The popularity of the Honda Talon quickly gained our interest at HMF leading to the development of a full line of exhausts and equipment.
The purpose of this article is to go further into depth regarding some of the most common questions and details about exhausts for the Honda Talon.
Slip-On vs. Full System
HMF systems are available in the Titan series either as a slip-on or a dual full exhaust. The Performance series is available only in the dual full system setup.
Titan slip-on systems follow the same path as the stock exhaust and wraps around the back of the machine under the cargo bed with the exhaust exiting on the passenger side. Installation is straightforward and keeps the machine looking still fairly stock but has all the advantages of an aftermarket exhaust like improved throttle response, better sound, power, torque, etc.
The dual full systems in both the Titan and Performance series are undoubtedly one of the more unique and eye-catching systems we have developed. The layout and placement of the engine in the Talon allowed a lot of freedom when designing a complete exhaust and the result is a dual full system that starts with a mandrel bent, stainless steel, headpipe that is welded by hand and merges into a crossover before splitting again into two silencers exiting straight out the back of the vehicle.
Sound Output
One of the most common questions regarding the Talon exhaust systems is how loud are they? The answer depends on which system and series of exhaust is chosen.
Performance dual full systems are going to be the loudest of all the systems available. The sound is unmistakable and very aggressive from idle all the way to redline. By our measurements sound levels were about 83 dB at idle and 102 dB around 4000 rpm.
Titan series exhausts can differ quite a bit on sound output. Because the Titan series is unique it can be configured with our QS (quiet) or XL (loud) internal core construction. Titan QS systems will be only slightly louder than stock by just a few decibels on average, while the Titan XL systems will have sound output very similar to the Performance series particularly in the dual full system arrangement.
For owners looking to get all the performance benefits and visual appeal of the dual full system but do not want a particularly loud exhaust system; the Tian QS dual full system is the way to go.
Durability
Without question our Titan series of exhausts was designed to be more durable compared to the Performance series. At the sacrifice of some weight, the Titan series utilizes a stainless steel outer shell with a sealed & welded end cap on the inlet vs the aluminum, riveted shells of the Performance series.
This isn’t to say that the Performance series can’t hold up to a fair amount of abuse, and is still the exhaust of choice for many of our short course racers as well as owners looking for more customization options.
For more information on the differences between the various exhaust series see our tech article highlighting the different series of exhausts.
What is the difference between each series?
Quiet Core Inserts
Another common question we get, particularly for those that already own the dual full Performance series exhaust is how much the HMF Quiet Core Inserts will reduce the sound output.
While these inserts do reduce the sound about 3-4 dB this rarely is enough of a change for owners that need to meet certain sound restrictions or achieve sound levels closer to stock.
Another potential issue that occurs when installing the inserts is the increased pressure and latent heat build up inside the silencers. If used for short periods, or in very light load situations this is less of an issue. However long term use and fast, hard riding can quickly result in deterioration of the silencers and require more frequent maintenance and repair.
It is not recommended to use Quiet Core Inserts in Titan QS exhausts.
Tuning
No matter what HMF exhaust system is installed on a Talon, tuning is required.
Tuning can be as simple as a piggyback fuel controller like the HMF Optimizer or as advanced as custom built ECU tunes.
The important aspect of tuning when installing an exhaust is to correct the fuel delivery and ensure air fuel ratios (AFR) remain within safe limits. The Talon does have an oxygen sensor, however the adjustment range within the ECU as stock is fairly limited and inactive at higher rpm and load where maintaining safe AFR is critical to power and engine health.
Two different tuning solutions are available directly from HMF: The HMF Optimizer, and DynoJet PowerVision 3. To learn more about these tuners visit our tech article that discusses the functions of each device.
What Tuning Options does HMF Offer?
Posted Thursday, April 14, 2022
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