For anyone wanting to install one of these Akrapovic Evolution systems on your bike, a few installation tricks I wish they had included in the manual would have saved a lot of time and aggravation. First off the parts fit on the bike was near perfect but the installation must follow a specific sequence or you run into trouble with clearance issues getting to the springs and exhaust flange nuts. The exhaust flange stub pipes bolt on to the cylinder head studs with stock nuts and then the headers slip onto the stubs and are retained by strong springs. Make sure you follow the manual here and torque the flange nuts before slipping the headers on. Once the headers are on, there is no way to get a torque wrench on there for the inboard ones as I found out. For the inboards, #2 and #3 I had to use a dog leg 12mm to tighten with. This was time consuming as you could only get about 1/8 turn each time and left my nuckles bloodied and some dents in the backside of the radiator. All this is avoidable by torquing the nuts before slipping the header tubes on. Slip the two inboard headers, #2 and #3 in place first and stretch the inboard spings into place first on each of them. You need to use a good spring puller for this as they are stout. I used my Yoshimura spring puller and the handle snapped off after about three springs....aaargh! Next attach the two outboard springs on #2 and 3, then slip on #1 and #4 headers, the outboard ones and again do the inboard and then outboard springs. I initially installed all the header tubes and could not reach the inboard springs on #2 and #3 and had to take it all back apart. What a hassle! The collector slipped onto the header tubes perfectly using the supplied ceramic grease and the midpipe link and end can fit on easily as well. I attached the springs to each and then lightly wiggled as the spring tension pulled them in and seated them against the inner collars with a nice click...beautiful. These pipes are a work of art, you have to see the welds to appreciate them. The bike screams now, this is the way it should have run from the factory, I'd say I'm within a few HP of a BMW S1000RR now on the topend with way more low and midrange. Midrange hit is stronger than my CBR 1000RR now and above 6000 rpm will run away. The CBR still has an advantage on the low end up to about 5000 rpm. Topend wise I think this thing will outpull even my ZX-14. I can't wait to get the TRE, PCIII and Ivan's magic mappng on there, maybe Friday morning. Should smooth things out considerably, especialy down low but I doubt if it will add any more power.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 6/28/2010 @ 2:00 PM *

Looks very nice. I also prefer without the belly fairing that was on there.

Looks very nice. I also prefer without the belly fairing that was on there.

2ND

The bike screams now, this is the way it should have run from the factory

The weight loss must have been noticed immediately.

I'd say I'm within a few HP of a BMW S1000RR now on the topend with way more low and midrange.

When you compare power to weight ratio with the BMW where does this beauty of yours now stand ? Not to mention thousands less.

From everything I'm seeing and hearing, the U.S. spec version Beemer lays down about 14-15 bhp more than a ZX-10R stock for stock with a slight low and midrange advantage to the ZX-10R. Akra claims approximately 12 to 13 BHP over stock with the Evolution which should put me right up there with the Beemer. The big news though is in the midrange where the increase in power is just as great as on the topend and where you can really use it. I should be able to kill the Beemer where it really counts, on corner exits.

Yea, I agree about the belly pan, it weighed almost a pound and I thought it looked stupid on there and covered up all those cool welds and oxide bands. I don't know if you can see it very clearly in the pics but the titanium headers and midpipe turned a beautiful shade of blue, almost a violet.

Interestingly, I really didn't notice the substantial weight loss. The designers nowadays are all onto the benefits of mass centralization and they can hide the effects of weight by careful location near the roll center of the machine.

That's why you always hear the Aprilia RSV-4 handles like a 600 even though it weighs almost 470 lbs, factory version a few pounds lighter.

I noticed the same effect when getting off my new 6R and climbing on a CBR 600. On paper the CBR has an almost 10 pound weight advantage but the high underseat pipe messes with the CG. The 6R feels way lighter despite the numbers saying different.

Opinions, better with or without the midpipe heatshield? I'm in favor of without.

I vote better with. Mid-pipe looks a little messy... -bg

I think I was reacting to the black exhaust. That looks much better than stock. Now that I see it side by side with that green, I am favoring the look of WITH the belly pan. Completes the profile shape nicely + those brackets left on there have no purpose with the belly off. You will still be able to see the blued part of the pipe with the belly pan on. That oblique view without the belly pan you have up a few posts looks really cool, however.

I've debated the same issue with my 14 and decided to leave it on. It really makes the bike look nicer.

Yea, I wasn't crazy about those heat shield brackets exposed like that but it looks so "race" without the shield, especially as the whole midpipe is turning that dark shade of blue as it gets more miles on it. I'll try putting the shield back on there tonight and see how it looks.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 6/30/2010 @ 2:27 PM *

Sorry but I'm going to have to pull rank on you guys. That black pipe cover does not look as good as the exposed pipe, I'm pulling it back off. I think it is the angle I shot that picture at that is throwing you off. I got off in the distance down low and shot up at the bike so you can see the pipe bracketry pretty clearly. When you just walk up to the bike, you normally don't see it from that perspective.

Decisions, decisions. It does look sleeker and smaller without the belly. The dif is small as far as overall appeal goes.

I too toyed with the shield on then off. Off Won. What about powder coat Black ?

I am just kidding (saying this ahead of time) but I cannot resist :

You have way too much money to spend !

You have way too much money to spend !

My bank manager said for 72 EASY Payments I Could Have What Ever I Wanted. Love That Guy,,,,te he.

