How to Reduce Motorcycle Exhaust Noise?


How to Reduce Motorcycle Exhaust Noise
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How to reduce motorcycle exhaust noise? If you ask the same question, then this guide is for you.

Loud noise from motorcycle exhaust is definitely disturbing. It irritates not only you but most probably others too.

If you own a motorcycle with noisy exhaust, you probably noticed those frowned eyebrows every time you ride your motorcycle.

And if you are a person who does not want to provoke conflict, you probably want to tone down the noise from your motorcycle a little bit.

Doing so involves some modification with the exhaust system. The reason for this is obvious, the exhaust system is the source of the noise.

Manufacturing companies, in some cases, deliberately make the motorcycle exhaust louder. This is common among bigger motorcycles. The louder the sound the stronger the motor power.

But motorcycles with larger muscles are not pretty common. In fact, you don’t regularly see them on the street.

If your regular motorcycle emits a loud noise, it’s not probably due to its power but a problem in the exhaust system.

How to Reduce Motorcycle Exhaust Noise?

There are a few techniques you can use to make the motorcycle exhaust quieter. The following ways are easy to implement and cheap. You can do it yourself.

1. Fix the Leak

If the exhaust of your motorcycle gets louder and louder, it suggests that there’s a problem in the exhaust system. And in most cases, the common cause is the leak.

Needless to say that the first step is to find the leak and fix it. Holes of any size can change the sound intensity that exhaust is producing. It can make your motorcycle louder than ever.

Finding the leak is a critical step. After doing that, your next job is to seal the leak. But before starting sealing the leak, let the exhaust system cool down. This is because if you’re sealing when it is hot, the sealant can be burned.

The size of the leaks determines the strategy you’ll be using to fix the leak. The following techniques are great for small and big leaks.

  • Strategy for Sealing Small Leaks

Some of the common causes of the noisy exhaust systems are small leaks. Small leaks are oftentimes the result of rusting.

This happens especially if the motorcycle is left uncleaned. The hardened dirt may start the rusting of the exhaust.

Finding these little leaks should be done before the rust eats the major parts of the exhaust system.

If the problem is still at this stage, you can easily fix it. You don’t need expertise on the subject. All you need to do is to buy an exhaust tape (click here to see this product on Amazon) and seal all the small leaks in the exhaust system.

After doing this step, you should be able to reduce the motorcycle exhaust noise.

  • Strategy for Sealing Larger Leaks

If you are dealing with larger leaks, exhaust tapes may not work. Instead, you need other materials that could fix the problem.

What I recommend is using a patch and an epoxy together. The first thing you need to figure out is the size of the leak. Measure it accurately and cut a patch that will perfectly fit the leak.

If you don’t have a patch, you can substitute it with an aluminum can. This material is as great as an alternative.

Before combining all the materials together, make sure that the patch and the exhaust are both clean. This is to ensure better results.

When measuring the patch, give a few centimeters allowance on all sides. This ensures that the whole leak is covered.

After making an accurate measurement, it is time to apply an epoxy to stick the patch to the part of the exhaust that you want to fix.

For an additional chance of achieving success, you can add improvised materials or the ones you can find at home.

A clamp, for instance, is a great addition to help the patch stick strongly to the exhaust. This is a great way to reduce motorcycle exhaust noise.

2. Reinstall the Original Muffler

Nowadays, it is common to see a modified motorcycle on the street. And one of the parts of a motorcycle commonly modified is the muffler system.

Old mufflers are replaced by the new and louder ones. The reason is that most motorcycle owners want to hear that loud sound as they ride their motorcycles. This is because, as mentioned, the louder sound indicates bigger motor power.

If you have the same case, you can reinstall the original muffler to reduce motorcycle exhaust noise. But if you’ve lost the original muffler, deciding to buy a new one for an old motorcycle can be a tough choice.

This is a common scenario if you bought a modified motorcycle. The only way to fix the muffler is to buy a new one. The good news is that there are mufflers designed for minimal sound emission (click here to see the quiet muffler on Amazon).

