Exhausting

[Katie]

So, love the look of the OEM exhaust and have no wish to change it but it is a bit quiet. Thinking about different options and so far have looked at fitting a Healtech ESE - either the straightforward one or the switchable version.

Other option is to ditch the original headers (and cat) and save a ton of weight too. It's what I did with my Moto Guzzi Mandello (loved the OEM pipe, hated the boot-melting heat from the cat!) and S1000RR.

Black Widow were the first out of the (non-akrapovic) trap and at a great price https://www.blackwidowexhausts.co.uk/r-1300-rs-2071-c.asp

Next up seem to be Arrow, including a spendy titanium option - https://www.arrow.it/en/assembled/1978/BMW-R-1300-R---RS-2025-2026

And an inbetweeny cost option of GPR -https://www.gpr-motorcycle-exhausts.co.uk/shop/bmw/r_1300_r_|_rs_2025|2026


My only concern is that BMW make it soooo hard to add, electronically, anything that isn't theirs or akrapovic! Anybody know whether the BMW desire to outlaw all aftermarket parts has taken more steps with the RS electronics?

 

[AndyW]

+1!... the OEM exhaust setup sounds really naff!

The Black Widow and GPR could be obnoxious with no collector box.... I think they'll need a particularly good silencer.
Arrow appears to have one.... Akra definitely does.

Where did you find pricing for the Arrow options?

Main issue is BMW's attitude to warranty on 'modified' bikes!

 

[Katie]

+1!... the OEM exhaust setup sounds really naff!

The Black Widow and GPR could be obnoxious with no collector box.... I think they'll need a particularly good silencer.
Arrow appears to have one.... Akra definitely does.

Where did you find pricing for the Arrow options?

Main issue is BMW's attitude to warranty on 'modified' bikes!

Ebay for the Arrow collectors £700 SS, £1k+ for titanium!

 

[AndyW]

I better start saving up!

 

[Spartan]

Will be interesting to see what you find.

My bike came with the double barrel Akrapovic. With all the bikes, the exhaust flap is closed when there is no wheel speed. So they all sound muffled when revving them at standstill. So maybe a servo flap device would help alot?

For sure the standard bike with the Akra double silencer does sound good on overrun or in Dynamic mode. For me just the right amount of depth and bubbles. But doesnt sound too good revving on the sidestand. (But who needs that). Then when in traffic, if you clutch in and blip it when wheels moving it sounds loads better. And will pop and burbble.

With headers. Again just opinion. I'd stay clear of cheap options. Header bore, route, length etc all need to be calculated in relation to exhaust pulses. This is what Akrapovic costs what it does. Because it is designed to work specifically with that engine. Its not just a decat pipe. Its all calculated.

I watched a video before I bought the bike. I saw the Aftermarket Akrapovic silencer, the non double barrel one, and it seemed a bit deeper with better sound than the Factory one. I think that silencer with an exhaust flap device would sound as good without being ott.

Interesting little side note with exhausts. I work for Lamborghini, and just returned from factory training in Bologna where we had an Akrapovic tech there going through data. What goes into an exhaust is crazy. I did think it was a case of an end can was just that. But there is alot to it. On the Temerario at 10k rpm the exhaust gas leaves the valve at the speed of sound and those pulses/sound waves are all monitored and tuned to work with the silencer.

I'm sure bikes are the same.

There was a company called HP. I looked at a few of their Silencers and they looked very good also. With good data to match. And a bit different to the usual Remus, Arrow etc.

 

[Katie]

I appreciate the research and the quality but sadly, I don't like the sound of an akrapovic (on any bike to date). Each to their own view of course

 

[Spartan]

Interesting. I cant tell the difference.

The only time I can tell is when a bike has a real cheap end can. Like Quill, Black Widow etc. Where they sound harsh and raspy.

For the other decent name brands. I cant notice a difference between Arrow, Remus, Leo, Akra etc.

The only one I do notice a real difference with is Project SC. They definitely sound louder

What do you hear? Does it have a distinct sound?

 

[Katie]

Project SC is way too loud for me! Have had pretty much everything at one time or another (Leo Vince full system sounded great) but the Akra always sounds a bit farty

 

[Katie]

Think I'm aiming for the GPR titanium headers which will hopefully colour-up nicely with the black and also be 4kg off.

Side note, have ordered a lithium battery as part of the weight-saving plan (knocks another 3.5kg off the central mass). I don't normally worry about the weight of the bike but a recent trip made me realise just how chunky the RS is, especially at slow speeds and manoeuvring around . I know I could lose the centre stand too but it's too convenient

 

[AndyW]

@Katie ....any progress on your exhausting decision?

I see BHP UK have developed a decat pipe in stainless for the 1300GS... https://the-tuning-shop.myshopify.com/collections/decat-pipes/products/bmw-r1300-gs-gsa-decat-header
I've messaged them asking if they are developing anything for the 1300RS.

