This article will give you some quick tips on making your motorcycle’s exhaust sound deeper.
One of my favorite things about riding motorcycles is the epic sound these machines make. The powerful thumping of a Harley, the high-pitched whine of a supersport, the guttural buzzing of a dirt bike.
No matter which one you prefer, we can all agree that the way a motorcycle sounds is part of its overall design and can make or break a bike.
And if you are a fan of deep, full-sounding exhaust notes, welcome to the club! A throaty, rumbling exhaust note is just the type of soundtrack we love for our Sunday rides.
But how do you get that deep, powerful exhaust sound for your bike? Keep reading to find out.
What’s affects an Exhausts deepness
When it comes to motorcycle exhaust sounds, several factors can change the exhaust note.
Engine displacement
As a rule of thumb, larger displacement engines and larger engine cylinders will have a louder, deeper exhaust note.
Engine layout
The way your engine’s cylinders are laid out will vastly influence the pitch, timbre, and overall sound of the exhaust. For example, inline-four engines have a slightly higher-pitched sound (vroom vroom). V-twin motorcycles like Harley-Davidsons (potato-potato) and the louder dirt bikes (braaaaaap!) of the world.
Engine speed
How high your bike’s engine can rev also determines its sound. The shrill and noisy whine of a supersport is only possible thanks to the high engine revs that can reach 16,000 RPM! On the other end of the spectrum, you have most cruisers that top out at around 5000 rpm and have a deeper, more meaty sound.
‘Ahh, so what you’re saying is, I should replace my Vespa’s 150cc single-cylinder with a 1800cc Harley Davidson Milwaukee Eight engine. Got it, thanks!’
Not so fast! While most of your bike’s exhaust characteristics come from the engine type, displacement and speed, you needn’t do a complete engine swap to get a deeper sound out of your motorcycle.
Exhaust Mods For added deepness
When it comes to changing the exhaust note of your bike, exhaust mods are your best bet.
Muffler modification
The first thing you should try is modifying the stock muffler on your bike. Removing the insert or taking off the muffler will drastically change the type of sound your motorcycle produces.
Some ‘daring’ motorcyclists have also experimented with holes in the muffler to achieve a different sound. We assume it is inhaling the toxic gasses from these holes that gives them such…ingenious ideas.
Remove the baffles
Removing the baffles will allow exhaust gasses from your engine to flow more freely and make a beefier, lower sound that might be just what you’re looking for.
This will also result in a louder, at times annoying sound, and one that may exceed acceptable noise levels in your region, so proceed with caution.
Removing your baffles is pretty easy, and you don’t need to be a professional mechanic to get it done. You need a screwdriver, a wrench, and a YouTube video or two. Alternatively, you can get it done professionally.
Furthermore, an engine tune or ECU remapping is always recommended whenever you do a modification like this to ensure you don’t end up losing HPs in pursuit of dBs!
Get a slip-on muffler
The next option you can try is getting an aftermarket slip-on muffler for your motorcycle. This will definitely cost a bit more, but the results speak for themselves. The right slip-on can make your bike’s exhaust note deeper, more powerful, and a lot ‘growlier’ if you want.
Slip-ons are probably the most straightforward modification you can do to your motorcycle’s exhausts after baffle removal.
Pro tip:
Opt for shorter slip-ons over longer ones to maximize the volume and depth of sound coming from your bike’s exhaust.
Full system exhaust
If you want to completely change how your bike’s exhaust sounds and feels, a full system exhaust swap will do just that. By changing out the header pipes, mid-pipe, muffler, possibly even the catalytic converter and giving your bike a new tune or a complete ECU flash, it will be able to produce a richer, more pleasing sound.
Full system exhausts can be harder to install on your bike, especially if you aren’t comfortable wrenching on your bike. For bigger tasks like this one, we always recommend getting it done professionally.
Moreover, full system exhausts are a great way to add some extra power to your bike. Expect to get anywhere from 3 to 10 additional horsepower out of your motorcycle with these exhausts. If you need a quick recommendation for which exhaust to get for your bike, we have tested and reviewed quite a few that might pique your interest.
So there you have a couple different ways to make your motorcycle exhaust sound deeper. We should mention that these methods will have varying levels of success depending on the type of bike you have and the type of engine that the bike uses.
However, all of the above-mentioned methods will make for a noticeable difference in the volume, pitch, and overall engine characteristics of your bike.
