• DIY Installing your Leo Vince slip-on

    So now that we are finally getting the Tuono V4 here in the USA I am guessing the next few months are going to see a HUGE spike in the sale of Tuono V4 pipes from all manufacturers. This is a simple DIY thread about how to install you r own pipe in only a few minutes at home. Most of you probably need no guide but for those who are on the fence about whether or not this is something the average Joe/Jane can pull off at home hopefully this will help you decide. The first step is to get the bike secure, either on it's sidestand, a rear stand or a workbench. Most of the job is VERY straightforward but at least on the last two pipes I installed there was no real "manual" so I thought this might be of interest.

    I do not have pics from installation of the Akro/Aprilia/Arrow/Austin/GPR/etc just yet but as you guys get those pipes add pics to this thread so if there are differences in the install process they can be seen by all. Basically what I am getting at is that this install series I am writing today covers ONLY the Leo Vince pipe for SURE, it probably also covers other pipes however.

    Step one: Visualize your bike with a pipe...mmm, is it black? Carbon might be a good styling choice right? We shall use that color bike for this example but I will post pics of both the Ti pipe equipped yellow one I did this week and the black with CF pipe I also did on Saturday. To help you visualize we shall start with a couple of sample pics...

    This is the yellow Tuono V4 with the Ti Leo Vince pipe:



    This is the black Tuono V4 with the same pipe but in Carbon Fiber.



    Both are obviously good looking and anything you do to make this motor sound better nets HUGE gains in aural pleasure!

    When you open the box that arrives from Leo Vince this is what you will find inside:



    Once you remove all the packaging this is what you will find from that same box:



    There are some optional parts included by Leo Vince which include a carbon pipe hangar if you decide to ditch your passenger pegs or are using this in a track-only application. Pictured is the hangar and the hardware associated with it which will be left-over if you are using your stock passenger footrests to hand the new pipe from!




    These are all the tools you will need to complete the job:



    The stock muffler is held onto the chassis and headers by a combination of two bolts and a compression fitting the joins the stock muffler to the stock collector set, it has a 10mm hex drive screw that forces the clamp closed or when loosened allows you to move the muffler away from the header after the other bolts are removed, this is the first item you are looking for:



    A 10mm socket on a long extension is how I like to get at this one, notice the orientation of this bolt, as you will want the same orientation for the new compression fitting on the aftermarket pipe:



    The next bolt to go after is a 6mm Allen head bolt that is basically hidden from view if you are on the pipe side of the bike. It is very short and only screws into a rubber damper on the stock exhaust bracket. Remove it now, simple enough!

    [imghttp://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=187085&d=1332710280[/img]

    Plenty of room to get at it, no worries there and it is easy to see from the opposite side fo the bike if your head is low enough:



    Now, onwards to the obvious bolt, this is the last one to remove. Your 6mm Allen driver and a 13mm box end wrench will come in very handy at this stage. Once this bolt is removed with the compression fitting at the header already loosened the pipe will be free to slide off, it may require a little more effort than expected or may not...I was working with brand new bikes both times so the assumption is that with age and mile racking up they will be a little harder to remove:



    This is the simple removal process:



    This is one area where I am not sure if all aftermarket pipes are the same. The bracket that joined the chassis to the exhaust can be removed when installing the LV pipe. I see no reason to keep it on the bike as after removing the stock pipe it no longer performs a function other than adding a small amount of ballast to the machine:



    Now gently grasp the stock pipe and wiggle and twist and whatnot to get it moving off the stock collector pipe. It is not nearly as heavy as I expected. Just be very careful during this portion of the job to make sure you do not scratch up your new toy! Here I am removing the pipe:



    The bike now looks like this:



    I like to reuse the stock bolt that was used by Aprilia for the top pipe mount to fill in the hole left when removed, added ballast yes, but so stylin' for a fancy washer....



    Now...you get to finally install a part, the link pipe. Just slip it over and make sure there is only enough tension on the 5mm Allen bolt that tensions the slip joint to keep it basically in place:



    Wondering what in the hell this part is as you unpacked your goodies we shipped you? Wonder no more, it will make perfect sense in only seconds!