Earlier you said... "Akra always sounds a bit farty" - not my impression!

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[Katie]

@Katie ....any progress on your exhausting decision?

I see BHP UK have developed a decat pipe in stainless for the 1300GS... https://the-tuning-shop.myshopify.com/collections/decat-pipes/products/bmw-r1300-gs-gsa-decat-header
I've messaged them asking if they are developing anything for the 1300RS.

Earlier you said... "Akra always sounds a bit farty" - not my impression!

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Nothing done yet, waiting to see if I can afford it! Realised that, in addition to the headers (£800 for GPR titanium) I will also need a Healtech ESE and possibly a Rapid Bike Smart 2 module to manage any fuelling issues. By the time garage costs are added it's heading towards £1500. Still cheaper than the Akra option though

Looked like the BHP UK GS option also fits the RS?

 

[Larry Langford]

Nothing done yet, waiting to see if I can afford it! Realised that, in addition to the headers (£800 for GPR titanium) I will also need a Healtech ESE and possibly a Rapid Bike Smart 2 module to manage any fuelling issues. By the time garage costs are added it's heading towards £1500. Still cheaper than the Akra option though

Looked like the BHP UK GS option also fits the RS?

If you leave the cat on ..... then the SC Project end can will be a little less loud ..... and this set-up has impeccable throttle response at all rpms. Asl me how I know .....lol

 

[edzt]

Which was the exhaust that YouTuber teapot one fitted and it blew apart?


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[AndyW]

How do you know @Larry Langford ??

.... photos! ;-)

@Katie ....it seems that the BHP UK decat system for the 1300GS is not a fit for the RS;
BHP UK message;

Yes, we can remap the 1300RS no problem however we don't have a decat for them currently.

I'm not really familiar with the Rapid Bike Smart 2.... you have experience?
I have used BHP's ECU Flasher with bespoke remap but that's at a cost of £150'ish more than the Bike Smart.

 

[Katie]

How do you know @Larry Langford ??

.... photos! ;-)

@Katie ....it seems that the BHP UK decat system for the 1300GS is not a fit for the RS;
BHP UK message;

I'm not really familiar with the Rapid Bike Smart 2.... you have experience?
I have used BHP's ECU Flasher with bespoke remap but that's at a cost of £150'ish more than the Bike Smart.

I've seen Rapid Bike units in use for years to good effect, and they get round the problem of ECU updates wiping out the remap as you can set back to standard in the same way as the Upmap device does (had one on a Guzzi). My main concern is the overall weight reduction (hence the Ti headers rather than inox) but I don't want to lose the good fueling

 

[Larry Langford]

How do you know @Larry Langford ??

.... photos! ;-)

@Katie ....it seems that the BHP UK decat system for the 1300GS is not a fit for the RS;
BHP UK message;

I'm not really familiar with the Rapid Bike Smart 2.... you have experience?
I have used BHP's ECU Flasher with bespoke remap but that's at a cost of £150'ish more than the Bike Smart.

//////////// I don't have pic server set up ... I have the SC Project on a 1250. Came into it on chance. It is the higher end version. It is a little loud but not bad with the cat and flapper still there. Doesn't drone will idling, not loud just bopping around but you hit the hammer and it sounds like a snarling porsche. Has splendid throttle response .....
I've seen graphs that show the set up with just an end can and everything else stock is just as good as de-cat, ti headers and an end can except beyond 8000 rpm where there was only 4 hp difference. This graph was on remus's site. And I think the reason is the stock computer doesn't work that well with a straight thru exhaust. You need a racing computer, like one for the HP4 without all the garbage for emissions and sound and whatever else. just my opinion.
Also I seen that some brands are going to the catalyst into the headers to try to keep them in the game when folks get aftermarket exhaust stuff. On the boxer twin, they are very efficient and don't need that much catalyst anyway .....

On another note I watched 650ib on youtube, buy a new M1000RR, and then take it to his specialty shop and have a full TI exhaust fitted with a very small end can. They did before during and after dyno tests. yes it was spendy. Well, they couldn't get the bike back to the stock HP, and after much effort were just able to get a slight improvement over stock HP. And I can't rule out tampering with the dyno to get the readings they wanted. 605ib pulled all the videos, right away so you have to take my word for it. I also watched mototop tube channel test a stock M1000RR on the autobahn .... it did 191 by satellite. The 1300 RS did 155. the 1250 did 146. All box stock and run in.
In another interesting test, Bennetts Bike social tested the last year 1250 GS 719 against the new 1300 GS 719. Most of the test was predictable but, the 1250 took the 0-60 and the 6th gear roll on from low speed. They said the roll on was by two bike lengths .......
If I was going to buy right now I would get the RT 1300 probably. or a lowered GS. They have made the RS too specialized imo/\

 

[AndyW]

Thanks Larry.... lots of interesting stuff I need to go and have a look at!