Race Exhaust Systems And Insurance

There I fixed it for you.

 

Race exhaust systems are not road legal.
Bikesure would not insure me with a race system.
Don’t make it easy for them to refuse to pay out in the event of a claim.

 

Don't tell, don't crash, don't let thieves live.

 

It depends what system you have in mind. If you’re referring to a brand new Hyper V2 and the Ducati offered exhaust upgrade you may very well find that is homologated for road use. There are a variety of performance/sound enhancing options and not all are designated as race use only.

What part number(s) are you considering?

 

Aurally, I think you will find there is next to no difference between a bike with the road legal Termi end cans and the stock end cans. There may a very slight difference in tone but noise level, ie dB wise, there will be no difference. 99% of the sound deadening occurs in the part referred to as the pre-silencer and which holds the catalytic converter, ie that big lump under the engine. Aesthetics aside you may be better off saving your money.

On EU5 and EU5+ bikes the end can “performance” options from the likes of Termignoni and Akrapovic, if they want them to be homologated for road use across the EU, have to conform to the same noise level emissions tests as the standard OEM end can. If you search across the internet you’ll find numerous instances where owners have recorded their engines running on EU5/5+ bikes with and without the end cans and there’s next to no difference in noise levels.

If you really want to make a change to the sound of the bike and/or the noise level you’ll have to replace the pre-silencer with a de-cat link pipe which will undoubtedly appear soon enough from the likes of Leo-Vince or QD.

However, that brings us back to the original question as that will undoubtedly be stamped Not For Road Use in order the manufacturer doesn’t have to get it homologated.

 

The full Termi decat system I have on my Diavel is significantly louder than stock. Not in any way obnoxious (at least I don't think so..) but definitely louder. There are no markings on it that I can see and no "not for road use".

I was told at the dyno shop where it was remapped that as it's an official Ducati accessory part it is type-approved and homologated and Euro 5 compliant, as is the up-map it came with - which was why it needed a custom map to get the full benefit.
The baffles are removable but it's horribly loud without them.

That is a 2020 bike though. Whether things have tightened up since I don't know (are we on Euro 6 yet?) but apparently it is road legal. I'll find out come May when it's due its MOT..

 

I believe your bike is just on the cusp in as much as although Euro5 emissions regs came into force on 1/1/20 the regs only became mandatory for all new bikes sold from 1/1/21 to give manufacturers chance to clear stock. I think you’ll find yours is EU4.

The other thing that affects this is EU regulations now stipulate that any aftermarket parts sold within the EU have to be homologated for road use or else marked as not for road use or race use only ie they’re not intended for use on a public road.

It may very well be your system got through under older regulations.

 

On the noise front (louder, deeper, etc) I have two bikes with Akras - 2016 & 2022. The 2022 Akra (Pikes Peak) is pointless other than from an aesthetic point of view - and even then it's half-covered by a bland heatshield.
On the other hand the 2016 one sounds really good compared to standard, i.e. don't spend on a modern legal system hoping for a great sound.

 

Ducati needs to take some responsibility, as they know that their customers will be riding their bikes on the roads, with "not for road use" systems. The dealers certainly know. Just because they now make you sign a document to say that you accept the bike is not road legal (if you have a full system fitted), in a court of law, with a decent lawyer, I don't think they'd come off very well, as they know that their customers are riding their bikes on the roads.

You'd think the likes of Akrapovic/ Termi etc would develop a full system that IS road legal, as it won't be long before they see a huge decline in sales, if they haven't already.

I always used to get a full system on any new bike, by default, but can't be bothered with the headache any more. But as soon as they make a road legal full system, I'd get one tomorrow.

 

But they already do, it's the one fitted to your bike when you buy it.

 

If the system is stamped "Not For Road Use" then what do you expect ? Same applies to similar marked race tyres on the road. As the saying goes up North :- Screw the heid Lads !!!!!!!!!!

 

I suspect that’s a bit like the pursuit of ancient alchemists to turn base metals into gold. With ever tightening noise emission regulations the 2 things just can’t work with each other.

Also the annual testing of motorcycles in Europe (and the RoW) is left to each State to determine, some do it very rigorously eg Germany & California, others don’t have any periodic testing as to roadworthiness or conformity at all. Consequently there are plenty of places around the world where exhaust manufacturers can sell their race systems and users can purchase and install with relative impunity.

However, the debate as to whether something not homologated for road use will invalidate any insurance claim is a different discussion.

The decision to install anything not CE marked for road use is a personal choice based upon one’s view of the risk and one’s appetite for such risk.

 

It should be way cheaper to insure a bike with a race exhaust, loud pipes save lives, everyone knows that, right ;-)

 

Completely agree. Unless you ride anywhere near me, in which case you should be jailed for breach of my peace.

 

When looking at new and nearly new bikes last year, the one thing that really stood out for looking awful and making a good looking bike look crap, was the factory catalyst and exhaust, they were rusty on some 2 year old bikes.. its like the manufacturers expect you to install an aftermarket pipe, de-cat system

 

I'm pretty sure the Ducati full systems are CE stamped and don't have "not for road use" stamped on them, as they are the same systems that are used in countries that don't have any issues with them. I've not looked up close at one for a few years, but would be interested to have a look, next time I'm at the dealers.

 

Full systems can’t be road legal as they have no cat fitted.
CE marking is a European standard that has become recognised across the world but to be CE marked it must have a catalytic converter which is why you can have homologated CE marked end cans but not full systems.

 

I don’t know if it helps but I never declare any mods on my bikes.
I’m happy to get standard valuation for them if it comes to being pad out (which I have been twice).