I have a Screaming Eagle 2's on my 2000 Heritage, sound great when accelerating. When your cruising or let up on the gas(when you see a cop) they are pretty quiet...........
your going to gain much of anything unless you go 2-1 exhaust as far as performance. change pipes if you want a different look. the pipe diameters from stock and anything else are pretty much all the same. i would look at se mufflers with quietest baffle you can get if you want a little noise. my dad has some on his softail custom. they sound nice at idle and aren't too loud going down the road when your on the bike or behind it. you could always take the cat out and drill a hole in the baffle to get a little more noise too.
All of those sound great. Will the Harley dealer install non SE stuff, or do I have to go to a performance shop for that?
You would have to ask your dealer that BUT... I have not heard of a dealer that refused to install or use non-HD or non-SE parts / supplies. They realize that not all riders use HD or SE parts or supplies (oil, etc.).
If you do elect to have a dealer install your pipes (whichever brand you choose), let them order the pipes. This way the dealership pays the shipping instead of you. In some cases, they may be able negotiate a better price than you can. Your other alternative is an Indy shop. If you decide to use an Indy, do your research to find a reputable one. There are many excellent Indys around. They would have lower labor charges than your dealer.
You've received several excellent recommendations. Good luck.
I have Rush 2" mufflers which though not loud might be just over what you want. The 1.5" are probably where you'd want to be. Yes the Dealership will order them and install them under warranty - mine did.