Modern Vespa

We all know the stock exhaust is pants. So based on this what is your pipe of choice and why?

Akrapovic
Scorpion
Remus
Termignoni
......

And there's me perfectly happy with the stock exhaust. Most claims for after-market exhausts are snake-oil, except for the claims of being obnoxiously louder in some cases. How many other exhausts have a decent catalytic converter inside?

I like my Akra, not too noisy and it's a quality system.

It's maintaining the stock exhaust that made me swap, for it to discolour the way it does in just few months is bad.

I would install the Remus RS if I had the money right now. I like the build quality. Pricey but a decent saving of unsprung weight and amazing looks.

This article from an European scooter magazine gives an overview of the different weights among some of the brands (its in German, though weight and dyno curves need no translation):

https://issuu.com/scooter-center.com/docs/auspufftest_vespa_gts_scooter_center_motoretta

I'm a fan of my Remus, snake oil and all. I do believe that Malossi recommends a performance exhaust with the force master 2 if set to the highest performance setting. Regardless I figure if you are going to do it you may as well jump all in.

You left the best one off the list.

I would recommend the Leo Vince. Most power, not to heavy, well made and resonable cost. Mine had no cat and lasted very well. Not to loud with the dB killer and it did make a difference over the previous exhaust.

Yep. Zard.

I gather that's the standard exhaust with a beer can bolted on. Won't win in the looks category.

I think the eye of the beholder comes into play. There is no room on a modern Vespa for underneath exhaust or under seat or, or like there are on bikes so they all end up being variations on a boring old horizontal tube. At least Zard did something different.

GPR Vintology more your style? Still a horizontal tube.

TBH I just think a performance exhaust looks better. Good enough reason for me!

Anyone tried a Termignoni? I just like the logo on the exhaust

Like jimc, I think the factory exhaust looks great and does the job.

I do appreciate those who love modifications. I think it is in their
nature to customize.

Bob Copeland

+1

I have two GTS300s, both equipped with Malossi V4 heads ad cylinders and various other mods. And they both have the standard exhaust on. My Akrapovic exhaust is somewhere in the shed.

But I have painted the heat shield black on my blue scooter, and I think it is a big improvement in looks. The blue one is slightly blacked out - black mirrors and passenger handgrip bar and most chrome lettering removed.

It seems the exhaust issue is "one of those" things here and TBH I see nothing wrong with upgrading the exhaust. SURE it's a bit (lot) of snake oil but to some extent so is a Vespa is it not? It's been said over and over here as well that you can get more scoot for less yet still many own Vespas. I will always have one because I do think Vespa makes for a damn fine scooter that is a great ride.

The biggest selling point of a Vespa when you really get right down to it is styling. Sure it is a damn fine scooter but so are other scooters. To some of us the exhaust is a bit weak on the style factor, personally I am not a fan. I love me a Vespa but the stock exhaust not so much and beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So if you like it good on ya but I see no issue with wanting to swap it, or the saddle, or the mirrors etc.. Obnoxiously loud is also a personal preference and nothing wrong with liking a little noise if that floats your boat . Sure within reason.. That reminds me I need to dig up the baffle for my Remus, don't think my wife wants her/our scooter to be as loud as it currently is.

100% go to the top of the class. That is why most people fit them.

Amen........I admit this type of thread is a bit provocative but it is a Vespa forum so there is going to be some of us here who are into style. The haterz just need to get over that.

Are you suggesting that connecting a motorbike muffler onto a front pipe made for a Vespa is style?

Just asking.

Vespa could have done that in the beginning but they didn't? I wonder why. Maybe cost? If it was more stylish maybe they would have?

Each to their own. But I'm just as guilty because I am looking for a nice sound and something different.

I do actually. I have hated its design ever since I had one on an ET2 and it has not changed. It rusted to crap and it does not look aesthetically pleasing to me. Vespa have made many style changes to a lot of other features on their bikes but done little in this space. It's cool you like the look of it but many of us don't.

Yep... just look at the pic above of my GTV. With the stock exhaust it would look different and I think the black Remus helps with the lines and accents the black saddle, floor rack and leg shield trim.

Piaggio does a great job with the style of the Vespa but I don't always agree with it exactly. For instance I think the Portofino green GTV looks much better with a black saddle and trim. I'm personally no fan of the brown "leather" saddle that the model came with. Some things are manufacturing cost related and some just me disagreeing with someone in Italy on style.

