Poor sound from changing to Akrapovics ...

mercuryf1

mercuryf1

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Having purchased an Akrapovic full system from NN, I decided to install the Titanium sleeved silencer first (without the de-cat headers) to see what the differences are compared to stock exhaust to my new '11 12GS.
To my dismay, the exhaust note appears to be much quieter then stock! Has anyone else experienced this too?
I also change to the K&N air filter. Without a PC V, I didn't want to risk any long term damage to my bike by putting on the full system.
Should I now take the baffles out or should I wait till I purchase a PC V then change the headers?
:confused:
 
The 2011 GS exhaust system has an electronically controlled valve after the cat (it's the black bit with wires going into it) that opens the exhaust above certain RPM (in certain gears, I think). This was to get around the EU-imposed drive-by noise limits. A nice side-effect is that outside of the drive-by speeds once the valve has been activated, the exhaust tone is very fruity.

I think the Akra doesn't have the electronic gubbins. That would explain why it is quieter (it's got an EU type approval so has to pass the same noise limits as the stock exhaust). Anyway, that's why I decided not to swap exhausts on my '11.

Take the removable noise killer out of the Akra if you want more noise. Doing so will invalidate the EU type approval (which has insurance implications) and may make passing an MOT tricky. If continental flics or Polizisten catch you, they will throw the book at you.

On the other hand, I was never pulled in France and Germany on my 08 with Ti Akra (sans noise killer) that on overrun sounded like a Messerschmitt on a low-flying sortie :). I never bothered with a K&N or a PC and had no problems (but that was an 08 bike). YMMV.

Good luck,
Achim
 
Luckily I live in asia where the police are more interested in getting corruption money from motorist who speak on the mobile phone while driving cars or not wearing sear belts! Noise pollution is not high up on their list.
I would like a louder exhaust note so cars can see me and hear me coming. At the moment, I have a feeling that I have wasted £500+ on a quieter can.
Will definitely take the bike back to the shop to get the noise killer out at the soonest opportunity!
 
The noise killer/baffle should be fairly easy to remove....take out the small allen bolt from the exhaust end can (inside the hole - on the side), then pull on the thing that looks like a piece of tube(may have to use a pair of pliers)......thats the baffle.

Just as a tip - when I had an Akra system on my S1000RR, I had to use a v long screwdriver (or something similar) and tap out the baffle from the other end (end can off the bike, obviously), as there was a small spot weld to break. Just make sure you use a nice thick towel or something on the floor to put the can on whilst carrying out these adjustments, to save any scratches etc.

See the following pic....I know its not for a GS, but Akra's are pretty similar in their baffles (no's 11 & 12 in the pic):

ApriliaMile1000.jpg
 
Thanks for the tip Markrr - that's exactly what was done this afternoon. Bike now sounds x10 better... Happy days again! Next is to install the akra cat- less headers ( when they arrive from NN)
PC V or not? That is the question....
 
Glad you got it sorted fella :thumb

Let us know if the new set up sets off car alarams when you go past! ;)
 
You guys must have noisey tastes,as my 2011 GSA sounds great as stock, perhaps after a few months I will get bored and feel the need to make it sound like a Mclaren SLR :)
 
I can only say:

mercuryf1 said:
Having purchased an Akrapovic full system from NN, I decided to install the Titanium sleeved silencer first (without the de-cat headers) to see what the differences are compared to stock exhaust to my new '11 12GS.
To my dismay, the exhaust note appears to be much quieter then stock! :confused:
Click to expand...
Why dismay? What a nice way to ride a bike.
How Nice!
Myke
 
The "cat" blocks a lot of the noise. When you put the new de-catted pipes on you may find it loud enough.

:beerjug:
 
I have always owned four cylinder bikes in the past and changing to race pipes really transformed the bikes to sound much better, meaner & faster (in my head@!)
The GS1200 is my first bike with a boxer. Naturally one of the first mods I did was to change the pipes, like I have, in the past.
At the moment, with just the end can fitted, I can't really say that it has been money well spent as the difference hasn't been great. Perhaps it would be different when I fit the headers. I ordered a set of de-cat Akropovic headers from NN 2 1/2 months ago and I am still waiting for it to arrive.
:forry
That's another story all together....:blast
 
My previous R1200GS had the BOS de-cat headers fitted combined with a Remus Powercone end can. With the baffle removed it sounded fantastic. Through the tunnels in the Alps my mate said he could actually "feel" the noise!!

Personally I love loud bikes so it was a win win for me. Although the fact it set off my car alarm everytime I started her up did get to be a tad annoying

Get the headers fitted and enjoy! :D

FYI, I was strongly advised against fitting a K&N filter to my GS with this exhaust fitted as the engines run very lean as stock. The advice (from Hilltop M/C in Leicester) was to leave the stock filter in place unless I was going to fit a power-commander of have the stock ECU re-programmed

The guy seems to know what he's talking about so I took his advice.

F9 :thumb2
 
Loud pipes annoy people, so why bother:blast

Go and stand in the open countryside, on a sunny summer Sunday and see how anti-social loud motorbike exhausts are:mad:
 
Falco9 said:
Get the headers fitted and enjoy! :D

FYI, I was strongly advised against fitting a K&N filter to my GS with this exhaust fitted as the engines run very lean as stock. The advice (from Hilltop M/C in Leicester) was to leave the stock filter in place unless I was going to fit a power-commander of have the stock ECU re-programmed

The guy seems to know what he's talking about so I took his advice.

