Vrooom! Braaap! Budda-Budda! Riiiing-ding-ding-ding! Whatever sound your motorcycle makes, it represents a significant aspect of the unique relationship that exists between man and machine.
Aftermarket exhausts are becoming a more popular investment as EPA, noise, emissions, and other vehicle standards tone down the magnificent sounds we used to hear stock from our motorcycles. I challenge you to locate more than a handful of TeamZilla’s motorcycles that haven’t had their exhaust systems slipped-on or swapped out.
If you’re seeking for a quality solution to this problem, you’ve definitely come across both Leo Vince and Akrapovic and aren’t sure which one to go with. If you haven’t heard of these hard core brands, you should. They provide a significant amount of research and development to the science of exhaust systems.
We’ll start with a quick overview of exhausts before diving into the fundamental distinctions between these manufacturers. Check out our Motorcycle Exhaust 101 Class for a more in-depth explanation.
Aftermarket exhausts are available in a slip-on system that is designed to function with the stock air intake and fuel mapping while replacing only the stock muffler(s). Full exhaust systems featuring a less weight header pipe, a mid pipe that eliminates the factory catalytic converter, and a less restrictive muffler are also available from exhaust manufacturers. These systems are normally confined to off-road and track use exclusively. A full system exhaust, unlike slip-on exhausts, is designed to be utilized with an aftermarket, adjustable fuel controller and, as a result of the increased exhaust flow out of the engine, will require a different fuel map to work correctly.
OPINION: In my experience, a slip-on exhaust works perfectly without any fuel mapping changes, however the engine might run lean and backfire on the overrun at high revs. A slip-on does not require a fuel controller, although it can assist smooth out the power and torque curves.
Leo Vince has been there for far longer, dating back to 1954, according to their pedigree. Their goods can be found on a wide range of motorcycles, and they compete in motorcycle racing in the WSBK, MotoGP, and other divisions. LeoVince is a branch of Sito Gruppo Industriale, Europe’s leading powersports exhaust maker. Through relationships with teams at the highest level of racing, Leo Vince develops new exhaust designs and fuel mapping on racetracks all around the world. Leo Vince has had a lot of success in the dirt, and their X3 off-road exhausts are frequently seen flying first across the finish line.
Akrapovic, on the other hand, has only been in existence since 1990, but it has already amassed a slew of championship titles. Akrapovic won a total of 75 world championships in automotive and motorcycle racing categories in 2012. Indeed, their rapid rise can be attributed to their early success with manufacturers like as Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki, Ducati, and Honda.
Igor Akrapovic, a Slovenian motorcycle racer, founded Akrapovic. Mr. Akrapovic was fed up with so-called performance exhaust systems that failed to achieve the results he desired. He began developing premium-quality exhausts that were bike-specific and fit better than anything else on the market at the time as an expert motorcycle tuner. Akrapovic exhausts quickly made their mark on the racetrack, winning on a global scale. In 1997, Akrapovic won their first World Superbike Championship race, and in 2000, they won their first World Superbike Championship title. Akrapovic began cooperating with MotoGP teams in 2002, and by 2004, they had expanded into the car racing business, including Formula 1 and Endurance Racing.
Akrapovic has continued to grow and currently produces exhausts for dirt bikes, custom choppers, Harley-Davidsons, scooters, and automobiles. Akrapovi exhaust systems are among the best high-performance systems on the market, and their performance has been proven in scores of independent tests conducted by motorcycle magazines across the world.
Both Akrapovic and Leo Vince, in my opinion, take racing quite seriously. Both have won numerous motorbike titles, both on and off the road. Akrapovic’s skill has been transferred to the automobile sector, with Audi winning the LeMans 24 Hours.
The Leo Vince exhaust family is straightforward; there are three exhausts that are either a slip-on or a full system, as well as two exhausts that are merely a slip-on. The Leo Vince exhaust family is led by the SBK Factory and Factory R. The Factory R is available for a limited number of bikes and is tailored to beef up the power curve, enhancing power where the basic setup falls short. The SBK Factory R system was developed in collaboration with factory World Superbike teams. For select bikes, the Factory and Factory R systems are offered in a Corsa version with a full titanium construction.
The LV-One exhaust is a basic slip-on or full-system exhaust, whereas the GP Pro and GP Style are only available as slip-ons. Underbody exhausts are also available from Leo Vince for select bikes that come standard with underbody exhaust systems. The Underbody exhaust could be a slip-on or a full system, depending on the application. All Leo Vince exhausts come with a replaceable EVO II sound insert and are labeled with the letters EVO II after the product name.
