I have A 2014 street Glide special. Came with rinehart slip ons. I thought it sounded weak. I purchased Vance and Hines slips on (I have a sportster too with VH slip ons and the bike sounds amazing) I took off rineharts and put on VH. Still thought it sounded weak. I have stock head pipes. I had the cat removed. Tested both sets of slip ons. Still not the satisfying rumble I'm looking for. I tried both sets of slip ons with the baffles removed. Sounds good but there's a hollow-like drone sound. What else can I do to get that signature Harley rumble? Sometimes it's so quiet I feel like I'm on a scooter. I'm not trying to spend a lot of money. Can I make it work with what I have?

 

What V&H slip ons do you have? I have the twin slash rounds with gutted head pipe and they sound GREAT. I put in cams and they sound even better.I talked to a V&H rep at a bike show and he said the twin slash rounds were their loudest slip on. You may need to change the head pipe to get the sound you are looking for. The loudest pipes I have had on a touring was a set of V&H Big Shot duals. I had them on for 1 hour and pulled them off because they were so loud (and I love loud bikes). I think you might like V&H Dresser Dual head pipes with twin slash slip ons. I had them and it was still a tad loud but sounded great. Also....leave the baffles in. I have proven MANY times on the dyno that you lose power without the back pressure. It's not worth it to me and I think touring bikes sound like sh*t without baffles. <<<<<I have tried it

 

I like my stock debaffled pipes. Try that if you still have them.

 

Agree, I have V&H true duals with Eliminator 400's and they sound awesome. Now I have them without the baffles, but sound is subjective, so you may hear something different but I think a change in head pipes would help you.

 

I agree, true duals! ,on X pipes. The more even the pipe length is easier the tune. I'm running Bassani down under true duals. Just put on this week. with rush mufflers.

 

You have the pipes...need to cam it for nicer sound.

 

Are you going by the sound while riding or by someone riding your bike and you observing? The touring bikes with the traditional "out the back" exhaust seem much quieter while riding, because the sound is behind ya (IMO.)

 

The acceptable exhaust note is a VERY subjective issue to each and every Harley owner. There is NO way that you can get a sense of what a system is gonna sound like over the long run with the easy, lazy method of a sound clip or video on the World Wide Web. Finding just that right sound involves a long, ardous process involving experimentation, mixed with lots of time and money.


For me, I found a sound that's good enough for me and makes me happy. Nobody can really advise you on this too well, OP, although you're gonna get LOTS of advise on it...

 

My buddy and I traded bikes for a bit. Man I shocked at how badass my bike sounds when I was behind it. I have Rineharts large baffle and S&S head pipes. I always thought it was kinda week sounding. Not anymore.......
Also forgot Andrews 37G cams.....

 

Spend your money on cams. You will get the sound you want and the added power.