BMW 1150GSA - stubby or not to stubby…

[Nando654321]

Hi All

Hopefully a quick and easy one;

I own a BMW 1150GSA (2005) with sub 40k miles. It has a Black Widow stubby exhaust which the bike came with, so before anyone asks why a sportsbike exhaust is on an elephant don’t blame the messenger.

Anyway, although it is super light and gives a nice sound, it is obnoxiously loud even with the baffler in. I mean, it is really loud. A certain expert of this parish also confirmed while I had it serviced with him that a stubby exhaust LOSES power on our GS, which if true is not something I want.

It already has a y piece and I wondered if a second hand cheap Remus really is the best replacement option or any other ideas?


Thanks


Note: my GSA is used what it’s meant for, so the photo of the bike is a dirtied up version as pic taken after a sub zero temperature commute to work earlier this year.

 

[albatross]

I have gone full circle and gone back to the original exhaust from a Remus.I run a Y piece as well.
Just found most of those replacement systems are too loud and I feel really comfortable with my set up.

 

[Nando654321]

I have gone full circle and gone back to the original exhaust from a Remus.I run a Y piece as well.
Just found most of those replacement systems are too loud and I feel really comfortable with my set up.

Hey Alba

I like the weight saving, even if only one or two kgs… so a stubby as is will do the job for now, but probably a different one will work best.

I have always been an Akrapovic person but only because a lot of my bikes bought second hand already had them on the bike when purchased.

Is there an Akra option for us? Or is Remus best?

 

[albatross]

There are lots diff systems available, Akra …Scorpion..Remus Revolution in SS or Titan

 

[Neil W]

When I had my first 1150 I experimented with various permutations of exhaust/ Y piece and cat.

For me I found the best combination of weight saving and acceptable noise was the Y piece and standard silencer, closely folowed by keeping the cat and the Remus aftermarket silencer .

That said my recently acquired 1150 is keeping the cat and the standard silencer because it is so quiet and doesn't pop and fart on the overrun

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Most say stock can and Y piece OR Cat collector box , with a proper stubby

Me - I use the Cat and a Remus road legal Ti silencer

My latest GSA purchase had Y piece and stock silencer when I bought it

I refitted the Cat

The Cat collector box gives the bike it’s back pressure and helps with low & midrange torque

BMW’s engineers knew what they were doing

 

[Mad Hatter]

I got to the same conclusion on my 1150s, cat plus Remus end can

 

[nick.ct]

Cat + stubby
Cat matches the engine, stubby saves loads of weight and you've got it.
Stubby allows the fitting of full size panniers if you need them

 

[Deleted account 240831001]

I simply took off the original silencer and put a straight through stubby on and it’s quiet enough to ride without ear plugs for long distances.

 

[Paul Young]

I’ve tried most combinations and have a similar stumpy silencer collecting dust in the garage because it was loud enough to set off car alarms, even db killers weren’t good enough.

I have a nice gsxr600 Remus stubby that fits the standard cat quite nicely and, every now and again, I like a change. Most of the time though, it’s a y-piece and Remus ti silencer.

 

[twizzle]

I was always under the impression that it’s Cat and Stubby… a Stubby with Y piece will be too loud

 

[Udders]

I’ve tried a lot of variations over the years but have gone back to the standard set up. I have a Remus end can, stubby and Y piece somewhere gathering dust.

 

[davegs]

Same old chestnut makes more noise so I must be going fas ter!, stick to std with a Y piece to save a bit of weight.

 

[Deleted account 240831001]

Same old chestnut makes more noise so I must be going fas ter!, stick to std with a Y piece to save a bit of weight.

Which removes the most weight, the standard end can or the cat? I dumped the end can for a stubby because it’s easier to remove the end can plus it makes soft luggage far easier to use (assuming you direct the stubby accordingly) and it doesn’t make the bike noisy.

 

[Nando654321]

There are lots diff systems available, Akra …Scorpion..Remus Revolution in SS or Titan

Thanks for the screenshots and

Wow

£550+ for an Akra while we can get a Remus second hand for around £100… I think Remus it is!

 

[Nando654321]

When I had my first 1150 I experimented with various permutations of exhaust/ Y piece and cat.

For me I found the best combination of weight saving and acceptable noise was the Y piece and standard silencer, closely folowed by keeping the cat and the Remus aftermarket silencer .

That said my recently acquired 1150 is keeping the cat and the standard silencer because it is so quiet and doesn't pop and fart on the overrun

Thanks Neil

My bike already has Y piece which I really like due to massive weight saving and also the stubby helps, but less noise would be great!

 

[Nando654321]

Most say stock can and Y piece OR Cat collector box , with a proper stubby

Me - I use the Cat and a Remus road legal Ti silencer

My latest GSA purchase had Y piece and stock silencer when I bought it

I refitted the Cat

The Cat collector box gives the bike it’s back pressure and helps with low & midrange torque

BMW’s engineers knew what they were doing

Ok thanks JB and noted, you and our other 30+ years mechanic know what you’re talking about. Don’t mean that in a negative way to anyone else by the way.

However, I like the y piece due to the sheer amount of weight that my GSA loses because of it. I’m slender build so every kilo less counts for me and a y piece vs cat saves around 4-5kgs from memory.

But noted that if I have a y piece then the end can should be a more appropriate longer one, Remus or Akra or original etc

 

[Nando654321]

I got to the same conclusion on my 1150s, cat plus Remus end can

Thanks MH

Reply to JB should explain my thoughts as to why for me it’s better a y piece

 

[Nando654321]

Cat + stubby
Cat matches the engine, stubby saves loads of weight and you've got it.
Stubby allows the fitting of full size panniers if you need them

Good point about panniers Nick

But my bike has the mix of

- OEM top box with ignition key to open / close
- BMW 1150GS black panniers

These work as a great mix for me as my biggest travels are long weekends which means the three together are enough

 

[Nando654321]

I’ve tried most combinations and have a similar stumpy silencer collecting dust in the garage because it was loud enough to set off car alarms, even db killers weren’t good enough.

I have a nice gsxr600 Remus stubby that fits the standard cat quite nicely and, every now and again, I like a change. Most of the time though, it’s a y-piece and Remus ti silencer.

Your bike looks great and that Remus looks brand new!

Very nice.