What is a Silencer (Can)?
The rear section of the exhaust that quietens the engine note and often shapes the bike's sound.
Simplified animation — not to scale.
In plain English
Exhaust gas passes through packed baffles and perforated tubing inside the silencer, which slows and disperses the sound waves before they exit — trading some performance for noise reduction.
“Ear defenders for the neighbourhood — dampening the raw bark of the engine into something road-legal.”
How it works
Sound-deadening packing material, usually stainless wool, inside the can absorbs and disperses the pressure pulses in the exhaust gas as it passes through perforated internal tubing. Over time that packing degrades, letting more noise through.
Signs of trouble
- ⚠Exhaust note becoming noticeably louder over time
- ⚠Visible corrosion or discolouration on the outer casing
- ⚠Rattling from loose internal baffles
- ⚠Failing an MOT noise check
What affects the repair?
We don't publish a generic price for this part because a responsible estimate needs a named motorcycle and a recent quote. These are the factors a qualified technician will weigh up.
- •Diagnosis: intermittent or system-wide faults may need dealer-level tools before the actual part can be identified.
- •Accessibility: some parts are quick to reach; others require significant fairing, tank or engine-cover removal.
- •Model differences: prices and labour times vary widely between manufacturers and specification levels.
- •New vs used: a genuine OEM part fitted at a franchised dealer costs more than a serviceable used or aftermarket part.
- •Calibration / coding: some parts require post-fit calibration, coding or a road test, which adds labour time.
Technical review pending