I have a 2013 FatBoy Lo with Big Radius Exhaust 2 into 2, Cobra Intake, FP3.
I bought it this way and have had it about 2 months. My wife did not care for the volume of the pipes which was loud.
I finally downloaded the FP3 app and looked around and found the Tune was without baffles. Got the ole trusty flashlight out and looked and sure enough they were empty.
I ordered a set of BCT QQ's which came in yesterday.

Before I put them in I took the bike out on the driveway out of the garage.
Checked the sound with a decibel meter from about 3 feet to the right side at the pipe level. about mid point of the bike. Not at the pipe openings. I then checked four feet from behind the bike at exhaust opening level.

Both readings were 101.

Then installed the baffles. Too late to test last night without someone slashing my tires. So this morning I checked right before I went to work and put the bike in the exact same position and measured from the same spots as I did the night before.

Reading on both was 93.

I am not a sound technician so don't really know how much of a difference that is but the quality of sound is better. I'll try tonight or in the morning to get a recording of the sound. The bike was bought used and did not have baffles so this test was done with just the BCT's.
The instructions said to put them in 6" unless the bracket was too close and then if so put them in a little further.
Mine were put in exactly 7".

For anyone that understands decibels this will give you an idea of the BCT QQ's.

Hopefully a sound file tomorrow.

Update: As said above with the BCT QQ's my DB reading was 93 down from 101 with no baffles. Sound is deeper and better.
Yesterday I got in some V&H stock baffles. Cut them down somewhere around 7" so that they were not touching the BCT's but came to the rear so the bolt hole matched. I was real surprised they did not make a bigger difference.
Parked in the same spot and holding the meter at the same distance they measured 91. What was confusing was the meter would fluctuate from 91 to 93.
With just the BCT's it had no fluctuation.
I sat on the bike and held the meter face height and it read 85.

Then went for about a 15 minute ride in the neighborhood to see how they sounded while riding. I did not ride it after installing the BCT's. So this was with both baffles installed. Riding sounded good as far as tone. What I noticed was every time I stopped at a stop sign my right calf was on fire. It was extremely hot. When I would ride close to home for 45 minutes without baffles I never noticed this. Unless someone else tells me a different reason I am assuming the restriction of the baffles caused the pipes to get hotter. At least sooner. My jeans were hot for about 15 minutes after getting off the bike.
This was with the shields back on.

Forgetting the heat, my choice is the BCT QQ's without the V&H's baffle. BCT changed the tone and the V&H's did not quieten it enough to be worth being in there so I am going to remove them.
I never tried Hard Kore and don't have them to try so the BCT is my choice at this time.

 

By definition, 1 db is the smallest change in sound that a human ear can perceive. The average, human ear can usually only detect a change of 3db....

The larger the percentage of change, the more noticeable the change. For example a change from 4db to 7db will be more noticeable than a change from 100db to 103db....

Average conversation @ 3' is 60-65db

Sustained exposure to 90-95db may result in hearing loss

Pain begins at 125db

Short term exposure can cause permanent injury @ 140db

A change of 9db is usually accepted as the the mark for doubling/halving the perceived loudness....

All that being said, to go from 101db to 93db should be a significant change in sound....

FWIW.....

 

It is really cool that you have a db meter. I added 10" baffles to the hollow 'Short Shot' look-a-likes shown in my signature. That damn exhaust was the loudest and most obnoxious I had ever owned. Adding some can opener baffles made it enjoyable. I can't say exactly how much it quieted the bike down, but I'd say by 1/3.

 

hattitude, good information. I always smile when I read the post about guys wanting it as loud as possible. I am 70 and that was the way I was when I was 30. However, in my earlier years we were not taught about the hearing loss that may result from loud sounds. Everything I did was loud. I built and flew radio controlled planes, had an airboat with a Lycoming engine and thought it was cool to sit right in front of the engine, had a Cigarette with twin engines and open exhaust, had my pilots license for flying byplanes.
Now 35 years later I have lost at least 90% of the hearing in my left ear and 20% in the right ear.
So after reading your post I did some research and found the DB reading for sustained motorcycle riding should not be above 85 to 90. There are a lot of factors. Noise at riding speed and rpm's, as well as noise level at ear height as opposed to ground level like I took the reading the other day. Plus if you wear a helmet that covers your ears.
So to keep what hearing I have and also make it enjoyable for my wife I also ordered a set of stock V&H baffles. BCT said to set them in 1/2" from their baffle and cut the V&H baffle so it did not stick out the pipe and then put the shield back on. Those are due in Tuesday. After they get installed I'll add to the post what difference they make and if they change the sound tone.
In case anyone mentions it I shoot pistols so I have electronic ear pros plus I have a set of molded ear plugs where they put the putty in your ear to conform to your canal and when they are dry remove them. So I have ear protection but would still like to get the DB level below 90 while keeping the sound deep.
I'll add after Tuesday when they come in.


TedHogz, I can totally relate. When I had the bike shipped in and did not hear it until the trailer unloaded it. I did not realize I had loud pipes that also had the baffles removed. My neighbor across the street almost broke his neck when I cranked it the first time.

 

I hear you (no pun intended).......

I had straight pipes from 1977-1989.... friends made me ride curbside or at the back of the line. My 31 year career involved firearms (pistols & rifles) and explosive breeching. Been retired now 5 years. I tested my hearing a year ago. It was within acceptable limits, but down from my last test 5 years prior.... I suspect it will continue to degrade... just too much noise during my life with little or improper hearing pro....

How does the old saying go....

If I knew I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself!

 

hattitude, I think even the younger ones today have the knowledge at hand but unfortunately when we are young we think we are Bullet Proof. By the time we find out we are not it is too late.
The good part, hearing or no hearing, is to still wake up each morning. The alternative does not appeal to me.

 

There are lots of smart phone decibel meter apps out there some are free. I'm sure not the most accurate but enough to make comparisons with.

 

HenryT, the reason I bought one was all of the ones I could find for my phone would max out at 100. Since I had loud exhaust and not baffles if it said 100 I would not know if that was really the DB's it was putting out. Then I would not know how much the baffles meant in difference of max to minimum. There may be one out there I just did not find it.

 

i have the super Radius with factory baffle and they idle at 91 - 93db with meter 3ft behind pipes and 1ft off the ground

 

Kam, as far as sound you got the better ones. Before I bought my bike that already had the Big Radius I called V&H's and they told me to get the Super Radius. They made them so they were a little more quite. If I would have not had them o the bike that is what I would have bought.