Even with an aftermarket exhaust, I read that since it's not a classis 45 degree V-twin(believe the S is 60 degree) it doesn't really sound like a Harley and it's more "import" sounding? If this true?

Also a lot less vibrations?

Comparing it to the 1200 sporster I have......

 

True, not the same sound as an EVO, Twin Cam, M8...

 

Yeah, that's kinda true, depending on what you mean by "sound like a Harley."

Every generation of engine sounds characteristically different. The classic "potato, potato, potato" 800 rpm idle really hasn't been around on anything for years. That big deep-throated V-twin sound on acceleration is still around though. I have two bikes: a Low Rider S with the 117 Milwaukee 8, and the Sportster S with the Revolution 1250T, and while neither bike sounds like an older Evo or Twin Cam, they both (to my ears) have a distinctive sound unlike most imports. Part of that, I suspect, is the v-twin configuration; and part of it is the fact that Harley tunes their bikes to run better at lower RPM. So, while a Sportster S redlines at about 9k rpm, it starts getting into the low end of the power band down around 2k rpm; most of the Euro road rockets don't wake up until 3500 or more. The 117 pulls like a freight train right off of idle, so that's an entirely different thing.

So what does this mean? Both of my current bikes were very quiet with factory exhaust. 120 hp sewing machines. With V&H slipons, the 117 in the Low Rider got a much better-sounding rumble at idle -- much smoother than the classic "potato" sound, but still the unmistakable deep growl of a big V-twin. A cam change might add a bit more of a rumble to it, but probably not much. I also have a new set of pipes on the Sportster S (Freedom Performance). With the new pipes it sounds pretty good; it doesn't sound like the 117, but it doesn't sound like a sportbike either. The difference with the Sportster S is that everything happens 500-1000 rpm higher than the big air-cooled V-twin, and I suspect that is most of the "non-Harley sound" that you are talking about. It still sounds like a V-twin, but a smoother V-twin (especially at idle). It is water-cooled, which probably dampens some of the vibration, but on acceleration, most of the differences go away and it sounds like a smoother Harley to me.

 

The closest you can probably get is the Freedom exhaust. It doesn't require a tune and has no cat, and no baffles unless you add them. It definitely roars and runs slightly rich so it pops every once in awhile shifting up while at high RPMs (like most Harleys).

 

As others have said, this is a totally different V-twin than all of the "typical" HD's. It's a 60° V angle and it has a split pin crankshaft, so the firing order and sound are more like a 90° V-twin or "L" engine, like a Ducati. That being said, HD didn't completely tune this engine for peak performance. It has a lot of low end torque compared to similarly sized 2 cylinders, but it still breaths just fine up top as well. There plenty of deep tones to the exhaust note, but no potato-potato either.