My current set up on my 2007 RK Customer is stock pipes, stock headers and Python 3 slip ons. It's got a good sound, but it's not as low or as "crisp" as I'd like. And by "crisp" I mean that sharp crackling sound that you hear on some bikes. My question is, can I get to that sound by just swapping slip ons, without changing anything else? I've been browsing around YouTube and my observations are that V&H offer a great lower sound (had them on a Sporty and loved that sound), but they don't have the crackle I'm looking for. Rineharts appear to have both.

I realize YouTube isn't the best avenue for listening, but it's snowing out, so....

I'm not asking to start a war on whose exhausts are "best". I'm wondering if different vendors tend to have their own sound? And did I characterize them fairly? And most importantly, can I get to that lower, crisper sound, without any mods other than the slip ons?

 

I've got the tru duals, reihnarts on my 06' SG 103 stage IV. Nice throaty idle and "poppy" at higher revs. A lot of people seem to like the sound, unless you are riding right behind me. I get complements all the time on the sound.

 

Probably the thing you want to do is go where there are a lot of bikes like yours, there will be many different systems on these bikes. Find ones set up like you are thinking of doing and talk to the owners. If you found someone who would not fire up their bike so you could hear it I would be amazed. The exception being club members.

 

Great idea. And you're absolutely right. But it doesn't help on a snowy day!

 

Here's the thing.....Different mufflers have different sounds, but any given muffler will sound different depending on the bike's state of tune. "Lean is mean" as they say, and a lean bike will be louder than a bike running as it should. Similarly, a bike that's too rich has a distinctive sound.

And then of course there's the fact that an open air cleaner lets you hear a ton more intake noise, which can mask the sound of the exhaust.

 

All true for sure but the differences will not be major and you will still have a pretty good idea of the basic sound.
Now there can be a pretty big difference in motor size, what sounds good on my little 88 inch motor might sound terrible on a 110 incher.

 

That never crossed my mind !! I am fortunate to be able to ride pretty much year round.