This write-up can be regarded as an owner's first impressions on a recently installed new-old-stock full 54mm Termignoni titanium exhaust system, along with its pairing ECU. This particular 54mm system, marketed by DP/Termignoni under part code 96419802B, was designed to comply with the race circuit average approved drive-by/ride-by noise limit of 102DB. On my 998S MON (EU deep sump), the full 54mm titanium system replaced a 50/54 carbon half-system (also by DP/Termignoni). With the full 54mm system always being an itch however, a rare (yet as expensive) opportunity presented itself so it was added without a second thought to the Termignoni exhaust inventory/red box line-up (which I expect to thin out in the weeks to come). Low/mid-range loss (and top-end gains): Hands down, the full 54mm system and its pairing ECU (part number 96506801B) bring out the best version of the EU deep sump engine of the 996R/998S/998R (proving to me that the 50/54 half-system offers nothing more than a poor emulation of what a full 54 system is likely to sound whilst offering itself very little in terms of performance, if any at all). No wonder these full systems were, and still are, snatched up in no time whenever listed for sale. There is absolutely no driver-noticeable power loss and/or loss in low/mid-range grunt. The significant top-end gains are very much driver, road as well as tachometer, noticeable throughout the gears. The long(er) gearing is filled up much more aggressively throughout the rev range. Heat (exhaust tubes): The heat generated is substantially more and can be felt at all times (even at very high speeds on the motorway or track). Faced with the odd traffic-light standstill in urban driving conditions, the temperature gauge climbs much faster. The blue, purple and bronze hues that are visible on the lower tubes of the exhaust are created by the reaction of titanium to heat (blue being the reaction on the headers which heat up the most). On the other hand, when the engine is off, all exhaust tubes require less than half the time to cool-off completely (benefit of being made from lightweight thin-wall material). Heat (exhaust sleeves): Compared to the carbon sleeves (which can almost always be touched by hand, irrespective of their age and the running time of the engine) the titanium sleeves can become prohibitively hot to touch at prolonged engine operation. Sound (from 54mm pipes): The sound generated is assertive, much thicker and deeper with the 54mm pipes. There is no real comparison or near acoustic experience with the results delivered by the 50mm or the 50/54 counterparts.
Hi Nick. Thanks for the write up. I am surprised you noticed a considerable difference in heat out put between the two systems. I can’t remember noticing any difference at all. Could it be that you bike is now running a bit lean and could do with re mapping?
Would be interesting to know how hot with these pipes as my 748 with standard pipes can heat up my calf just above the top of my boots even had red burn marks, As above, looks in fine fettle your bike
@bettes thank you for your kind comments on looks. Much work (and pennies) have been put into bringing it back to period correct glory and I definitely have some way to go until the desired result has been achieved. As for the correlation between heat/running lean, it's definitely a consideration worth exploring, as the heat output is indeed substantial at all times. However, with fuel mapping being as the factory intended it to be for this particular system (as the pairing DP ECU is also installed, totally untampered with), what could be the chances of it running lean, if academic?
@Roadtrip thanks vm for your comments. The heat generated by the standard pipes would feel like spring to me compared to what I am experiencing now with the Saharian temperatures generated by the 54mm (despite the right foot peg being pushed by spacers at least 2 cm further away than standard in order to clear the larger link pipe).
