Modern Vespa

Hi guys, I recently had this installed but having trouble figuring out if the noise level is what i should expect or is it a little noisy.

It sounds louder (motorbike loud) than the original OEM exhaust but more worryingly i have started to notice vibration from the foot rest of the bike as i accelerate and the exhaust gets louder.

Is this norma? The dealer who carried out my MOT did not think it was a problem but wonder if i should get them to give it a good look over.

The dealer that fitted......im not gonna go there. They said they knew how to install but then i had to show them a youtube installation clip of how it should be done.

Any advice would be welcomed

I have both on my MP3/250 and GTS/300 and love the Sound !
"Loud Pipes, Save Lives" !

Keith,
Marietta, GA

I have some experience in that arena.

The 4Road eventually "wears out". The packing goes then the baffle will start rattling itself to bits then eventually... eject itself. Example:

On I-80 in Utah past Park City, I noticed a loud "KABLAM!" noise then pulled over on the highway to find this:

...for that straight pipe sound.... by oz_lang, on Flickr

I kinda wandered around the road for a while... saw:

this is supposed to be on the inside. by oz_lang, on Flickr

Rode the bike quite a while longer (370+ miles) with a MIND NUMBINGLY LOUD exhaust blaring in my ear. When I finally reached my destination, I saw:

DSC_1296.jpg by oz_lang, on Flickr

So basically, this is a consumable. Expect it to die after a while, even though the fucker is $400 or whatever.

the collar of my LV came adrift from the header pipe recently and it sounded (and felt) like an apache helicopter. properly installed, it should purr - you don't get the BLAAAAARP sound like you do from a PM pipe.

in your case, the pipe may not be correctly seated at the header - that's the first thing I'd check. if it's been installed recently, and is a new pipe, it's not likely to have shat out its guts just yet. if the person who installed it didn't tension it properly, then you may have snapped a header bolt, which is always fun to fix, or cracked the header pipe.

if any of the above has happened, then you'll be able to feel the exhaust gases escaping. try waving your hand around under the header while the bike is running - if you feel hot air blowing on it, then something isn't right.

You lie, it's horrible to fix

Judging from what I've read on MV, aftermarket hi-performance exhaust systems for the Vespa are (a) expensive, and (b) delicate, fussy and prone to self-destruct in a relatively short period of time. Are there any that are reasonably priced, rugged, long-lived, and produce better performance along with a pleasing sound?

Well if it's for the GTS it has to be the Akrapovic, it's pure class well built and sounds just right....Then again being that it's an Akrapovic should we expect anything less.

the LV is actually cheaper than a replacement OEM exhaust and i wouldn't call them fussy - they just need to be installed properly. My experience with the LV is that it's lasted much longer than the OEM pipe and is much easier to maintain. And on lower displacement bikes, they last a good long time - mine's going on four years now, with nothing more serious than a loose exhaust collar (which cost £25 to weld). it's only the GTS250 and above that seem to cook them in a couple of years.

I'm adding a Supertrapp to my MP3 in the next week or so... My experience with Supertrapp mufflers has been outstanding the past, but it's been mainly automotive applications. But they're amazingly well built, adjustable, affordable, and effective. I'll be VERY surprised if it doesn't hold up to my scoot!

Thanks for the detailed advice Genie, its due a winter service so may take it to the same dealer who carried out the MOT or if you know of any that has experience of these exhaust to check it out for me.

Im not an under the bonnet man, if thats the correct term so would prefer its looked at and adjusted by someone with more brain cells than me but i will do the basics you suggested.

I do tend to get a whiff of exhaust fumes while riding which im sure isnt right.

I forgot to mention its a GTV 125 Navy. It was the most affordable one i could go for after having to spend out on new tyres, and a suspension repair prior to getting exhaust fitted

just snapped a few pics and from what i can gather the top end does seem to be making contact with another bolt that might be the cause of vibration i am experiencing.

There seems to be quite a shake/rattle in stationary position

Them pics dont look right, no exhaust should be resting or rubbing against a bolt of some sort, my guess is that the pipe aint been fitted right...?

Might be an idea to take it off and start again and see what you get, i am guessing the vibration is where the exhaust it rubbing-sitting against that bolt?

You might just be right. The guys fitting were stubborn. I asked if they had fitted one before they said yes then spent 15 minutes looking at the instruction manual and got annoyed when i was telling him how it should be done based on a youtbe link i grabbed from another discussion thread.

Between him and his mechanic they eventually conceded and watch the video on an ipad i had ready for them, something told me not to go back to them but when a dealer is close sometimes its just easier.

Im annoyed and def wont be going back there ever again. I wont name and shame but I reside in wembley

Well after a frustrating few weeks and the noise getting louder and louder with air blowing out from under my scoot rather than the exhaust, I ventured to Scooter World in Chiswick where a helpful team took one look at the pipe and knew exactly what the dealer at Scooter City Wembley didn't do.

It was an extremely loose fit into the header pipe as there was no graphite collar fitted Exhaust graphite collar

Done in 10 minutes and now sounds and rides wonderfully. At what point do service dealers who obviously don't know what they are doing manage to remain in business?

I took a video of when the pipe was loose and how it was resting on another bolt to show the mechanic how crap he is