Trufit Exhaust Blogger

Classic big bikes are purebred beasts. You know the ones we’re talking about, right? We’re talking about the vintage motorcycles that defined an era. Strictly speaking, the fat-engined bikes are outdated, but aftermarket aficionados still have a special place in their hearts for timeless classics. Now, personal bias aside, here are some tips for choosing the best motorcycle exhausts for your classic big bike. Big Bikes Have Never Had It So Good Veteren motorcycles are enjoying something of a revival. Nonetheless, they were built at a time when carbon emissions weren’t an issue. Petrol, gasoline to some of our readers, was just an endless fuel source. Today, things are a little different, so your classic motorcycle must accommodate modern emission guidelines. Say No to Scrapped Parts There are scrapyards and specialist forums out there, but should you be using these resource? Second-hand parts aren’t always the optimal solution, not when they’ve been exposed to the...

The architecture of a single chamber exhaust system changes from one kit to the next. What gives here? Why is one single chamber product shaped with a standard single inlet, single outlet form factor while the next kit is fitted with two inlets? More importantly, what specific exhaust eliminating functions are addressed when you fit a single chamber exhaust system? Scraping the Open Pipe Envelope   That’s right, by installing a single welded muffler box inline, your exhaust system is approaching a major barrier. Not for the faint of heart, you’ll gain that deep muscle car tone, plus a performance profile that doesn’t sacrifice hard-earned horsepower. Back inside your neighbour’s vehicle, a car that likely employs a multi-chambered exhaust system , there are special baffles and channels that exist to reduce the engine’s back pressure noise profile. In your single chamber system , those baffles and chambered innards are rejected in favour of a straight-through channel arch...

A deep sense of satisfaction slips through your vibrating bones when your exhaust system lets rip , but that happy grin rapidly drops away when you enter a residential district. Clearly, your car exhaust is generating too much noise. It’s breaking some local ordinance and upsetting your neighbours. Let’s pacify that street full of howling dogs and angry residents by making sure your exhaust noise level is street legal. Gain Some Noise Perspective The decibel scale measures sound intensity. The loudness of the sound is calibrated across a logarithmic scale, but we don’t really need to know the mathematics behind the science. Suffice to say, we have a measurement system for sound intensity, and we also have several reference points that illustrate key points on that chart. If you’re listening to a regular conversation, you’re experiencing 60-dB (decibels) of loudness. A crowded party ramps that figure up to 70-dB. It’s at this point that you really recognize the sound as an irrit...

The engine in a motorbike is smaller than a car engine, yet its noise profile is louder than its four-wheeled highway cousin. Admittedly, that larger engine is concealed in the car engine compartment, an enclosed alcove that can be soundproofed, while the two-wheeler wears its power plant out in the open. Still, this question begs an answer. Are there exhaust noise differences between cars and motorbikes? Motorcycle Culture Unlike cars, motorbike owners often buy their wheels with the sole intent of putting the bike on steroids. The biker immediately opts for aftermarket pipes. The bike pipes are shorter than a car exhaust system , though, as is the muffler housing . The upshot of this condensed exhaust system is more noise. Essentially, that biker culture and the motorbike’s streamlined form encourage noisy leanings. That bias demands svelte pipework, tighter turns on a slimmer frame, and a near obsessional need to feel that noise vibrate the owners’ fillings. Engine Ar...

If your financial situation is rocky this month, you probably think your vehicle’s performance credentials aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Hit the brakes on that thought, for there’s a way to boost engine performance without buying a new exhaust kit . We’re talking about exhaust system cleaning , a procedure that purges hydrocarbon leftovers and other pipe-fused pollutants so that the exhaust gases produced by your car engine can move unimpeded. Beware of Carbon Deposits An underappreciated exhaust system has to deal with the same waste that it’s removing from the discharge rushing out of the vehicle’s pipe tips. Certainly, most of this gaseous load is catalysed, broken down until it’s transformed into oxygen and nitrogen. However, the fuel is loaded with hydrocarbons, which means carbon particulates are also passengers in the exhaust stream. That sooty stuff, even in tiny quantities, tends to coat the inner surfaces of your pipework in ashy carbon. Sparks Performanc...

A poorly performing catalytic converter isn’t like most other working vehicle systems. If a car fuse blows, an electrical system goes on the blink. It’s the same with the engine because you feel the misfiring cylinders. The engine’s overheating, the car’s stalling out, and there’s a general performance drop off. No, a bad catalytic converter isn’t easy to diagnose, but its symptoms can really hit hard. Hard-hitting Environmental Symptoms What happens when your vehicle’s catalytic converter goes bad? Well, your emissions are moving unprocessed into the atmosphere. When it was functioning properly, the chemical neutralization process converted those emissions into harmless compounds. That’s no longer the case. In the short-term, the car no longer complies with local vehicle emissions standards, as set by a nationally accredited authority. From a long-term perspective, those harmful emissions are contributing to the global warming problems we’re all trying so hard to preven...

Use your five senses when a car exhaust leak is suspected. Swap out the sense of taste for common sense, though, because you’re not about to lick a failing exhaust pipe. Anyways, the symptoms we’re looking for are likely to cause a racket, and they’ll probably stink. Finally, look for clouds of nasty gases. Better yet, come with us now as we describe these common symptoms. Noise and Vibrations A performance-tuned exhaust roar is loud, but there’s a feeling of refined control behind the sonic rumbling.  Damaged car exhaust  systems, on the other hand, create a hissing and crackling racket. Listen for the irregular sputtering tones as a rusted or blown seam is forced open. The backpressure is leaking, perhaps before any hazardous emissions are scrubbed from the discharge. A “bad vibes” feeling often accompanies the noise. The harsh metallic reverberations propagate through the chassis, run up the steering wheel, and reduce the vehicle’s handling characteristics. Livin...