The Deepest Sounding Harley Exhausts in 2023

This is our buying guide on the deepest sounding exhausts for Harley Davidson’s in 2023. Below is a quick summary of our top recommendations. Scroll further down to read in depth, hands on reviews for each exhaust.

MOST USEFUL

Vance & Hines Shortshots Staggered

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• Minimalist design
• Comes in either black or chrome
• Mufflers are wider than headers
• Amplifies the sound of the exhaust
• Higher volume of exhaust gasses flow
• Deeper, more rumbly exhaust note
• Unique air intake sound on cold starts
• 220-degree integrated heat shields
• More rider comfort for warmer days
• Throttle response is much improved
• More competitively priced than other options
• Included baffles can quiet the exhaust down
• Great for longer rides

Overall LOUDEST

Bassani Road Rage III

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• 304 stainless steel construction
• Lightweight design
• Makes manoeuvring the bike easier
• TIG welds for better rigidity and aesthetics
• Pipes are mounted higher than stock
• Allows for more aggressive leaning of bike
• Megaphone style muffler
• 2-into-1 design
• Louder volume
• Deeper, more full sound
• Free-flowing exhaust design
• Noticeable bump in power
• Better throttle response
• Higher performance throughout the rev range
• Integrated heat shield
• O2 sensors and adapters included in the box
• Easy to install
• Made in the USA

WORTHY CONSIDERATION

Two Brothers Comp

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• Race-inspired exhaust pipes
• Available in chrome and matte black
• Boosts power by 3-5 HP depending on the bike
• TIG welds provide better structural rigidity
• Faster 0-60 time
• Top-end power also benefits
• Lightweight stainless steel design
• Carbon fiber end-cap looks cool
• Better power to weight ratio
• Free-flowing exhaust design
• More backpressure
• Rounded muffler enhances volume
• Deeper exhaust note than stock
• Fits both forward and mid controls
• Stock O2 sensors can be used

Today, we will be recommending our top picks for the deepest-sounding Harley exhausts. 

All of our recommendations were thoroughly tested with different Harley Davidson models. Our review will focus on the build quality of the exhausts, their unique sound, and any special features they offer. 

If you want a quick recommendation, the Bassani Road Rage III stays true to its name with a raucous exhaust note that accentuates the bass. Despite its brawny look, it features a high quality, lightweight build and gives you a decent powerup. 

After riding and working on our motorcycles for over a decade, we wanted to share some of our thoughts and help you make the best purchase. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. 

Keep reading for more information about the deepest sounding Harley exhausts.

The Bassani Road Rage is your best bet if you’re looking for that ‘bone-rattling’ exhaust note. It features a lightweight build and neo-classic styling that fits most of Harley’s bikes. Expect a peppier throttle response as well.

Kicking things off with the design of this exhaust, we have a 304 stainless steel construction. It is noticeably lighter than the stock pipes, making it easier to mount and live with daily. The 2-into-1 style may not be to everyone’s taste, but we can’t get enough of it!

We appreciate the use of TIG welds for this exhaust, which look nicer than stock and allow the pipes to hold up better to abuse.

Thanks to the slimmer proportions, we were treated to easier maneuvering of the bike. As for the exhaust’s mounting, it sits a bit higher than stock, a feature that doesn’t go unnoticed when you’re leaning your Harley into the twistys.

But it’s more than just a pretty face. This bad boy packs a serious punch with its megaphone-style muffler that amplifies your bike’s exhaust by 25%. Here again, the 2-into-1 design shines, or rather, yells through. The unique design increases overall volume while making the exhaust more ‘growly’ and deep.

Moving on to performance, we can attest to a noticeable difference in throttle response and engine peppiness. Bassani’s design enables faster exhaust flow, making the engine livelier. We saw a 3-horsepower upgrade, which gives you better performance throughout the rev range when combined with the lower weight.

Low-end torque also gets a decent boost, making our Harley quicker off the line and easier to maneuver in tight spots.

Rounding up the feature set, we have a partial heat shield integrated into the design, helping minimize heat from the exhaust. All necessary O2 sensors and adapters are included with the exhaust, so installation is a breeze. And like your Harley, this exhaust was designed and manufactured in the USA.

If you want more ‘oomph!’ from your Harley but don’t want to splurge, the Vance and Hines Shortshots should top your list. The design of this exhaust is a bit restrained, but that’s because it lets the sound do most of the talking.

We are huge fans of the understated look of this Harley exhaust. The pipes themselves feature an unbroken line from the header to the end-cap. In fact, the pipes are narrower at the headers, around 1 ¾’, and then widen to 2 ⅛’ near the muffler. Besides the aesthetically pleasing look, this also gives the exhaust a beefier sound.

As with any high-quality set of pipes, the Shortshots have an integrated heat shield that offers 220-degree coverage. This translates to a more comfortable ride, free of sweaty calves.

A thick powder coat adds to the stealth look of these pipes and goes well with blacked-out Harley engines. You can still get them in classic chrome if you want.

So how do they perform? The free-flowing architecture of the Shortshots gives you a nice boost in power, granted you do the relevant tuning to go along with them. We were impressed by the smoother power delivery and throttle response.

However, the real star of the show is the sound. These affordable exhaust pipes deliver a couple extra decibels compared to stock, and the difference is readily noticeable. Not only do you get more sound, you get higher quality sound. The low-end frequencies are enhanced, making this one of the deepest sounding Harley exhausts we’ve seen…err…heard.

Besides that, these exhausts have a unique sound characteristic that we noticed on cold starts. It is the sound of air rushing into the pipes, and it has a guttural, popping characteristic. It’s hard to put into words, but you’ll know it when you hear it.

One upside of these deep and rumbly Harley exhausts is that they come with additional baffles that can quiet them down a bit. So if you are planning a cross-country trip, you can make the exhausts quieter for a bit more comfort.

We will still be running our Shortshots at full send but to each his own.

If you didn’t notice already, we have a thing for 2-into-1 style exhausts. The ‘Two Brothers’ offering provides classic styling, paired with a booming exhaust note you can hear from a mile away. And as with most of TB’s exhausts, this one delivers some incredible performance!

If you are a fan of cafe racer and bobber-style bikes, the Two Brothers exhaust will be right up your alley. Like the Bassani, this one also has a large, rounded muffler connected to the individual header pipes. Chrome is the more popular option, but we went with the matte black version.

The biggest advantage of Two Brothers’ exhaust systems is their focus on performance. Their products have a race-inspired style that is just as at home on the track as it is on the road. Depending on the model, the Comp-S gives your Harley a nice 3-5 HP boost. And boy, do you feel it. Maybe it is a bit of a placebo, but we felt that the bike was quicker to 60 and also had better top-end performance with these pipes installed. The stainless steel construction of this exhaust also makes for some functional weight savings.

Most of that gain in power comes from these pipes facilitating freer flow of exhaust gasses. The TIG welds help the pipes withstand the higher pressure and improve backpressure.

But you came here looking for the deepest sounding Harley exhausts. And the Two Brothers Comp-S is no slouch in that department. It has similar exhaust characteristics to the Bassani. Louder, but also more crisp and meaty. Just twist the throttle a little bit, and these pipes will sing! Overall volume was a tad lower than the other options on this list, but a massive improvement over stock.

You won’t have to fiddle around with aftermarket accessories either, as these pipes fit the stock O2 sensors. And they can be fitted to bikes with forward or mid controls.

Lastly, this may be a small detail, but one that goes a long way towards making this exhaust look cooler. The end cap is trimmed in carbon fiber, which adds a bit of flair to the exhaust pipes.

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