Romans, it is finished....finally. The ground cable back to the battery did the trick, bike fired right up. I had trouble with the Power Commander utility though, couldn't establish a connection between the laptop and the PCIII. I kept getting the 'no map loaded" message but the bike was running fine. Finally after uninstalling the PCIII program completely then reloading I was able to get communication with the Power Commander. I set throttle points, they were off on the low end and took it out for a 30 mile ride. Typical Ivan stuff, glassy smooth from idle to topend and pulls your arms out of the socket. Full report coming later.

My bank manager said for 72 EASY Payments I Could Have What Ever I Wanted. Love That Guy,,,,te he.

I owe, I owe, so off to work I go.......

I too toyed with the shield on then off. Off Won.

No question about it, I have to see those gorgeous Akrapovic welds, it's a crime to cover it up. I can live with the heatshield brackets...to be honest I don't really notice them.

it is finished.

Can I borrow, will be right back lol.

You would love this machine now Romans, it is everything I was hoping for and then some. It may be able to kick butt on my 14 and that one is a beast! BTW, went to the mailbox last night and surprise, surpise, an unexpected windfall. The IRS sent me a refund check for $1317.26, apparently I had made an error on my return in their favor and they caught it. When was the last time something like that happened and they told you about it..LOL! Anyway, praise the Good Lord for his provision, time to stimulate the global economy so I'm looking at an Akra this morning for the ZX-6R. I'm seriously considering the Akra Slipon this time though, I'm tired of Power Commander and full system installations and set up/mapping hassles. Now that it's all over, I'm glad I did the 10 but this time I might just keep it simple. I don't think I 'll need a remap if I do just the slipon without the optional Cat replacement link pipe. If I have to have a PCIII anyway, I'll just do the Akra full Race system, stainless this time to save some bucks. BTW I love the way the titanium is bluing, that blue to violet fade on the midpipe is surreal.

Dyno curve below is for a 2009 ZX-6r with Akrapovic slipon exhuast without sound reducing insert. Gains everywhere but nothing big.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 7/8/2010 @ 8:14 AM *

If you're not going to go with a full system on the 6, i would try to pick up a used slipon for cheap. Anything to drop some weight and give you a little better sound without throwing away too much doe. If it were my bike, I'm sure I would be putting the full system of my choice on it within a year.

* Last updated by: Rook on 7/8/2010 @ 9:08 AM *

Looks like you would get only a 2 hp increase with slipon.

This looks like a 9 hp gain with the full system. You will notice that. Still that is not a huge gain. I suppose the smaller engine yields a little smaller gains with mods.

* Last updated by: Rook on 7/8/2010 @ 9:24 AM *

The Akra Race and Evo full systems create a nice hole in the torque curve at about 4000 rpm on the 6R but beyond 5000 it looks like it will scream, nice power gains everywhere. I just got through with this on my 10 and was hoping to avoid the full system/PCIII hassles. I just checked on 58 Cycle's website and the Race is $1128.95, Evo is about $2000. The Akra slipon at More Power Racing is $587 with about a 30 minute install versus a whole day at least for a full system with PCIII. Yes, the Race or Evo would be nice but do I really need the power increase, afterall it's a 600, the real attraction here is light weight and flickability? If I want more power any of the other bikes give me plenty of adrenaline rush. Just thinking out loud here Rook. I'm tickled to death with the 10 now but if you'd asked me Friday when it quit running out in the parking lot and I had to take everything back to stock you would have gotten a different answer...LOL! BTW, I'll be up there in a little over two weeks, Saturday the 24th, looking forward to hanging out with you for a few hours and talking shop.

The Akra for the ZX-6R is on it's way, just ordered it.

ZX-6R. I'm seriously considering the Akra Slipon this time though,

You wouldn't would you ?

If you do, there is a rush of power from 11 to 16 that will be missed. The graph does not do it justice. Weeee

The Akra for the ZX-6R is on it's way, just ordered it.

Full pipe ?

e Akra Race and Evo full systems create a nice hole in the torque curve at about 4000 rpm

The full system graph shows a pretty sharp decrease from stock between 3.5-5 K rpm. I can see why you might not care to lose to much off the very bottom for a street bike that makes lower hp. Still, I'm sure that 1.5 K rpm is gone in a fraction of a second when you hit it and then you have a lot more power throughout.

BTW, I'll be up there in a little over two weeks, Saturday the 24th, looking forward to hanging out with you for a few hours and talking shop.

Yeah, cool! I have the kiddies that Fri, Sat & Sun but I'm sure their Mom will be glad to have them visit for a while. I'll have the all stock busa rolling by then (Can't believe how lazy I have been with getting her on the road)if you care to take it for a spin.

--HEY!? you're the expert on installing exhausts, piggybacks and maps. Maybe you could just mod the whole bike for me real quick.

* Last updated by: Rook on 7/8/2010 @ 6:05 PM *

Too late Romans, the slip-on is on it's way. If I decide I just can't live without the EVO full system later down the road I'll pick one up. I never really bought this bike for the power, more for the light weight and handling so the slip should be fine. BTW now that the 10R is a raging beast, do I really need another one in the garage? LOL!

Rook, sorry pal, you're on your own...... I'm done with full systems, Power Commanders, throttle points and map installs for awhile. After doing four bikes, I believe I've seen just about everything that could go wrong go wrong...kinda that old Murphy's Law thing.I'm going to take a vacation after I get the Akra on the 6R.

Definitely looking forward to seeing your bikes when I get to Milwaukee. Heck just throw all that stuff on the Busa when you get home this evening, shouldn't take more than about 45 minutes.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 7/9/2010 @ 6:51 AM *