Akrapovic Racing Line Stainless Steel Full Exhaust System Suzuki GSX-8S / 8R / 8T / 8TT (2022-2026) – S-S8R1-HHAKESS

Akrapovic showed the concept for this system at EICMA in 2024 and then built it more or less as displayed. The Racing Line (Stainless Steel) S-S8R1-HHAKESS is a one-piece complete exhaust for the Suzuki GSX-8 family with the catalytic converter welded inside the muffler, a handmade carbon fibre cover over the outlet, and full EC and ECE type approval to Euro 5+. It adds 2.5 PS and removes 2.2 kg.

Key Features

• Complete system formed in one piece from high-grade stainless steel, with the catalytic converter welded inside the muffler rather than sitting in a separate section
• 2.5 PS (1.8 kW) more at 9,500 rpm and 1.4 Nm more torque at 5,500 rpm than the standard system
• 29.1 % lighter — 2.2 kg off a standard system that weighs 7.8 kg
• Handmade carbon fibre cover incorporating the outlet, with honeycomb exhaust protection and the Akrapovic logo in red and white
• Mounts alongside the original Suzuki soft side case set, so a GSX-8S stays usable for touring
• EC and ECE type approved and Euro 5+ compliant
• Plug-and-play — no remapping required for a complete system

From Show Stand to Production

The EICMA concept set the shape, and the production system keeps its defining feature: the whole thing is formed as a single stainless steel unit rather than assembled from a header, a link pipe and a can. That construction is why the catalytic converter could be moved inside the muffler body, and moving it there is what allows a full system to keep type approval while still gaining power.

The carbon fibre cover is the visible half of the design. It is hand-laid, wraps the outlet, and carries a honeycomb screen that protects the exhaust exit from stones — a detail borrowed from endurance racing, where a blocked or damaged outlet ends a race.

Performance and Sound

The GSX-8 parallel twin makes 79.6 PS as standard and 81.0 PS with this system, with the measured gain of 2.5 PS falling at 9,500 rpm and 1.4 Nm more torque arriving down at 5,500 rpm. Akrapovic states that throttle response was the priority during development rather than a peak figure, which is consistent with a torque gain placed in the middle of the range.

The note is deep and sporty for a 776 cc twin, and a removable noise insert is supplied for track days that impose their own limit. Installation takes about an hour because the headers come off with the system.

Fitment and Compatibility

S-S8R1-HHAKESS covers the whole Suzuki GSX-8 family from model year 2022 through 2026: the GSX-8S naked, the GSX-8R faired version, the GSX-8T and the GSX-8TT. All four share the same engine and frame, and the system was designed so that it can be fitted together with the original Suzuki soft side case set.

Akrapovic also lists a titanium Racing Line for these machines, S-S8R3-APLTBL, which does not carry road approval. This stainless steel version is the type-approved one.

Road Approval

EC type approval and ECE type approval, Euro 5+ compliant. Certificates ship with the system and are downloadable from this page. Because the catalytic converter stays in the system, nothing is removed from the emissions path and the bike remains legal for road use in the European Union.

Specifications

• Part number: S-S8R1-HHAKESS
• EAN: 3831126435240
• Fitment: Suzuki GSX-8S, GSX-8R, GSX-8T, GSX-8TT (2022–2026)
• System type: Racing Line, one-piece complete system
• Material: high-grade stainless steel
• Cover: carbon fibre, handmade, with honeycomb outlet protection
• Catalytic converter: welded inside the muffler
• Weight: 2.2 kg lighter than the standard system (29.1 %; standard system 7.8 kg)
• Power: 81.0 PS at 8,500 rpm (stock 79.6 PS at 8,500 rpm, gain 2.5 PS / 1.8 kW at 9,500 rpm)
• Torque: 76.4 Nm (stock 75.2 Nm at 7,000 rpm, gain 1.4 Nm at 5,500 rpm)
• Noise insert: included
• Side case compatible: yes, original Suzuki soft cases
• Remapping: not required
• Installation time: approx. 60 minutes
• Road approval: EC and ECE type approval, Euro 5+
• Country of manufacture: Slovenia