Akrapovic vs Remus silencer for GSA

[gsbiker]

I heard the Akrapovic very briefly and now want that sound. BMW told me that Akrapovic = Jag vs Remus = Courtina. I've never heard a remus only Akrapovic. But as this will cost a lot of money I want to make sure I'm making the right purchase? Advise needed in comparing these products please.

Cheers
Paul.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Paul

I suspect BuMW have a load of Akro`s in stock

Remus are quality cans as are Bos so don`t worry. In fact I`ve had 2 mates who have had problems with Akro`s moving in the mounts and scratching the cans

I`ve got a Scorpion which sounds great

 

[John Armstrong]

Had a Bos on 1150's and 1200's. Nicely engineered with a proper mount, and good sound IMO without taking out the baffle.

 

[BTBR]

The Akrapovic is very well made and indeed sounds the best of the two in my opinion.

However, for something that costs that much money the mounting bracket is utter shite! Who ever designed it should be beaten to death with a book about Common Sense.

There is no rubber bush/bobbin used and furthermore there are no provisions allowed for it to move. As a result the whole mounting bracket slides (very slight I accept) up/down the can. This results in lots of very fine scratches around the circumferance of the can, roughly 3 to 4 mm either side of the bracket.

Some people it bothers, some people it dont?

Personally, it really pissed me right off. Thats the down side with being a fussy bleeder I suppose?

The Remus is still a sweet sounding can never the less, and costs quite a less than the Akrapovic. Built to last and still looks good. You can also buy a heat shield if you are running with panniers.

But if its more power and better performance for your money, then just replace the OE headers for Remus ones and keep the OE can. By far the better setup IMHO.

 

[Rong]

What about Keihan headers vs Remus, any difference apart from Keihan costing less?

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Keihan are a direct copy of the BuMW ones minus the CAT. I know because my bike was used for the 1st set and I have the prototype headers still fitted.

They retain the balancer pipe which helps with low down power. Remus haven`t done this and I`m guessing it`s for ease of manufacture. Keihan are also made in the UK and are finished to a very high standard

I`ll be marketing the Keihan headers in the new year on their behalf so if anyone wants any details, please let me know.

 

[Rong]

Yes please!

 

[gsbiker]

The Akrapovic is very well made and indeed sounds the best of the two in my opinion.

However, for something that costs that much money the mounting bracket is utter shite! Who ever designed it should be beaten to death with a book about Common Sense.

There is no rubber bush/bobbin used and furthermore there are no provisions allowed for it to move. As a result the whole mounting bracket slides (very slight I accept) up/down the can. This results in lots of very fine scratches around the circumferance of the can, roughly 3 to 4 mm either side of the bracket.

Some people it bothers, some people it dont?

Personally, it really pissed me right off. Thats the down side with being a fussy bleeder I suppose?

The Remus is still a sweet sounding can never the less, and costs quite a less than the Akrapovic. Built to last and still looks good. You can also buy a heat shield if you are running with panniers.

But if its more power and better performance for your money, then just replace the OE headers for Remus ones and keep the OE can. By far the better setup IMHO.

Hi BTBR, yes I'm fussy also so I guess the marks will annoy me too. I've seen this on youtube. First of all I'm after improving the sound first and foremost but I have nothing to compare sound too as i've not heard Remus yet? But there again I am interested in changing the headers to get the power difference also. There are various Remus silencers available so is it a matter of design or are there differences in sound?

 

[gsbiker]

Keihan are a direct copy of the BuMW ones minus the CAT. I know because my bike was used for the 1st set and I have the prototype headers still fitted.

They retain the balancer pipe which helps with low down power. Remus haven`t done this and I`m guessing it`s for ease of manufacture. Keihan are also made in the UK and are finished to a very high standard

I`ll be marketing the Keihan headers in the new year on their behalf so if anyone wants any details, please let me know.

Hi Sgt Bilco, I'm interested. Please tell me more. I checked out Keihan's website and saw their headers are finished in stainless steel. So how does this compare to my headers which are finished in chrome? Are they better or worse? What colour will they end up looking like compared to my chrome ones?

 

[gsbiker]

So I'm researching tonight as to which exhaust can Remus or Ackrapovic to go for? I see some have bought different silencers as well. How do you know what you are buying? I mean there are no bike shops here in Plymouth that can demo exhausts so how do people know what they are buying? Some will have seen exhaust on other bikes but I am not in that position - can anyone help me out?

 

[PIGGLET]

To throw another can into the mix, have you had a look at the Laser Duo tech?
I've got a carbon version on my 1150, I thought it was both better quality and nicer looking than the remus and it doesn't interfere with or heat my panniers.

 

[BTBR]

Hi BTBR, yes I'm fussy also so I guess the marks will annoy me too. I've seen this on youtube. First of all I'm after improving the sound first and foremost but I have nothing to compare sound too as i've not heard Remus yet? But there again I am interested in changing the headers to get the power difference also. There are various Remus silencers available so is it a matter of design or are there differences in sound?

You have a couple of options:-

1) Go to the Remus website, I seem to recall that you can download the exhaust notes. In fairness not a very good option, but it may give you some idea?

