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Harley Davidson stopped selling its Screaming Eagle II line of mufflers because of the EPA. noise and emissions standards, but the SEIIs are no better or worse in that respect than any other set of aftermarket pipes. Sometimes you can find a deal on a used set of SE IIs on ebay.
I originally bought the 07 SE slip ons when I had my sert and stage 1 ac installed. Had I known that I was going throw up at the lack of soundwhen the dealer started my bike and rode up to me I would have never spent the money on them. I was expecting the sound like the SE's I had on my 1991 Sportster and I was real disappointed. Unfortunately I bought the first 07 sold and race tuned at my dealer so I never heard what the pipes were going to sound like. The good news is I dumped them for 2.0 Rush slip ons and I am "loven it."
A buddy of mine has a softail with Vance & Hines 2 into 1 full system. And even he says that my bike with the slip ons sounds better than his. Try them, you will love the sound.
I have an 06 Fatboy and wasn't pleased with the sound of the factory mufflers and wanted the real sound of Harley. Talked to my dealer and he said there were two options. One was Screaming Eagle II's at a price of about $300 with no modifications to factory specs or a set of pipes with the needed modifications, air cleaner, etc. all for about $1100-1200. I went with the slip on SE II's and have been well pleased with the sound. The bike has plenty of power and at 54 I don't really have a need for speed anymore.
I've got the SEII's also and they are plenty loud for me and seem to give me good power. I tried putting the factory original mufflers back on briefly and wow did i notice a difference in power in the mountains on those long uphill grades!
I second the vote for V&H, I have a set of Big Shot true duals on my RK and it definately sounds like a Harley now. Mine are a full set of pipes with no mufflers, just built in baffles, but V&H does make some slip-ons that sound equally as nice.
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