I think there are just too many factors to recommend anything these days. LOL
Perspective is the first to come to mind - the difference between being on or along side a bike is HUGE. My buddies bike has a simple big bore 103 (from 88), stock pipes and the old style Screamin' Eagle mufflers. I've always thought his bike had a nice subtle rumble and sounded so smoothwhen I rode near him.
My bike on the other hand has had at least 3 different exhaust systems and I was never totally satisfied. Always sounded "poppy" or "jackhammer like". Never had that growl we all hear in our heads. I've been very calculating in my motor work, we'll cover that next, but surfice it to say, my motor runs hard. So we switched bikes yesterday, his bike now sounded to me like a moto guzzi moped or something. A lack luster hum and a sound not unlike Jiffy pop inside a church bell. But MAN did that bike I was chasing sound awesome. I could hear him coming from behind the biker bar and everyone was looking at this nasty sounding glide. We take off and he lit that Ultra up! Those Rinehart true duals sounded NASTY from behind, he ran that bike up to 6200 rpm and it sounded just like that tone we hear over and over in our dreams. It changed my whole perspective on exhaust. I do run turn downs on my Rineharts to mellow them alittle. Nothing like turn downs on a glide. At crusising speeds by the way the Rineharts are pretty mellow and hearing the tunes is never an issue. Twist the grip and your teeth are going to chatter!

The next biggest variable is the motor work that has been done. Compression and cams make a huge difference in exhaust tone and resonance. The percussion from the exhaust on a built motor is awe inspiring to me. When you hear other bikes, consider if the motor has had the same work you have had done. My opinion is that on stock or stage 1 bikes, stock header pipes with V&H ovals or Rineharts sound the best. I had Supertrapp SE Touring mufflers, they are very nice too but maybe alittle too quiet. Grind out that pesky piece of y-pipe and the power will be about the same as a true dual or even 2 into 1. Proven fact.
Stockish bikes just don't have the motor to require or really benefit from huge flowing exhausts. IMHO

Good luck and stay safe.

 

I have the stock pipes on my 07 ultra and prefer the quite sound my only complaint was how they rust over around the ends I fixed that with some steel wool and used high temp silver manifold paint dabbed on with a foam paint brush no add on end caps are available for the stock pipes that I know of.

 

IMHO, the stock exhaust mufflers got a little louder in '07 and then just a little more in '08. I went from a '05 Road King Classic with Rinehart TruDuals to a '08 Road Glide with OEM mufflers. I find the '08 mufflers are quiet when I want them to be and very authoritative when I want them to be. Around town at city street speeds, I can hear the radio. Out on the freeway, I can hear the radio IF I am not accelerating. I like the new OEM mufflers and intend to stay with them until shown a good reason why I shouldn't.

I live in the Las Vegas area where it gets really hot during the summer. In an effort to cut down on the heat being radiated from the right side crossover pipe on the OEM headers, I am going to go with the BUB TruDuals headers with no crossover. I will keep the stock OEM mufflers. ............... BC

 

I left, and plan on leaving, my 08 Ultra with the stock pipes. If I wanna make noise and P.O. my neighbors I'll crank the tunes or I'll start riding the Sportster.

 

I can't believe it, but stock appears to be winning 11-8. I guess I'll save the money now and see how it goes.

 

Harley's lost their rumble when they went to fuel injection.

The stock pipes are fine with me, but I'm 56 and don't mind the lack of noise.

At least keep it stock for a 1,000 miles or so, then make your mind up.

Your biggest concern is going to be heat coming from the motor.Get the niterider's 02 ied's for $70.00 to cool it down some.

08 RG