Single outlet motorcycle exhausts

[nismos14]

has anyone noticed that most bikes with single exhaust have their outlet on the right side? Is there any reason for that?

 

[dart1963]

chain on the left???

 

[abyss1406]

chain on the left???

BOOM!! that just happened.

 

[nismos14]

I would imagine that's the case but I mean why has the chain always been on the left and exhausts on the right?

 

[djf18374]

Shifter on the left foot might make it difficult to put the gear linkage/sprocket and chain on the right side.... Good question though

 

[Marthy]

My boss has an old Ducati Mark3. Shifter is on the right... freaking confusing! LOL

 

[formthelines]

My boss has an old Ducati Mark3. Shifter is on the right... freaking confusing! LOL

you know, I've been riding for a little under 2 years now. this morning i hopped on the bike to go to work and kept asking myself "why am i at 30mph and at 7k rpm?" then i tried to downshift and i kept braking. i was extremely confused. turns out the brake is the right pedal, no wonder i wasn't shifting... must be the new boots, or the fact that it was 0530...

but relating to the question: no idea, i really would like to know though.

 

[abyss1406]

my guess is its all in the design of the bike.

 

[latony007]

I don't know but the first thing I taught my kid is always mount any bike from the left side period. So you don't have to worry about the exhaust.

 

[JT]

maybe its to balance weight

 

[dart1963]

My boss has an old Ducati Mark3. Shifter is on the right... freaking confusing! LOL

yep, a quick search shows there have been bikes with the exhaust on left and chain on right...

guess it just became commonplace to do it the other way.

 

[latony007]

yep, a quick search shows there have been bikes with the exhaust on left and chain on right...

guess it just became commonplace to do it the other way.

probably sold in England and other countries that were English colonies. England drives on the opposite side of the road because dating back to the horse most people were right handed so if you were cruising down the road on your horse and needed to draw your sword if you were on the right side of the street your sword would be on the curb side. So you will see motorcycles with the gas on the opposite sides in those countries. I think.

 

[MistahT]

yep, a quick search shows there have been bikes with the exhaust on left and chain on right...

guess it just became commonplace to do it the other way.

I can imagine maybe shifting is easier if the chain and shifter are on the same side. Since the shifter is on the left, they put the sprocket on the left as well????