What is the Purpose of a Smog Block-off Plate? The Answer

When dealing with any aspect of a motorcycle, you will want to stop and ask yourself if you truly know what all of the components are and how they function within the larger system.

As an example, do you know the answer to the question “what is the purpose of a smog block-off plate?”

Direct knowledge of these matters can help you figure out what the components of the vehicle do, and why they are so important.

Today, we will look at the smog block-off plate and what its purpose is.

What is the Purpose of a Smog Block-Off Plate?

Smog block-off plates are designed to seal off the ports on the valve that are covered by the air injection system. This product is only meant to be used for motorcycles that are used in closed circuit competitions.

Smog Block-Off Plate: Is it Useful?

People are always asking what the purpose of a smog block-off plate is and why they should bother to use one.

They look at it and realize that it doesn’t add any horsepower to their motorcycle.

They want to know why they should spend the money necessary to get one if they aren’t going to see an increase in power due to its use.

Here is the thing that people who ask these questions are missing: The smog block-off plate can be used to remove some weight that is currently on the motorcycle via the air induction system.

Removing the Air Induction System

Anyone who has ever driven a motorcycle in a closed-circuit competition understands that they need to remove as much weight from the bike as they possibly can while they are driving it around the course. In fact, the less weight that they have on their bike, the better it will tend to move around the track.

However, most bikes are designed with an air induction system on them when they first roll off of the factory floor. The issue with this is that it adds extra weight that could potentially be removed if one were to use a smog block-off plate.

What the air induction system does is burn unburned exhaust gases by injecting fresh air into the system.

When it does so, it reduces the production of hydrocarbon emissions that the bike gives off. However, this system may be safely removed once a smog block-off plate has been successfully installed.

There are many reasons why you might want to remove the air induction system from your bike including:

• Reduce Weight for Competition – Those who drive their motorcycles in closed circuit competitions will want to reduce the total weight that they are carrying on their bike at any given time. Reducing the weight means that they are going to experience a more lightweight bike that they can take around the track wherever they go at faster speeds than they otherwise would have been able to. A small competitive edge like this may be all that they need to end up victorious in the winner’s circle at the end of the race.
• Reduces Popping upon Deceleration – You may notice a popping noise when you decelerate on your motorcycle if you are a frequent rider. Although you may be used to this sound, it is not something that you necessarily want to put up with for the long term. There are potential dangers to the usefulness of your motorcycle overall if you continue to allow it to produce those popping sounds when decelerating. As such, you may want to get the air induction system removed to help reduce this problem.
• Balances the Air to Fuel Ratio – Getting just the right air to fuel ratio on your motorcycle is very important. You need it to have enough of both to drive smoothly and make the tight cuts that you need it to make when using it in a competition. Hitting that stride may mean looking for things that you can do to find a better balance between the two such as using a smog block-off plate to get that balance established just right.

What Kind of Costs are Associated Witha Smog Block-Off Plate?

The costs for a smog block-off plate are very reasonable given what you are receiving in return. It is typically an item that you can pick up for approximately $35-$45 from stores that carry motorcycle products.

Alternatively, you may decide to purchase this item online for roughly the same price as well. If you decide to take the online route, just make sure you double-check that everything is completely accurate with your order before moving forward.

There have been far too many instances when people have accidentally ordered a product that does not fit accurately on their specific bike.

The people who are the biggest fans of motorcycle closed-circuit competitions will tell you that there is no way that they will ever go out on the track again without a smog block-off plate.

They see the benefits that these systems provide, and they are pleased by just how much value they can get from an item like this.

The only other cost associated with your smog block-off plate aside from the $35-$45 for the piece of equipment itself is the labor needed to install it.

This labor should be fairly minimal, but you still need to consider it as something that you will have to incorporate into your total cost of taking care of this installation.

Frequently Asked Questions About What Is the Purpose of a Smog Block-off Plate

Conclusion On What is the Purpose of a Smog Block-off Plate

There are many people who love to ride motorcycles in competitive closed-circuit races, and they should be able to enjoy this experience as much as possible.

One way to increase their odds of success in those races is to get a smog block-off plate that will allow them to reduce the weight of their bike and make it easier to navigate around tight turns.

Those are the types of advantages that racers need when they are trying to get themselves ahead of the pack. It is a worthwhile consideration when looking at all that one can do with a smog block-off plate.