Full Akrapovic Worth It?

Getting a V2 (Bayliss) delivered in Dec. Going back and forth on the full Akra/upmap or not.

Pro: ~+5hp, 10ft/lbs Tq, - another 16 lbs (-22 over stock V2), less heat (?), warrantied, looks and sounds amazing

Con: $$ almost 1/4 the cost of the bike, perhaps too loud, if I really need the HP/Tq just get a V4S for a few $K more and get the semi-active Ohlins to boot

I’d like to hear from those that have had both and opinions without too much confirmation bias - if I had to do it again would I spend the $?

Also 90% street and hate (see South Park episode) HD loud pipes

Worth it in terms of what... cost? Hell no. Not even a little bit. At $3k it was too expensive for my 1199. $5k+ for the new platforms is a joke.

V2 already sounds good. The sound difference isn't worth the price. The weight loss could be had elsewhere for less money. The performance gains aren't a night and day difference.

Whether it's worth it or not is only your decision. If you have 5k to throw away without thinking twice about it, then yep... it's worth it. It's bling.

double0 said:

Worth it in terms of what... cost? Hell no. Not even a little bit. At $3k it was too expensive for my 1199. $5k+ for the new platforms is a joke.

V2 already sounds good. The sound difference isn't worth the price. The weight loss could be had elsewhere for less money. The performance gains aren't a night and day difference.

Whether it's worth it or not is only your decision. If you have 5k to throw away without thinking twice about it, then yep... it's worth it. It's bling.

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I appreciate the input. I was actually debating a good set of forged rims might be better bang for the buck in both performance and weight savings. Like the look of the stock, and Marcheseni are probably the closest. I’ve heard the stock cast are already pretty light - do you know the weight savings with the aforementioned (Aluminum)?

I know the base v2 wheels are heavy. Well, actually I don't. I know the 899/959 wheels weigh a ton. Maybe the v2 is different. If the bayliss wheels are the same, they are also heavy. Weight difference.... no idea but I'd assume it is a good amount and something you'd notice.

OP, I had the full Akra on my 959. Got a good deal on it so I figured ”why not” but there’s no way that I would pay anywhere close to full MSRP. And, after a year, I took it off and put the OE back on. Akra was just way too loud for my tastes, stock sounds pretty good. On the V2, I’d get a set of BSTs for less money and better weight reduction benefit.

I also put a full Akrapovic exhaust on my 959. I picked it up used but in excellent condition for a fraction of the MSRP cost. My advice is to enjoy the OEM exhaust but to keep an eye open for a smoking deal.

This is such an open-ended question... there will be tons of answers, from all aspects of the spectrum. It is worth it, it is not worth it, now we are throwing the wheels question in the mix. It will never end.

Do I have a full system? Yes?
Does it suck paying for it? Yes, of course. Unless it is free, no price is "worth it".
Do I think about all these questions once I start it up and am riding for hours and hours? Nope, not at all.
Do I think I would be happier, knowing I did not spend the coin for it and be better off? Absolutely not!

I am a firm believer that there are items we purchase for these bikes that are, not justified, but more of a "buy it once, buy it right" type if a deal.

Usual wear and tear I do not see upgrading to something extremely expensive, but the exhaust, eh, you get it once, cough up the dough and just be done with it. As someone said, skip on the starbucks daily for a few and it will be paid off. We spend so much unnecessary money on so many things, lets not worry about this. Either you can do it, or dont.

Your mind will not be any better nor worse off reading on the forum "do it" or "dont do it" from complete strangers...

RM3851 said:

This is such an open-ended question... there will be tons of answers, from all aspects of the spectrum. It is worth it, it is not worth it, now we are throwing the wheels question in the mix. It will never end.

Do I have a full system? Yes?
Does it suck paying for it? Yes, of course. Unless it is free, no price is "worth it".
Do I think about all these questions once I start it up and am riding for hours and hours? Nope, not at all.
Do I think I would be happier, knowing I did not spend the coin for it and be better off? Absolutely not!

I am a firm believer that there are items we purchase for these bikes that are, not justified, but more of a "buy it once, buy it right" type if a deal.

Usual wear and tear I do not see upgrading to something extremely expensive, but the exhaust, eh, you get it once, cough up the dough and just be done with it. As someone said, skip on the starbucks daily for a few and it will be paid off. We spend so much unnecessary money on so many things, lets not worry about this. Either you can do it, or dont.

Your mind will not be any better nor worse off reading on the forum "do it" or "dont do it" from complete strangers...

