hi stew, thanks for the reply. i took the clamps off as there was slight cracks in the cans. there was also clamps where the pipes connect under the bike which i removed, i'm not sure if it is the original link pipes (by link pipes i was thinking the pipes that go from the can to under the bike) the steel seems the same color as the akrapovic can inlet...

i hope i have done the right thing! :S

have riden it a few times since and all seems ok