My F1B left the factory with the 2-1 Verlicchi exhaust option, which is to me the best looking and sounding exhaust ever fitted to a Bologna v-twin. Sadly, after years of use the baffle has come loose, and while I am going to try to have it repaired, the procedure will take time and is not one which will be obviously successful.

I'm curious what cannister options are out there for 2-1 systems like this. Are there any period appropriate parts that are readily available?

If you were in my shoes, what would you do? Stripping, surgically cutting in to, replacing the old baffle and welding everything back together and then getting the part black chromed again is not impossible but it will require a lot of work by appropriately skilled craftsmen. It could take a very long time and I'd like to not have her dry docked for the duration.

Ciao!
-tj in los gatos

I'll bet Ian Gowanloch (italspares) still has some CONTI black chrome F1 mufflers left. They are nice replacements for the stock Silentium one or the Verlicchi; baffled, straight thru, and a bit shorter than either. It will bolt right on. They put them on eBay every now and then. MikeV

My F1A had a "reservato competizione" megaphone which was too loud in my view.

So, when I prepared my bike to participate in track days on a race track where the maximum sound level autorized is 95 db, I followed Steve Monroe advice and purchased from him a new complete exhaust system made in stainless steel.

The exhaust pipes are slightly wider than the original ones (something like 1 7/8 in instead of 1 3/4 in). Steve could jump into this thread to give his input concerning the width of the pipes.

With this system installed, my bike is a little less loud and I am very happy with it. Contact Steve for more details.

Gilles Lachance

I don't know what the Verlicchi unit looks like, so I would like to see a picture of it

My 1985 F1 has the OEM Conti exhaust below. It is available from Ian Gowanloch italspares@gmail.com at a pretty reasonable price I recall.

Anyhow, if you want to keep your bike looking and being "original" then the OEM Conti will fill that requirement.

Else, if you are looking for some extra performance then the recommendation below has had positive feedback on this forum.

As for the cannister options, I have never seen one on an F1. I am wondering now when this fashion began... possibly with the game changing 1985 GSXR750?

If I were in your shoes I would get the OEM exhaust while it is still available - it will add value to your bike one day.

Cheers,
MikeA

Thanks all for the advice, information and suggestions. I'm under the impression that there were a number of inconsistencies regarding the parts that F1s left the factory with. I've seen some with 2-2 systems, some with 2-1 Contis, and other's with 2-1 Verlicchi. I could be incorrect but I'm not sure that it's accurate to describe an F1 with a Verlicchi exhaust as "not OEM." As for the full system offered, I'm quite happy with the performance of my F1 as it is, and have even "downgraded" things like brake calipers, and the brake master cylinder in an aim to get it back to "as original." I have no illusions about finding another Verlicchi canister so I'm happy to consider a Conti if I can find one. I have emailed Ian and await his reply to see if he has one. I also noticed this http://www.ebay.com/itm/SCARICO-EXHAUST ... 98&vxp=mtr but I'm not 100% it will fit. I've seen differences in Pantah based Ducatis before and am not really sure I'm ready to risk this amount of money on an international transaction.

I'll make a photo of my Verlicchi system and post it shortly.

Ciao!
-tj in los gatos

Different world markets require different solutions (noise, emissions, changing fashions etc) for exhaust systems, thus different OEM manufacturers - Verlicchi, Conti, Silentium are known to supply them for Ducati. So, I would not be so bold as to say that the Verlicchi is not OEM.

A check of the Spare Parts book is not a definitive way to confirm the situation because the part number listed will be for say the original 1985 Conti exhaust that at some later stage could be superceded to the part number of the Silentium which could be superseded to part number of the Verlicchi which may finally be superseded to a new Conti system.

This sequence is generally only reflected in the monthly update of the Price List not in the Part book... At least that is the way it works with Honda and GM.

Cheers,
MikeA

Fair enough...let me be more accurate in my language. I'm not sure it's accurate to say that "no F1 ever left the factory with an Verlicchi exhuast." When it comes down to it, no one knows, except the dealer that took delivery of the bike, and removed it from the crate. The Italians, and Ducati in particular during this period, have always been famous for installing whichever parts they had available in order to get motorcycles built. One of the Ducati books I own (can't remember which) speaks of F1s leaving the factory in various levels of trim depending on a number of variables, including the market in to which it was being sold. Even North America's own DOT rules and regulations were either unclear or unobserved by both the authorities as well as the then small, struggling to stay alive Ducati which was delivering very low numbers of motorcycles.

I'm willing to accept that it's perhaps unlikely that my F1 left the factory with the Verlicchi canister, but Ian Gowanloch says that if it did, it would not have a compliance plate on it. Now, I don't recall seeing a compliance plate on the machine, and I don't know what it looks like, but that also does not mean the Verlicchi canister was on the bike in Bologna, because it too could have been removed.

Regardless, I'm open to any exhaust canister that will hold me until I can repair the Verlicchi part.

Ciao!
-tj in los gatos

Here is a Silentium (cannister style) exhaust... I would be prepared to bet that this one did leave Bologna fitted to a brand new 1986 Laguna Seca and the 1987 Santamonica. A very rare animal this one - only fitted to around 400 bikes.

I am itching to see what your Verlicchi cannister looks like.




And here is another Silentium exhaust stamped DUCATI for an F1

Here's a scan of a piece of F1 literature illustrating a different exhaust (I believe this is a Conti). This theoretically came out a bit later than mine as the logo is after the early (two line DUCATI) but has the Cagiva elephant. Mine is the new font without the elephant.

The additional photos are of my exhaust.

Ciao!
-tj in los gatos

Correct, that is the Conti Exhaust as fitted standard on all year model (1985 - 1987) tricolor (red/white/green) F1 and F3 bikes.

The 1985 model has the Giugiaro design font (two line DUCATI. Giugiaro designed the 1975 860 Ducati and the font). 1986 has the Cagiva style font with the elephant and late 1986 and 87 bikes, same font but without the elephant. So this dates your bike as a later model. Did I understand you correctly?

Let's see a picture of your bike to be sure.

You have a Montjuich exhaust (Verlicchi competition exhaust) This shape/style of exhaust is most commonly described as a "reverse cone megaphone" (when you said cannister I was thinking something more like GSXR 750 exhaust) or the Santamonica below with the aluminium cover at the end). This is a competition exhaust and is factory (OEM) aftermarket. (though it is standard fitment on the race track ready Montjuich only)

This Verlicchi competition exhaust was introduced to the market in 1986 with the Montjuich. Mainly because of the noisy exhaust, the Montjuich was not street legal for any market. Hence Ian G. saying that your bike would not have a compliance plate (as Montjuichs do not) if the exhaust was fitted at the factory.

The pics below are of the Verlicchi exhaust fitted to my Montjuich. Does your exhaust have the non-compliance stamping in it? If not, it will be a non-genuine replica of the Montjuich exhaust. (or, there is less to verify that it is a genuine Ducati part)

Note: As Gilles describes below, the stamping can be in Italian as well as English.