Quieter pipes for H-D

:cheers: So I'm reading this article on loud pipes on the Mortorcycle Cruiser website. The article includes statements by the Pres & CEO of H-D Motor Company, Jim McCaslin. (I couldn't find a reference date for the article. I think I searched "quieter pipes" in blogs, if you want to check it out.) At the end of the article an "accessory" exhaust offered by H-D, for soft tails, is pictured, with the statement that they are legal in all states except Cali. I am assuming that to be legal, they must be quieter than, say, Screaming Eagles, Rineharts, etc. I currently have Screaming Eagle 16 gauge. Good performance, but not quiet.
To the point, finally: the pipes pictured look like the Vance and Hines "Classic 2 into 1." Not quiet, either. I've talked to my local H-D dealer about the article and pictured exhaust system, and they don't know anything about them, yet. Does anyone have any info on these pipes sopposidly offered by Harley? Thanks.

You may not find it in the public domain unless H-D publishes it. According to the artice you read, this subject was posted on the Company's (H-D's) Website (Internal).:gah:

"In a message entitled "Something We Never Want to Lose" on his company's website, Harley-Davidson Motor Company President and CEO Jim McCaslin tackles the issue of motorcycle noise and the increasing backlash motorcycling is experiencing as the result of loud pipes."

don't know how legal, but washington state says you have to have baffles, not that they inforce it, kinda like the novelty helmets, at least the locals don't bother ya, now the state boys prob. do alot more inforcing and know the laws a little better.

It's always a "good reason" to pull you over if they don't like your looks. In Cave Creek, AZ they have really cracked down and nail everyone they can that's over X dB. (I don't know what X is). It's a favorite weekend hang-out for boys (and girls) on bikes.

Cave Creek Beer even has a Chili Pepper in each bottle! uke:

I have Hooker Exhasuts on my '95. I was thinking about cranking it up in Cave Creek then I'd know if I'm too loud or not. Well, maybe not. Actiually, I'm almost deaf in one ear and hard of hearing in the other and they sound pretty loud to me.

Wish my pipes had a volume control!

I have the V+H 2 into 1 on my Fatboy. They aren't as loud as straight pipes but loud none the less. You can control them a bit with the throttle though.

In MA the reg says "baffles or other internal parts" to reduce noise. I got off on a ticket because of that a few years back with a set of Revtechs on a Sporty.

If memory serves, it said something like 80 db at highway speed and 45 at idle. The cop that got me didn't even guess how loud it was. His argument was "if doesn't say Harley it isn't legal". So I asked if Midas minike are installing illegal pipes on the millions of vehicles they service each year.

Since I had the reg that cancelled out the baffle thing and explained that there were indeed "other internal parts" inside the pipes, the judge found in my favor.

:roflmao: Yeah not very many going to the local club/bar for steak n eggs and a cold one anymore before going on a day run. Heck they stay all day at latte land and just go back home.

The "loud pipes saves lives" thing just pi$$es off neighbors and brings on heat. Up here the guys with the metric cruisers and Harleys with straight pipes and the young kids with their hopped up 4 banger cars with sport bike mufflers on them are making the General Public Scream about the noise which is bringing on the squeeze by the cops.

Greetings all,

I have been looking for something quieter for my 95 sporty. I have HD slipons, so supposedly 'legal' but they keep scaring deer out of the ditches. Hitting a deer on a cycle is not a lot of fun. So far, two threats (deer stopped), one near miss (quick reaction on the brakes) and one hit. Fortunately, it was a little one and I was only doing about 30, it didn't put me down, but I had a sore leg and a broken triple light bar.

If anyone has any ideas on quiet pipes that do not rob performance, I am interested in hearing about it.

Take cares,
Panthera

Easiest way to go is to remove the center plate in the stock mufflers - not just drill some holes in it, cut it out with a hole-saw. When I bought the '00 Sportster (used) that had already been done & I was pleasantly surprised as to how well the bike ran. Sound level pretty much the same as stock with little deeper tone. Only time the exhaust is noticeably louder is under hard acceleration & even then it's not as loud as with SE I slip-ons just cruising.

I have SE I slip-ons on my '95 (got a set for the '00 bike too) & comparing performance, with the drilled-out stock muffs the bike will "nose over" on the top end. But I don't run the bike to redline all the time & haven't even put the SE's on 'cause for normal riding the bike runs great & actually a little better @ low rpms.

H-D "torque" & "street performance" mufflers aren't any better than stock & I've not seen anything on the aftermarket that can match the combination of close to stock sound level & increased performance over stock than just removing the center plate in stock mufflers & adjusting the carb as necessary.

Anybody listened to the Supertrapp 2n1 pipe ?
I went to them after having the Fat CAt 2n1 with the quiet baffle, big difference in the loudness.

:roflmao: