Harley Pipes – Choosing the Right Exhaust for Your Bike

There is only one major reason why most riders go for the much-touted Harley Davidson bikes. The Harley pipes are sure to make heads turn with their commanding roars and with the exceptional appearance Harley bikes are famous for. A Harley exhaust spells the quality of ride you will be enjoying and choosing the right one lies in fully understanding how they function.

The positioning of these Harley pipes is meant to address the machine and the user’s needs. For the motorcycles used in trekking off-road trails and high mountains, the exhaust pipes are functionally placed on a higher position. Mounting the pipes high is necessary to avoid water and dirt getting into these exhausts and clogging them. A clogged pipe will definitely affect the motorcycle’s performance and may even prove to be dangerous in this rough adventure set up. On the other hand, the Harley pipes in motorcycles for regular street use are mounted lower. This lower position is a good advantage for the need to carry passengers. The extra leg space is best appreciated for convenience and comfort.

The design should not be chosen on how complicated the curves look. Sharp corners do not always mean a better, mean looking engine. A well designed system should offer smooth curves that will enable the exhaust to easily vent along the pipe and ensure smooth engine flow. A clogged exhaust system can definitely reduce engine power the same way clogged fuel lines do. It would be best to examine the path of fuel flow from the gas tank to the engine and how the exhaust can freely escape through the Harley pipes. A system which is poorly designed will restrict this exhaust flow and will consequently reduce the engine’s efficiency.

A good roar is what satisfies a lot of Harley enthusiasts. However, there have been community and city ordinances that set a limit on the loudness of the motor bikes plying across its streets. The main function of a muffler is to control the sparks and the degree of sound. A good point with these mufflers is that they can be manipulated to create the acceptable quality of noise you want to produce from your Harley bike. A good muffler also serves as a converter to change toxic emission chemicals into something more environment-friendly. Unburned fuel, carbon monoxide and other possible dangerous gasses are converted into water vapor, carbon dioxide and other safer compounds that are less damaging to the Earth.

There are also slip-fit mufflers that will allow you to retain the original Harley pipes while improving the exhaust sound and performance. Factory mufflers tend to be restricted due to government regulations. Slip-fit mufflers will allow you to increase the flow as the original Harley exhaust pipes retain lower end torque and velocity.

Choosing the right Harley pipes highly depends on your hierarchy of motor biking priorities. Whether you go for the ‘cool’ look or you prefer the optimum motorcycle performance, the Harley Davidson premium label of motorcycles offers a variety of options to make your ride enjoyably impressive.