| What
is the best approach to take, when you buy
a new aftermarket exhaust? If you know nothing about exhausts,
or a little, and you want to find out more
-- when it comes to making the purchase of the exhaust that's
just right for you, you're in luck.
This article will help you take the worry
out of having to "exchange" or send back an exhaust
when you order it online, and "remove" the fear
of not knowing whether you're getting the right exhaust
in the first place.
How do you know which exhaust is
right for you?
Most people will buy an exhaust because
they saw or heard a particular exhaust, and decided they
just want to buy the same one because it sounds good,
without considering what you really might want to
before you buy one.
The truth is, just about every aftermarket
exhaust sounds good. Obviously, it's better to buy an exhaust
that's correct and not just because someone else has it.
This article will help you make your investment in a new
exhaust system a breeze -- so instead of
being nervous about making an investment like this, you'll
easily be able to decide to buy the exhaust that's just
right for you, and the way you ride -- with confidence.
The Different Exhaust Systems
Exhausts for motorcycles mainly fall into
two categories. The full
system, or the slip-on. The full exhaust system connects
to the head of the engine and the slip-on connects where
your stock muffler once was before you
decided to take it off.
The Full-System
This exhaust is good if you want medium
to high end power performance. If you are drag
racing, or you constantly run your bike full throttle, take
long trips etc. -- the full-system will be the ideal replacement
exhaust for your bike. You will see full-system replacements
on cruisers and drag
racing bikes. Just remember, full throttle -- full
system.
The slip-on exhaust
This system is going to be more for the
commuter and the "city" stop-and-go rider. The
slip-on allows you to "getup and go" and gives
your bike more low end power. Most sport
bikes will consider the slip -on if they aren't racing
because the "take off" is more important to them,
or they like pulling wheelies and darting
short distances.
Also, there are high-mount and
low-mount exhausts. High mount and low
mount exit exhaust (usually for racing) - might call for
rising or lowering the seat, and removing the passenger
pegs -- not a big deal if you're using your bike for racing
because you don't have somone riding on the back. It's only
something to consider if your motorcycle is used to both
drag race, and carry passengers.
Do I need Anything Else When I Buy
A New Exhaust?
Once you've decided which system is better
for you and the way you
ride, there are three "extras" that should be
added to your installation process. Adding these elements
helps prevent ugly blueing, engine
damage, and undesirable performance to your motorcycle.
There is a good reason why virtually all of the manufacturers
of aftermarket exhausts recommend replacement of the following
items:
1.
Install a fuel management system (power
commander or jet-kit) -- if your bike is fuel injected,
you will need to install a power commander, if it's carbureted,
you will use a jet-kit.
The
reason for installing a jet kit or power commander is
because when you change your exhaust, you're changing
your air flow, and when the flow changes -- you
must change the flow of the gas in order to gain the correct
mixture which evens the air and fuel mixture so they work
together harmoniously.
It
also prevents aggravating and ugly blueing
of your exhaust. DG Hard Krome exhaust systems are double
walled and guaranteed not to blue - if your concern is
blueing of the exhaust, locate a
DG Hard Krome Exhaust for your bike and buy your new
exhaust from them.
2.
Install exhaust gaskets -- it is always
a good idea to replace your old gaskets especially if
you want to prevent leaks and blueing
of your exhaust, for the few extra dollars, it's definitely
worth it.
Also,
if your exhaust leaks, you stand the risk of bending
a valve -- I don't know about you but I would
rather prevent the risk from damaging my engine simply
by replacing the exhaust gaskets. Don't let something
so simple ruin your investment in a new exhaust. You
can e-mail
us to get the correct gaskets for your exhaust.
3.
Replace the air cleaner -- this extra
is optional, but it's always better to go with what's
recommended. It just makes sense that if you are installing
a fuel management system, and changing your gas flow and
you want your bike to run harmoniously when you install
a new exhaust, it's a good idea to allow more air into
your system as well. Doing so will improve
your performance -- by the way, the key to getting
more power out of your bike when installing a
new exhaust is more air.
Now, just by having these three ideas in
the back of your mind when buying a new exhaust, you'll
know more than most people who "just buy one"
thinking that it can work for their bike - believe us, it
happens more than you think.
A customer comes to our site, looks at our
exhausts systems -- reaches into their wallet or purse all
excited and pulls out a credit card and buys an exhaust,
only to find out a week later they goofed. You aren't going
to have the same problem because you now know all you really
need to when you buy a new exhaust for your motorcycle.
Okay, I understand what I should
consider -- now what about actually installing my new exhaust?
That's a good question, and can't be answered
very easily from this end because it all depends
on your mechanical skills, and whether you plan to install
it yourself, or hire a mechanic to do it for you. The
better question to ask is: do you want to make
it complex, or would you rather it be simple?
All exhausts that you order come with step-by-step
instructions, just make sure that you pay extra
careful attention when you're adjusting your power commander
or jet-kit. If it's not even, your bike isn't going to run
even and smooth -- it's that simple.
So whether you are installing your new exhaust
yourself, or not, expect it to take about 1.5 -
3 hours time to do it. It's normally a little longer
to do it yourself if you aren't equipped with the tools
a motorcycle mechanic has.
The fact is, only you can be the judge on
whether you can do it yourself or have someone else do it
for you. Once you have received your exhaust, it might be
worth spending an extra couple of bucks to make sure it
is installed properly by getting a book, or at least have
someone who has done it before help you for the low cost
of a few beers.
You may have noticed, understanding
aftermarket exhaust systems isn't very complicated at all.
And the more you realize how simple it is, the more you
can feel confident about buying an exahaust
system, a system that suits you and your riding style best.
When you're ready, you can locate
dozens of exhausts at MotorcycleMart, in several different
brand names you would consider buying from. Ride with style,
turn some heads and enjoy your new better than stock aftermarket
exhaust.
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