
Motorcycle mufflers work by taking exhaust gas out of the engine and diffusing it. Learn each piece of the muffler and how it works from of a certified motorcycle technician in this free video on motorcycle maintenance. Click to see full answer.
What does a muffler really do?
A muffler’s primary role is to reduce sound, but it can also play a role in your car’s overall performance. An engine is able to generate more power, faster if it is able to get rid of all of the exhaust gases it produces quickly. By their nature, mufflers restrict exhaust flow or create back pressure, which slightly slows down your engine.
Is a muffler a necessity and how does it work?
Your car has a muffler for a very good reason. If it didn’t, the sound of your exhaust would be very loud. A muffler, well, muffles that sound. It does this in a simple yet ingenious way. Of course, no muffler lasts forever, and yours will eventually succumb to heat, exposure, and deterioration. It will need to be replaced at some point.
How does a muffler affect performance?
Let’s break this down into four sections :
- What are the parts of an exhaust?
- Why should an exhaust be upgraded?
- Test results from upgrading a stock car’s exhaust: Is it worth it?
- Alex’s MX-5: Should you heat wrap an exhaust?
How do you replace a muffler?
What you will need
- Car Muffler
- Metric Socket
- Flathead Screwdriver
- Ratchet
- Penetrating oil
- Grinder
- Work glasses
- Gloves

What's inside a motorcycle muffler?
Located inside the muffler is a set of tubes. These tubes are designed to create reflected waves that interfere with each other or cancel each other out. Take a look at the inside of this muffler: The exhaust gases and the sound waves enter through the center tube.
Does the muffler affect performance on a motorcycle?
The truth is that you can although there is no performance benefit to doing this and it's dangerous. Having an open exhaust can allow for more horsepower but your engine will not run correctly if there is no exhaust pipes at all.
How do motorcycle baffles work?
Motorcycle baffles AKA exhaust baffles are specially designed tubes – inserted into a motorcycle's exhaust to quiet down the engine sound. Engine sound (any sound really) travels in waves. The walls surrounding a baffle tube are made to bounce sound waves – causing them to reverse, crash into each other and cancel out.
What happens if you ride a motorcycle without a muffler?
3:275:30Is Riding Without a Muffler Bad For Your Bike? | MC Garage - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo it's already too noisy of an environment plus removing the muffler could leave you with meltedMoreSo it's already too noisy of an environment plus removing the muffler could leave you with melted bodywork or burnt boots. And it looks pretty terrible it looks like an unfinished plumbing project.
How can I make my motorcycle exhaust sound deeper?
How To Make Your Motorcycle Exhaust Sound DeeperReplace or Modify the Stock Muffler. Stock mufflers suit a wide range of personalities and preferences. ... Remove the Baffles. ... Get a Full Performance Exhaust System. ... Shop Slip-On Mufflers at West End Motorsports.
Will removing muffler damage engine?
In most cases, a muffler delete system or a set of aftermarket mufflers (or axle-back mufflers) may do more harm than good and result in less horsepower. Removing the muffler will also force the ECU to go into LIMP mode, made evident by the check engine light on the console.
Does a motorcycle need back pressure?
Motorcycles Need Backpressure Myth. There's a common misconception where a motorcycle needs back pressure and when straight piping, you would reduce that back pressure – causing a drop in horsepower. This is incorrect. A motorcycle engine does not need back pressure to function.
Do baffles increase horsepower?
You will definitely increase back pressure from quiet baffles – which then results in lesser air in the combustion chamber. But while riding in real life, you will likely not notice this change. Dynos would tell you a reduction in 1-3 horsepower.
How can I make my motorcycle louder?
How to Make My Motorcycle Exhaust LouderInstall an Aftermarket Exhaust. Depending on what type of motorcycle you ride and what type of exhaust you install, you can change how your motorcycle sounds. ... Tune or Change Your Stock Carb. ... Buy the Best Aftermarket Ignition You can Get. ... Shop Customized Exhaust Systems and Mufflers.
What is a cat delete on a motorcycle?
8:0011:19Should You Remove Your Bike's Catalytic Converter? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo the simple answer is yes removing your bikes catalytic converter will in fact improve its powerMoreSo the simple answer is yes removing your bikes catalytic converter will in fact improve its power output. You see an engine is essentially just a fancy air pump.
How long do motorcycle mufflers last?
Determining the Lifespan of the Exhaust System As a rough rule of thumb, however, a typical life expectancy of a premium aftermarket exhaust system should be in the neighborhood of two to three years depending on driving habits and the previously mentioned factors.
Why are motorcycles so loud?
Motorcycles are so loud because of the size of the muffler most of them have, the length of the exhaust pipes and the lack of residence time the air and exhaust have to slow down, and because the engine is open to air and atmosphere with no engine compartment encasing and stifling the sound.
Why is low pressure important for motorcycle exhaust?
There, the low pressure helps remove exhaust from the cylinder and helps fresh charge to enter through two or more transfer ports. Further complicating modern motorcycle exhaust designs is the need for catalytic converters to reduce harmful emissions.
What happens when exhaust valves open?
When it reaches a point of duct enlargement—either where the header joins a larger collector or joins a tapering megaphone—it sends back a negative pressure wave toward the engine.
What is a two stroke pipe?
Two-stroke pipes have a distinct shape consisting of two megaphone sections turned on each other in order to tune both the positive and negative pressure waves to the piston position to remove exhaust gases and charge the fuel mixture. Jeff Allen
What causes a drop in torque?
This, by diluting the fresh charge that the piston is about to take in, causes a drop in engine torque.
Can exhaust energy be used as sound waves?
Therefore exhaust energy is put to use as sound waves. ADVERTISEMENT. Both positive (pressure) waves and negative (suction) waves, moving in correctly shaped ducts, ...
