When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Just went through same process with the same goal. Ended up with Supertrapp Fat Traps for my 09 road king. Has the discs that make them tunable -- supposedly can be tuned to be same or quieter than stock per the company. They're on order -- we'll see.
The pre-2009 Screamin' Eagle Mufflers are not from the same manufacturer as the 2009 models. Supertrapp made the mufflers prior to 09 so you can't compare 2009 mufflers to the sound of pre-2009. Apples to Oranges!
I know you are talking about the 09's but I had Monster Ovals and bought a set of the SE's that you are looking at. I can say they are good sounding, but much louder while riding than the monsters. I hated them because the noise was like a switch with the throttle, with it cracked they were ok but the minute you opened the throttle they drove me nuts. I took them off and sold them. I wouldn't even try them if I were you, I would go with something else.
After my little experiment, I really have enjoyed the MO's. I keep saying" why the hell did you switch from these? I had the monsters on since they came out approx 5000 miles on them, so I was very familiar with them.
On my bike with the PCV and auto tune, I lost performance over the monsters also. I did ride it long enough that the auto tune adjusted accordingly. This was on an 110" SE Roadking.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.