For those that love Titanium and some Akra feedback.

Someone put a post on here back in April about how good the Akra full system sounds and with a rush of sh%t to the brain I placed an order and paid in full on the promise of two weeks delivery to Australia. Well 4 months later I got the system. Really glad I gave that company an interest free loan for 4 months. Not.

Quality

I have never fitted any Termigoni systems so cannot compare but the quality of the Akra system is fantastic. It comes well packed. The kit includes comprehensive instructions. Comes with locktite, bolt lube and also ceramic paste to fit into the joints. I followed the instructions to the letter and it all worked. The carbon on this is beautiful. I did actually receive a heat shield that looked substandard and after complaining received a new one under warranty after filling out a form. There were marks on the outside and some foil heat shield was missing. They let me keep the old one so now have a spare.

Fitting

I know others have posted about this so will not drone on. I am no mechanic but I enjoy working on the bike. I think the fitting is easy except for the top header bolt on the front cylinder. I ended up removing the radiator fan shroud and removing it. This gave me the room to get a 1/4 inch small Sidchrome ratchet in there with a flex coupling. I avoided damage to the radiator. You can actually see in the Akra instruction photos they have actually damaged the rad slightly trying to get to the bolt. I worked on it after work and did it over 4 days couple of hours a day. But in between I was weighing, taking photos and cleaning stuff. I did an oil change as well and taped the oil filter with some threads. Took me about 12 hours but working flat out could see it done in 4hrs I think. I spent an hour cutting up extra stick on foil insulation I got from Motowheels. It fits fine under the carbon heat shield. I am not sure how it will go it is rated to 300 deg F. Its fine so far. I used WD40 to carefully clean the pipes after install just like Mr Akrapovic says to do. I went for a 30 minute ride without the fairings and then checked all the bolts. (BTW riding without fairings makes such a big difference to the temps). No bolts were loose.
One pleasant surprise was that you get to remove the whole servo motor to operate the exhaust flap of the standard boat anchor exhaust system. The servo motor setup itself weighs 420 grams. When fitting I had to use 4 washers on the forward mounting bracket which is not specified in the instructions. I am sure you are meant too otherwise its loose but they do not say to do this. I also found a very small leak on my clutch cover with just a small smear of oil coming out. I torqued the bolts to the correct amount and problem is fixed I think. I did not have a torque wrench when I fitted the DP carbon clutch cover back in June 2012 so I think it has seeped out since then.

Sound

Yes its louder and different. I always ride with earplugs with a Corsair V. On my second ride the right earplug was not in properly and it was annoying. On the return trip I put the plug in properly and it was ok.
I did a sound measurement with the boat anchor using a good quality sound meter on a tripod at one meter and found idle to be 99db to maximum of 101db. At 5000 rpm I found the reading to be 108db to 109db. I have not yet measured the Akra but will post up what it is when I do it. I may even do one with the DB killers out. But my analogue human ear meter tells me its louder. Do I like the sound ? Yes its great.

Performance

Well lower down in the rev range I think I can feel something. So honestly I do not know if the system is improving power. However I did get a baseline dyno reading couple of weeks ago and my intention is to go to the same dyno and get another reading to see what it is with just the fitting of the system and then what I get when Mr Tuneboy does a custom map for my bike.

Weight

I weighed the Akra system at total of 5990 grams. I weighed the boat anchor at 10300 grams. The springs for example weigh the same as the original part.
Akra heat shield is 210 g vs OEM at 350 g. Akra mufflers are 1925 g each vs 6700 g for the OEM. So when you take into account the removal of the servo motor you are saving 4730 grams by my count.

Impressions

So was it worth it ? Yes for me. I like Ti and enjoy making my bike lighter. I like the sound and I enjoyed learning a bit more about my bike (pulling stuff apart), its given me more confidence to tackle the next project.

It will be a bonus to me, if after the tune, it adds more midrange. I was not really after more power as this bike is powerful enough for me. I will post up some more info once I have the dyno results and do the next sound measurement.

Great write up, I am thinking of installing the system myself too.
Is it safe to run the system without fuel management?

Akrapovic specifically states their system to have been manufactured for a direct bolton use without the "need" for any kind of tuning. Could you benefit from it? Absolutely. Is it needed? No. Mine has been on the bike without an upmap/rexxer/tuneboy/rapidbike/pcv, etc. I may do so down the line but for now it's fine.

VERY VERY good review my friend! Thanks for contributing. Makes me want to jump on the slip on offer. Good thread!

