Tips For Cooling Motorcycle Exhausts
By Kevin McLaughlin
Motorcycles are not like cars and while someone can drive a car without knowing much about the engine it is recommended that anyone who owns or rides a motorcycle should have a basic understanding of the engine and how to perform minor and temporary repairs. The simple point behind this is that motorcycle engines will fail and being stuck on the side of the road is never much fun. Motorcycles tend to break down more often than cars and most bikers will tinker with their engine anyway to make custom adjustments and install performance parts. Knowing the basics of your motorcycle engine can lead to a quick or temporary fix to get you moving until you can find a trusted mechanic to perform a more thorough repair job.
Because of the job an exhaust does there are a number of problems that can occur with the part and the entire exhaust system. Remember, the exhaust is basically the trash chute for your bike’s reaction exhaust gasses and the insides and outsides of an exhaust can get extremely hot when riding. Your exhaust and drag pipes can experience a number of common problems including overheating which will cause a “bluing” effect on the tips of the pipes. Even with polished chrome finishes over time the heat will cause a bluish or black color on the pipes. Though this may appear to be only a cosmetic issue over time the excessive heat can cause parts to deteriorate which can lead to harmful gasses being released in every direction.
Since heat is your major concern consider the different ways you can maintain the temperature in the exhaust so it doesn’t overheat and what you can do should the system suffer deterioration or even punctures from excessive heat. One option for preparing bikes in advance is to install high quality chrome plated heat shields. Often double or triple-chrome plated heat shields are designed to fit most standard motorcycle drag pipes and come complete with clips for mounting. Heat shields will provide an extra few layers of protection to lessen the damaging effects from the heat and reduce bluing. Heat shields not only protect the exhaust system but also add a shiny chrome finish to your bike’s exterior.
Another tip for preserving the exhaust on your motorcycle is to periodically rotate the pipes if you have twin pipes. Gas doesn’t always distribute evenly and if you did a custom install with an aftermarket exhaust it is recommended that you rotate the exhaust pipes so if there is an excess of heat to one side you can moderate the effect it has on your pipes. You should check all motorcycle engine parts on a regular basis to achieve optimum performance but regulating the heat in the engine is your primary concern.
Other ideas for cooling a motorcycle exhaust are to install cooling clamps and to use either a liquid or air cooling system in the engine. You may also want to consider using a carbon fiber exhaust system with a carbon fiber exhaust cover since this material heats up much slower than metal.
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admin Motorcycle Parts, Motorcycle Tips motorcycle exaust
Motorcycle Exhausts - The Basics
By Kevin McLaughlin
Engines make noise. Even after a century of progress and new technology combustible engines (often found in street motorcycles, racing bikes and cruisers) still use exhausts, exhaust pipes and mufflers (or silencers) to reduce the amount of noise being emitted from an engine as well as to steer the exhaust gas away from the engine. There are several different types of exhausts that can be used for specific motorcycle models as well as a variety of metals and carbon fiber materials to make exhausts with.
Though an exhaust is an individual part of the engine it is usually attached to a system that can include mufflers, cylinder heads, exhaust manifolds, turbochargers, and catalytic converters and drag pipes. All of these parts act together to guide reaction exhaust gasses away from an engine. This helps to keep the engine cool and quiet and also protects riders from inhaling noxious carbon monoxide fumes while riding.
You will notice exhausts and drag pipes are always located underneath and slightly behind the rider’s seat and pointing away from the engine and bike. Depending on the bike you have you may adjust the height of your exhaust. Racing bikes that take close hairpin turns will often place their exhaust higher up on the bike to avoid scraping the part when turning.
Motorcycles will usually include one of the following exhaust types: a twin cylinder with separate exhausts or one that guides exhaust gas into a single section, also known as a two-in-one or 2-1; a 4-cylinder twin exhaust system that is often found on larger motorcycles and the full system exhaust also known as a four-to-one on 4-1.
Regulations limit the types of exhaust systems manufacturers can install on commercial motorcycles but aftermarket exhausts can be found in several high quality materials including aluminum, steel, titanium, carbon fiber and even Kevlar. Many motorcyclists will opt to swap out the OEM exhaust on their bike and install either a full system or slip-on exhaust to get better performance and in some cases to make the bike louder. There are laws limiting the noise decibels of motorcycles so if you are replacing a motorcycle exhaust know the laws of your state or town before tearing off in a big bang of noise that is sure to attract the authorities.
Fines can vary from state to state but generally speaking the laws against noise levels on bikes is mostly to keep large cruiser bikes and the infamous “crotch rockets” from roaring through neighborhoods and essentially disturbing the peace. The common complaint against loud motorcycles is that when they travel down a road with cars parked on the sides the roar and vibrations from the engine can easily set off car alarms and cause a ruckus. If you race on a track or have a designated area for motorcycle riding the sound of your exhaust should not be a problem.
Read my other review on Kawasaki Motorcycle Accessories
admin Motorcycle Parts motorcycle exhaust pipe, motorcycle exhaust sounds, motorcycle exhaust system, motorcycle exhausts
Custom Motorcycle Wheels Purchase
By Don G Smith
Ready to change your motorcycle? Then you must be thinking about your purchase of a new set of custom motorcycle wheels! This article is not the end-all of buying guides, but I hope to help you with a smooth, and satisfying buying experience.
The very first thing you need to decide is how much you are willing to spend. A good set of wheels can cost at least $2000, so you will need to budget your purchase wisely. Most custom motorcycle wheels are made from billet aluminum, in a CNC machine, and not mass quantity castings such as car wheels. Also, as you have noticed, custom motorcycle wheels have to look good on both sides, which is not the case for your car.
The next decision is what type of wheel you want. For example, do you want a spoke wheel? Do you want a chrome wheel? An option to consider is a polished wheel, or a black anodized wheel. A polished wheel will “weather” better in a climate such as Florida, where there is a lot of salt-air. A chrome wheel is easy to clean, but is more susceptible to the elements which cause corrosion. A polished wheel is well suited for these climates, but takes a lot of maintenance to keep their shine. A black anodized wheel or powder coated wheel is more of a “look” choice, and are not as durable as a chrome or polished wheel. (Though a black magic marker can often hide dings in these wheels.)
Once your decision has been made on the type of wheel, the next step is finding a design which looks good on your specific bike, and more importantly, that you love. Yes, I said love, because when you are spending this kind of money, you will probably not want to like your wheels, you will need to love them. This is why you should never “settle” for a wheel design. Read more…
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