OPINION: Both Akrapovic and Leo Vince create excellent exhausts. The Akrapovic exhausts, on the other hand, are potentially worthy of a show at MoMA. Do you have any doubts? Take a peek at the Ducati Panigale’s Evolution exhaust.
Akrapovic is even more straightforward when it comes to exhaust installation. Slip-on, Racing, and Evolution are the three types of Akrapovic exhausts. The Slip-on series is an aftermarket muffler that replaces the factory silencer and fits over the stock mid pipe. Because of the low cost of entrance and ease of installation, this is the most convenient option to purchase an aftermarket exhaust. Slip-on exhausts from Akrapovic are available in Titanium or Carbon Fiber.
The Racing Line is the next step up from a Slip-on. The headers and mid pipe are made of stainless steel, as is the rest of the exhaust system. When paired with a fuel controller or ECU remapping, this dramatically reduces the weight of the exhaust compared to the factory system and unleashes additional power. Each Racing exhaust is built to be bike-specific in order to provide the optimum exhaust flow and sound. Each Akrapovic whole system exhaust comes with either a Titanium or Carbon Fiber muffler.
The Evolution Line is Akrapovic’s top-selling product. This is Akrapovic’s flagship exhaust, and it’s identical to the Racing line in every way save the materials utilized. The Evolution exhausts, like the Leo Vince Corsa systems, are fully constructed of Titanium, with a choice of Titanium or Carbon Fiber for the muffler. When it comes to ultra low weight, these titanium exhaust systems are the be all and end all.
OPINION: You can tell a firm cares about their product when they go out of their way to make it appear beautiful, even though it will be hidden the majority of the time. When it comes to super-premium exhausts, I vote for Akrapovic.
Purchasing an aftermarket exhaust system can be thrilling, but also frustrating and intimidating. The most important thing to remember is to take your time and conduct thorough research. Take a look at the exhaust options for your motorcycle. Consider any other modifications that may be required, such as a fuel controller in conjunction with a full system exhaust. Also, look for photographs and audio clips of an exhaust placed on your bike!
Although both Akrapovic and Leo Vince are outstanding choices, the final decision will be based on personal preference. Although I appreciate the aesthetics of Akrapovic exhausts, I still prefer the sound of the Leo Vince. Although the new Akrapovic titanium silencers with the laser-etched Akrapovic logo are stunning, I can’t get enough of the deep growl I receive from my bike’s Leo Vince pipes.
In This Article...
Is LeoVince a decent exhaust manufacturer?
Leo Vince is a true “made-to-measure” exhaust company. All phases of production are covered by the facilities, which combine cutting-edge technology with a high level of craftsmanship provided by specialized craftsmen.
As a result, you get an incredibly dependable and high-quality product. LeoVince creates high-quality items in small batches for competition users and the more discerning enthusiast.
The Leo Vince range includes both race cans and systems as well as road-legal end cans and systems with full EEC approval.
The LeoVince SBK full systems are the result of international competition experience and laboratory study using the most advanced tools.
The finished object is a product of the finest quality currently available on the market, thanks to the materials and manufacturing procedures used, as well as the finish and levels of performance. The prices are still fairly competitive when compared to the quality of the products.
Where do the exhausts from LeoVince come from?
Our R&D section is housed in a 1,500 square meter building in Monticello D’Alba (CN), Italy. Our team of highly specialized professionals designs, develops, tests, and homologates all LeoVince exhaust systems and silencers here.
What is the best exhaust for?
The Most Effective Exhaust System
- Exhaust system by MagnaFlow.
- American Thunder Exhaust System from Flowmaster.
- Exhaust System with a Heartthrob.
- Borla Exhaust System is an exhaust system designed by Borla.
- Exhaust system by MBRP.
- Exhaust system for the Corsa.
- Monza Exhaust System from PaceSetter.
- JBA Exhaust System for High Performance.
What is the best Yoshimura exhaust?
An aftermarket exhaust system is one of the first enhancements installed on any motorbike, regardless of the make or model.
Motorcycles come equipped with an exhaust system that is designed to comply with varied noise and pollution standards around the world. As a result, most new motorcycles come equipped with large, silent mufflers and powerful catalytic converters. Aftermarket exhausts, such as those from Leo Vince and Yoshimura, are significantly less restrictive, resulting in increased noise and reduced weight.
Yoshimura Exhausts and Leo Vince Exhausts are two of the most well-known aftermarket exhaust companies in the world. Both firms develop their products on the racetrack and apply what they’ve learnt there to their consumer offerings. With Suzuki, Yoshimura has dominated AMA Superbike racing and the World Endurance Championship, while Leo Vince has worked with a number of factory World Superbike Championship and MotoGP teams.
