Hi there again, my Akrapovic cans show homologation certificate but to an earlier build of XT660X (2008 I think) but I have a 2011, does this mean mine aren't legal?
Also, I've been reading here unless I've got it wrong, that aftermarket cans don't have cat converters installed, does this mean that my cans will now fail MOT (with or without the baffles in)? Surely the emissions will fail the test without the cats in, or have I got my knickers in a twist?
I'd appreciate sensible replies, despite the fact that I'm never taking the Akro's off as I want people to 'see' me with their ears before they see me with their eyes (I've been knocked off too many times, well once, but that's too many in my book)

I'm sure the clever people will correct me.....

The Acrapovic does have a Cat in it. I'm pretty sure it's the lump below the Silencer with the small heat shield.

The MOT for a bike isn't based on emissions like a Car, so doesn't test the Cat anyway.

Very few(because no one buys e'm) are road legal period because of the noise Akra's are no different the only way your ever going to get involved with emissions is if the bike is smoking badly.

As for a cat in them or any other Akra that's a new one on me!!!,I run e'm on my XT and on another bike having a cat on an Akra is not their style,and with some logical thought defeats the object of buying one in the first place,so yea Knickers in a twist is correct!!!.

The trick with the MOT in the UK is a simple one get to know the folk who MOT the bike,turn up as a total stranger YOU could be the man from the Ministry and will treated accordingly!!!

Thanks for your sensible replies, I like the bit about having a friendly MOT station, although they often are garages and will want some other work like servicing to get to know me,(I use an enthusiast mate to do my servicing).
Interesting about the cat, because, firstly, on mine there's no bulge and heat shield, but as I say, there's this cert for models up to 2008, and they were sold as 'road legal'.
It must be that, as you say, they don't test emissions so it ain't a problem.
I also have a Harley sportster that I bought the Akrapovic slip ons for, and they DO have a bulge and a heat shield, and they DO have the homologation certificate up to date, so if I'm stopped in France, Germany or Spain, there's nothing the old bill can do.
I'm not likely to go abroad on my XT luckily, love it as I do, I wouldn't make it even if the bike did, having done Spain recently two-up on the Harley, I think once is all I could take.

You last part of the post gives the game away the thought of European police being remotely interested in your pipe being legal is funny they won't give a monkeys,the major issue in Europe particularly France and Spain is the speed limit and double white lines,in the last 3/4 years both countries have had a major clamp down on speeding.

The result being things are changing rapidly and maybe we'll all be travelling Europe on an XT!!,your comment on 'Doing' Spain was a hoot we've been on a bike including last couple of weeks must be 30 times at least(to Spain and France) and we are a long way from doing Spain there's a lot to see.

Re the MOT,I have a bit to do with the bike trade,the average punter never ceases to amaze me,the guy doing your MOT needs to know you,the risk of letting something go with a total stranger is way to risky the man from the ministry will jump on you(MOT tester) like a ton of bricks even though the test has some major loop hole's like there's no minimum thickness for disc wear!!!!!,and if you read the certificate it's only legal when tested,when your around the corner it's null and void,hence why if they know you things like small numbers and pipes can be let go,turn up as total stranger expecting favours it ain't going to happen.

Re pipes with 4 bikes on the go,I dread to think how many after market pipes I've been through the best by a mile are Akra's won't stop me trying others though!!.

Waynovetten, ta for your informed input. As you may guess, being a Harley owner, I see a lot on their forums about noise abroad. Understandably, this mostly because the average Harley owner will Stage 1 his bike and have open exhausts.
These are normally bloody loud and may attract the attention of an already annoyed copper abroad, having said that, they do concur that generally they'll leave you alone as long as you don't give them cause to stop you.
This apparently, does not apply to german police who allegedly are not so biker-friendly, I can't comment on that, not having ridden there.
The reason I came by the Akrapovic exhausts, is because I wanted a bit more sound from my bike without the raucus noise and insurance hikes of a stage 1 conversion, this the Akras gave me and I was able to fit them myself, so although they cost me �850 to buy, I probably saved over a thousand from the other route, plus thay are road legal anyway.
It was not a large leap of faith then, to buy them for the XT, but I was a little disappointed in how quiet they are with the db killers in, and can only seriously be run without them, this, by the way, is not the case on the sportster as they are just as loud with them in or out and have left the baffles in on it as it makes a deeper note.

