Aftermarket exhausts: Options, Price Range, Opinions

[TAL2GK]

I've had my R12R for a couple of weeks now and am loving it. I had the opportunity to ride a Ducati Monster with a Leo Vince exhaust the other day, though, and loved the sound. I know a Duc with a can isn't the same as my Bimmer with stock, but I'd love the opinions of what options exist out there (and rough estimate of cost). I spent the last hour or so searching the forum for key words, but didn't have much luck. I'm not looking for screamers, but a little more throat would be nice.

Also important, of course, is if adding an aftermarket exhaust will have any negative impact on my warranty - which is only about 2% of the way used for me right now.

Remus, Leo Vince, Laser, Staintune, others ...

Thanks!

[MattPie]

I've had my R12R for a couple of weeks now and am loving it. I had the opportunity to ride a Ducati Monster with a Leo Vince exhaust the other day, though, and loved the sound. I know a Duc with a can isn't the same as my Bimmer with stock, but I'd love the opinions of what options exist out there (and rough estimate of cost). I spent the last hour or so searching the forum for key words, but didn't have much luck. I'm not looking for screamers, but a little more throat would be nice.

Also important, of course, is if adding an aftermarket exhaust will have any negative impact on my warranty - which is only about 2% of the way used for me right now.

Remus, Leo Vince, Laser, Staintune, others ...

Thanks!

Warranty: I'm fairly sure that BMW 'approved' a couple aftermarket exhausts for the R1150 series, so they may have a couple for the R1200s as well. In theory there are laws that state a company can't void your warranty unless the modification directly resulted in the damage. I don't know how well those laws work in practice, but I figure it's far less trouble to tow the line than to fight with BMW NA for months to get your bike fixed.

Ztechnik claims they don't void the warranty:
http://shop.ztechnik.com/cgi-bin/ztech/ ... del=bm-063

[AncientMariner]

BMW offers an all titanium sport exhaust from Akrapovic. (sp?). I believe it has a removable baffle for extra noise when riding on a track. It weighs something like 6-1/2 pounds, so you're bound to get a performance boost just from the weight savings.

FWIW, I've known more BMW riders to change back to the factory silencer than I've known to stick with an aftermarket exhaust.

Bruce

2010 Biarritz Blue R1200 R (The best bike ever)
1995 Mystic Red K75 (Still the smoothest operator in town)
2000 Blue 540i M Package (When two wheels just aren't enough)

[jed1]

Hi TAL2GK,

I suppose you already know this, but unfortunately (for some) we'll never get our lovely flat twins to sound as nice as a v-twin. I too went through the 'which exhaust do I get' phase. I ended up with the carbon fibre Laser 'Hot Cam' (about $570 US). I decided on this cause I wanted (what I thougt to be) a nice looking pipe which didnt affect the standard BMW panniers at all. They also come in a titanium and stainless finish. A few people here rightly said that carbon fibre is the not the best with respect to its longevity and the titanium and SS will last a lot longer - but I see it as an excuse for me to spend some more $$ on my bike in years to come . I was really happy with the sound (for a flat twin). It has a really nice deep sound, especially under acceleration, but it certainly is not loud. Louder, but not loud.

I also had a look at the Akrapovic pipe which looked nice, but was quite expensive. I was also very keen on the exhusts from Leo Vince, but I think that a few people have had slight problems with them fitting with the BMW panniers. They look really nice, but the pannier problem was a deal breaker for me.

As for warranty, I contacted my local BMW dealership here in Brisbane and they said, as a previous poster here said, as long as the pipe is not linked to the defect, then it will not cause a warranty problem.

Anyway, I think that there is quite a few different pipes out there to choose from. I give the Laser a thumbs up, but I know that the vast majority of other brands also make their respective owners very happy too. Good luck.

[TAL2GK]

Hi TAL2GK,

I suppose you already know this, but unfortunately (for some) we'll never get our lovely flat twins to sound as nice as a v-twin.

Yeah, its true. The Guzzi Griso I was thinking about sure would sound amazing with an aftermarket pipe - but it doesn't ride as smooth as our R's.

Even with the stocker on, it sounds better than my R1100R ... nice burbles on downshifts, etc. Nothing pressing, but it seems like a DIY job I can handle when winter kicks in here in NC (both weeks). I'm not expecting a performance boost, but any small increases are welcome. I'm just a teenager in a 37-year-old body whose testosterone level goes up with a deep-sounding (not necessarily loud) exhaust note. I'm like the guys on Top Gear who drive with the windows down through tunnels just to hear the musical sound of performance engines.

