
Who doesn’t love a powerful sounding Harley Davidson. That’s why we decided to find the absolute best sounding exhausts for Harleys currently available on the market. We looked for the loudest pipes with that deep, satisfying growl and intimidating character.
Our staff put all the big name exhaust brands to the test and while some sounded great, others left a lot to be desired.
While volume and sound quality were our main concerns, our testing also gave weightage to exhausts that improved the bike’s performance and even looks. After all, what’s the point of sounding cool if you don’t look the part as well.
We found Vance and Hines Big Radius sounded like a total beast and was by far the best sounding Harley exhaust, it’s compatible with a wide array of Harley Motorcycles and comes with some neat power gains and weight reductions too.
Image | Product | Features | Price |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | Vance & Hines Big Radius Exhaust |
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![]() | Bassani Radial Sweepers Exhaust |
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![]() | Two Brothers Comp-S 2-Into-1 Exhaust |
| Check Price |
Vance and Hines’ Big Radius Exhaust is our pick for best sounding Harley Davidson exhaust. This 2-into-2 style exhaust system packs a punch, producing loud sound that is also heavier and more robust than stock. As a bonus, it also adds a bit of performance, reduces the overall weight and helps the engine respond better to rider input.
These exhausts are significantly louder than the stock setup, but there’s more to them than just raw, unfiltered loudness. This exhaust note is heavier, more booming. There is a distinct bass and depth to the sound that makes it a lot more pleasing than the stock one.
Even starting up the bike sounds different. At first, there is a sharp sound as air rushes into the manifold and fuel starts combusting. Then, the bike roars to life and settles into idle which, for the Big Radius is a throaty, thumping noise that just sounds awesome. But one crack of the throttle and the bike really wakes up, showing it’s true aggressive and commanding nature.
Besides sound, the Big Radius also adds a lot of power to the bike and simultaneously reduces the weight, making the bike feel faster and easier to handle. In our testing, the bike gained as much as 8 HP with this exhaust fitted to it. Moreover, the lightweight build meant the bike was more maneuverable and easier to control.
And on top of all that, these things just look amazing! The curved stainless steel design, the rich matte black finish, the slash cut end caps, all come together to make this the sexiest exhaust for Harleys.
Pros
- Unique styling with curved pipes
- Major power upgrade
- Blue proof heat shield
- Sound reminiscent of old big block muscle cars
Cons
- The curved styling may be an acquired taste
Bassani’s ‘Radial Sweepers’ give you a louder sound that is deep and imposing. It is a heavy, warm sound that fits perfectly with your cruiser. Moreover, it comes with premium build quality, trendy design and noticeable performance gains.
Made from premium 16 gauge double wall steel, these pipes are slash cut and backswept so they sit a bit higher than most other exhausts. This has the benefit of improving ground clearance and reducing weight. Heat shields help isolate the rider from the hot pipes. But it doesn’t just look the part of high performance exhaust; it delivers power gains too.
Our testing showed a decent improvement in power and torque figures. Stepped header tubes on the ‘Sweepers’ mean you get quite the torque gain over the stock exhaust. In fact, our test bike felt more powerful and confident when accelerating with these exhausts installed.
But the real star of the show is the sound of these pipes. It is a meaty, menacing sound that means business. Idling, the exhaust is loud and gurgly with that classic Harley quality to it. Give your bike the beans and these pipes sing! Every twist of the throttle sounds absolutely fantastic, with a raucous revving sound that people will hear for miles around. It is a unique sound that puts the stock exhaust to shame and makes your bike feel a lot angrier, if that’s what you’re going for.
Pros
- Premium stainless build
- Backswept design
- Mounted higher than stock
- Louder than stock exhaust
- Improved ground clearance
- Decent increase in torque output
- Better handling thanks to reduced weight
- Much more pleasing exhaust note
Cons
- Not the biggest performance improvement
Two Brothers brings their racing experience to the streets with the Comp-S 2-into-1 for Harley. This pipe sounds amazing, adds a tonne of power to your engine, reduces weight and adds a cool bobber aesthetic to your bike.
The Comp-S is a high performance exhaust that sounds absolutely stunning. While some pipes may focus on other aspects of the sound, Comp-S is all about that bass! It is the heaviest sounding exhaust of this lineup with a deep, resonating quality.
Even the startup sound is awesome. Cold starts with this exhaust are eargasmic, starting with a sharper fluttering sound that quickly morphs into a thick and heavy idle. When revved, the Comp-s retains that deep character and growls whenever you twist the throttle.
Furthermore, the build quality of the Comp-S is nothing to scoff at. The stainless steel components are held together by high quality TIG welds that assure a perfect, durable fit. The whole thing is lightweight as well, making your Harley quite a bit more maneuverable and easy to ride.
Performance is another factor that benefits quite a bit. TBR’s race DNA mated with Harley’s engine meant we got a 10 HP upgrade that definitely shows in day to day use. Acceleration feels quicker, passing vehicles on the highway is easier and the top speed also saw decent improvement.
Pros
- Race inspired exhaust with awesome performance
- Lightweight build reduces overall mass
- Cool design with carbon fiber endcap
- Handling improved thanks to better power to weight ratio
- Megaphone style muffler offers louder sound
Cons
- Styling may not appeal to some riders