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I see the confirmation bias is strong in this one…

I do value others experiences who have been down this road ahead of me. Also most of the mods I make on bikes are for tangible performance increases - typically suspension or ergonomics. This is not a can I afford it or not issue

Perhaps a better question is whether this a tangible performance gain ROI or just a very expensive pretty noise maker?

I've heard rider exposed heat reduction with the full Akra system is significant from some and then heat reduction is not real at all from others.
I would love to see a comparison with actually measuring of the difference. Anyone ever see anything like that?
Obvi with the cat gone that'll delete a big glowing red chunk of metal. I wonder how much of that gets to the seat vs how much is just coming from the cylinders.

37NG900X said:

I see the confirmation bias is strong in this one…

I do value others experiences who have been down this road ahead of me. Also most of the mods I make on bikes are for tangible performance increases - typically suspension or ergonomics. This is not a can I afford it or not issue

Perhaps a better question is whether this a tangible performance gain ROI or just a very expensive pretty noise maker?

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Vbreeze said:

I've heard rider exposed heat reduction with the full Akra system is significant from some and then heat reduction is not real at all from others.
I would love to see a comparison with actually measuring of the difference. Anyone ever see anything like that?
Obvi with the cat gone that'll delete a big glowing red chunk of metal. I wonder how much of that gets to the seat vs how much is just coming from the cylinders.

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Not apples-to-apples but my 2015 R track bike with wsbk exhaust gets hot as f* (feels comparable to my v4 with stick exhaust).

I bought my bike to enjoy it...not to race, not to go to the track and not to draw attention. It takes a good hour hike back into the woods to get away from people with pipes or 'crackle tunes' to enjoy the serenity of the woods. If your goal is to race and win, you need a pipe. If you're running WOT on the street eventually you will be a statistic. I do like the sound of aftermarket systems but it would get old after a while.

With proper gear, the operating temperature of the motor isn't a big deal but I will pull over if traffic forces using 1st or 2nd nor do ride above 90 degrees ambient.

On the subject of lighter wheels, I bought some. Money well spent if you're into consecutive opposing corners.

The sound never gets old. The only reason i got mine for the 1199 back in the day. Don't care about the performance or weight savings. The blue of the titanium works with my scheme and the sound is always music.....7 years and counting.

I’ve the Akra slip ons from day one on my 2021 Streetfighter V4S…..right off the showroom flor…..don’t regret it a bit .Wanted a full system but sound of slip ons vs full is almost same .Also get the racing tune along with slip ons (full system has Racing EVO)I got discount with bike purchase and just couldn’t justify 10 hours labour and the part cost difference between full and slip ons ….they would have stretched my already stretched budget by picking V4S over regular V4….but that’s just me …nothing against the full system.
I had termis on my previous two monsters (796,1200s) and I never regretted those.I spoke to one Ducati Tech who immigrated to Canada from Italy and he once told me Ducati would never want their bikes to be like what they are sold ….that’s just coz of stringent Euro emissions and noise norms .According to him characteristic Ducati sound and feel will always be better with Termi/Akra or other major brands….the bike overall feels and breathes better .
Talking about making sense to buy exhaust is a different topic all together….For some people riding a motorcycle itself doesn’t make sense .It depends on each individual how they go about it …for me the Akrapovic sound puts a smile on my face every time I hear it and I just love the build quality and asymmetric orientation of the pipes .

Why not go with the Akra slip on? Have an Akra slip on on my 959 and although it was expensive at $2800, I think it was worth it. Dropped a few pounds and if you keep the baffles in it's not obnoxious loud.

The stock V2 wheels (20 lbs) are similar in weight to forge aluminum OZ GASS-R wheels (18 lbs, may be slight difference since the rear is single sided).

rac1ngsnak3 said:

Why not go with the Akra slip on? Have an Akra slip on on my 959 and although it was expensive at $2800, I think it was worth it. Dropped a few pounds and if you keep the baffles in it's not obnoxious loud.

The stock V2 wheels (20 lbs) are similar in weight to forge aluminum OZ GASS-R wheels (18 lbs, may be slight difference since the rear is single sided).

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The list on the full system is $5500 and $4100 for the slip-on. Can get 20% off with purchase, 9hrs
labor full, and 2 for slip so all in difference a little less than $2K. I’ve heard the same thing that V2 wheels are already pretty light. Maybe I’ll just enjoy the bike stock and put up with the mockery from not being worthy because my bike isn’t custom built with top-shelf components that you have to know someone special on the dark web to buy

37NG900X said:

The list on the full system is $5500 and $4100 for the slip-on. Can get 20% off with purchase, 9hrs
labor full, and 2 for slip so all in difference a little less than $2K. I’ve heard the same thing that V2 wheels are already pretty light. Maybe I’ll just enjoy the bike stock and put up with the mockery from not being worthy because my bike isn’t custom built with top-shelf components that you have to know someone special on the dark web to buy

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Your bike is the best when you ride it and you have paid for it !!People will mock no matter what …don’t care about people and just enjoy your ride !!

mannysfv4s said:

Your bike is the best when you ride it and you have paid for it !!People will mock no matter what …don’t care about people and just enjoy your ride !!

