How important is a clean silencer?

[Mark6299]

How important for performance is it to maintain a freshly packed silencer. My machine is an RM 250. Does it adversely affect performance?

[KcDavis]

It can hurt performance and be louder than a freshly packed silencer.

[Mark6299]

I understand that, but is it considerable or barley noticable, performance wise?

[mxdude629]

ive never noticed a difference in performance in either a 4 stroke or 2 stroke from old packing or new packing.

[rpt50]

Packing will make your bike much quieter if the packing is old. It can also really affect performance if the packing is blown out, or if the little holes in the baffle are clogged up with carbon sludge. Go down to Home Depot and spend $5 on some pink insulation. Lots of threads here or your manual will show you how to do it. It will take about 10-15 minutes.

[yz144builderlol]

I understand that, but is it considerable or barley noticable, performance wise?

ive never noticed a difference in performance in either a 4 stroke or 2 stroke from old packing or new packing.

I used to be the cheap ass idiot that ran his exhaust with no packing for the longest time.

then one day I decided to repack. I rode it afterwards and I swear to god the bikes engine felt differently/better. the engine was totally different. it was nicer to ride. it was quieter. I swear it had more power/torque and was a better running altogether. I mean its not a drastic change, but definitely something you could actually feel and notice. I will definitely be keeping my exhaust freshly packed more often now!

and now that I think of it... I remember reading a MX mag that said "gain 2-3 HP for 15$".... guess what it was? exhaust packing!!! they say it can improve 2HP just from proper packing, which is very cheap and easy BTW, and I totally agree. my bike WAS noticeably stronger after packing it. 4 stroke 450R BTW.

[mxdude629]

I used to be the cheap ass idiot that ran his exhaust with no packing for the longest time.

then one day I decided to repack. I rode it afterwards and I swear to god the bikes engine felt differently/better. the engine was totally different. it was nicer to ride. it was quieter. I swear it had more power/torque and was a better running altogether. I mean its not a drastic change, but definitely something you could actually feel and notice. I will definitely be keeping my exhaust freshly packed more often now!

and now that I think of it... I remember reading a MX mag that said "gain 2-3 HP for 15$".... guess what it was? exhaust packing!!! they say it can improve 2HP just from proper packing, which is very cheap and easy BTW, and I totally agree. my bike WAS noticeably stronger after packing it. 4 stroke 450R BTW.

Id say it was still worth repacking my pipes if anything just to keep em quiet. thats good that you could tell a difference though.

[MasterT2000]

Yes it does affect performance. How much you will notice it is anybodys guess. I always notice that throttle response is improved whenever I've repacked on any bike. But it also makes your bike sound better. Let it go too long and and your bike will sound like a clapped out piece of schit. On four strokes it is very important to keep your silencer maintained properly. If let go too long, the heat generated by a 4T will burn a hole in the side of your muffler. Seen it happen many times.

[Refresh]

i can absolutely tell a difference in sound and slightly in power on my rm250's. The thing is, i think they lose the "newness" within 10 hours. I usually go 20-30 hours and repack before the perforated piece gets clogged up and makes more work...

[Mark6299]

Sounds good. I will take it down and freshen things up.

[kyle720]

If you let the packing go for too long, the core can break out in the center of the silencer too, then you have to buy a new one.