To be honest, I really like the way they formulated the chrome and ceramic bits, but yeah I agree that big knuckle shaped hunk of metal in front of the left knee is pretty clunky.
I have been trying to find an exhaust that has decent performance and aesthetics and it's a tough matchup. The carps obviously have the performance but I just don't love the look of them, the jardines look pretty good (I dig the black slashcuts for the roadster) but I've seen some gripe about their fit and finish and to be honest I don't love their headers. The staintune 3-1-2 is pretty but I'd still have to find somebody to make me headers (seems silly to go to all this trouble and just leave stock headers on there) and then I'd have to pay to get it blacked out.
(here's the staintune Link Removed and I like the promises of sound etc, but it looks like their full kit is just the silencers and collector on the stock headers and I was hoping to open up the headers at least a little)
I think at this point, since I only plan to buy one exhaust, hopefully for the lifetime of the bike, I need to find a custom shop that can fabricate something for me I'll love. I'm sure some of you have suggestions.
The other option is just to buy the jards and save a few thousand bucks, just ride the bike and enjoy. I may go that route but I'd like to see what my other options are like.