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One more thing …you are getting the Bayliss edition…that itself is gonna be a showstopper and rare !!!Enjoy your bike !!!

37NG900X said:

The list on the full system is $5500 and $4100 for the slip-on. Can get 20% off with purchase, 9hrs
labor full, and 2 for slip so all in difference a little less than $2K. I’ve heard the same thing that V2 wheels are already pretty light. Maybe I’ll just enjoy the bike stock and put up with the mockery from not being worthy because my bike isn’t custom built with top-shelf components that you have to know someone special on the dark web to buy

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No one on this forum would dare mock or give another a hard time for having a stock bike… Yeah enjoy it. 959/V2 is in the sweet spot

Huge difference of having a stock bike vs riding one that is properly tuned. The full system from the dealership is a scam they charge you like $2k for a UpMap key that does absolutely nothing for the bike and a Ducati stamp on the cannisters. Take the $2k and get the bike properly tuned.

Racsak have you ridden a V2 or a 959? What about a properly tuned bike? We all have yet to see the pics of your bike?

rac1ngsnak3 said:

No one on this forum would dare mock or give another a hard time for having a stock bike… Yeah enjoy it. 959/V2 is in the sweet spot

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Here’s my review of the Akra end cans I fitted (same power as full system, just a bit heavier)
I wrote this ages ago in another group - but it might be useful for people here thinking about getting the Akra cans.

Installed the Akra end cans & air filter over 2 days. Got the end cans from a Ducati dealer on eBay - significantly cheaper than RRP.

Observations:
It is a nice sound. Not too loud, but deeper than stock.
The CEL comes on (due to removing the servo controlling the valve in the oem can). Performance not affected - ie it isn’t in limp home mode.
It feels to have a lot more torque already - power wheelies are much more a thing now. Will report how the upmap changes things.

Installation observations:
Tools you need that you might not have: 8mm long reach socket, torx driver.
Undo & remove the clamp holding the oem can on as soon as you can. Frees things up.
Fit the new cans to the Y-piece and then the y piece to the header pipe.
Air filter fitting is fiddly, but straight forwards-don’t be afraid of un clipping the injectors from the airbox.
*Do* be careful to not disturb too much the high pressure fuel line immediately above the injectors. I inadvertently half disconnected it-and after a test ride it popped loose and the bike hosed petrol *everywhere* . Just pleased I wasn’t pictured on here engulfed in flames. ‍
The absolute hardest part about the install was reconnecting the fuel tank breather hoses. I’d swear they’re 1” too short. Use mole grips and pliers and lots of “FOR .... SAKE!!”

**After the upmap**
Got the "Upmap" put on the bike, and did another 200 miles.
Thoughts & observations:
The Akra pipes are not that much louder than stock at idle or at speed, but they are much deeper - sound nicer. The bike is *a lot* louder at 30 to 35mph - because that is when the valve shuts in the OEM can. Be civilised - use the extra torque (see below) and trundle through towns at 30mph in 4th.

Compared to Akra with no up-map - well, firstly the CEL goes out with the upmap - and fueling is a lot better. With out the up map she was popping and banging even at idle.

There is a noticeable amount more torque and power. Except it doesn't feel it. Let me explain - with the OEM can there is a dip in power and torque that is really noticeable - but because of that dip when you get out of it, there is a sudden rush of power. Now the bike makes more power at all revs - but the dip in power is filled in, so no sudden rush.

How do I know it is making more power then? It feels like you're down a gear - it feels as spritely in 3rd as it used to do in 2nd etc. This actually made me think that there was a fault with the bike - because I opened the throttle hard and she didn't take off - and I thought "that's pretty poor acceleration for 3rd" - but I was in 5th. ‍ Dropped it to 4th and she took off like a scolded cat...

After that I made a point of keeping myself in the gears I was using before - i.e. revs above 6000 at all times - and - a great deal more torque. Lots of power wheelies on hard acceleration.

In 1st and 2nd going downhill, off the throttle - she pops and bangs - sounds like a 50cal on automatic fire.

I'm really happy with the bike and Akras and upmap. Recommended.