What is Motorcycle Exhaust Made of?

Indeed the motorcycle exhaust is one of the crucial motorbike parts responsible for your motorbike’s normal functioning. Now the question arises what motorcycle exhaust is made of? 

Most commonly, the manufacturer uses stainless steel, titanium rod, aluminum steel, and mild steel material to make the motorcycle exhaust. While making the motorbike exhaust, it is ensured that the exhaust can withstand high temperatures and has good bending properties so it can be shaped easily. 

Let’s consider what it means and what you can do about it. 

While writing this post, I leave no stone unturned so you can know everything about the materials from which the motorcycle exhaust is made. 

What is Motorcycle Exhaust Made of? 

Motorcycle exhaust is the most crucial motorbike part which makes your motorbike function normally; now the question arises, what is motorcycle exhaust made of?

Most commonly, the manufacturer uses stainless steel, titanium rod, aluminum steel, and mild steel material to make the motorcycle exhaust. While making the motorbike exhaust, it is ensured that the exhaust can withstand high temperatures and has good bending properties so it can be shaped easily. 

Also, the motorbike exhaust should have been made from rust-proof material so it can’t rust if your motorbike is left in heavy rain. 

Why is the Motorcycle Exhaust Rust Proof? 

So far, you understand some materials from which the motorbike exhaust is made; now the question arises, why should the motorcycle exhaust be rust-proof? 

The motorcycle exhaust should be made rust-proof because high moisture air gets attacked on the exhaust, making the rust layer on the exhaust which interfaces your motorbike to exhaust gasses and work properly. 

With the rust-proof material used in the motorbike exhaust, you can make sure that the motorbike exhaust will last for years without any corrosion.

Do Motorcycle Exhausts Change Color to Gold? 

Indeed the motorcycle exhaust should be made from a material that is not only rust-proof but should have some strength. Now the question arises, do motorcycle exhausts change color to gold? 

Exhausts change color to gold from long exposure to heat. Still, nowadays, the motorbike exhaust has a heat-resistant material that doesn’t change color to gold. But if your newly bought exhaust changes the color, then there’s something wrong with the material used in the exhaust.

Moreover, the exhaust, which turns in gold color, can no longer withstand the heat. You better change the motorbike exhaust. Even in some cases, these exhausts lose their strength and can break down easily. 

In the next section, I’ll share materials usually used in the motorbike exhaust, along with their pros and cons. 

Also, read my previous post which discussed what’re motorbike exhausts baffles and how can you deepen the sound of the exhaust, CLICK HERE to read.

How to Clean Your Motorbike Exhaust Pipes? 

Indeed the motorbike exhaust can change color when at high temperatures; now it’s time to learn how you can clean your motorbike exhaust. 

I divided this section into two; first for chrome finish motorbike exhaust and second for stainless steel motorbike exhaust.

Steps to Cleaning Chrome Finish Motorbike Exhaust: 

The chrome finish on the exhaust is malleable and thin, which means you can’t scratch or polish the exhaust with a chrome finish. 

Experts wildly recommend the below ways through which you can clean your chrome finish exhaust without any single scratch. 

Steps:	Details:
The preparation.	Clean exhaust with a pre-soaked rig or scrub.
Remove stubborn stains.	Use soap and glass cleaner along with water to remove stubborn stains.
Get rid of more stubborn build-up.	Use a copper brush or penny manufacturer before 1982 to clean stubborn buildup.

Step 1: The preparation: 

As mentioned above, you can’t scratch your motorbike exhaust as the chrome is malleable and thin. 

You need to soak an old cloth in the water for at least five minutes in this step. Now soak the clumps and dust on the motorbike exhaust and wipe it with a rag until all dust and clumps are removed.

Wet rags will cause clumps and dust to soften, helping you to remove dust easily. 

Step 2: Remove Stubborn Stains: 

Removing stubborn stains on the chrome finish exhaust is challenging with water. 

