I am looking to buy a quiet, nice sounding exhaust for my '09 450 Wolverine and I don't know what to get.

I've been doing some looking around lately and I've seen some slip on's and full exhaust systems. I want to know what the difference is, and I don't want to spend a whole lot of money. If there is one that I can get where I don't have to even it out with other upgrades I'd like to do that.

Also, what is the best quiet, nice toned exhaust for my atv.

 

Well what you are asking is a complicated answer, because each machine is different.

A full exhaust comes with a header pipe, and a muffler. Doing this will give the most broad range of power increase as you will gain power all across the power curve. But in order to complete those power gains you will have to re-jet your carb (or upgrade your EFI commander) and you will have to modify the air box to get more air into the engine to go along with the more fuel that the jetting mods will induce....... Then and only then will you see the full spectrum of what an exhaust system can do.

A slip-on, really only offers minimal gain, and just how much totally depends on what type of engine you are putting it on, and how the stock power curve functions.

For example....my z400 is a DOHC engine, that in stock form makes most of its power in the mid-range and top-end of the power curve. A well tuned slip-on exhaust will boost power on the low-end of the spectrum, but have no real benefit for the top-end. And in my case I was able to leave the stock jetting, and instead did some carb intake modification to stabilize the air going into the carb, thus allowing the engine to take advantage of the slip-on cannister/muffler. I left the stock air-box alone, and continued using a foam filter by Twin-Air.

In most instances, a slip-on alone will not add more power, but will instead change the power curve to be more towards the low end of the RPM scale. This is OK on an engine that revs high in stock form.

The problem is that utility ATVs like yours, are already designed for playing in the woods, and they are as such designed to take advantage of the best low end the engine has to offer. In most cases, a slip-on exhaust by itself will offer very little if any gains at all. So to see any real gains you will likely need to re-jet (or upgrade the EFI commander) and somehow get some more air into the system with a K&N filter or some air-box modifications, and get an entire exhaust with a head-pipe and muffler. The header is where most of the gains in an exhaust come from.

 

Wow, thank you for the very informative post. It really helped a lot.

The reason why I want one of these is not so much for the power or anything of that sort, and I know that sounds stupid but I want it more for sound and looks.

Is there any slip on exhaust that you'd recommend that would not be loud at all but a nice deep tone?

Thanks!

 

I would say for something quiet with good sound look at FMF and the Q series pipes.....they probably make one for the Wolverine.

 

i own an 01 400 big bear and i have to agree fmf makes good utility pipes. i have a powerline series fmf slip-on and it seemed to open the bike up a bit when i threw in a k&n and rejetted the main jet. i am happy with the subtle performance gains and nice tone. the powerline is made specifically for utiliy type atvs. sounds good but not nearly as good as my 450r lol.