    Well Aprilia was nice enough to leave pre threaded 8mm holes in the back side of the passengers footrests, before you add anything it looks like this:



    That bracket has a home! At this point you need to install that little bit of alloy and the short 6mm Allen (8x1.25mm thread) bolt that came with your exhaust kit:



    Slide the silencer strap over the silencer and look closely at how the rubberized edges fit, only one way is right and it will be pretty obvious, there are no marks however to confirm you have it right. This is also the point where you will start to see the reasons all those little alloy bits and that long 6mm bolts were included in your exhaust kit. Just loosely fit the strap and pipe at this point:



    This next picture shows the correct stacking order as best I can tell for the assemblage of smaller bits....





    Now you can start tightening stuff down and pulling the springs into place. Make sure the link pipe is fully seated and the silencer is fully seated onto the link pipe. once the silencer is tightened to the bracket you can go back and tighten the top clamp on the link pipe where it joins the stock collector set.




    You are so close to done now you can feel it...BUT WAIT...there is one more very important step if you want it to look good for years to come, or at least not have bodily oils baked into your new metal goods! Break out a good polishing rag and a nice paper towel, i prefer paper but it does not really matter and hose it down with WD40...yes, I mean it, do it!



    Now use that rag/towel to clean EVERYTHING you touched with your hands that will be at 700-900 degrees in a few minutes! It gives the metal a nice finish as the oil cooks into it, and removes all your fingerprints before massively cooking them!



    Now, go ride the damn thing! If you have updated mapping and leave the db killer in place the bike compensates pretty well and sounds killer but not a LOT louder than stock, If you remove the db killer it gets WAY louder than stock under load! This is what you have to look forward to once mounted in a visual sense. I am done for today...been at this photo edit since 9am with over 900 pics spread between 4 memory cards from the last week, time for a killer dinner! I earned it this week!

    This article was originally published in forum thread: DIY Installing your slip on (Leo Vince used for this example) started by Micah / AF1 Racing View original post
    Comments 63 Comments
    1. Hyper's Avatar
      Hyper -
      Quote Originally Posted by stinky View Post
      Micah if you've got some of those unnecessary hangers lying around I'd be happy to take one off your hands for my Akra slip-on. I can't find a hanger in stock anywhere on the planet right now, carbon, aluminum, Akra, or otherwise, and the passenger footpegs come off my bikes the first evening of ownership.

      Nice write-up, btw. Will come in handy on Friday when my pipe goes on.
      Not the original akra but better than nothing

      http://www.bay.it/itm/APRILIA-RSV4-S...ht_2182wt_1156
    1. stinky's Avatar
      stinky -
      I got:

      Not Found

      The requested URL /itm/APRILIA-RSV4-STAFFA-SCARICO-IN-ACCIAIO-RSV-4-EXHAUST-BRACKET-/180806328080 was not found on this server.
    1. Hyper's Avatar
      Hyper -
      Put an E before bay
      I think is some sort of automated filter
    1. stinky's Avatar
      stinky -
      How did I miss that? Thanks, now I'm just waiting on an invoice that includes shipping so I can pay.
    1. RobertyBob's Avatar
      RobertyBob -
      Just installed a Devil Master carbon exhaust. I really wanted an Austin Racing can but stumbled on this on ebay brand new for £260 delivered. So not bad for a decent brand carbon can. The exhaust is e-marked with a removable baffle and has an optional CAT insert that sits between the silencer and link pipe. Installation was a bitch. Everything was going smoothly until I had to install the strap on the silencer that attaches to a bracket with two screws. In the end after shedding blood I had to use a d clamp to press both sides of the strap together at the top. Instructions on this thread were great. So thankyou!
    1. kingvolcano's Avatar
      kingvolcano -
      How is the sound?
    1. Bossy's Avatar
      Bossy -
      Looking thought this spread it appears that most are saying its a must to move to the race map if fitting an end can. My local ap dealer says no need its ok with end can only on standard map....actually spoke to someone with the Austin pipe on standard map and he was saying it felt great with no issues.....but are they actually running weak??
    1. Bermo supermoto's Avatar
      Bermo supermoto -
      the consensus of opinion on other bike forums that members put after market cans on is that bikes tend to run lean even though exhaust companies insist that no remap is needed
    1. Bossy's Avatar
      Bossy -
      Quote Originally Posted by Bermo supermoto View Post
      the consensus of opinion on other bike forums that members put after market cans on is that bikes tend to run lean even though exhaust companies insist that no remap is needed
      Yes. Had a good look through other sites and even a quote from Ap states that the Akro can if installed with DB killer and cat is ok on standard map, any other then race map required.