In this case, you can use soap and glass cleaner along with water. This is one of the effective ways through which you can easily remove stubborn stains, including burned insects.

If this isn’t working, then you can use a tar remover and carburetor cleaner.

Additionally, with the above steps, you can’t remove blue stains caused by the heat shield on the exhaust.

You can use an anti-blue agent if you want to remove all blue stains from your motorbike exhaust.  

Step 3: Get Rid of Stubborn Build-up: 

Sometimes the ways mentioned above can’t remove extra stubborn carbon build-up, which you need to scrap from the exhaust. 

You can use a copper brush or, interestingly, you can use a penny manufacturer before 1982. 

It’s because the copper brush and penny both are softer than the chrome finish on the exhaust. Don’t clean stubborn build-up rigorously even if your motorbike exhaust coating is tougher than the penny.

What’re Some Motorbike Exhaust Materials? 

So far, you understand why motorbike exhausts change colors when heating. Now the question arises, what’re some motorbike exhaust materials? 

Stainless Steel: 

Stainless steel is the most common motorbike exhaust material you can see in any motorbike; the stainless steel material is heat resistant, waterproof, and has color-changing properties. 

This easy-to-manufacture material is highly attractive and comes with easy-to-bend and anti-corrosion properties. The best thing about stainless steel is that it’s easily available, highly durable, and has great aesthetic properties. 

However, even after heat resistance properties, the stainless material doesn’t withstand the heat cycle effectively, just like other materials. Also, stainless steel material is expensive and prone to marks and scratches.

Titanium: 

Titanium is probably the most expensive exhaust material available, but it is worth every penny. Exhausts made from titanium material are relatively lightweight and have excellent durability. 

Not only this, titanium has rust preventive and great aesthetic properties. Titanium is the only material that has a high durability-to-weight ratio, however, in some circumstances, the titanium exhaust starts to rust. 

Mild Steel: 

Opposite to titanium, mild steel is one of the easily available cost-effective materials you can use in your motorbike exhaust; mild steel also has excellent bending and highly durable properties. 

Although it’s a cost-effective option, it’s not ideal for regular riders because the mild steel doesn’t come with heat resistance properties like the stainless exhaust. 

Because of the lack of heat resistance properties, the mild steel will start to change its color because of heat to blue or sometimes golden. When buying a motorbike exhaust, it’s crucial to make sure the exhaust can withstand high temperatures as the exhaust will have to go through a lot of heat. 

Aluminum: 

Aluminum exhaust is a short exhaust that comes with an aluminum layer on it. As a straightforward matter, the aluminum exhaust can corrode easily if ever the aluminum layer gets peeled, and that’s why experts never recommend going with Aluminum exhaust. 

This type of exhaust is not easy to maintain and assemble and is not easily accessible. 

Nickel Alloy: 

Nickel alloy is another premium motorbike exhaust material that can be the best alternative for titanium exhaust. This material comes with a heat-resistant material, great aesthetic, and is extremely durable. 

However, nickel alloy is hard to find, expensive, and hard to maintain and assemble. 

Which Motorbike Exhaust Materials is Best for You? 

So far, you understand some types of exhaust materials and their pros and cons. Now the question arises, which motorbike exhaust material is best for you? 

If you’re looking for a cost-effective option that doesn’t come with excellent heat-resistant properties, then you better go with the stainless steel and aluminum motorbike exhaust.

And suppose you have a sports motorbike that emits a lot of heat through motorbike exhaust and are looking for a durable exhaust. In that case, you should go with the titanium and nickel-coated motorbike exhaust. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Final Verdict: 

What is motorcycle exhaust made of? Most commonly, the manufacturer uses stainless steel, titanium rod, Aluminum steel, and mild steel material to make the motorcycle exhaust. 

While making the motorbike exhaust, it is ensured that the exhaust can withstand high temperatures and has good bending properties so it can be shaped easily. 

I’ve mentioned exhaust material which you can use according to your preference and motorbike type.