OK, that was freaking hilarious!!! I am in the same boat.

 

I went with the street cannons because that is all that was available when I bought my bike. I will say I checked the decibel level after install then again after 700 miles. After 700 miles the decibel level went up 8%, definitely noticeable. Deeper sound at idle. Was told the street cannons will continue to get louder with more miles. I always went V&H historically and is what I put on my wife's bike (which are definitely loud). But I must say I will likely stay with the street cannons. Lot of options out there now. I have heard many after market pipes installed at my dealer, all good choices.

 

Performance, sound and quality. RC Components 4" RCX
Best quality, performance sound, Used take off CVO mufflers, Fullsac baffle mod, 2" baffle, this whole set up will cost less the $350

 

I have the Street Tuner at the moment. I took off my Street Cannons and installed the Fuel Moto High Rollers. I did it for clearance issues with extended bags, rather than sound. It didn't require any changes in the tune, runs great.

 

Just about drove myself crazy searching the interwebz, dropping by dealers, hanging around bike spots, etc looking for a set of mufflers. Seriously, it had become borderline obsessive. Recently we got a break from several weeks of bitter cold weather, and I got a chance to get in a couple of decent rides. Hard to believe, but I was pleasantly surprised with the stock exhaust. It really does (IMHO) have a sweet 'purr', good tone, and opens up nicely when grabbing the throttle. All that said, it would be perfection to have just a little more volume. Seems like from all reports the Street Cannons deliver just that, and even more so after a break in period. Would you agree?

Is your wife's bike an M8? Sounds like the V&H deliver more volume than I'm looking for.

 

I was really impressed with the overall look, tone and sound of the OEM's mufflers as well..best ever IMO. I contemplated just leaving them on which would have been unprecedented for me, usually within a week they are off. I waited for two months and then decided on the street canons mainly because of the Winter Sale deal and glad I did, like you said, "to have just a little more volume" plus they look stouter and evacuate exhaust more effectively

 

I put the rineharts on and love the deep tone..being dead of winter not had a chance to burn them in yet...but at idle they sound great..

 

Really like the looks of Cobra's 909's, but can't find any sound clips.

 

See above

 

Thanks, MJ. Historically I've been exactly the same...stockers gotta go immediately! But I left them on because the only thing available at the time of purchase were the Street Cannons, and for the same reason as the OP I couldn't justify the expense when they didn't sound any different to me on the showroom floor. But now I keep reading more and more favorable reviews, and the increase in volume after a short break-in period.

As far as looks, I personally prefer the 4" over the larger 4.5". Not really sure why cause the Street Cannons are most definitely eye catching!