      Sent email to Austin racing and they still insist no mapping required....they are at the NEC show so going to have another word with them.

      Spending another £600 on a race map is a little OTT, even though those that have done it really rate the change as a must..

      Do like the GPR cans has anyone on here fitted them. The twin stubby ones.
    1. stinky's Avatar
      stinky -
      Exhaust manufacturers want to sell you their cans & pipes. They also don't have to replace your motor if it grenades some day from running lean.

      Just some food for thought.
    1. Micke65's Avatar
      Micke65 -
      Quote Originally Posted by stinky View Post
      Exhaust manufacturers want to sell you their cans & pipes. They also don't have to replace your motor if it grenades some day from running lean.

      Just some food for thought.
      Yes . But i doubt that akropovic ,Leovince , Austin and all the others just claim that no mapping is needed without any knowhow about it .

      Their credibelity would not benefit if they just made stuff like that up .
    1. stinky's Avatar
      stinky -
      IIRC, Akra does claim that remapping is necessary unless you're using the catted midpipe and db killer.

      Edit note: Oops, my bad, it's AF1's recommendation I'm referring to:

      In the event of usage on circuits closed to public traffic, we strongly recommend using the racing ECU in combination with an exhaust system with no catalytic converter or dBkiller. When using exhaust systems without catalytic converter but with the dB-killer installed (such as when riding on circuits with noise restrictions), using the racing ECU is still recommended.
    1. Vehicle 1's Avatar
      Vehicle 1 -
      This thread makes me drool... I'm going to get a new pipe sometime soon, so far I'm torn between:

      -AR Carbon (best looks, but I'm afraid it might be too loud)
      -Akro Carbon (love it, but it might be a little too long, seems like best quallity)
      -LeoVince Carbon (Seems like a good in-between option as far as looks/quallity)

      Just thinking "out loud" here....

      Do any of you guys have the Carbon LeoVince on the yellow tuono? do you have pics? I've only seen the titanium pipe on yellow T's so far...
    1. craigo298er's Avatar
      craigo298er -
      Just bought the Leo Vince titanium slip-on. Price was right, Lv dealer right down the road cut me a deal since he is trying to get some product/business in (he is the Moped Medic, but does some motorcycle service too).
    1. RobertyBob's Avatar
      RobertyBob -
      Good choice, I like the look of the Leo Vince. Post up some photos when its on. I was happy with the Devil exhaust I posted pics of above, then "accidentally" bought myself an Austin GP2 at the NEC bike show, which is really what I wanted.

      Now I've won an official Aprilia Akrapovic Evo system off Ebay USA for less than the price of a slip on... Didnt think I would win for the bid I put in, doh! Bargain but credit card now full. Also I'm sure UK customs will be sending me a nice letter before Christmas demanded import duties etc. Not sure I've seen anyone post about the full system on here yet. So will take some photos of how it fits.
    1. kingvolcano's Avatar
      kingvolcano -
      I honestly like the looks of the stock muffler system, it's a beautiful design. I'd like to have the same design with a just a better muffler.
    1. jedtn's Avatar
      jedtn -
      I might be crazy, I like stock pipe but I want race ecu, with a better breathing filter could a person do this or would I need pc?
    1. RoteEddie's Avatar
      RoteEddie -
      Wrong thread.........
    1. standrewscross's Avatar
      standrewscross -
      Anyone fitted the arrow (dark series?) any comments or pictures. Seems similar size to the akra.
    1. r1thrasher's Avatar
      r1thrasher -
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      i like it, running without db killer on race map.....awesome sound.....