Fmf Racing Q Muffler
FMF Racing Q Muffler
CW EVALUATION
Shut up your Thumper
NOISE IS A BIG PROBLEM THESE DAYS, particularly off-road. Do not be fooled into thinking less sound equals more ground, but becoming a better neighbor will help in the fight to keep what little land we still have open. FMF Racing’s new Q four-stroke muffler is paving the way.
The aluminum-bodied can contains a conventional perforated core, a spark-
DETAILS
FMF Racing 18033 S. Santa Fe Ave. Rancho Dominguez, CA 90221 310/631-4363 www.fmfracing.com Price..........$330
Ups Deadens sound Tractable power Snappy race-pipe feel
Downs Pricey Hot, hot, hot! No heat shield on header
arrestor-equipped mechanical sound damper and fiberglass packing. Despite the additional internals, FMF says flow rate approaches that of a straightthrough design. What’s more, the Q weighs as much as 5 pounds less than the original-equipment mufflers it is designed to replace.
We tried the Q on a Suzuki DR-Z400E and a pair of Yamahas, a WR250F and a WR426F. All testing took place using FMF’s Power Bomb header ($190), which has a small “pre-muffler” that typically reduces sound readings by about 1 decibel.
The Suzuki has one of the best stock exhausts going, yet buyers often replace it with an aftermarket muffler that ups noise substantially. Using the standard SAE J1287 stationary sound test, we found the Q increased noise levels by 4 decibels, from the stock 91 dB to a reasonable 95 dB. Performance-wise, it added a bit of snap in the lower rev range.
In sharp contrast to that of the DR-Z, the WR250/400/426 pipe is one of the loudest around, at least with its muffler insert removed-virtually a mandatory modification for acceptable engine performance. The Q didn’t have any effect on the throttle response of either Yamaha, but it did a real number on both bikes’ 102-dB noise outputs, knocking the readings down to a much more acceptable 96 dB.
Because the Q gets extremely hot, particularly for an aftermarket system, we were surprised its packing looked so good after 60 hours of use. Ditto the packing of the unit we blatantly ran at high rpm for an extended period. Neither example showed any sign of damage or a change in sound, though disassembling the rear chamber was difficult. FMF recommends repacking only the forward portion of the muffler, which came apart easily. So, if you feel the need to make an exhaust upgrade, first consider the consequences. The Q muffler is a big step in the right direction.
