How a Motorcycle Muffler Works

The Role of a Motorcycle Muffler

Just like a car's muffler system, a motorcycle muffler is made to route exhaust gases away from the engine. The muffler also captures some of the harmful toxins in the gases before they are expelled into the environment. A motorcycle muffler also helps regulate engine noise. Some are made to create specific sounds indicative to certain motorcycle makes.

Types of Motorcycle Exhaust Systems

Depending on the type of motorcycle and the size of and engine, mufflers come in several designs. For engines with twin cylinders, the exhaust system includes two pipes that join to form a single pipe with one muffler (called a common two-in-one system). Four-cylinder engines have two separate exhaust systems and two mufflers (twin exhausts) that run along each side of the bike. Sometimes, riders will install aftermarket twin exhaust systems on bikes that come standard with single mufflers. A twin exhaust system adds a bit more power to the engine and processes exhaust gases more efficiently.

Mufflers are made of several types of material, such as steel, titanium and aluminum. Most have chrome finishes.

A Muffler at Work

As gas burns inside the engine, fumes and exhaust gases flow through the exhaust pipe and pass through a small series of tubes. From there, they pass through the catalytic converter, if one exists. In the converter, harmful substances such as carbon monoxide are broken down so they are not expelled into the air in their harmful state. Before they reach the environment, gases flow out of the converter into the muffler, where they resonate with the vibrations of the engine. As the muffler resonates, it quells some of the engine noise before allowing processed gases to exit through the end of the muffler.

References

• John Mashinter, Motorcyle Mechanic and Dealer, Rockford, Illinois