Hideo Yoshimura, an airplane mechanic during WWII who created a name for himself by working on servicemen’s motorcycles, founded Yoshimura in Japan in 1954. Yoshimura immediately established a reputation for creating strength by repurposing and altering existing parts to meet the needs of the job. The next stage for Yoshimura was to get into racing, which they did in 1976 in the AMA Superbike series. Yoshimura and Suzuki began a romance in 1978 that has lasted to this day. Yoshimura also competes in endurance motorcycle racing, winning the 2013 FIM World Endurance Championship last year.
OPINION: Leo Vince and Yoshimura are both serious racers. I’d be hard pressed to find a race series where LeoVince or Yoshimura don’t have a presence, whether on or off the track.
In a great bit of continuity, Pietro Mollo started Leo Vince in 1954 when he founded Sito Gruppo, the parent firm. Company expansion forced a shift from Turin, Italy to their current location in Monticello d’Alba within a few years. Leo Vince’s next step, like Yoshimura’s, was to go racing. Through relationships with teams at the highest level of racing, Leo Vince develops new exhaust designs and fuel mapping on racetracks all around the world.
Yoshimura uses Tig welded stainless steel for the header pipe and mid pipe for their full system exhausts in terms of manufacture. Depending on the model, the mufflers might be polished stainless steel, titanium, or carbon fiber.
Leo Vince, like Yoshimura, employs Tig welded stainless steel for the header pipes and mid pipe. For some SBK Factory full system exhaust applications that utilise a full titanium structure all the way through the interior of the muffler, Leo Vince offers the CORSA alternative. The SBK Factory and LV One lines of LeoVince mufflers are made of carbon fiber or titanium, while the LV One line is made of stainless steel or carbon fiber.
OPINION: In terms of quality, Leo Vince has the greatest packaging of any exhaust manufacturer I’ve encountered. Each part is separately wrapped and sealed to ensure that it does not shift during shipping. It may sound ridiculous, but I respect a corporation that cares about how its product is delivered to the customer.
Low-volume inserts are available for both Yoshimura and Leo Vince’s slip-on and full-system exhausts to reduce the dBA rating. Yoshimura stands apart from the competition in more ways than one when it comes to EPA Noise compliance exhaust systems. Yoshimura has created a series of slip-on exhaust systems that provide the weight savings of an aftermarket muffler while remaining quiet enough to pass inspection. Because certain motorcycles will be too loud to pass EPA Noise complaints even with conventional low volume inserts, this range was created for them.
OPINION: I applaud Yoshimura’s approach to EPA compliance with these systems. Some riders want the weight savings of an aftermarket slip-on but don’t want to sound like racers or fail inspection.
The Leo Vince exhaust line up is quite straightforward; there are three lines that are either a slip-on or full system exhaust, as well as two exhausts that are merely a slip-on. The SBK Factory and Factory R are the LeoVince’s flagship models. The Factory R is available for a limited number of bikes and is tailored to beef up the power curve, enhancing power where the basic setup falls short. The SBK Factory R system was developed in collaboration with factory World Superbike teams. For some bikes, the Factory and Factory R systems are available in a Corsa version that uses full titanium construction, which Yoshimura does not sell.
The LV-One exhaust is a basic slip-on or full-system exhaust, whereas the GP Pro and GP Style are only available as slip-ons. Underbody exhausts are also available from Leo Vince for select bikes that come standard with underbody exhaust systems. The Underbody exhaust could be a slip-on or a full system, depending on the application. All Leo Vince exhausts come with a replaceable EVO II sound insert and are labeled with the letters EVO II after the product name.
Yoshimura’s exhaust line is a little more difficult to comprehend because the exhaust lines differ based on the bike model, and not every exhaust line will be accessible for your bike.
Please refer to the chart for a more complete analysis to keep things as easy as possible.
The R-77 and R-55 are Yoshimura’s top-of-the-line exhaust systems. A straight baffle and a low volume insert are included with the R-77 and R-55. The R-77 can have a stainless steel, titanium, or carbon fiber muffler, while the R-55 only has a stainless steel muffler. The R-77D is Yoshimura’s top exhaust, but it’s only available for a limited number of applications. It comes from the Yoshimura Suzuki road racing bikes and features a twin outlet tip for increased exhaust flow. There are no baffles or sound inserts.
The TRC and TRI are Yoshimura’s mid-level exhaust lines, with no direct competition from Leo Vince. The TRC comes with a baffle and sound insert, and a TRC-D exhaust with a dual outlet and no baffles or sound inserts is available, just like the R-77. The TRI is only available as a complete system for a few applications.
