I bought a used 2016 H-D Forty Eight and the previous owner removed the mufflers for whatever reason and does not have them. I was thinking about buying the Vance & Hines slip ons or the Screamin Eagle ones. Planned on installing the quiet baffles as well to be kind to the neighbors. I don’t want it to be loud. I learned quickly about the California regulations:

No person shall install, sell, offer for sale, or advertise any device, apparatus, or mechanism intended for use with, or as a part of, a required motor vehicle pollution control device or system that alters or modifies the original design or performance of the motor vehicle pollution control device or system.

What are other HD owners in California doing? Looking for recommendations on what to do. My bike is clearly loud without the mufflers and is probably creating more emissions. Thanks in advance.


2016 Harley-Davidson Forty Eight

 

Some of the beach towns are cracking down on loud exhaust. And every once in a while I’ve seen check stations. Don’t be obnoxious, and 99.9% of the time you should be OK. IMHO short shots are just obnoxious, and help to drive the M/C hate.

 

Not a sportster , my 16 Streetbob Came w/long shots. Too loud also. I bought gutted OEM mufflers from American custom exhaust. Then I put the DK #158 lollipops installed 1-1/2” from the exit. This will bring enough restriction to bring back some lost torque from open mufflers/exhaust.This gave a lowered tone and not too loud, still have cats in head pipes though. Working / machining various baffles( because I can) to increase low/mid torque. Also because these mufflers have the HD wording/warnings engraved in the chrome, tells the officer that it is NOT an aftermarket muffler. Upon recommendation from Arseclown , Khrome Werks sells a OEM looking/shape, size bullit muffler that works really well-with the patented dog ball baffle-which will still be too loud. Look for Khrome Werks quite insert ( threaded rod with button disc) goes through the dog ball baffle. This should take off 2-3 DB ( they claim 4), they will look stock/OEM and some times all the officials have is a pic to quickly verify if exhaust is stock or not. DB meter is another story, but unless you do things to get you noticed, should be an issue. Check point stations ? laws on too much noise/sound ? That’s a different story. Good luck.

 

I bought a '20 Heritage with V&H slip-ons. Fun for a 30 minute ride but not enjoyable after that, especially with pretty bad tinnitus. Found a used/new stock exhaust on ebay for a song. Also think the stock exhaust looks pretty good.

 

What looks good and what performs good are two different things. There's nothing good about a restrictive exhaust or cats. Besides being restrictive cats cause serious heat issues as well.
My advice? MOVE! The Republic of Kali is not only a burden on it's own citizens but on the entire country with their communist laws and regulations. And no, I'm not kidding. Cut it loose and set it afloat!

 

SE slip-ons will be EPA compliant and have the stamp on them. S&S also makes Cali legal pipes. I'd put pipes on it. It will run better.

 

Back when I was riding in California it was the same way. Had to watch the noise with straight pipes and fishtails on my Iron Head and Shovelhead. It was a PITA then, bet it's worse now.
Don't have to deal with all that here in Tennessee.

Just had the CAT removed and tuned for fishtails. Loud and obnoxious. An old saying Loud Pipes Saves Lives.

 

Hahaha once you leave Kali and move to America you can run what you want, for those that willingly grab your ankles, Enjoy.

 

Cobra has a list of pipes on their website that are 50 state legal

 

Yea those are just straight up straight pipes. That I’m sure is not only loud but sounds awful too. Either slip ons at a minimum or a full replacement system.