Specifically, you'll gain a hefty weight reduction over the stock unit, a more aggressive throttle response for the trails, no clutching or jetting will be required, and the fact that you're purchasing a silencer that is as dependable and reliable as the stock muffler you've replaced. If you ever damage the OEM silencer, the replacement costs are pretty significant, you should use this as an opportunity to replace it with a quality aftermarket unit. You'll also gain a better sound and in most cases a mild improvement in mileage with the aftermarket units. The installation will be a breeze too. We replaced the silencer several times during back to back comparisons on the MXZ behind the trailer in about fifteen minutes each.

For the MXZ we decided to look at two manufactures silencers, Martin Barkley Racing Products (MBRP) and DynoPort, since the DynoPort was already on the sled. As we ventured out for the silencer testing we needed only a few basic tools to swap silencers back and forth. A spring puller which saves the knuckles and prevents springs from flying all over the place. A single wrench for the silencer mounts. The MXZ only has two, some aftermarket manufacturers will use both and some only use one. I preferred to see both used, but MBRP had an interesting way of supporting the stock pipe. A screwdriver to add the MBRP support and most importantly, RTV heat sealant to seal the silencer to the pipe.

 

After a year on the sled, the DynoPort still looked great. The silencer is well built, we just didn't like the sound it produced. The installation of the DynoPort looks sturdier with both bolt posts and the rubber bracket used. The MBRP used only one bolt stud and the rubber bracket is used for the muffler and not the silencer. Click picture for larger image

The DynoPort for this test had actually been running since last season on the MXZ and we simply wanted to see how it compared to the MBRP units. The silencer was actually scheduled to be removed and the OEM silencer installed. When we originally purchased the DynoPort, the MXZ was new and we actually had to wait for DynoPort to produce a model for the 600. The DynoPort was a love-hate relationship from the beginning in that it sounded better than stock and weighted less, but it provided little in the area of throttle response. The sound was also not an overwhelming winner and most felt it had a slight drone. The general consensus amongst testers what that it annoyed most everyone who rode the sled. The silencer from DynoPort is a high quality unit in it construction and materials, but the overall sound produced was not appreciated.

I said MBRP units earlier, since we actually looked at two very different silencer models from MBRP. One was the tried and true B&B Eliminator silencer and the other being the new Quiet Silencer that is specifically targeting the trail market that needs to be more cognoscente of the sound levels in more populated areas. Extremely loud sleds are increasing causing private land owners to think twice about letting them run so close to their residences. The midnight and later racers with straight thru pipes are starting to impact the average trail riders.

 

We actually had to think when we used the supplied mounting brackets from MBRP. (Eliminator pictured.) This is not a how we would have liked to see the silencer supported via the OEM muffler and screw clamp. A direct attachment from the rubber mount to the silencer would be preferred, but the MBRP's are so small this is not possible. Utilizing both bolt studs is possible and would add strength of the installation. Click picture for larger image

MBRP is one of only a handful or pipe/silencer manufacturers that are building units that produce the power and responsiveness gain without a sound volume that offends. Manufactures like MBRP should be commended on recognizing the need and taking the risk to manufacture such a silencer. Most 'mature' snomobilers would be more than satisfied with a power gain and minimal increase in volume. Have you ever heard of a car referred to as a 'sleeper'? A sledneck may feel otherwise, but I try to ignore the fringe that associates loud with fast.

The DynoPort was on the sled the longest, but I was never able to form a lasting bond with the silencer. As more miles piled up on the sled, the silencer did mature in its sound and get slightly louder, but not excessively. Along with the drone that I mentioned the one thing I noticed about the DynoPort was that it produced a much lower, meaning the sound note or tone, than any other silencer. This low level attenuation was most likely the cause of the silencers general dislike amongst testers. Had we been able to test the DynoPort single pipe and the can silencer together, we would have most likely had different opinions of the sound and responsiveness of the product. The can silencer alone is a quality product, but the low frequency sound was too annoying and the silencer was basically providing a weight reduction only. Down the road, I'd like the opportunity to sample the single pipe and can silencer from DynoPort to see if Snowmobile Online can coax 115 horsepower from the 600 c.c. Rotax engine as DynoPort did.

 

Compared to the Eliminator, the OEM silencer is absolutely huge and extremely heavy. Click picture for larger image

The next pipe to be installed was the MBRP B&B Eliminator, which required all of ten minutes. The B&B Eliminator is noticeably smaller than the OEM, DynoPort, and MBRP Quiet can silencers. The silencer is a beautiful unit with a polished stainless body and painted black tubes. The pipe may be small, but the sound is big. This silencer can be described a straight through design that provides an aggressive bark to any sleds note. The first pull of the starter cord produced a rumble that was music to my ears and brought smiles to everyone in the garage. The pipe may be on the loud side, maybe even too loud for some riding areas, but it sounded down right delicious to me. At full throttle you are greeted with a snarl that will certainly turn heads on the lake or cause other snowmobilers to glare at you on the trail as you pass by. Unloading from a closed trailer, caused several on-lookers to wander by the trailer to ask whose pipe had been installed on the MXZ. The younger riders felt the B&B Eliminator was about perfect, while some of the older guys in the group felt it was a bit too loud. My personal opinion, I could live with the bark, just to be able to enjoy the sound every time I blipped the throttle.

After the B&B Eliminator, we installed the latest silencer designed by MBRP, the Quiet silencer. This silencer was specifically designed, according to Martin Barkley himself, to provide the weight loss, throttle response, horsepower and torque gain of the B&B Eliminator, but without the higher decibel sound levels. This was a risk, since so many riders associate power with loud. It was a well thought out risk, and Martin produced a winner in the Quiet silencer. The silencer is louder than stock and about on par with the DynoPort can silencer, but the Quiet silencers sound is slighltly deeper and fuller than the stock can. The Quiet silencer also produces a great sound under power and sounds considerably better than stock at speed and during wide open runs on the lakes. The Quiet silencer became my favorite immediately and I fell in love with the tones it produced along with the increased throttle responsiveness. A long days ride will not leave you screaming over dinner with your ears ringing using this silencer.

 

The Quiet pipe installed adds a bit of shine to the MXZ engine bay. We'll let you know how long it lasts. Click picture for larger image	The Quiet pipe is larger than the Eliminator, but it's still dwarfed by the OEM silencer. Click picture for larger image

A persons tolerance or taste of silencer sound is very personal, but everyone wants the same basics. Weight loss, horsepower and torque gains (even thought they are minimal), fuel mileage gains, and a better sound over the OEM silencer. I would recommend you hear a manufacturers product on a sled before you spend the cash, but I can recommend any of the MBRP products.

It was pretty much a 50-50 split as to which MBRP we liked the most. Each test rider had a definite opinion as which silencer was the one of choice. This may sound like an expensive solution, but with the ease at which the silencers can be changed, you could swap back and forth based on your trip plans. We actaully did this over a period of three weeks and it became such a routine, that one guy could fill the sled while another changed the silencer and they'd finish at the same time.

The new Quiet silencer is at the top of my list, but the B&B Eliminator did produce a seductive bark. If you ride in more populated areas, I would sway towards the Quiet silencer over the B&B Eliminator. If you ride the wide open plains and back woods, treat yourself to the bark of the B&B Eliminator.

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