2) The best option, go to a UKGSer event and just listen! Nothing better than looking and listening to the real thing. Just dont rush out and buy the first one that takes you fancy. My own thoughts are that the Remus Revolution is a much tried and tested end can, it comes with a road legal insert and has a lovely sound to it. Bit over the top with the insert out and can be a pain on long distances, unless you wear ear plugs of course. The down side is that it could be considered to be outdated on the disign front?

Aluminium is nice and light, but due to the single skin is a bitch to keep clean. The single skin means that it gets very hot so road tar etc will bake on to it.

Carbon, nice looking and nice and light. Problems with cracking and delaminating of the fibres.

Titanium, my first and only choice to be honest. Quite expensive, but will keep its good looks for when you come to sell it.

 

[PIGGLET]

Carbon, nice looking and nice and light. Problems with cracking and delaminating of the fibres.

Is that just on the remus or on other brands too Alan?
I've had a few carbon cans (the micron on my ZX7 was 3 years old) and all have been fine touch wood.......Or composite.
I don't know whether it's my imagination or not but I think carbon cans seem to give a slightly more mellow sound than metal cans
My Laser with the road baffle in is hardly any louder than the stock silencer, just a bit deeper and fruitier sounding.

 

[gsbiker]

....Aluminium is nice and light, but due to the single skin is a bitch to keep clean. The single skin means that it gets very hot so road tar etc will bake on to it.

Carbon, nice looking and nice and light. Problems with cracking and delaminating of the fibres.

Titanium, my first and only choice to be honest. Quite expensive, but will keep its good looks for when you come to sell it.

So I take it you have experience of Remus and Ackrapovic for the GS1200 then? How would you compare the two? I mean apart from the Ackrapovic bracket marks is it a better silencer or about the same?

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Paul

The stainless headers will go blue to start due to the heat but this will polish out easily. As long as you keep on top of it, you won`t have any problems and they really clean up well.

I can`t post any pics at the moment because my bike is filthy and it`s too cold to be messing about out there! I do have some pics somewhere which I`ll try and dig out for you.

From my experience, you are better off changing the headers in the first instance which will give you the benefit of a slight increase in low down power. The engine feels less restricted and this will also change the exhaust note to a slightly deeper "burble". You can then see if you need the can.

Re the can, you won`t get better then a Remus for quality IMHO.

 

[GeorgeH]

I put an Akro titanium can on in April.....it lasted about a week, the sound was great for 5 minutes but after a long ride out it drove me nuts. The weight difference from the standard can is incredible.....but it was not for me...so back to the chromed 1/2 tonner...

 

[BTBR]

Is that just on the remus or on other brands too Alan?
I've had a few carbon cans (the micron on my ZX7 was 3 years old) and all have been fine touch wood.......Or composite.
I don't know whether it's my imagination or not but I think carbon cans seem to give a slightly more mellow sound than metal cans
My Laser with the road baffle in is hardly any louder than the stock silencer, just a bit deeper and fruitier sounding.

As with you, had carbon cans on most of my sports bikes in the past and not had any problems. I dont think that it is just a Remus problem either, hae heard of other makes suffering from similar problems in the past

Maybe its due to the Boxer engine vibration being so much greater and I suspect burning a lot hotter, causes delamination problems, dont know?

And I think that you could be right about the more mellow sound too. Sound absortion and all that.

Another factor is that of accident damage, even dropping it as standstill, (the classic overcentre GS drop is so easy lets be honest) could result in a carbon can being damaged, a lot easier than Ali of Ti.

 

[BTBR]

So I take it you have experience of Remus and Ackrapovic for the GS1200 then? How would you compare the two? I mean apart from the Ackrapovic bracket marks is it a better silencer or about the same?

Yes, had tried both and prefered the Ackrapovic for the sound. Until it comes to doing a decent run that is, then your ears tend to bleed!

In all honesty, keep the OE can and just replace the headers. This alone deepens the exhaust note, but it also makes the engine hook up so much better, especially mid range.

You will not enjoy any performance gains by just replacing the can, other than saving a bit (ok a lot) of weight.

Also all non std cans are only single skinned, they therefore get a lot hotter and are a whole lot harder to keep clean, even the Ti one's.

 

[The Bede]

... I use an Akro can, I saved about £100 by not buying BMW branded but the cans are identical bar the logo. Sounds nice enough with the insert in, I'm not into the more noise is better syndrome.

... The mount is crap and it does scratch up the can. I'll live with it, whenever the bike gets sold it'll have a mint stock exhaust anyway.

... I use Motad headers, ultra minimalist, ultra light, cheap but also pretty crap. Were I buying now I'd go with Keihan or Remus.

... The combination is massively lighter than the stock set-up. Noise ain't especially my thing but it is nonetheless wholesome. I'm not sure there is any major power increase, a bhp or two, but the engine picks-up off the throttle far more eagerly and it's noticably crisper through the mid-range and above compared to the stock system.

... I'd be intrigued to try the Keihan, with the balance pipe, to see if that'll chivvy the bottom-end along as well.