Akrapovic Exhaust Story:
The Akrapovic exhaust system company was founded in 1990, based on Akrapovic
exhaust systems experience gained in the
field of motorcycle tuning by Igor Akrapovic. His knowledge comes from his own
personal experiences and observations, as he himself often tested the results of
his work as a motorcycle racer on the track. He capped a successful ten-year
career with numerous championship titles in the F1 and SBK classes on both the
national and international levels. His ceaseless desire to create and
exceptional feeling for four-stroke motors, especially racing motors, has made
the Akrapovic name famous throughout the world.
In the search for perfection in tuning racing motorcycles, Akrapovic was
confronted with an insurmountable problem. There simply were no high-quality
exhaust systems available to the public which could meet extreme technical
demands. The systems which were available were for the most part poorly made,
with the main parts usually welded together, and usually with excessively thick
pipe walls. It was considered a success if the system at least came close to
fitting onto the bike for which it was intended. Technically superior exhaust
systems were astronomically expensive and difficult for the average customer to
obtain. For Akrapovic, whose perfectionism is well-known, there was no choice.
Akrapovic had to go into the field of manufacturing exhaust
systems himself.
Akrapovic's innovative ideas began to take concrete form. He established new
concepts in exhaust system construction: new configurations, new tube diameters
and materials. He began to expand the use of crossover tubes and conical
headers. High-quality stainless steel completely replaced the ordinary
thick-walled steel tubing, and exotic titanium and carbon-fiber also made their
appearance.
The first, and by modern standards quite simple pipe bending tool was soon
replaced by a large modern pipe bending machine with optional computer control.
The 450 m2 workshop quickly became too small to contain the growing needs of the
company, which was experiencing a meteoric rise.
Exceptionally high standards and investment in development led to excellent
results. The development and testing department was able to obtain its own dyno
bench very early on. The positive feedback from the racetracks was continuously
evident in our own measurements of our exhaust systems.
This got the attention of most of the teams competing on the Pro Superbike
circuit. This was at the time a very high ranking class, just below the
Superbike World Championship. In 1993 the firm Kawasaki Deutschland responded to
an invitation to test our exhaust systems. After testing a model which had not
been developed for that particular bike, but assisted by the exceptional talent
of Mr. Akrapovic, it was clear that our system was better than the factory
system. This was a huge breakthrough and the beginning of major cooperation with
numerous teams in the Pro Superbike championship (KAWASAKI, YAMAHA, SUZUKI,
DUCATI, HONDA), in which we enjoyed a string of wins and championship titles in
the ensuing years.
In 1997 Akrapovic Exhausts began to use titanium extensively. Akrapovic
purchased a unique titanium forming machine, still the only one of its type in
the world, in order to produce titanium tubing in Akrapovic's own factory. This
allows Akrapovic exceptional freedom in constructing tubes, precise quality
control over welding and independence from unreliable suppliers.
Akrapovic exhaust system technology has finally managed to make Akrapovic
titanium exhaust systems available
to everybody, and not just the great racetrack virtuosos.
Akrapovic Exhausts have constantly upgraded our production and invested the
largest amount of funds into modernizing our machines and educating our
workforce. Computers have long been our constant companions in the 3-D planning
of configurations, programming of tools, computer-aided manufacture, and as an
indispensable accessory in the testing department for the analysis and setting
of all possible parameters.
After Akrapovic Exhausts successes in Pro Superbike, the Superbike World
Championship was not far away. The Kawasaki factory team enthusiastically
followed the results achieved by the German Kawasaki team in the Pro Superbike
series. After thorough testing, they became the first factory team on the World
Superbike circuit to use our exhaust systems. Based on our excellent results,
other teams were to follow: first Yamaha, a year later Suzuki and finally Honda.
In the 1999 season every single Japanese team in the Superbike World
Championship used AKRAPOVIC exhaust systems.
Akrapovic Exhausts reputation spread, and interest in our exhaust systems also
arose in the 600 Supersport World Championship. Huge growth and demand for fast
and major developments were at first difficult to accommodate. The spatial
restrictions of our 450 m2 workshop accelerated our need for expansion. In the
same year we moved into what then seemed a luxurious factory with a floor space
of 3000 m2.
At that time the company was still being marketed under the Skorpion brand name,
and the majority of its exhaust systems were distributed through a central
warehouse in Germany. In moving to our new factory, we also moved the warehouse
to the seat of the company in Slovenia, and at that time decided to change the
brand name.
A trendy name which was no different from those of many other exhaust systems no
longer suited our purposes and did not suit the product which it stood for.
Another problem was its similarity to other registered trademarks around the
world. We decided to replace the Skorpion name, which was already well-known
among enthusiasts, with something completely unique, as befit the product. The
logical answer was to use the name of the founder of the company, Igor Akrapovic.
The unique and somewhat exotic brand name, which characterizes the product, was
well-received among the public. Although at the time we were not completely sure
that our decision was correct, today we know it was an excellent move.
The Akrapovic trademark (pronounced "A-krap'-o-vich") experienced a huge surge
onto world markets. Akrapovic exhaust systems are starting to be used by
everyone who understands the importance of using top-quality components in
extreme race conditions. Our entry into the SBK World Championship was followed
by victories in important national championships: the American AMA Superbike and
the Japanese All Japan Superbike Championship. In the year 2000 our exhaust
systems were also used by the Aprilia factory team.
Our quick entry into the most prestigious class in four-stroke motorcycle racing
motivated and encouraged us towards even more intensive development, and gave us
invaluable feedback which we added to our store of experience.
In less than a decade our small workshop-style company has risen to worldwide
prominence on the basis of resounding successes.
Akrapovic's first victory in an individual SBK race was won in 1997 by Japanese
Akira Yanagawa on a Kawasaki. Our first SBK world championship title was taken
in 2000 by Colin Edwards on his Castrol Honda SP-01, and in the same year we
became champions in the 600 SS class with Yamaha and Joerg Teuchert.
The MotoGP project deserves special mention:
The 2002 season was a breakthrough year for the top class of motorcycle racing.
The introduction and dominance of the four-strokes demanded new ways of thinking
and a changed approach to the development and design of racing components.
The changes also had a positive effect at Akrapovic, since we produce exhaust
systems exclusively for four-stroke machines. Our wealth of experience and
knowledge was a great advantage which we put to good use in the newly reformed
MotoGP class, as we entered the MotoGP project as the official supplier of
exhaust systems to the Aprilia and Kawasaki teams.
Our small workshop, which started with just six employees, has achieved major
success, managing to propel itself to the very top of motorcycle exhaust systems
manufacturing through the application of its own knowledge and capabilities.
Today on total surface area of over 7000 m2 we employ over 170 highly qualified
and motivated people from various educational backgrounds. All of us are aware
that we produce exhaust systems for customers who simply do not accept mistakes
– the most demanding racing teams and riders from around the world.