With direct ties to over 170 world championship titles across two- and four-wheeled motorsports, Akrapovič may just be the most winning go-fast shop in history. Yet, for many enthusiasts, their first exposure to the brand likely didn’t come from the racetrack—it came from the aftermarket. Their lightweight, beautifully welded titanium exhaust systems have become legends in garages and forums around the globe.
A Legacy Forged in Racing
The company was born out of passion—and necessity. Igor Akrapovič, a former motorcycle racer and tuner, began modifying bikes for himself and his fellow racers in the early ’90s. At a time when only Japanese and American companies were producing high-end exhausts, Igor saw an opportunity to fill a performance gap in Europe. The big breakthrough came in Germany’s Superbike World Championship, where a privateer named Jochen Schmidt stunned the paddock with back-to-back podiums using an Akrapovič system. One of the few differences between his Kawasaki and the factory bikes? The exhaust. From that moment, the phone didn’t stop ringing—starting with Kawasaki Japan.
By 1999, Akrapovič was supporting all Japanese factory Superbike teams. In 2002, they entered MotoGP, and today supply exhaust systems to over 80% of the premier class. On the four-wheeled side, they’ve contributed to more than 40% of WEC cars, including multiple Le Mans-winning machines. Their first major victory in automotive endurance came with Porsche at the Nürburgring 24h in 2008.
In this rare behind-the-scenes look inside Akrapovič’s sprawling facilities near Ljubljana, Slovenia, we follow the path from raw titanium to world-beating hardware, uncovering the meticulous engineering and racing DNA that fuels it all.
Day One: R&D and Lab Testing
Our first stop was the material testing lab, where raw materials and sample castings are pushed to their limits. Every 100 parts or so, Akrapovič grabs a sample to inspect for hardness, weld integrity, and chemical composition. If something’s off, production halts. It’s a high-stakes game where metallurgy meets motorsport.
Next, we moved to the measurement center, where everything from jigs to finished parts is scanned and verified. Their “scan box” allows them to rapidly prototype or reverse-engineer low-volume applications, perfect for custom jobs or new OEM collaborations. The brand’s famed casting division—complete with its own foundry—lets them create extremely complex shapes, like turbo impellers and collector housings, which would be near impossible using traditional manufacturing techniques.
Dyno Time and Sound Science
No performance exhaust brand would be complete without an in-house dynamometer, and Akrapovič’s is as advanced as you’d expect. They use it to validate power gains, optimize sound, and ensure emissions compliance, benchmarking every design against OEM systems. But power isn’t the only priority—sound is sacred. Akrapovič’s team of engineers conduct sound engineering tests to dial in acoustic character and comply with race regulations. In many ways, they treat sound the way a composer treats tone. The result? Exhaust notes that are distinct, aggressive, and instantly recognizable.
The Race Department
In a separate building entirely is Akrapovič’s race division, staffed by 18 specialists. Their focus? Developing cutting-edge systems for MotoGP, WorldSBK, and endurance racing. They’re also embedded trackside when needed, gathering real-time feedback and assisting factory teams. More than 90% of their data comes from OEM partners, with assembly taking place in the main production line.
Interestingly, some race exhausts are designed to last just 2,500 km, depending on the race format. That’s under 1,600 miles—just enough for one intense weekend before being retired.
The Durability Lab: Meet Sabrina
Durability matters, especially for road-going applications and long-distance racing. Enter the Motorcycle Durability Dyno (MDD), where bikes are tested under extreme conditions using a robotic system affectionately nicknamed “Sabrina.” These tests often exceed 10,000 kilometers of simulated abuse—equivalent to over 100,000 kilometers on the road. A fueling system is hard-plumbed into the bike to keep tests running continuously. Once the run is complete, engineers disassemble the exhaust for analysis, ensuring it passed not just the performance test, but the punishment test.
Beyond Exhausts: The Full Portfolio
Akrapovič may be known for exhausts, but they also produce carbon fiber aero parts, diffusers, mirror caps, and more. While the carbon parts are more about visual enhancement than performance, they uphold the company’s lightweight design philosophy. Their bike product line covers everything from scooters and street bikes to off-road and adventure models. On the car side, they offer complete systems—from cat-back setups to downpipes, and even GT3-grade components for elite motorsport clients.
Day Two: Serial Production
The second day of our visit brought us to the serial production facility, a massive building roughly three times the size of Akrapovič’s HQ. Inside, we found the “tube maker” (exactly what it sounds like), cutting stations, and both manual and robotic welding bays. Because of the intricacy of titanium and composite components, the company blends human craftsmanship with automation. Final assembly and quality control are still performed by highly trained employees—many of whom come from technical backgrounds or motorsports themselves.
Everything remains 100% made in Slovenia, spread across four facilities clustered around a hill just outside Ljubljana. Even the company’s logo recently got a refresh through R&D. Despite its size and success, Akrapovič remains a hands-on company fueled by racing passion and technical obsession.
From Garage to Grid
What began as one racer’s mission to go faster has become a globally respected name, trusted by the likes of Bentley, Lamborghini, Porsche, and Yamaha. With over 2,000 aftermarket partners, dozens of factory race programs, and a reputation for obsessive material science, Akrapovič is much more than an exhaust brand—they’re a benchmark in performance engineering.
Touring the factory revealed what photos and YouTube clips never could: this is not just a brand. It’s a craft. One that was born in racing—and shaped by it.
