Choosing An ATV Exhaust


You can never have enough power when it comes to your ATV. Upgrading your exhaust system is one of the easiest and quickest ways to add more horsepower to your ATV.
 
There are several different types of ATV aftermarket exhaust systems. You should choose one that meets your needs and performance desires. The main reasons for upgrading to an aftermarket exhaust are additional power, appearance, reduced weight, replacement of a damaged factory exhaust and modification of exhaust volume or noise.
 
If you ride your ATV around your house or at trails that have a maximum noise decibel rule, you can buy an ATV exhaust that is designed to reduce noise. However, these will usually cost your ATV power.
 
If you are adding aftermarket parts to your ATV for the sole purpose of turning it into a show bike, you can buy an ATV exhaust system that is designed to be purely cosmetic. This type of exhaust usually does not change the sound or performance of your ATV.
 
If your main goal is to upgrade the performance of your ATV and add more power, you can buy exhaust systems that are all about maximizing power.
 
These types of exhausts are usually louder than a stock exhaust. However, don’t assume that more noise equals more power. A poorly designed muffler will introduce turbulence in the exhaust flow which will actually impede airflow and reduce horsepower despite the fact that it has reduced backpressure and is louder.
 
But what kind of exhaust should you buy if you have more than one reason to upgrade from the one installed by the manufacturer? It is not uncommon for an ATV owner to ride at different locations. At one place you might need more power and at another, for example in the woods hunting, you will want to be as quiet as possible. Knowing that reducing noise will cost you power, finding a way to have both seems to be impossible. However, with today's technology you can have both.
 

If you need power one day and less noise another, you will be interested in a tunable exhaust. This type of exhaust uses removable disks to vary the backpressure. You simply add more disks when you need to reduce backpressure. SuperTrapp manufactures a good quality tunable exhaust. Just remember, whenever you adjust your backpressure, it is very important to rejet or upgrade your ATV's carburetor.

It is important to keep in mind that too little back pressure can damage your engine. Your fuel/air mixture is leaned out as backpressure is reduced which causes your engine to run hotter. This can cause damage to your exhaust valves. Unless you are going to rebuild your engine every 10 miles, you need to make sure you consider long term durability when you select your exhaust system.

When looking for an aftermarket ATV exhaust system, it is important to consider the quality. Resistance to corrosion is a very important quality in an ATV exhaust system. Riding through the mud, sand and water reduces the longevity of any exhaust system. If you use your ATV for work, it may come in contact with even more corrosive materials such as fertilizer or insecticides. Some aftermarket exhausts are made of aluminum, which is lightweight and somewhat resistant to corrosion. You can also find exhausts made of stainless steel. This type of exhaust is a bit heaver and more expensive, but significantly more resistant to corrosion. To maximize resistance to corrosion, the finish of a high quality muffler should be brushed or polished.

The finest materials in the world are worthless if they are constructed poorly. Some exhaust systems are held together with rivets and spot welds. This isn’t the best combination for a high-vibration, high-pressure component. You should look for a fully welded exhaust system, which trades rivets for bolts in the areas that are meant to be used as attachment points or in areas where welding doesn’t work.

 

A quality aftermarket ATV exhaust system will cost at least a couple of hundred dollars. When you select your exhaust system, it is important to evaluate your needs and performance expectations. Upgrading your exhaust system is a simple, fast and cost effective way to improve ATV performance by ten percent. You can usually install the exhaust system yourself in a few hours by using ordinary hand tools.

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