The Loudest Exhausts for Harley Davidson’s Road King

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

BUDGET LOUDEST

Bassani Road Rage
2-Into-1 Exhaust

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• 304 stainless steel used
• Construction saves a good bit of weight
• Easier maneuvering at low speed
• TIG welds are more durable
• The exhaust is mounted higher than stock
• Allows bike to lean further
• Helps you clear large bumps in the road
• Large megaphone muffler
• 2-into-1 design
• Louder sound
• Deeper exhaust note, with more beefy acoustics
• Improved exhaust flow
• Decent power up
• More responsive throttle
• Integrated heat shield
• O2 sensors and adapters provided
• Quick install
• Made in the USA

Overall loudest

Vance & Hines Big
Radius Exhaust

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• Eye-catching design
• Healthy power bump compared to stock
• Better performance throughout the rev range
• Integrated full-coverage heat shields
• Pipes won’t blue over time
• Loud and powerful sounding exhaust note
• Bass-heavy sound profile
• Lighter than stock pipes
• Best build quality on the market
• Premium stainless steel used
• Free flow architecture
• Awesome fluttering sound on startup
• Design accentuates the Road King’s lines

LOUDEST SLIP-ON

Vance & Hines
Eliminator

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• Stainless steel design
• Clean and minimalist style
• Lightweight and durable
• Available in chrome and matte black
• CNC machined billet end caps
• The chrome version can be outfitted with a black end cap
• Freer flowing exhaust system
• Louder than stock
• Deeper and more ‘grunty’ sound
• More responsive throttle

In this article we take a closer look at the loudest exhausts for the Harley Davidson Road King.

Besides loud sound, we also considered the build quality, the performance benefits, and even the design of each exhaust. All of the exhausts we recommend will have their own pros and drawbacks, with each one best suited for different use cases and all are very loud.

Our top recommendation goes to the Vance & Hines Big Radius exhaust. It strikes a fine balance of features, build quality, and performance. And, of course, it is one of the loudest and best sounding exhausts you can get for the Road King.

We’ve been riding all our lives, but we have also been testing and reviewing various motorcycle exhausts and other accessories for the last decade. Now, we offer our two cents for riders who want an informed opinion and a solid recommendation.

Keep reading for a more in-depth look at the loudest exhausts for the Harley Davidson Road King.

If ever there were a ‘default’ loud exhaust for the Harley Davidson Road King, it’s the Big Radius from Vance & Hines. These pipes are some of the most well-built and sturdy to come out of V&H’s Santa Fe Springs factory. They sound absolutely otherworldly and perform even better.

Let’s get right into the good stuff. The Big Radius is usually near the top on the shortlist of ‘loudest exhausts for the Road King.’ These pipes have a deep and appealing sound that we just can’t get enough of. The exhaust note is significantly louder than stock but focuses on the low frequencies that make the sound meatier.

In other reviews, we have mentioned our love for these pipes’ unique fluttering sound on cold starts. With the Road King’s larger displacement, it sounds better still. Overall, this is one of the best sounding, in addition to one of the loudest exhausts for the Road King, be it idle or redline.

Best-in-class build quality has always been a plus point of Vance & Hines’ pipes. The Big Radius makes liberal use of premium stainless steel, which can hold up better to high exhaust temps and pressure.

You can get this loud and rowdy Road King exhaust in chrome, but we’re partial to the black version. Either way, you get full coverage heat shields that protect the rider and passenger from excess exhaust heat.

And don’t worry about the pipes becoming blue over time. They are treated with a special ‘anti-bluing’ coat that’s really effective. And, of course, Vance & Hines take special care to make their TIG welds look as uniform and high quality as possible.

Next up, we must mention the astounding performance benefits of this loud and powerful exhaust. It is designed with a free-flowing architecture, helping the engine belt out a couple extra horsepower. Combined with the weight savings you get compared to stock, this extra power makes the Road King feel more nimble and agile.

Low-end torque figures are improved, helping the behemoth Road King get off the line quicker. Top-end power also gets a decent bump, allowing you to pass other vehicles on the highway more easily. Overall, throttle response has never been as smooth on the Road King.

Bassani makes some loud exhausts for the Road King, but they’ve outdone themselves with the aptly named Road Rage. This 2-into-1 style exhaust brings all the power and performance you would expect, and the loud sound it makes is more than enough to get you in trouble.

Bassani’s pipes routinely top our list of the best-built exhausts. This one comes with a durable 304 stainless steel build. It is pretty lightweight, helping with the low-speed maneuvering of the Road King.

The design also brings a retro look to the bike. 2-into-1 pipes have always been some of our favorites, though some riders might not be into the look. The whole exhaust is made with a clean, bobber style that is all the rage these days. One feature that definitely stands out is the high-quality TIG welds, which look pretty cool and reduce the chances of the exhaust leaking or cracking.

The muffler itself is mounted noticeably higher than stock pipes. This gives you some extra ground clearance, so the bike can clear large bumps in the road. It also gives you more room to lean the bike over.

But you came here looking for the loudest Harley Davidson Road King exhausts. Suffice to say, the Bassani Road Rage is just that.

The exhaust note of this pipe is a loud and booming sound that demands attention. Thanks to the free-flowing design and megaphone muffler, you can expect a 25% increase in overall volume.

Besides being one of the loudest Road King exhausts, this one is also one of the best sounding. The sound character is deeper, fuller, and more imposing.

Moving on to the performance, we are happy to report that this loud, budget-friendly Road King exhaust packs just as much bite as it does bark. Thanks to the extra torque, you will be treated to better throttle response, quicker acceleration, and an easier time getting the bike moving.

Lastly, Bassani provides all the necessary O2 sensors, adapters, and other mounting hardware. The instructions are pretty easy to follow, and you shouldn’t have any issues getting this puppy installed on your Road King quickly.

If you fancy a slip-on instead of a full system, Vance & Hines’ Eliminator is a loud and aggressive option that goes really well with the Road King. It has all the high-quality build we’ve expected from Vance & Hines and delivers a decent power-up.

Installing a slip-on is a great way to extract more volume from your Road King. This one does just that, with a free-flowing design that lets more exhaust gasses make their way out of the engine, and more quickly at that.

The result is a louder, meaner exhaust. You also get a bit deeper quality to the sound that sounds powerful whether you’re standing still or burning rubber on the highway. In fact, this is one of the loudest slip-on style exhausts for the Road King that we have tested.

As for the construction, the fact that this is a V&H pipe should tell you everything you need to know. You get high-grade stainless steel for the entire build, plus a CNC machined billet end cap that adds enough flair to make this Road King slip-on stand out from the crowd.

Speaking of, you have a couple of different options for the color. Of course, chrome and matte black are available, but you can also opt to have a black end cap on the chrome for some contrast.

The overall design is a bit restrained, though. Where the Big Radius gives you curved pipes and a slash-cut design, this slip-on has straight lines and a pretty basic look. We don’t mind this, but some folks will definitely want something with a bit more character.

Let’s talk about the performance benefits this pipe offers. Obviously, a slip-on style exhaust won’t have the same ‘oomph!’ as a full system, but this one delivers a nice power-up. You get slightly better throttle response with a smoother roll-on. Acceleration isn’t much quicker, but the lightweight design definitely gives you the impression that you are riding a faster bike.

Lastly, this slip-on comes with removable baffles that you can install to quiet down the exhaust. Great for longer journeys.

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