Hi There, I've got a Mivv decat and a SmartMoto plug in valve eliminator on their way for my 2016 Enduro. Any hints & tips on fitting? Assume it's an easy fit and can all be done on the centrestand? Anyone done a walk through photo thread? Thanks Fred
It is easy but you will have to loosen the front header right off at the manifold so the cat can drop out.
The front header nuts are very likely to be stubborn and the studs are made of cheese. If you are not going to use the bike for a few days before you start the job, IMO, it would be a good idea to spray the nuts with penetrating fluid and leave them to soak. I also heated the nuts with a hot air gun when I did mine. Depending on how good you are with a drill, I’d be prepared to have to drill at least 1 stud out if it goes wrong. This is worst case but it does and has happened often. Not sure about the later cats but on my 1st gen Multistrada, one of the bolts securing it had to be accessed by taking a foot rest off. Andy
Been out to the garage this morning and sprayed penetrating fluid on the header nuts etc. Went back after a couple of hours and everything has loosened of nicely.
I had no drama whatsoever getting the exhaust manifold nuts off, however we have no salt on the road here so that may make a diff? The exhaust vlave eliminator goes under the seat, on the rhs where tha flapper solenoid is. Is a bit fiddly to get the plug undone, but patience will see a win!
Ditching the cat but retaining the standard back box is something I have considered. Will the bike run properly or does the ECU need to be adjusted to accommodate the lost cat?
It will run properly but is rather loud if you use the standard end can. even using after market cans doesnt make it much quieter (imo). putting db killers in generally create additional back pressure, and this can upset the bike. My mates 1260 will not rev properly with db killers in. I tried my 1200 enduro with a decat pipe and standard end can. In comparison it is way louder than my 1200 pre-dvt with decat and QD cans, and also my ST4S that had DP carbon cans on it (awesome sound but super loud).
Here are some suggestions. 1. Take the bellypan off the bike (all in one piece, no need to separate the sections). This is essential. 2. Take off the rear wheel. This is not essential, but makes the job easier. 3. Detach the exhaust pipe from the front cylinder head, but leave the rear one in place. The exhaust is held onto the head with three small studs and nuts. Buy three new studs and nuts from a Ducati agent before you start, along with a new exhaust manifold gasket. Undo the old nuts very carefully, they may be seized and there's a risk of snapping off a stud in the head - in which case you have got a big problem! Don't plan on reusing the old ones. 4. Disconnect the exhaust flap valve cable. 5. Remove the springs connecting together all the the various pipes, keeping them back to use again. 6. Undo the bolts attaching the catalyst box to the bike. 7. Take it all to bits. N.B. avoid damaging the lambda sensor wires which connect to the front pipe. 8. Assembly is easier, since the Mivv parts are much lighter. Use CopperSlip or similar between the sliding sections (not ordinary grease). 9. Check that the centre-stand up position is where you want it. Can be adjusted by using thicker or thinner rubber spacers on the abutment.
Decat all fitted along with the exhaust valve eliminator. The bike runs way smoother low down in the revs. The bike is louder. Much much louder. Some will think it's too loud, but for me it sounds perfect. Any louder and I'd have a different opinion.
To add to Petes instructions, enduro specific: I generally remove the front pipe completely, its just easier imo to get it all to line up again, especially if the pipes are a tight fit onto the decat pipe like mine were. Otherwise you might find the decat pipe hits the left side frame casting. In order to do this you might have to unplug the lambda sensor. On the enduro this is tucked up the left side of the front cylinder. If yours is anything like mine it is a pain in the bum to do as it has been fed behind one of the coolant pipes. It is a bit of a game to get apart, but once done it will go out from behind the hose. I also don't replace the studs and nuts, but then I do keep them clean, and also clean the threads with a small copper brush prior to trying to undo them. Having a spare set is worth the expense in case you need them. Fred, for me its marginal as to whether its ok (I love the noise for solo riding). Its certainly too loud for touring on, which is why I took my decat off prior to a trip in the summer.
I actually struggled to disconnect the front header pipe from the cat. It took a while to wiggle off the front header pipe (all nuts & studs were fine, no issues) with the cat attached to it (rear pipe disconnected) Eventually I got the cat off with the front header attached to it, and with a lot of persuasion, got the two disconnected from each other That was the hardest bit I found Also, lining the new pipes up so they all fit perfectly was a bit of a pain
