Visit to the GPR exhaust factory

Visit to the GPR exhaust factory. A few days ago, the folks at GPR Exhaust System made me a very tempting offer. Due to the recent addition of their product range to our website , they wanted to invite me to visit them and show me their facilities and how they work. They also expressed interest in my project to manufacture an exhaust system for my V85TT and then put it into production. So they suggested I visit them on my motorcycle, leave it there for a few days, and pick it up as soon as the system is ready. I thought it was a fantastic idea, so no sooner said than done, off to Italy!

For me, there is only one way to make a trip to Italy enjoyable, and that is…crossing the Alps. So I was researching possible routes to get to Milan and the one that most convinced me in terms of time was one that had a first part of the highway that passed through Montpellier, Aix-en-Provence and arrived at Castellane where I found a fantastic lake. where I could take a good dip. From there I would go up through different passes such as Coll de Allos or Izoard, until I reached Barcelonnette and then Briançon, one of the last French towns before crossing the border with Italy where I spent the first night. A total of 805 km.

The next day was shorter but more boring. After about 40 km of mountain pass to reach Italy, 210 km of highway awaited me to reach Riozzo di Cerro al Lombro, on the outskirts of Milan where the GPR exhaust factory is located. There I had met Toni, my liaison in Spain and who would introduce me to Mauro, one of the brand managers.

The friends from Mototaller magazine also joined the visit . Together we were able to tour the facilities and see the entire manufacturing process of an exhaust system.

I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised to see the people of GPR work. The first thing because I have been able to verify that the product is born and is made in the factory. All parts are designed and manufactured there with the exception of painting and chroming which is done at another facility. The second thing that has impressed me has been to verify that these people are true artisans in the world of exhausts. If you expected to see ultra-modern machinery manufacturing cascoporro exhausts, you were wrong. The staff of about 30 workers "work" unhurriedly, all by hand; Welding, bending tubes, rivets, everything with the exception of water pressure cutting and CNC machining of the exhaust end caps is done by hand.

The entire GPR team treated me super friendly and let me move around the workshops as if I were one more. From the very nice secretary Verónica to the perfectionist Eduardo, in charge of new developments. That's how it tastes!!!

The 2 days that I have spent there have helped me to better understand the characteristics of all the exhausts and thus be able to better advise our clients and, above all, to verify the quality with which the Italian friends work.

GPR has been on the market for more than 50 years and stands out, in addition to its elegant designs, because they manufacture exhausts that really work, that is, they not only achieve a spectacular sound (bass, forceful but without being loud or with a metallic echo), but Because in addition, all models are tested on the power bank and they strive to achieve the maximum possible performance. GPR manufactures everything from exhaust tips to entire lines depending on the motorcycle and, with or without a catalyst. Therefore, you can choose between non-homologated high-performance exhausts to homologated performance-enhancing exhausts. And the best of all is that they have one of the most extensive ranges on the market, from the most modern exhausts to classic exhausts of all time.

In our case, we opted for a semi-complete Racing exhaust system. This means that GPR utilizes the first section of the motorcycle's headers and then designs a catalytic converter delete pipe that connects to the exhaust we've chosen—in this case, the new prototype that will soon be available and which they've named Dual . It's an exhaust pipe made of titanium and carbon fiber with dual outlets and a very pleasing sound. As I explained in the previous post, the idea behind designing and installing this system is for two main reasons. Firstly, to increase the motorcycle's performance by gaining a bit more low-end torque, and secondly, the stock catalytic converter, in addition to its weight and the heat it retains in the headers, takes up a lot of space at the bottom of the motorcycle and is very exposed. If you frequently ride off-road, you could end up hitting the catalytic converter. With the delete pipe we're going to install, we'll eliminate these problems. In other words, we're going to reduce weight by about 4 kg and gain performance, as well as help the engine and exhaust system operate at a lower temperature. By the way, the folks at GPR are also going to make me a matching reinforced sump guard with good frame mountings to ensure proper engine protection when we get into trouble. I can't wait to see it!

In a short time I will be able to return to Italy to pick up my motorcycle and test it back home. I have good memories of the visit to the GPR exhaust factory, for the great treatment I have received but, above all, for giving a face to all the workers who directly or indirectly have participated in the development of both my exhaust and all the that we are going to start supplying through the web from now on to our customers.

See you soon!!