Product Review: HMF Swamp Series Exhaust
If anyone out there needs further proof that we as riders have more options today than any time in human history need only check out the Swamp Series exhaust from HMF to be silenced. Okay, sorry. Bad pun. Anyway, it really is true: Aftermarket exhausts have been around from the beginning but the concept of running an exhaust system tailored for the specific conditions you run is pretty unique. We wanted to put a Swamp Series system through its paces to determine if HMF has truly created a performance specifically for mudders.
What Stands Out
5″ Stainless Steel Construction
304 stainless steel does not readily corrode, rust or stain with water as ordinary steel does.
Billet Aluminum Cap
The large exhaust shell requires a unique end cap. The Swamp’s end cap offers a mechanical design style that allows use of the HMF Swamp Snorkel system.
Snorkel System
TIG welded inlet and optional snorkel system are designed to keep your machine running while submerged.
Set Up
Fortunately, slapping the Swamp Series on to an ATV or UTV is no different than installing any other aftermarket exhaust. HMF provides high quality mounting hardware and should you run into any snags during the installation process, there are a plethora of how-to videos around the web to get you over the hump and on your way.
Also as is the case with just about any exhaust that flows more air than stock, some adjustments to the fuel mapping are required to make the most of the system’s performance potential. If your machine happens to be carbureted, expect to have to change the jets. HMF does sell the correct jet combination kits for most makes and models right on their site to remove the trial and error process for around $37.95.
In Action
Being the tinkerers that we are, we had to fire up our test Yamaha Grizzly 660 and take it for a spin the moment we installed the Swamp Series (even before adjusting the jetting). Turns out there was a performance gain even still! Our ATV sounded a bit more throaty, even at idle and made a more dedicated surge of power in each gear but at the cost of smoothness. When there’s performance on hand without the proper fuel adjustment, it’s a good sign of things to come. From there we dug out the jet kit and dialed it in to HMF’s recommendations. The performance gains were immediate! The increased surge of power was still present but this time spread more evenly across each gear. In short, the power became more usable. This is always a good thing when the intention is to cross an endless pit of slippery mud.
Odds and Ends
The cost of the Swamp Series varies depending on your machine’s make and model (they offer it for both ATVs and UTVs) as well as the finish you select. The pipe comes in trick Blackout finish (matte colored ceramic coating that is formulated to withstand temps up to 1200 degrees) for $725.95/ complete system. Standard stainless (like the one we tested here) knocks $100 of that price. A slip on muffler is also available by itself for $449 Blackout/ $399 stainless.
The bad news, at least as far as we’re concerned, is that the snorkel kit (which works every bit as well as advertised, by the way) will set the buyer back an additional $79.95. For so specialized an exhaust application, we would really have appreciated it if HMF would have included the snorkel kit as part of the package (even if they had to raise the MSRP up to $750 to do so).
A large mechanical baffle not only keeps the noise in check but it also requires no muffler packing. We like this!
Conclusion
Exhausts are almost always the quickest and easiest way to add performance to any ATV. If mud happens to be one of your priorities, the HMF Swamp Series is a must-have accessory. If, however, you don’t plan on running the optional snorkel or don’t view muck as a good time, there are more affordable options out there that can get the job done. Just don’t expect such goodies as ceramic coating and all-stainless construction if you go that route.
More Info
HMF Official Site