F9 :thumb2
Click to expand...

Headers finally fitted today. Sounds great - makes me feel like riding harder to get the revs climbing!
What happens when the engine runs lean? Is there any danger of detonation? How would this damage the engine? My mechanic told me that he has installed many full systems to GS12 without PC and has never come across any bike that has suffered any engine damage!
I have an accelerator module fitted, de-cat headers, Akra end can, K&N. I was tempted to put back the stock air filter but my mechanic asked me to run with the K&N to see how it runs....:confused:
 
mercuryf1 said:
Headers finally fitted today. Sounds great - makes me feel like riding harder to get the revs climbing!
What happens when the engine runs lean? Is there any danger of detonation? How would this damage the engine? My mechanic told me that he has installed many full systems to GS12 without PC and has never come across any bike that has suffered any engine damage!
I have an accelerator module fitted, de-cat headers, Akra end can, K&N. I was tempted to put back the stock air filter but my mechanic asked me to run with the K&N to see how it runs....:confused:
Click to expand...

Hi guys..
My Two-penneth for what it's worth -
From what i've seen i'd say that Falco's advice is right...don't risk it..!
I'ts a borderline / weakish mixture as standard (+ i'd say ther'l be plenty of thought and electronic wizzardry gone into keeping it sweet at this mix) - It'd be ok swapping the Can only, but i reckon it'd be pushing it a bit with a Can and a K&N filter if it has no PC / Re-map.
It'd be Def taking it too far if you fitted the Headers with no Cat and the K&N and Can without doing adding the PC / Re-map...
Not sure how much exta juice the Accel Mod dumps in and that may be keeping it safe and if so i'll shut up....but that isn't a mapped jobby as far as i know ? - just richer all the way (i think ?)...not ideal if so..
For the sake of a few quid for a Dyno run it'd answer all your questions..!

Never trust a bloke that shaves his legs.
Unc.
K&N Filter / Remus Headers / No Cat / Retained Exhaust valve / Standard Can / PCV + custom Map (Running sweet as a nut - and ever so slightly rich in places - my preference).
 
JohnnyBoxer said:
Loud pipes annoy people, so why bother:blast

Go and stand in the open countryside, on a sunny summer Sunday and see how anti-social loud motorbike exhausts are:mad:
Click to expand...

I must be getting older because I always went the race can way in times gone by, but now feel like this myself. Doing a bit of landscape work in the garden the other weekend and it seemed like a constant swarm of bee's going up the road with the IL4's buzzing around.

The GS is pretty fruity though once the valve is opened, got a trackday coming up soon, and it's a "quiet" one, I reckon the GS may struggle to get through :(
 
Uncle Carbuncle said:
Hi guys..
My Two-penneth for what it's worth -
From what i've seen i'd say that Falco's advice is right...don't risk it..!
I'ts a borderline / weakish mixture as standard (+ i'd say ther'l be plenty of thought and electronic wizzardry gone into keeping it sweet at this mix) - It'd be ok swapping the Can only, but i reckon it'd be pushing it a bit with a Can and a K&N filter if it has no PC / Re-map.
It'd be Def taking it too far if you fitted the Headers with no Cat and the K&N and Can without doing adding the PC / Re-map...
Not sure how much exta juice the Accel Mod dumps in and that may be keeping it safe and if so i'll shut up....but that isn't a mapped jobby as far as i know ? - just richer all the way (i think ?)...not ideal if so..
For the sake of a few quid for a Dyno run it'd answer all your questions..!

Never trust a bloke that shaves his legs.
Unc.
K&N Filter / Remus Headers / No Cat / Retained Exhaust valve / Standard Can / PCV + custom Map (Running sweet as a nut - and ever so slightly rich in places - my preference).
Click to expand...

I have ditched the Akra end can for the standard can. Prefer the standard exhaust with more bass!

K&N Filter / Akra Headers / No Cat / Retained Exhaust valve / Standard Can / accelerator module

How do you gp about getting a custom map? :beerjug:
 
mercuryf1 said:
I have ditched the Akra end can for the standard can. Prefer the standard exhaust with more bass!

K&N Filter / Akra Headers / No Cat / Retained Exhaust valve / Standard Can / accelerator module

How do you gp about getting a custom map? :beerjug:
Click to expand...

http://www.powercommander.com/power...-014&make=2&model=72&make-n=BMW&model-n=R1200 GS&year=2011&mk=2&mdl=72&yr=2011

Hi..
A Custom map >>
Ideally - Get the Bike onto a dyno with an experienced engine guy and set it up there...

You can download some Custom maps from the PowerCommnder.com site:
Select model , year etc, loads of maps to suit different mods there - at the bottom of relevant model selected page..

BTW- I know of loads of R12's that have all the breathing mods done and have no ECU / PC mods - and they are fine, or rather they sound fine...
After having advice from someone i trusted i went the PCV route on mine - and after seeing what i've seen on the Dyno i'm glad i did..

I'll stand corrected anytime if anyone has a comment to the contrary here, in fact i'd be interested to know if the Accel gizmo gives it enough gas to make it safe with these mods..

I'm off out on the bike now - instead of sat here bl**dy typing...
Unc.
 
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