To address your other points, you're quite right about knowing your mechanic/MOT shop, and I will endeavour to pass some work his way in order to get to know him and he me.
On a performance note though, if anyone's reading this about the Akras, I will say that they definitely add something to the midband without a doubt.
At fifty MPH, I could just about sustain fifth gear with the stocks in, and even then I'd have to accelerate slowly to move on up in speed.
Now, that has dropped to forty two, and it is more sustainable in each gear throughout the range.
I used to complain that this bike didn't like being in the wrong gear, but I'd be more reticent to level that accusation at it now I've got the Akras on.
Re-speeding in France, having just been there I can definitely say they're getting cheeky.
The black and yellow stripes around the fixed radars are gradually being removed, and they've moved over a lot more to the tall thin type of radar.
The warning signs are also being removed (pour votre securite...) and I have it on good authority that this year they're sending fines and licence points over to england for our speeding infractions.
Anyone care to comment on that?

Well the bit about having fines and points sent over to the UK I guess the first time I heard that's was early seventies and every year since,if I had a pound for every camera I've set off I'd be worth a few bob and I've heard absolutely nothing(Holland/Belgium/France/Germany/Spain) it's very simple speeding fines are about making money and chasing folk across Europe for 60 quid doesn't make financial sense.

That's the good bit,the bad part I know for a fact the Swiss will chase you up hill and down dale for a speeding fine and the longer it takes them to catch up with you the larger the bill,they chased a guy I know with a European arrest warrant through two countries before they finally made him pay �3000,and I also know of another close friend who this year was at the Jerez GP in a rental car and set a camera off and they are still chasing him now.

Well guys here is my 2 penny worth, I have lived in Roma for 20 years and I often use my UK plate bikes here in Italy as well as in France and Spain. As far as the Italian police are concerned:

1. They are super keen on your documents. Here you should ALWAYS have your driving licence with you as well as a passport (dont forget that ID cards here must be carried at all times). You also must have the original of your bike's log book and insurance, I always travel with colour photocopies.

2. Mods like small number plates as well as tail tidies which allow the number plate to be angled upwards to avoid the speeding cameras are VERY likely to attract fines.

3. If you are stopped and fined you are obliged to pay the fine in cash, otherwise they can keep your bike!!!

Re the fines, as far as I know there is an agreement whereby if the country has a border with the country where the bike is registered (so in this case France and Switzerland and Austria) then they will send you the fine. If like the UK there is no border then they don't bother, I have never had a fine by post here.

Good luck!!!

__________________
(Now sold on, sob) 2011 Blue XT660X with gold wheels, was 26,500 km.
Engine mods: K&N Stage 1 filter, DNA Stage 2 filter, snorkel removed, Kev fuel mod fitted.
Plus: smoked Puig screen, Yam aluminium sump guard, Yamaha / Acerbis handguards, Givi Trekker aluminium side cases, Leo Vince X3 cans plus Kev front fork mod and Fender Xtender. Just fitted Michelin Road Pilot 3 tyres.

SOLD the XTX for a Super Ten 1200. And just bought a Raptor 700 so staying on here for some tips....

Well can only speak as you find but having travelled down to both Misano and Mugello many times the last time being last year,if you look on my list of speeding I didn't mention Italy on the motorways it's just as it's always been complete anarchy!!! the guy with fastest bike or car gets to the front,where 100mph will hardly get you into the outside lane and if you don't like being tailed gated at 100+ wet or dry don't go there,one of the great or should that be bad biking experiences is the motorway from either Milan or Turin to Modena where it's survival of the fittest,rules?? there ain't any.