I've got a completely stock 2012 ultra Limited. I put on a pair of crusher pipes (which you can see clean though ). They're not really that loud, but with them on, I've got a somewhat loud upper motor noise, clicking, ticking whatever you want to call it in the 2500-3000 RPM range. When I put the stock pipes back on, the noise is somewhat still there, but it's reduced buy at least 50-75%.
Isn't this kind of backwards, with louder pipes I would think it would drown out any noise instead it increases it. Does anyone have an idea why the top end of my motor would get louder with free flowing pipes.
Thanks in advance Jonnierock

 

Sounds like an exhaust leak where they bolt up to the heads to me.

 

Sound waves behave funny. With the Limited, you have lowers, a faring, and a wind shield that will reflect back to you sounds that you have never heard or really noticed before,especially after you make "bolt on" changes. You never noticed it before, but now you do, and even when you put the stock pipes back on, you will now be "listening" for it and you will hear it at some suppressed level...but it's there and always has been. You just didn't pay any attention to it before. High-flow air cleaners are notorious as a transmitting medium for engine sounds.

Rinehart owners have discussed for years the sound of their pipes when crossing concrete bridges. They are hearing resonances and sound waves bouncing off solids that are normally not around or in close proximity. It goes away after they get away from the solid.

BTW, muffler clamps are intended for one time use. Re-use can be successful, but once that band of steel is stretch-fit during the initial 40 lbs of torque, it will not grip as tightly as when new and can contribute to exhaust leaks.

 

The exhaust flanges are tight, the mufflers are on tight and sealed, the only difference in in the mufflers. I've swapped them back and forth several times. When the crusher free flowing louder pipes are on, the top end is noisier, and when you put the stock mufflers on, the top end becomes quieter. Go figure !
Jonnierock

 

I noticed the same thing when I put klockwerks super saver 4 inch slip on mufflers on mine, its normal bc you are looking for the valvetrain noise, so you notice it more. Its fine with me, its my 103 singing to me,lol... Turn up the radio, lol....