You were thinking about quieting your exhaust for a long time now, but you were worried about losing performance? Don’t be. Just read this guide and you will not have to ponder about it any longer or visit a mechanic.
Let’s be honest, we’ve all been there. That loud growling and howling that comes from our vehicles can be irritating. Not to mention that it can cause us problems with neighbors or other people who are not that into motorcycles.
I know, some of you have motorcycles that are beasts. And even though they sound great, they are just too loud. And that diminishes the overall impression. So basically, you’ll want your exhaust not to be loud. And even if you like the way it sounds, others might not, so you should make it as quiet as possible. When it comes to the exhaust on my motorcycle, I want to hear the music. I want to hear Mozart when I start my engine.
Now, if you have the aforementioned problems with your exhaust, you have to understand that there may be many reasons for that. Sometimes, reducing exhaust noise means that you will just have to buy a new one, or maybe at least fix it and patch up the tiny holes in it.
Above all, before deciding to invest in a new muffler, please inspect the exhaust for damages.
So Why Am I Talking Only About Motorcycles?
Why can’t you just use all of the following pieces of advice on your car? Well, simply put — you can’t. Soundproofing a car is a more complex matter. If you want silence in your car, you will have to do some or several of the following:
- Enhance your car doors — they are the worst parts when it comes to suspicious noises.
- Quiet down noisy lifters — and you’ll need to do it asap because they can wreak havoc.
- Apply sound deadening mats — they can do wonders, and they are quite easy to work with.
- Fix that hood insulation — yeah, guess what, it’s not always the engine that’s loud. Check your hood for the love of God.
And finally, take a look at your exhaust. The process is slightly different than with motorcycles.
I know, our topic went sideways for a moment, but it was really important to stress that quieting down a car exhaust is more complex and that it should be addressed differently.
Instructions for Reducing Motorcycle Exhaust Noise
Anyway, there are multiple things that you can do to silence your motorcycle exhaust. We are going to start with something that I’ve already mentioned and that is also vital.
1. Fix the Damages
Like I’ve said before, you’ll need to check for potential holes in your exhaust first. Check it thoroughly, because even the tiniest holes can make your motorcycle sound much louder.
If you have found some, your next job will be to seal them, of course. You can approach this in three ways, depending on the size of the holes.
Small Holes
Rust is usually to blame for smaller leaks on your exhaust. You will need to get rid of the rust first for a better effect. That means that you will automatically get a larger hole, so the method of patching it up will be more complex. But if the holes are small in size and the area around them is rust-free, you will be able to patch them up easily within minutes. The easiest way to go around it is to fix it with an exhaust tape.
Medium Holes
Basically, the louder the noise — the bigger the hole. To fix a bigger leak you will need some spare time and some equipment. Get a patch and get an epoxy that is resistant to high temperatures. The patch should be slightly bigger than the hole so that it can overlap. Simply put it over the hole. Epoxy goes inside the exhaust and should cover the hole and the edges. Leave it to rest for 4 hours.
TIP: Oh, by the way, another great piece of advice is that you can use absolutely any piece of aluminum that you can find around and cut out a patch directly out of it.
Large Holes
Sometimes you’ll happen to have damages on your exhaust that makes the motorbike almost impossible to ride. Large holes can cause numerous problems aside from overall loudness of the exhaust. You should address them immediately as they occur.
Don’t panic, you might not have to buy a new exhaust just yet. There is a solution to that. You will need to invest in advanced exhaust patch kits.
After you get one, you’ll need to clean your exhaust thoroughly from any debris or rust. Next, cut out the patch a bit more so that it can overlap with the hole. Stick it and wait for a bit before you start your engine. It takes time for it to stick, and exposing it to high temperatures immediately may undo all of your work.
That sounds easy? I know, that’s why I’m telling you. It can save you a lot of trouble, money and that painful visit to the mechanic.
2. Try out the Exhaust Wrap
Why? Because it’s affordable and easy to install. You can put it inside or outside of your muffler, or even around the pipes.
Wanna know another thing that’s cool about it? It’s made out of Titanium. And apparently, if you add some fiberglass, you can reduce up to 80% of the noise.
Also, the superpower of the exhaust wrap is to reduce vibrations and frequencies. And what is the sound made of? Exactly. Make sure to try this one out.
3. Change Mufflers
OK. I have to ask an important question. Are you still using standard factory mufflers that came with your motorcycle? If your answer is yes, then pay attention. They are usually standard bullet mufflers, and they have a tendency to be really loud.
However, there are other bullet mufflers that can dampen the noise a bit more. If you have the means, feel free to experiment around with them. I’m sure you’ll find something that will suit your motorcycle the best. You will definitely get better results than with the standard ones.
You should also consider using the full case muffles. There are two types of them. You will find the single-chambered ones, that, obviously, have a single chamber wrapping, and there are also the dual-chambered ones. They divide the muffler in two in order to make your exhaust less noisy. Both options can be very effective, so I will let you decide on either one.
I would also like to mention a resonator muffler. It has great performance, and it will be able to cut down the noise exponentially. Its inner construction is made of fiberglass, and we are all aware by now that fiberglass can do wonders when it comes to soundproofing. The outer shell is made of stainless steel, which means no rust and great durability.
4. Upgrade Your Muffler With a Silencer
One of the best ways to diminish the noise is to add a silencer. They usually have fiberglass wraps that narrow the hole and soundproof the exhaust even more.
How to Insert a Silencer
Before you buy a silencer make sure that the diameter is fit for your exhaust pipe. The outer diameter of the silencer needs to be smaller than the inner diameter of the exhaust pipe.
Before you put it in, you can spray paint the silencer so that it matches the color of your exhaust pipe. Before you start any work, make sure that the exhaust has been cooled down. The pipe can be really hot after a ride, and you don’t want to injure yourself.
If you’re just switching silencers, first you’ll need to release your previous one, usually buy unfastening the screws on your exhaust pipe. Take the silencer out. You might need to use some pliers or other tools to do it if it’s pushed too forward.
After you take out the silencer, just push back in the new one and fasten the screws back on.
What If Your Desirable Silencer Has the Wrong Length?
Now, it might happen that you’ll find a silencer of your choice that has a perfect diameter, but not the length. If that happens, you could always go with the longer ones, because you’ll be able to easily cut them down to a desirable size.
To shorten most of the silencers, you’ll first need to remove the wrap that goes around them. It’s usually made out of fiberglass. Cut out the equal amount on both sides of the center of your silencer. A simple grinder will usually do the job. Next, you’ll need to use a welder to join the two parts. Finally, you should cut the fiberglass wrap accordingly and wrap it back around the silencer. That would be it. Your silencer is ready to go.
Now Go and Make Your Motorcycle Exhaust Quieter
Loud exhausts can be a nightmare simply because not all of them sound pleasant. Above all, a motorcycle shouldn’t scare people away, it should make them admire it.
Dampening the sound of your exhaust can be both affordable and easy. And the best thing about it? You can choose between many different strategies. Also, it’s not something that will ruin the overall aesthetics of your motorcycle, and as a plus, it won’t take you long to actually do it.
So, if you have no plans this Sunday, get up, get some coffee, and go right into the garage and dampen the sound of your motorcycle exhaust.
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