Few things in the world are more satisfying than a deep, throaty growl coming from a powerful motorcycle. Whether it’s a 450cc dirt bike or a 1100cc touring motorcycle, fitting the right exhaust can improve performance and sound. Not to mention the best a motorcycle looks with a gleaming stainless steel exhaust. However, aftermarket road and motocross motorcycle manufacturers know how much you love a great exhaust. This is why they try to charge as much as you could pay for the bike. Some direct systems, called drag tubes, can cost more than $ 1,000. That is only for a straight length of metal tube. With a little experience and a perforated filter tube, you can make your own for a fraction of the cost. Here’s how to do it.
1. Start with the pipes
There are two types of pipe bends. Crush curves are, as the name implies, pipes that appear crushed where they are bent. Chuck curves are smooth curves with no ripples. Those ridges in the metal cause turbulence that increases shaking and takes power away from the motorcycle. If you can, get some mandrel bent tubing. You will not regret the additional expense.
2. Build your muffler
You can then proceed to build your muffler. That may sound difficult, but it is actually quite simple. A muffler reduces the amount of noise that comes out of your exhaust by slowing down the gas coming out of the pipe. You just need a place to send that gas and something to slow it down.
Your muffler will consist of a perforated filter tube, a larger steel pipe to surround it, and some ceramic insulation to fill the gap. The perforated tube will allow gas to escape through dozens of different holes rather than just the end of the tube. The gas will then shoot towards the ceramic insulation, where it will slow down considerably. Exhaust slowing should reduce noise.
It’s probably easier to make your perforated filter tube a little smaller than your exhaust, so it slides into the exhaust and helps create a bit of back pressure.
3. Put it all together
Then you want to solder it all together. You may need to hire a professional to prepare it for you. Wrap the perforated filter tube in ceramic wool and then solder it inside the larger tube. There you go. That fast, you have a silencer. Next, you’ll want to weld the homemade muffler onto the end of your exhaust. You are ready to ride.
The benefit of making your own muffler is not just monetary. You will probably save some money, but you will also be able to personalize your driving experience. What you just built is called a direct silencer instead of a chambered silencer. Chamber silencers are filled with baffles that interrupt the gas flow. If you want to reduce the sound even further, you can choose a longer perforated filter tube as the core of the muffler.
Building your own muffler is a quick and easy way to control how your bike rides and how it sounds.