Hi guys!
I can share my two year experience with these cans:
I installed the akra after the first 1000km made in like 8 days, mostly at night or on road trips, so I don't really know how bad the stock exhaust heats, I just assume it's fine.
The akras don't really affect the shock either since mines fortunately came with heatshields and they're not really under the seat. I mean not like 999 under the seat, they're definitely fine.
I guess the issue with them is that since the engine map had to be changed with some "EVO" version provided by Ducati when they were installed, the engine burns more gas or whatever it does to produce that slightly more power and of course it radiates more heat.
Mine was burning more than 500ml of engine oil every thousand km on average. After using 5-6 liters of that Shell Advance they recommend in the user's manual in only 6000 km since the previous oil change, and after having a strong argument with the fellas, in late November I had the engine rebuild on warranty by my local Ducati dealer and after that they switched to using Motul motor oil for most of their customers. It's still too early to say it's fixed but I also don't really have any proof these issues might be related. Perhaps this bike is indeed meant to be ridden from cafe to cafe and I'm abusing it instead.. I just think it's fair to mention it. I plan to do some serious riding next weeks to see how it's performing.
Coming back to the engine remap and heat radiation, even in urban mode you can feel it's more responsive, but the heat from the rear cylinder is almost unbearable in dense traffic to the point that I avoid at all cost riding it at rush hours. It easily gets to 110°C and secondary fan is almost always on. Not really my cup of tea.
In fact after a few horrific experiences in rush hour I just went for my Grom or my Brompton instead of using the SS for my commute. I use it for roadtrips (and of course a little bit for showing off on weekends at cafes).
Once, on what was supposed to be a 1000km ride during one day, thanks to some delays, I kinda ended up riding 300km in 5°C up until 3am (the following day 🙃/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif just to get back home, wearing a casual jacket and jeans. All that heat helped me a bit to keep going so I can't really complain anymore 😅.
I absolutely love the looks of the akra and the sound. I've put the silencers back on though because I cannot stand all the ringing in my ears after each ride in spite of using earplugs. Even that slightly improved engine responsiveness makes enough difference that I'd rather use it only for leisure and track days. I think that's what the bike is designed for anyway.
I admit that perhaps I'm not the brightest crayon in the box to say that given what I've experienced, and I also think that now you might be able to find something just as good and perhaps a lot less expensive than these things. The trouble is that in the end the engine needs a remap and a different air filter if you remove the cat, so you guys need to consider how that remap might fit in your lifestyle.
At the end of the day, I think exhaust systems that are meant for track don't go too well for day to day use, and for sounds and looks only, you can find less intrusive options that may spare you some of the usual Italian bike owner drama. Or go crazy, yolo!
It's all personal this time 😉