Thank you for this review!
I am glad there are still companies on this planet that keep standards high. I bought and installed a QD Box for my GF's Monster this year. Packaging, quality, fittment and instructions all ....... It took me half a day to install it, and I had to do a lot of mechanical work like cutting screws and turning a mounting rod

With Akrapovic as supplier Ducati made a good choice for sure.
If at some time there's a EU legal Ti Exhaust from them, I'll immediately buy it.

1stduc1199 said:

Great write up, I am thinking of installing the system myself too.
Is it safe to run the system without fuel management?

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Agree with doubleO. I think its safe to run without any special fuel management. I think thats why it took so long to come to market as Mr Akrapovic wanted to get it right and protect their reputation for quality. Also the delay for supply was probably due to the amount they had to supply Ducati for the SL.

I agree you do not need fuel management for this system it seems fine to me but only a subjective assessment. Be interesting to see my next dyno result before any other tweaking and tuning. I know those results already posted from others, I will just add to the data from a different dyno.

Great review makes me wany to jump in on the group buy. Post some pics up.

Got the bike out today and put the sound meter on again. This time I got 102 to 103 db at idle compared to 99 to 101 db with std exhaust.

At 5000 rpm I got 110 to 112 db which is only about 3 db above what I got before. A guide only as I did not measure the exact distance to the sound meter only guesstimate at about 1 metre away.

Took a photo of the tools I used. I thought I would pass on a tip. Be careful and clean all your fingermarks off the pipes before start up. I missed just one spot and now there is a small mark there that does not seem to want to be cleaned off. Lucky its hidden. Will post up again when I get the new dyno results. Here are some pics. Note lower fairings off for some cleaning and you can see more of the pipe system. Putting in some Motol MoCool in while I am at it.

Tools used.

bradp51 said:

Agree with doubleO. I think its safe to run without any special fuel management. I think thats why it took so long to come to market as Mr Akrapovic wanted to get it right and protect their reputation for quality. Also the delay for supply was probably due to the amount they had to supply Ducati for the SL.

I agree you do not need fuel management for this system it seems fine to me but only a subjective assessment. Be interesting to see my next dyno result before any other tweaking and tuning. I know those results already posted from others, I will just add to the data from a different dyno.

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I'm not sure why you wouldn't get it tuned as you have spent all this money on it and surely you want to optimise the results, why else would you spend the best part of $4k on an exhaust.

In my experiance i've never come across a full system that does not need any sort of tune and while i'm sure the Akra system works ok by just bolting it on I'm sure it's far from ideal.

bradp51 said:

Got the bike out today and put the sound meter on again. This time I got 102 to 103 db at idle compared to 99 to 101 db with std exhaust.

At 5000 rpm I got 110 to 112 db which is only about 3 db above what I got before. A guide only as I did not measure the exact distance to the sound meter only guesstimate at about 1 metre away.

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Are your Akra numbers with or without db killers installed?

Photos show the silencers still in place so those db numbers will definitely be louder without them. I don't have them in and they are MUCH louder than stock and termi.

reganc said:

I'm not sure why you wouldn't get it tuned as you have spent all this money on it and surely you want to optimise the results, why else would you spend the best part of $4k on an exhaust.

In my experiance i've never come across a full system that does not need any sort of tune and while i'm sure the Akra system works ok by just bolting it on I'm sure it's far from ideal.

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You need to read my post more carefully before engaging mouth. See below.

Well lower down in the rev range I think I can feel something. So honestly I do not know if the system is improving power. However I did get a baseline dyno reading couple of weeks ago and my intention is to go to the same dyno and get another reading to see what it is with just the fitting of the system and then what I get when Mr Tuneboy does a custom map for my bike.


I was hoping to maybe go Friday or Saturday this week but work may stop that and Wayne's dyno also gets used a fair bit so not always easy to get an appointment when convenient to both. I have a dyno printout of stock from a couple of weeks ago and was going to post up a copy when I have the 3 results.

I explained why I spent all that money on the Akra. Maybe you missed that part too. Not that I need to explain anything. I just thought I would share my experience with it and perhaps encourage those who might want to fit it themselves and save some dollars and learn more about their bikes.

I really wish I was sharing my experience of SL ownership. For that I had better keep buying Lotto tickets.

double0 said:

Photos show the silencers still in place so those db numbers will definitely be louder without them. I don't have them in and they are MUCH louder than stock and termi.

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Well spotted and thanks. I would have said the readings were with DB killers out if I had done that. I would have done it today but it takes time to take them out and have to wait for it to cool down.

