Could anyone share their personal experience with the CRC (Arrow) performance exhaust upgrade? I'm hesitant to mess with my stock setup as the power delivery is so seamless, but my desire for a little more (low and mid-range) oomph is overwhelming. Is the system street legal? Is it the same unit being used on the 2001 SPR? Are the cans silver colored instead of black as I've been told? I have lots of faith in the skills of my mechanic so issues involving setup (CO levels, etc.) aren't a problem for me. Any information concerning these questions and the power delivery aspects of this system will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

-- Chris Eden (biospeck@mindspring.com), June 06, 2001

Answers

Hi Chris

I have been after the CRC system for some time as well. It is being sold here in the UK by Phil Read for £835 + 17.5% VAT, which is quite expensive. A dealer friend of mine promised he would be able to supply it cheaper, but so far, has not lived upto his word.

I witnessed the CRC system on a matt black F4 at my dealer in London, and I can say that the appearance of it is the same as the standard one, with black end pipes. The only difference is the internals, and all four pipes have much larger baffle bores, and all four are the same diameter.

I was particularly interested in the sound more than the power, and it did not disappoint. At idle, the noise is a deeper burble sort of sound, however as the revs climb, it develops into a glorious wail.

The pipes are supplied with a CRC EPROM for new mappings, and by all accounts, this gives a hike of about 9 BHP at the wheel, and a nice smooth power spread, with a gain in the mid range.

I for one will eventually buy this system. I dont know how or from where, but I must get it. As I say, Phil Read claims to have these in stock, and so far he's the only person in the UK that can get them. In the US I am told that Fast by Ferraci have them on the shelf, however I do not know how much they are.

If you find out any more info on supply or prices, please let me (and this group) know.

Kind regards, and keep the ride side up!!

Bob

-- Bob (bob.alliston@virgin.net), June 07, 2001.

I have just fitted a set of the Arrow cans. They are identical externally to the originals. Included with the system is a new MV chip. The system needs setting up following installation and instructions are supplied so that your dealer can re-set co2 etc. They are a bit louder, but carry an "e" mark that again is the same as the originals, soi I guess they are legal (in UK at least. AS for performance chnages I can't say yet as I have not had the bike set up, the earliest I can get a slot in the dealer is 6th July. However the bike is still running fine, a bit woolly at low revs which it wasn't before, this probably due to the lack of adjustment. It definitly seems to have more "go" and seems to accelerate with a bit more urge, but who knows that might just be me! I am glad I got them, it sounds far nicer, seems to go a bit better and retains the original looks.

-- willy (ginnyoneuk@yahoo.co.uk), June 07, 2001.

Chris, hello again

As well as the CRC system, there are many others on offer - Phil Reads GPS system, the SilMotor system, the Blueflame system, to name a few. The best I've seen by far (excluding the CRC one) is the Japanese Motoplan system, however, it is VERY expesive.

Have a look here...

http://www.motoplan.co.jp/motoplan/whatsnew/agusta_english.html

Regards, Bob

-- Bob (bob.alliston@virgin.net), June 07, 2001.

Thanks for the response and information. My dealer (here in the U.S.) has access to two units. The asking price is around $1500 for the pipes and chip. He told me the end cans were silver but he may be mistaken as the description states that they are aluminum and he may be interpreting this as aluminum-colored. The first set is arriving at the shop this week (I have a deposit on the other set). I'll let you know how things go.

-- Chris Eden (biospeck@mindspring.com), June 07, 2001.

I'll let you guys know next week, when I'm scheduled for my 600 mile service and will be getting the CRC exhausts installed. Fast By Ferraci sells them for US $1500. I've been told there is a noticable improvement, and it sounds much better, but I'll know for sure next Saturday (June 16).

-- Brad Cowell (bcowell@cswnet.com), June 07, 2001.

i yust went for a ride with friend who has fitted the factory arrows exhaust systems. it looks exactly the same like the standard ones, also black end, but inside open. it sounds definitively much nicer - now she sounds like a REAL motorcycle he says, and i agree! the price incl. chip here in switzerland is arround chf 2000 = usd 1200

take care

peter

-- Peter Spörri (peter@venturix.com), June 08, 2001.

Hello Peter

2000CHF seems to work out at £800, which is marginally cheaper than the UK price. Does that price include any taxes etc - and if I was buying the pipes to take out of the country, would I be able to get them Tax free??

Regards, Bob

-- Bob (bob.alliston@virgin.net), June 08, 2001.

I have the CRC system and I am very happy with the sound but my seat of the pants dyno tells me I lost some off the bottom and mid range but it certainly pulls better at the top. I may need to go back to the dealer for some tweaking as I do have a little backfire and stalling problem sometimes.

-- jim Stanton (jimjib@altavista.com), June 20, 2001.

Can anyone tell me what the serial number is for the performance exhausts? I just got my F4S (second hand) and saw no baffles when I looked into the pipes. It seemed like I could see the bends where the pipes go down. I could find only one number on them: 90376, followed by the 'E-mark'. By the way; my friend (who rides a Ducati 916) gets really pissed off when I refer to his bike as 'an italian Harley Davidson'. Which it truly is! (lots of noise, no power)

-- Rob Lenders (roblenders@hetnet.nl), June 23, 2001.

I've had mine on for a week now and I think it feels a little more lively on the bottom end, with a stronger mid-range punch too. From what I've been seeing on various message boards, setting up and testing the electronics seems to be a key. Many have reported a rough idle, along with backfiring. Mine has neither, and I personally witnessed the mechanic adjusting the settings on the control box many times to get it "just right". And it has a nice little rumbling sound at idle too!

-- Brad Cowell (bcowell@cswnet.com), June 25, 2001.