3. Use a Quiet Bullet Muffler

If changing the muffler is the only option to reduce motorcycle exhaust noise, then you better pick the right one.

The truth is there are many standard bullet mufflers out there you can choose but they are also noisy. In fact, the modern models of motorcycles come with these types of mufflers.

But there are few quiet bullet mufflers you can choose for your motorcycle. As far as quiet bullet mufflers go, I recommend three types: chambered, perforated, and louvred.

The chambered mufflers are, of course, come with chambers inside in the exhaust system that will trap the sound. The result is a quieter motorcycle exhaust.

Perforated mufflers, on the other hand, are equipped with holes that would lessen the resulting sound.

Lastly, is the louvred. For me, this muffler is more effective in reducing motorcycle exhaust noise. The louvres and fiberglass do a very good job of deadening the sound produced by the exhaust.

4. Use a Full Case Muffler

If you really want to know one of the best options on how to reduce motorcycle exhaust noise, you can go with the full case mufflers.

Full case mufflers come with two types; single and dual chambered.

The single-chambered full case muffler has a single chamber with baffles. Baffles are tube-like metal structures that have holes in them.

The holes serve as sound deadening structures that help reduce motorcycle exhaust noise.

The dual-chambered full case mufflers have two separate chambers inside the exhaust section. These chambers help cancel the sound resulting in a quieter motorcycle exhaust sound emission.

5. Use a Resonator Muffler

If you want to quickly reduce motorcycle exhaust noise, then you might want to try the resonator muffler (click here to see resonator muffler on Amazon. This type of muffler will automatically solve your problem instantly as soon as you install it.

The effectiveness of this muffler to reduce motorcycle exhaust sound lies inside the exhaust system. It has fiberglass inside that absorbs a vast majority of excessive sound, therefore, limits the noise that comes from the exhaust.

What I like the most about this muffler is its durability. It is made from stainless steel that ensures long-lasting functioning.

6. Soundproof the Exhaust System

If after applying all the tips above, the disturbing noise still remains, maybe you want to reinforce it with an exhaust wrap.

Exhaust wraps (click here to see the product on Amazon) are inexpensive and easy to implement. These soundproofing materials don’t get burned even at high temperature so you don’t have to worry about your safety.

Not only exhaust wraps are fire-resistant, but they are also highly durable. Because it is made of titanium, you can trust its lasting durability.

Using a durable soundproofing material such as this gives you so much freedom in terms of applicability. The truth is that you can install it inside or outside the muffler.

It will only reduce motorcycle exhaust noise but also eliminates vibrations. Needless to say that an exhaust wrap is an excellent and easy answer to the question of how to reduce motorcycle exhaust noise.

7. Use a Longer Can

If all the tactics I shared above are not feasible for your situation, I have another great option for you. Unfortunately, this technique may cost you a little bit of money. But if you really want into reducing motorcycle exhaust noise, you might still want it.

Buying a longer silencer may cause clench in your stomach. But trust me, you’ll be surprised by the result. This is one of the best options available as far as reducing motorcycle exhaust noise goes.

There are many brands out there you can choose from. Do a little bit of research before buying one to make sure you get the best for your motorcycle.

On Reducing Motorcycle Exhausts Noise

Well, there are a number of ways you can do to reduce the noise from your motorcycle’s exhaust. Some techniques just require simple tweaks, others really cost money.

The key to the project’s success could stem from choosing the right material to use. Whichever way you choose, make sure that you have familiarized yourself with the process you are about to take.

Doing prior research before the project can be tremendously helpful. You can easily do it online or by asking people with experience on the subject matter.

But if you don’t know what to do, it is always a great idea to find someone who knows how to reduce motorcycle exhaust noise really well.

Admitting the truth will not only save you time but also money and effort. If you think you can’t do it on your own, then have someone to do it for you.

Nonetheless, I really hope that you find this short guide helpful. After reading this, you should be able to make your motorcycle a lot quieter. For more information on sound deadening techniques, feel free to read my Soundproofing Guide.

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