I had to go inside and help my son with his homework.

bradp51 said:

You need to read my post more carefully before engaging mouth. See below.

Well lower down in the rev range I think I can feel something. So honestly I do not know if the system is improving power. However I did get a baseline dyno reading couple of weeks ago and my intention is to go to the same dyno and get another reading to see what it is with just the fitting of the system and then what I get when Mr Tuneboy does a custom map for my bike.


I was hoping to maybe go Friday or Saturday this week but work may stop that and Wayne's dyno also gets used a fair bit so not always easy to get an appointment when convenient to both. I have a dyno printout of stock from a couple of weeks ago and was going to post up a copy when I have the 3 results.

I explained why I spent all that money on the Akra. Maybe you missed that part too. Not that I need to explain anything. I just thought I would share my experience with it and perhaps encourage those who might want to fit it themselves and save some dollars and learn more about their bikes.

I really wish I was sharing my experience of SL ownership. For that I had better keep buying Lotto tickets.

Click to expand...

Easy Tiger,

I wasn't having a go and simply voicing my opinion as to why someone would buy this system and not bother with a tune, for what it's worth i actually have this system on my R and have been running it for almost a year, I went with a rexxer reflash which is great and power is very linear. Drop me a PM and i can share the dyno results so you can use it as a reference.

reganc said:

Easy Tiger,

I wasn't having a go and simply voicing my opinion as to why someone would buy this system and not bother with a tune, for what it's worth i actually have this system on my R and have been running it for almost a year, I went with a rexxer reflash which is great and power is very linear. Drop me a PM and i can share the dyno results so you can use it as a reference.

Click to expand...

Yeah all good.

Holy ...."¦..102-103 dB with the silencers installed !!!"¦.Yeah, thats kinda loud.

NOLA

Hi from Germany,

after I had to wait almost two months to get my Akra full system for my 1199S (Akra had delivery problems), it finally arrived this week.

One of the main reasons for me to buy it was its reputed positive effect especially on the mid-range torque from 4,000-7,000/min, where the 1199 is still not exactly shining even with the latest engine mapping update, despite 15/41er final gearing that I drive. It was (stock exhaust) OK, but often I missed pressure especially when accelerating in 3rd and 4th gear in this important engine speed range on country roads which I was used to from my still owned 1098 with 14/38 final gearing. The diagrams on the Akra website show precisely in this area a strong increase of engine torque, what indeed could interpret exaggerated as something that's just marketing ...

I mounted the Akra to my bike immediately after it arrived and after the first 300 km today I must say that system is awesome!

Torque: Without having measured it somehow, but the pressure in the medium engine speed range is noticeably bigger! The "hole" is really gone, the transition to the steep rise from 7,500/min is much softer. Further up in the revs she goes even better, even in 3rd gear the front wheel is wheeling from 8000/min, almost too violent for country roads.

Sound: Yes, the original exhaust is loud, but the Akra is loud, even a little louder, and sounds good, more bassy, Ducati typical! I have left the eaters inside, because I don’t want it louder any more, at certain engine and vehicle speeds it is at the border for my ears! But it sounds simply great, like it has to be for a Ducati! Advantage here in Germany: sometimes police is doing some static noise measurement if they think the exhaust is illegal/too loud: According Akra website the static noise is 107 dB (A) at 5.375/min with dB eaters in, including a common 5 dB (A) tolerance it’s still in the homologated static noise level of 104 dB (A ), which is here in Europe part of the official documents.

http://www.akrapovic.com/#!/motorcy.../technical?brandId=46&modelId=418&yearId=2226

Appearance: Mega-cool, super cool is the unique blue color of the titanium tubes. In my opinion there is nothing better for the Pani.

I'm riding it now with the Termi slip-on mapping, seems good to harmonize with the system, no surging at lower load in the lower engine speed range, good load change (195Lo) and very good DQS behavior. No idea if a special mapping for the Akra would again bring a noticeable improvement, but who knows ...

Conclusion: OK, it is expensive, but for those who want to have more pressure in the mid range and love the unique high class look, it's first choice!

Regards

Jogy

Funny watching the blue colour go back along the length of the right side pipe. I rode yesterday and now the exhaust on the right side is blue the entire length that is exposed from the fairing. Note the clearance is good and no heat damage to the fairings.

Next stage, custom tune in a couple of weeks.

The blue will go away. Some will remain but it will not be as noticeable as it is early on.

Great wrote up thanks for sharing