Motorcycle Exhausts: Understanding The Basics

By John Kirzno

Every biker has some idea about the exhaust system that his bike has installed. However, what most people fail to realize is that exhaust systems are extremely important components of any engine, whether motorcycle or car. Despite the fact that the majority of motorcycle enthusiasts are not aware of this, the aftermarket motorcycle exhausts industry is prospering. The reason for this is that you do not need to know the intricacies of your bike's exhaust system if you wish to change it. However, any serious biker would want to know as much about his bike as possible. Hence, the following are details pertaining to the major components of an exhaust system and changing them.

Headers:

1. Stock exhaust manifold headers of an Original Equipment Manufacturer exhaust system are made of cast iron and hence can restrict the flow of air. Furthermore, these are often also heavy which reduces the speed of the bike. Replacing the existing exhaust manifold with aftermarket exhaust headers can result in the optimization of the gas flow speed which will boost the power of the bike. There are four types of exhaust headers depending upon their configuration including the 4-2-1, the 4-1, short headers and the equal length headers.

Catalytic converters:

2. These are devices that are used for reducing emissions. The negative aspect of catalytic converters is that they create back pressure which results in the high end power of the bike falling significantly. Replacing or removing these depends entirely on the laws in your state or country.

Resonators, Mufflers and Silencers:

3. These are devices whose purpose is to reduce the sound coming from the exhaust system with the mufflers being more effective of the two. In the bigger picture silencers are said to be less damaging to the bike's high end power as against mufflers which can lead to a significant reduction.

Exhaust pipe:

4. This is the piping that runs through the whole exhaust system connecting all the components together. The replacement of this depends entirely on the bike's model and the new pipe being bought. In contrast to what most people believe, the width of the piping does not decide how much power the engine is going to have. Instead, there is a balance that needs to be maintained for optimum performance.

Motorcycle exhausts consist of all these components working together in harmony and hence need to be treated the same way. In order for best performance improvement, you need to change the whole system as it would not only boost the power of the bike but also reduce the total weight on it. However, having said that, if you wish to improve the high end power of your bike then, even though it is recommended, it is not imperative that you change the whole system. Individual changes can also make a difference. The online motorcycle exhausts aftermarket does offer each and every one of these components individually as some bikers do not prefer to change their whole exhaust systems.

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About The Author
Biker Supply House offers a wide variety of Motorcycle exhausts. We carry the top selection of Vance and Hines Exhaust products and offer the best pricing on all Vance and Hines Motorcycle Exhaust. Browse our incredible selection now and see how Biker Supply House can help you save on the brands of Motorcycle Exhausts and Motorcycle Parts.