The TRS and RS-3 are Yoshimura’s entry-level exhausts that would most closely compete with the LeoVince LV-One. The TRS is essentially a TRC with a cone end cap removed. A baffle, a low volume insert, and no cone end cap are included with the RS-3. Yoshimura also offers two undertail exhaust options: the TRC Undertail with dual mufflers and the RS-5 with a single muffler. The TRC Undertail shares are similar to the TRC, whereas the RS-5 shares are similar to the RS-3.
OPINION: I appreciate Leo Vince’s line up since it is simple to traverse, and I know that an SBK Factory exhaust for one bike is comparable to another. Yoshimura will very certainly have a product for either bike I choose, however it may be an R-77 for one and a TRC for the other.
All of this technical information regarding fit, construction, and quality is useful, but for most riders, style and sound are the most essential aspects to consider when purchasing an exhaust. Why would someone put a bad-looking exhaust on their bike and spoil its appearance? What’s the point of spending a few hundred dollars if the sound it produces is worse than factory exhaust?
OPINION: On my bike, I prefer the sound of Leo Vince to Yoshimura. The Leo pipe has a lower frequency and a deeper bass, whilst the Yoshimura pipe has a higher pitch. Personally, I dislike polished mufflers, therefore the fact that the Leo pipe has a “brushed matte appearance” rather than a shining finish was a huge selling factor for me.
Purchasing an aftermarket exhaust can be both exciting and challenging. The most important thing to remember is to take your time and conduct thorough research. Take a look at the exhaust options for your motorcycle. Consider any other modifications that may be required, such as a fuel controller in conjunction with a full system exhaust.
Yoshimura and Leo Vince are both good candidates, and the final decision will be based on personal preference. Hopefully, this information will help with the research process by highlighting some of the distinctions between these products.
Most essential, try to locate images of an exhaust system placed on your bike, as well as audio samples of the sound!
Are LeoVince exhausts legal on city streets?
California law prohibits the use of any aftermarket exhaust part or system that changes, removes, or replaces original equipment catalysts unless the California Air Resources Board has issued an Executive Order or the part or system is exempted by being used only on closed-course racing vehicles. No representation is made by Belgrove Sp. z o.o. or any of its subsidiaries that any of their parts or systems have received such an Executive Order or that any of their components or systems comply with the racing cars exemption. The customers are solely responsible for becoming aware of and complying with all applicable California laws.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: EMISSIONS AND NOISE REGULATIONS
NOTE: Except on closed-course racing vehicles, the California Air Resources Board (“CARB”) and/or the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) do not allow the use of aftermarket emissions-related part(s) that alter the performance of OEM emissions-related devices unless CARB has issued an Executive Order. Check your local regulations as well as the information provided by the manufacturer. www.arb.ca.gov/ has more information about California emissions.
NOTE: Aftermarket products that alter, modify, or replace emission control devices or systems of an originally compliant highway motorcycle, such as exhausts, catalytic converters, oxygen sensors, fuel/air controller modules, air filter kits, camshafts, O2 eliminators, and carburetors and jet kits, are not legal for sale or street use in California unless they have been issued a CARB Executive Order. Aftermarket emissions-related products that have not received an Executive Order or that are not aftermarket Replacement Parts, as specified in Title 13, California Code of Regulations, Section 1900(b)(2), are only allowed to be used in closed circuit races. Use of the products pictured on public roads or lands may be a violation of municipal, state, and/or federal laws, as they were developed, manufactured, intended, and sold for closed circuit race use only. To find out what is legal to put on your car, consult the manufacturer’s literature as well as state and local legislation.
This website uses the following emissions-related specified terminology (PARTS WITH THE FOLLOWING DESIGNATIONS ARE NOT ILLEGAL FOR SALE IN CALIFORNIA UNDER CARB REGULATIONS):
- The term “CARB E.O.” refers to the Executive Order issued by CARB. CARB’s Executive Order exempts the sale of a part number for the make/model/year fitment(s) listed in the Executive Order from CA Vehicle Codes 27156 and 38391.
- Any aftermarket part intended to replace an original equipment emissions-related part that is functionally similar to the original equipment part in all areas that affect emissions (including durability), or a consolidated part, is referred to as a “Replacement Part.”
- Any aftermarket part intended to replace an original equipment emissions-related part that is functionally identical to the original equipment part in all respects that affect emissions (including durability), or a consolidated part that has been evaluated and declared by the manufacturer to meet this definition and carry this categorization and designation label. This manufacturer has stated in writing that it has documentation indicating that the replacement part does not reduce the effectiveness of any required emission control device and that the modified vehicle/engine/equipment does not exceed applicable emissions standards for the make/model/year fitment(s) advertised.
NOTE: The products displayed may or may not comply with federal, state, or municipal emission and/or noise restrictions.