You won't need much, but make...
You won't need much, but make sure you have what you'll need.
Installing an aftermarket exhaust is a simple and relatively inexpensive way to personalize your bike. Granted the job may look a little daunting, especially if your only prior mechanical experience in that direction involved dropping the car off at the local Midas Muffler shop, but in fact, it's neither a difficult nor involved procedure and requires little in the way of tools or mechanical experience, which makes it a great do-it-yourself project, here's the skinny.
Just In Case
Start by reviewing the appropriate section of your service manual, the one entitled, "Removing the Exhaust." Among other things, it'll point out exactly what you need to remove, and in what order, along with a list of tools you'll need to do the removing. The last one is kind of a biggie. If the job requires a 13 mm swivel-joint socket and you don't have one, it's not much of a problem. They're common as dirt and not too expensive, so acquiring one shouldn't present any particular problems. On the other hand, finding out halfway through the project that a particular bolt isn't coming off without the help of a torch, which will work, but no doubt create other issues, or that missing socket, it's another story. Trust me on this; if that's the case then every shop that carries 13 mm swivel-joint sockets will be closed, out of stock or 100 miles away, as they say, forewarned is forearmed.
A few minutes now may save...
A few minutes now may save you a few hours later.
Likewise, before removing a single bolt from the exhaust you're replacing, unpack the new system and make sure that (A) it's the correct system for your application, you wouldn't be the first guy to get the wrong pipe, in fact the first one sent for this install turned out to be wrong, and (B) that everything you need to fit the system is actually there. Compare each part to the supplied parts list, and make sure any recommended extras, in particular new exhaust port gaskets (if required) are on hand before you commence to wrench.
As a side issue, I've spoken to more than one guy that doesn't replace the exhaust port gaskets unless he absolutely has to, and yes, some of these guys work in motorcycle shops. The problem is that exhaust port gaskets are for the most part "crush" gaskets, similar in design to the crush washer used on an oil drain plug or sparkplug. Can you reuse them? Well, yeah, you can sometimes do that, especially if the bike is relatively new, but in the main, it's not a great idea. A leaking exhaust port gasket will create a backfire on deceleration, and makes a mess of the cylinder head/exhaust port area. Exhaust gaskets are cheap, and since I'm not a gambling man, my inclination is to always replace them. If you don't think it's necessary, by all means, reuse the old ones, but don't say I didn't warn you if the head pipe starts to leak.
Laying everything out will...
Laying everything out will also give you some idea of how it all fits together.
Off With The Old
When I was a flat rate mechanic I saw lot's of guys remove a few crucial bolts, give a manly yank, accompanied by a few choice invectives, and be rewarded for their efforts with a large chunk, or sometimes the whole of the exhaust dropping to the bench like a pole-axed mule. When you're being paid by the job every second counts, but sometimes it's better to act in kinder, gentler manner, especially when you want to avoid damaging the old exhaust or the bikes finish.
Under most circumstances, you should break down and remove the individual exhaust systems components one at a time, typically by starting at the rear and working your way forward. Removing the exhaust in bits and pieces can be time consuming, especially if road dirt and carbon have conspired to prevent things from coming apart but with a little WD-40 and some elbow grease the parts will soon separate, and the individual parts will be a lot easier to handle by yourself than one huge chunk of awkward to balance exhaust.