Motorcycle exhaust

Fitting a new motorcycle exhaust is one of the changes you notice most: the bike sounds different from the first start-up, the rear end changes its look and the bike sheds weight. Here you will find exhausts from MIVV, IXIL, IXRACE, Termignoni and Ironhead, each made for a specific model and range of years, from a 125 or a scooter to a superbike, an adventure bike or a cruiser. Before you think about brand or finish, two decisions shape everything else: which part of the exhaust you are replacing, and whether you want to ride on the road with it.

Slip-on or full system

Most of what you will see are slip-on silencers, also called mufflers or end cans: they replace only the final section and join the stock header, sometimes with a link pipe. It is the simplest swap, can be done at home with ordinary tools and lets you put the bike back to standard whenever you like.

A full system also replaces the headers, from the cylinder head to the outlet. It saves more weight and changes the character of the engine more, but fitting takes longer and, to get the best from it on a modern fuel-injected bike, the ECU often needs remapping. IXRACE makes MK2 full systems for bikes such as the MT-07, MT-09, Z650, CB650R or Trident 660; on some Yamahas they keep the catalyst, and those with «Race» in the name are designed for track use.

Road-legal or race: what you can ride on the street

• A road-legal exhaust carries a stamped E-mark with its approval number and is specific to a model, range of years and version. On Euro 5 bikes it also meets that standard's noise and emissions limits.
• A race, or non-approved, exhaust is for track use: it is louder and will not pass a roadworthiness test.
• The dB killer, or baffle, is part of the approval. Take it out and the silencer no longer complies, even with the marking.
• The catalyst usually sits in the header or a mid-pipe, and a slip-on leaves it in place; on some bikes it is inside the stock silencer, and the replacement must carry its own. Decat pipes that swap it for a straight tube are for track use only.

In Spain, a silencer approved for your model does not need to go through the modification process: at the ITV inspection they check the marking and take a stationary noise reading. Other countries have their own checks, such as the MOT or TÜV. Each exhaust's product page shows whether it is road-legal and for which version.

Sound, weight and performance: what to expect

An approved silencer sounds deeper and fuller than stock, especially at idle and in the mid-range, but without the volume of a race can: a straight-through open pipe is not legal on the road. It weighs considerably less than the original, which tends to be bulky in order to meet noise rules. Power barely changes with a slip-on; real gains come from a full system with a matching ECU map. Finishes include stainless steel, black, carbon and titanium: the last two save the most weight, and black blends in on dark bikes.

The brands and their ranges

MIVV

The Italian brand has the most part numbers here. For nakeds and sports bikes, the standouts are the compact, race-inspired MIVV GP Pro, plus the Delta Race, MK3 and Suono; the MIVV Oval is the broadest range, covering bikes from the late nineties to current models. For adventure bikes there are the Speed Edge and Dakar; for custom and neo-retro, the HR-1; and for scooters, the Urban and Mover. Every range is on the MIVV exhausts page.

IXIL and IXRACE

IXIL reaches many bikes other brands leave out, from 125s to big adventure bikes, including makes such as CFMOTO, Voge or Zontes. Its best-selling ranges are the stainless RC and the black IXIL RB, joined by the twin-outlet L3XB, the MXT and Rally for adventure bikes and the SOVE, which spans nineties bikes through to current adventure models. For custom bikes it has a brand of its own, Ironhead, with exhausts for Harley-Davidson, Indian, Triumph Bonneville or Royal Enfield 650. IXRACE focuses on short, race-style silencers: IXRACE MK2 silencers come in stainless, black (MK2B) and carbon (MK2C), and it is the range with full systems.

Termignoni

The Italian maker, tied to Ducati in racing for decades, offers Conical, GP2R and GP Classic silencers for nakeds such as the Z 900, S 1000 R or Leoncino; the Relevance for a wide spread of nakeds and sports bikes; the Scream for the Forza 750 and X-ADV; and parts for the Panigale, Multistrada or R 1300 GS. Many come in titanium. You will find them all under Termignoni.

Final checks

• Your exact bike: the part number changes with the bike's generation, its emissions standard and its power output. Each product page lists the compatible bikes.
• What surrounds the exhaust: belly pans, short tail tidies, side cases and their racks may need a specific version or may no longer fit.
• The sound you are after: listen to recordings of the same range on your bike, as the character varies a lot between a twin and a four-cylinder.
• If you are torn between two part numbers, or between a slip-on and a full system, ask us on the chat before ordering.