Same here. I like the factory exhaust because it's relatively silent. And to me looks better than any of the aftermarket ones. As far as discoloring... hell, the winter salt rusts mine like crazy so I just pull it off in the spring, clean it up, spray it with black grill paint and I'm in business.

The original finally rusted through after 12 years. Replaced it with a stock muffler from a GTS300 I got on eBay for $60. Like new. And now I have a shiny end on the muffler!

Greetings:

Followed this with interest. Considering the SitoPlus pipe for the ET4, ISO.

Have painted quite a few pipes over the years, with disappointing results, especially right at the headpipe, where it doesn't matter as much on a Vespa, where it doesn't show, but mattered a lot to me when the headers turned white within a few hours on my 1977 Yamaha XS 750 triple.

Found this stuff at an autoparts store that looks like it was run by the Addamms Family here in Deepinnaharta. But stayed jet-black on a high-output 72cc 2stroke running Airport 100 Octane. Anyone else had good luck with other brands?

I use Dupli-color hi temp black.Good for 1093C/2000F temperature and has not turned white like other hi-temp paint. I baked it on at 200C. Since I painted the exhaust and shield I don't seem to mind the stock exhaust. I think the shiny shield does not go with my GTS300's lines.

I put the Malossi on as part of my GTS build for the Scooter Cannonball 2021.
I like the exhaust note & look.

I have a GPR Vintalogy on my 190 kitted Piaggio Fly. I blew out the db killer after about 7K miles, so it's really loud. Nice clean look though.

On my GTS, I have a PM Tuning PM68. I like this exhaust as it is tuned length, comes with it's own header pipe and eliminates the exhaust gasket. I don't think it is too loud and looks good. Helps with midrange acceleration a little bit and was dyno tested to give a slight increase in power.





Last edited by CrazyCarl on Tue, 26 May 2020 20:42:43 +0000; edited 1 time

Here's a review of the Scorpion by Scooter Lab.

https://scooterlab.uk/scorpion-serket-vespa-gts-exhaust-review/

Also been sporting the PM Tuning PM68 - for over 10 years now...Not sure how the packing has held up, its loud.

I'll just say that while I'm happy that so many aftermarket pipes exist for my beloved GTS, I'm cool with the look and sound of the stock pipe. Also, I was able to score a clean OEM pipe taken off a '16 GTS on the 'Bay for <$100, shipped, which allows me to take the original pipe and have it refinished and stored for when the replacement pipe starts looking pretty ratty. Besides, the cost of the better aftermarket pipes would pay for most of a serious suspension upgrade...which, by my lights, would make for a more-profound difference in real-world performance.

our Remus was okay, but would't buy it again , didn't like the sound much





Our Akrapovic is very nice , sounds lovely





our PM68 performs excellent (full system), but is very loud





next one, i would chose the Scorpion, sounds superb ...

Last edited by patje007 on Fri, 29 May 2020 15:05:34 +0000; edited 1 time

Yeah performance shocks are a really great upgrade. The pipe though is to me essential if kitting and adding an aftermarket performance CDI .

Great selection. Yeh, I am also leaning towards the Scorpion.

My stock is dead after 30000 kms. For less than half of its price ordered the remus. Should receive it soon. Hope it's not too noisy. Should be fine according to reviews on this fantastic forum!

My old GT200 has an equilly old LeoVince Road4 pipe on it. Still sounds good but the discoloration detracts from its otherwise good looks. Probably should take it off and paint it with grill paint and leave the end cap at the rear shiny. But right now the 200 has bigger issues. Mike

Don't buy the red one it'll come out orange.

Greetings: You say that like it's a Bad Thing! No the heat shield wasn't painted with VHT, but with Store-bought touch-up from Touch-up Direct. The pipe I DID paint with VHT did come out looking a little Burgundy instead of red.

I like the looks of the Black Widow. However, it too, is a bit loud.

I took some of that high temp paint and made my pipe look much better today. Mike the Aspie

I prefer the look of the stock exhaust, as well.

I'm running the akro on my GTS. Happy with the exhaust note and volume but the end cap is cracking and splitting, not very happy about that when they cost so much. I see you can buy spare end caps, mainly form the US but they cost so much, nearly half the price of the exhaust itself. I think I will either see if I can get an end cap fabricated out of stainless of look out for a new exhaust.

I wouldn't buy another akropovic.