Akrapovic muffler

[Hammam]

Hi,

Is there any advantage in replacing the OEM muffler with the approved Akrapovic unit (not with the headers, just the can) on a 1200 GS, besides better sound? Any gain in torque and/or power? Not that I'm necessarily looking for more power - heck, I haven't ridden my new GS yet - but I'm curious. And I like the sound, but that's a very expensive mod if all it does is flatter your ears.

Thanks.

[Schtum]

You might get one or extra bhp and lbs-ft but it'll be so insignificant that you won't feel it on the road. The real benefit comes from fitting a set of aftermarket headers without a cat'.

[Hammam]

Originally Posted by Schtum

You might get one or extra bhp and lbs-ft but it'll be so insignificant that you won't feel it on the road. The real benefit comes from fitting a set of aftermarket headers without a cat'.

Yes, but here, in Quebec, and in Canada in general, they have stringent regulations regarding exhausts, and I'm afraid that solution could be costly in fines. Plus, I would have to install the OEM exahust system back, because I don't think they would regard a subsequent offence with any leniency Whereas, I think just the can plus cat could be accepted. Then again, I've been arrested on my F800 ST by an officer who proceeded to get on all fours to check my exhaust, and ask for the official government approval tag. Which never existed, by the way. And this was with a perfectly legit OEM system.

How about weight? Will I reduce the bike's weight by 4kgs, as I have seen mentioned somewhere (titanium vs aluminium)? I am 5'7", past my prime, and every ounce here and there counts

Thank you.

[Schtum]

Originally Posted by Hammam

Yes, but here, in Quebec, and in Canada in general, they have stringent regulations regarding exhausts, and I'm afraid that solution could be costly in fines.

Vive le Quebec libre.....huh. Move to Montana - you can get away with pretty much anything there.

I don't know anything about Canadian type approval for motorcycle exhausts but FWIW, my full Remus system has full European approval with the dB killer in the can. I'm not quite sure how it manages it but it is.

Yes you'll lose some weight replacing the OEM can with a Ti Remus or similar. Again, I don't know if you'd notice any difference, if you rode the bike back-to-back with the original can and then an aftermarket one.

It does sound a bit like you've decided that you want to replace the can and are now looking for practical reasons to justify that. If you want to fit an aftermarket can, fit an aftermarket can......

[Hammam]

Thanks, Schtum. I am sure the roads in Montana are great for biking, as an added bonus. How long do you stop riding in winter?

Actually no, I am not really commited to getting an Akra. There's also the price to factor in. I am evaluating all my mod options, since my brand new bike will be at the dealer's until the end of March, and I want everything decided and carried on before I ride it out of there.

[Schtum]

Originally Posted by Hammam

Thanks, Schtum. I am sure the roads in Montana are great for biking, as an added bonus. How long do you stop riding in winter?

You mean how long do I stop riding, here in Scotland, during the winter? The Montana thing was a throwaway on the basis of some time SWMBO and I spent there in the summer of '07.

It depends. I've got the point in my life where I pretty much stash the bike in the garage for at least 4 months - November, December, January and February - perhaps more depending upon the weather. However, in years gone by, I have seen me ride in ice and snow. It's about -2 deg C, at the moment, here on the River Forth estuary and there's snow and ice on the sidestreets and sidewalks. Remember that because of our high humidity, it feels much colder than that.

Actually no, I am not really commited to getting an Akra. There's also the price to factor in. I am evaluating all my mod options, since my brand new bike will be at the dealer's until the end of March, and I want everything decided and carried on before I ride it out of there.

So is it a 2010 DOHC bike or a 2009 model? It's worth noting that if you ever were thinking of changing the headers, the new, >'08, bikes have leaner fuelling as stock. For that reason, my '09 GS is currently wearing my Remus Ti exhaust can but I haven't, as yet, fitted my Remus headers which I had on my previous '04 and '07 bikes. If I do fit the headers, I'll also fit the Power Commander which I have and have a custom map made up on the dyno. Some folks seem to think that they can happily fit headers to the later bikes like they did to the earlier one without taking account of the fact that the later bikes are mapped much leaner as stock.

[Hammam]

It's a 2009 GS that was on show as promotion by BMW at the dealer's, and they made me a very good price on it fully equipped, ABS, ESA, TPC, panniers, top case... you name it. I just couldn't pass this, even if I wasn't entirely decided to change bike at that moment. Several of my riding buddies ride GS 1200, and they say it's the best bike ever.

We had rotten June and July this year here in Montreal, but fortunately fall was not too bad, and I could ride until the very end of November, which is rare. Last year, we were snowbound by mid-November. I often say «Darn Brits, they ride all year long, through sleet, hail, rain and salt.» But the Scots, apparently not

Are you telling me that I would have to change the ignition and fuel mapping if I had an Akra fitted (no headers) on my 09 model? And that I should get a Power Commander? Why is it that leaner fuelling plays havoc with 3rd party cans?

[Schtum]

Originally Posted by Hammam

Are you telling me that I would have to change the ignition and fuel mapping if I had an Akra fitted (no headers) on my 09 model?

No. Fitting just an aftermarket exhaust can shouldn't upset the fuelling too much.

And that I should get a Power Commander? Why is it that leaner fuelling plays havoc with 3rd party cans?

If you ever fit a set of headers, sans cat', to your bike then, at the very least, you should have the bike run on the dyno to establish that the air/fuel ratios are within safe parameters and be prepared to fit a Power Commander or similar device to enable the fuelling to be mapped back within safe limits if necessary.

It's not that the leaner fuelling plays havoc with aftermarket cans. In fact, cans aren't the issue. However, the later bikes are mapped so lean as standard that fitting freer flowing headers and removing the cat' can raise the throughput of air to a point where it is outside the parameters of the OE fuel map. This causes the bike to run too lean with a consequent risk of engine damage.

HTH

[Willie B]

I have a '09 GS which I have installed an Akrapovic race exhaust system on. The bike performs noticeably better, the oil temp runs much cooler and the bike isn't as stealth as it was in stock configuration. I felt the stock exhaust was a bit stealth and a bit dangerous when riding amongst traffic. Not everyone looks for or notices someone on a bike, thus I wanted to ensure that someone heard me. Loud Pipes Save Lives

[orsolomeo]

I have an AKA exhaust on my '08 GS, mainly bought cos I liked a louder noise, I did feel an improvement, actually that + K&N air filter and the booster plug (BoosterPlug) really made a significant difference!!!!!