Can Removing the Catalytic Converter Increase the Power of a Motorcycle?
3 Answers
Removing the catalytic converter from a motorcycle can increase its power. Composition of the Catalytic Converter: The catalytic converter is generally composed of four parts: the shell, the vibration damping layer, the carrier, and the catalyst coating. The shell is made of stainless steel to prevent oxide scale from falling off, which could clog the carrier. The vibration damping layer consists of a gasket or wire mesh pad, which serves to seal, insulate, and secure the carrier. To protect the carrier from damage caused by vibration, thermal deformation, and other factors, the gasket is made of expanded mica and aluminum silicate fibers, and is then bonded with adhesive. The carrier is made of a honeycomb-shaped ceramic material, although many are also made of metal (including stainless steel). The catalyst is composed of precious metals such as platinum, rhodium, and palladium, which are sprayed onto the carrier to form the purifying agent. Lifespan of the Catalytic Converter: The service life of a catalytic converter is between 80,000 and 100,000 kilometers. The actual lifespan depends on the motorcycle's usage conditions, as well as the quality of the fuel used and the driving environment.
I've been riding motorcycles for over a decade, and I really don't recommend removing the catalytic converter. Last week, I saw a friend gut the cat on his Ninja 400 - the exhaust note became obnoxiously loud, but the power gain was minimal. The trade-off? Exhaust fumes that reeked like rotten eggs, and it instantly failed emissions testing. Worse yet, the sensors went haywire, costing him over 3,000 yuan in repairs. Seasoned riders know better - if you genuinely want more power, flashing the ECU or upgrading the exhaust manifold is the way to go. Removing the catalytic converter is penny-wise but pound-foolish, and it might even cause cylinder overheating.
Our repair shop handles several motorcycles with removed catalytic converters every month. While the exhaust may seem smoother, the oxygen sensors' prolonged false readings actually cause the ECU to incorrectly adjust the air-fuel ratio. Just two days ago, a CBR500R owner reported a sudden fuel consumption increase of two liters - upon inspection, we found the high-temperature exhaust gases had melted the oxygen sensor's coating after catalytic removal. Not to mention that catalytic converters inherently reduce exhaust temperatures; forcibly removing them often leads to exhaust pipe connection leaks. If you really want power gains, installing a high-flow air filter would be far more effective than this.