[mgdoc8307]

I love my akrapovic exhaust for my R1200R. 15,000 miles so far and it still sounds wonderful ! No problems with my BMW dedicated panniers. Always get compliments on the exhaust note. The best addition I've made to my R1200R.

[spenserj87]

I have to say +1 for the akrapovic exhaust. I don't have one for my R12, but I rode ChiTown's R12 for 6 days and his has one. And I still can't get that great sound out of my head. It also looked great and didn't interfere with anything else on the bike. If they weren't so damn expensive....

[TAL2GK]

I've been to the Akrapovic website, but no mention of MSRP. What ballpark are we playing in?

On the cheap side, Revzilla has Leo Vince for our bikes on closeout at $331. Still looks like a big can.

Remus has some good looking pipes - and plenty of options - for $500-600ish. Hard for an exhaust newbie like me to make heads or tails of all the options, though, other than appearance.
http://www.remusexhaustshop.com/bikes-r ... 6_164.html

I like the looks of their Titanium Powercone.


I'll see what more I can find on Akrapovic, but if they're the high end and Leo is low - I guess that makes Remus in the middle?

[TAL2GK]

Looks like I might need to add $144 to the Remus quote to get BMW connector tube with mounting hardware. Sneaky.

[NakedRider]

I've had several of the Remus pipes and never been disappointed.

[spenserj87]

I've been to the Akrapovic website, but no mention of MSRP. What ballpark are we playing in?

Here's a web site with a price of $776 plus $15 shipping:

http://www.baysideperformance.com/index ... ts_id=8664

Also some pics of how it looks on an R12.

[Lost Rider]

+1 Akrapovic...
pricey, but like anything you get what you pay for...

I prefer mine with the baffles in.

[TAL2GK]

Great pics, thanks. You'll have to share the secret of how to remove the GIGANTIC stickers these all come with.

[Lost Rider]

You'll have to share the secret of how to remove the GIANTIC stickers these all come with.

For most stickers a hairdryer to heat them up and just peel them off. Sometimes some goof off or other kind of remover is needed for leftover sticky residue, or reuse the sticker itself with a push and turn on the the residue to take it off.

As much as I completely HATE Chicago BMW and would will never personally give them any of my business, Akrapovic exhaust is a OEM BMW option therefore eligible for a 20% discount. At least it was 1.5 years ago....

[spenserj87]

As much as I completely HATE Chicago BMW and would will never personally give them any of my business, Akrapovic exhaust is a OEM BMW option therefore eligible for a 20% discount. At least it was 1.5 years ago....

See, I know better than to recommend them that I won't name. Even without your experience, I'd say you'll pay the same $768 (plus shipping) you'd pay on other sites - but you won't have to wait 2 months to receive it.

I covet the exhaust sound...

[gpoz]

Factory Akrapovic without baffles looks great, and sounds fantastic to both rider and spectator. Cost? Who cares, this is a BMW forum after all. If you should find yourself overextended with your purchase of a high end bike, you can get the same can from Akrapovic with that goddy red/yellow sticker for less dough. No problem with fitment of factory bags.

[mogu83]

Hi TAL2GK,
I suppose you already know this, but unfortunately (for some) we'll never get our lovely flat twins to sound as nice as a v-twin.

I'm like the guys on Top Gear who drive with the windows down through tunnels just to hear the musical sound of performance engines.

Off subject but this brings back one of my best motorcycle memories.
Pennsylvania Turnpike West of Harrisburg -the Blue Mountain Tunnel. Halfway through the tunnel their is a short spot where you go out of the tunnel and then back in, many times a State Trooper hides there.
Five AM in the morning the sun is coming up behind us. Tunnel is two lanes (in each direction) and we were running four Guzzis abreast (all with after market exhaust) at just over 100MPH. What a sound, Ill never forget it. As we approached the break we all looked at each other knowing their could be a State Cop sitting there. Everyone stayed on it, and I'll never know if their was someone hiding there or not. If he was sleeping he most likely thought two P-51s just went through the tunnel.
Times like that, make me feel sorry for anyone that never rode a good sounding bike fast.

[cwrose]

I know this thread is a bit old now, but I had a question regarding the Akrapovic exhaust. Every resource that I find online, denotes that the Akrapovic exhaust fits 06-07 model years. I find this a bit odd, but I can't find literature telling me that the exhaust will fit a 2008 RR. Is there something different about the 2008+ model years that makes the Akrapovic incompatible? Any insight would be appreciated.

Thanks

Edit: It looks like Akrapovic's website has been updated since the last time I checked. They now state model years 06-09

[nbarab]

akra is the BEST aftermarket exhausts. I think that all the people agree on this. They are uncomparable ...like ohlins.