? Have you found a good replacement?

Yeah, assuming that's what it is, I have a How-To in the.."How To" section on using Moose springs but you can also cut a loop off of these and make them work. It seems that there is a standard for how much they are supposed to stretch and bare pressure and some of the CFMs mounts were welded closer then they should have been so the springs don't pull hard enough. Mine was mostly the ones the connect the rear pipe to the muffler head...the ones just under the shield...of course. I could take some off with my fingers. And these things can and do make 4lbs of pressure which pushes the joints apart and off-sets the donut gasket. My fix was to give it a little less backpressure and a little more spring pressure...lol

I found your write up thank you..  seems like a likely cause.  I'll give them all a good inspection and determine if that might be the issue.  Did you happen to notice it much more evident at start up with a cold engine?  Once warm I don't hear it at all..

[2015 Z Force 800 53/Trail EPS]

I found your write up thank you..  seems like a likely cause.  I'll give them all a good inspection and determine if that might be the issue.  Did you happen to notice it much more evident at start up with a cold engine?  Once warm I don't hear it at all..

Yes I did and if you grab it and give it a little shake..it would pop back together.

I did notice on mine when I had the panels off the other day that when I blip the throttle the joints actually open up.

[2015 Z Force 800 53/Trail EPS]

I did notice on mine when I had the panels off the other day that when I blip the throttle the joints actually open up.

Then you really have a spring issue...lol

My springs are 75mm eye to eye and the gap between the spring mounts is 85mm, would motorcycle exhaust springs of the right length be the boy's for the job ?

[2015 Z Force 800 53/Trail EPS]

My springs are 75mm eye to eye and the gap between the spring mounts is 85mm, would motorcycle exhaust springs of the right length be the boy's for the job ?

Sure, if they were the right length. I think I quoted in my thread on what the standard was.

Well, found the upper/forward springs a little loose.  I took the springs off, shortened them, inspected and rotated the exhaust gasket 180 degrees then put it back together and the exhaust leak seems to be fixed.  I had a sheet of 1/8" black abs that I cut to match the shifter dust cover dimensions and it seems to work and look factory.  Interesting enough my dealer said the cover isn't sold individually and that they would have to replace the whole shifter mechanism.  I opted to not go that route.  Thank you for the suggestions and fixes!!