The header assembly is composed of three parts: a front header tube and a rear header tube, which are both attached to the header tube connector (a combination of a collector and extensions of the front and rear header tubes) with free-floating joints held together using high-quality silicon-shielded tensioning springs.

The link pipe is divided into two parts. One part is independent, and is connected to the header tube connector with a free-floating joint. Another free-floating joint connects the independent tube to the other part of the link pipe (second part), which is welded to the muffler. All free-floating joints are held together with high-quality silicon-shielded Akrapovic tensioning springs.

In order to maximize performance, the Akrapovic EVOLUTION system has interference crossover tubes installed between the header tubes. It does not include a fitting for installing a lambda sensor.

The muffler is the part which grabs your attention first. A completely new integral single muffler has been developed for the Ducati 999 which is unlike anything which has ever appeared in the product range. Since the 999 has an integral muffler, we had to follow the same concept due to the design and construction of the bike. It is oval-section, with a different outlet cap than has previously been produced for the Akrapovic Road program. The outer sleeve is available only in titanium, which goes extremely well with the refined lines of the Ducati. The metal parts in the interior of the muffler are also made entirely of titanium.

The muffler and the second part of the link pipe are welded together to form a single component. In addition to the painstaking development of the muffler, the R&D department put a great deal of effort into the design of the carbon-fiber brackets and the carbon-fiber clamp. The carbon-fiber brackets sit above and below the muffler.
Due to the stock design of the motorcycle, the carbon-fiber bracket on the underside of the muffler also carries the rear lights and the license-plate holder, and is attached directly to the muffler, while the carbon-fiber bracket on the top of the muffler holds the carbon-fiber clamp. In other words, the upper bracket is attached to the frame, and the clamp is attached to the upper bracket.

The Akrapovic EVOLUTION exhaust system for the Ducati 999 is also available with an optional carbon-fiber leg protector which is mounted onto the link pipe.