Loud Pipes
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 15,363
Likes: 24,198
From: NC, USA
The 1 3/4" drag pipes with slash cut ends are my all time favorite. I had them on my 93 FXLR and you could wake the dead and the sound was perfect. I ran some 2 1/4" Shotguns pipes from Run Roader on my 91 FXSTC and the tone was deep and mean. I'm real happy with my V&H Staggered Straight Shots with BCT Thunder Monsters on my carburated 02 FXST. The sound is pretty intense and you sure can't sneak up up on anyone. I just installed the Samson Hell Raisers on my 07 Street Glide. The tone is aggressive but when I swap out the Samson baffles for some BCT's it's gonna get my neighbors loving me even more.
That's why I have my Vance & Hines Double Barrel Staggered for sale.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: South Carolina
In my opinion, it's not about the decible level. It's about the tone. There are a lot of loud pipes out there that I think sound horrible. Some people get loud pipes just for the sake of making a lot of noise. Sometimes, a pipe with slightly lower decibles but a nice tone will sound MUCH better. When I get an exhaust, I look at the quality of the sound and how well the exhaust performs, rather than how many dead people I can wake up.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,584
Likes: 520
From: VA
The older I get the quieter I want my pipes. Nothing surprising there. A little louder than stock and I am good. One thing that has always surprised me is how many people choose noise over performance. Some really loud pipes dont have enough back pressure and hurt bottom end performance. I would always choose performance over sound. But thats just me. To each his own.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 417
Likes: 3
From: CT
I'm going to try the LA choppers adjustable end cap on my Supermegs.
Little twist and loud, little twist and quiet.
Don't like loud when out all day with the wife enjoying the views. Like it a bit louder when being a poser.
Little twist and loud, little twist and quiet.
Don't like loud when out all day with the wife enjoying the views. Like it a bit louder when being a poser.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 7,492
Likes: 103
From: Stuttgart, Germany
http://www.jekillandhyde.nl/home
http://kesstech.de/sites/start.php?lang=english (lookup ESM2)
In my opinion, it's not about the decible level. It's about the tone. There are a lot of loud pipes out there that I think sound horrible. Some people get loud pipes just for the sake of making a lot of noise. Sometimes, a pipe with slightly lower decibles but a nice tone will sound MUCH better. When I get an exhaust, I look at the quality of the sound and how well the exhaust performs, rather than how many dead people I can wake up.
My Slim has Samson Sidewinders that are loud and sound good (I think), and my Heritage Springer has V&H True Duals that are a bit quieter, but sound a bit better too. I also wonder if that has anything to with EFI compared to carburetor.
Stage II
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Texas City
I run Samson Big Guns on my Fatboy. They are not exactly quiet, but have a great sounding rumble to them. I love how it sounds. I recently rode with a friend who has a new Deluxe with stock pipes. Beautiful bike but could not hear it.
