How to Make a Motorcycle Muffler Louder

Stock muffler pipes can be quiet and lackluster. However, an aftermarket motorcycle exhaust can cost $200 and up, which puts it out of reach for many motorcycle owners. If you want to make your motorcycle sound louder and more aggressive, you can do the work yourself for less than $20. The entire process takes less than an hour, and you can do it with standard tools found in most garages.

Things You'll Need

  • 1 3/4-inch bi-metal hole-saw Saw arbor Arbor extension Electric drill WD40 or cutting oil Vise grips
  • Insert the hole-saw into the electric drill, and remove the center bit. This will make the saw easier to work with. You may choose to use a corded electric drill for this project.

  • Cover the rear of the exhaust pipe with cutting oil or WD40. Spray the openings in the exhaust pipe, since this is where you will be cutting. Keep spraying the exhaust pipe throughout the entire cutting process.

  • Using the saw, cut through the rear of pipe just inside the chrome ring. Continue cutting the pipe until you have cut through the first and second layers of the exhaust pipe.

  • Attach a pair of vise grips to the baffle inside the exhaust pipe. The baffle is the piece inside the exhaust pipe that quiets the sound coming from your motorcycle's engine. Twist and pull the baffle to remove it from the inside of the pipe.

  • Repeat this process on the lower exhaust pipe. You may need the arbor extension to reach inside the pipe to make the cuts. You can also loosen the pipe and let it hang off the bike while you make the necessary cuts and remove the baffles. This will make it easier to reach without an arbor extension.