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
£100–£900
Always get a written quote. Prices vary by bike, region, and parts brand.