The Motorcycle Exhaust Headers Buying Guide

If your brand new to the world of motorcycles and bike parts, purchasing an exhaust header for your two-wheeler can be intimidating. Exhaust headers, also known as pipe headers, are a critical component to every motorcycle exhaust system. Whether you plan on purchasing a new exhaust header to improve the appearance or the performance of your motorcycle, it’s important to understand what your exhaust header does. In this article, we’ll discuss what your motorcycle header does as well as what to look for when purchasing a new one.

Motorcycle Exhaust Systems 101

A motorcycle’s exhaust system is similar to the internal combustion engines that can be found in cars. The main goal of a motorcycle and car exhaust system is to make it easier for the engine to push exhaust gases out of cylinders. The one significant difference between them is the fact that cars rely on an exhaust manifold rather than headers. A car’s exhaust manifold houses all of your vehicle’s exhaust systems in one cylinder, while a bike’s exhaust header can have multiple cylinders. Motorcycle exhaust headers provide greater efficiency and performance, opposed to a simple exhaust manifold found in most automobiles. An exhaust header eliminates back pressure when your bike’s engine pushes out exhaust gasses, increasing your motorcycle’s overall performance. Adding a new exhaust header to your motorcycle can help you:

• Start your motorcycle easily when the weather is frigid and cold 
• Maneuver your bike easily from a full stop into traffic with sufficient power 
• Easily climb mountain roads with your motorcycle when fully loaded

Motorcycle Exhaust Header Types

It’s important to understand that not all motorcycle headers are made of the same materials. On older, vintage bikes, exhaust headers are normally made from a single tube of high-temperature steel. These days, most exhaust headers are manufactured with multi-walled construction that keeps the heat constrained in an inner layer.

Replacing Your Stock System’s Header

When you purchase a high-efficiency exhaust header for your motorcycle, it can help to improve your engine’s performance as well as your current gas mileage. An important choice buyers have to make before pulling the trigger on a new exhaust header is whether they want to go with stock replacement parts or aftermarket parts. At RC Components, we’re proud to be a leader of aftermarket and custom bike parts. Our RCX True Dual Headers offer a clean and classy design in both show-quality chrome and ceramic black. All RCX headers use factory mounting locations for easy and fast installation. If you’re looking to make a statement with your motorcycle’s exhaust header, consider picking up our RXC 2-Into-1-Header System. This state-of-the-art exhaust header offers a full-body 4.5 inch diameter muffler, creating a deep and aggressive tone while you ride. You also have the option of choosing between ten customizable exhaust tip designs!

Whether you’re interested in replacing your motorcycle’s exhaust system with a more efficient model, or need help choosing the best chrome wheels for your bike, the experts at RC Components can help. Contact our motorcycle experts to learn more about our products or shop online for your new custom wheels today!