The top 3 Loudest Slip On exhausts for Harley Motorcycles in 2023

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

LOUDEST SLIP ON

S&S Slip On Harley Davidson Exhausts

CHECK PRICE

• High-grade stainless steel
• Available in chrome and satin black
• Large, rounded mufflers
• Modern slash-cut design
• Highest bump in power of any Harley slip-on
• Slightly better low-end torque
• Smoother throttle response
• Loudest slip-on for Harleys
• Deeper sound at idle and on the road
• dB killer can be removed for even more power and volume
• Easiest installation process

Best Overall

Vance and Hines Slip-On Exhausts

CHECK PRICE

• Stainless steel construction
• TIG welds
• Clean, minimalist design
• Available in chrome, matte black
• Non-bluing surface coat
• Louder than stock
• Louvered baffles for a throaty exhaust note
• Deeper tone
• Unique air intake sound on cold starts
• Integrated heat shields
• Prevents excess heat on rider and passenger
• Removable baffles for a louder sound
• Compatible with dB killers for noise regulation compliance

WORTHY CONSIDERATION

Rinehart Slip-On Exhausts

CHECK PRICE

• Sturdy materials used
• Aluminum, stainless steel, and titanium used
• Aluminum end caps add a nice design cue
• Hold up well to high temperatures and pressure
• No exhaust leaks
• Classic styling
• CNC machined parts
• One of the loudest Harley slip-on exhausts
• Deeper exhaust note
• Decent power upgrade
• Free-flowing exhaust architecture
• Better throttle response
• Slightly better low-end torque
• Most affordable loud slip-on for Harleys

This is our review of the loudest slip-on exhausts for Harley-Davidson motorcycles. 

While we consider the loudest Harley slip-ons we’ll also take a deep dive into details such as the build quality, the design, and the sound characteristics of each slip-on. Moreover, we use real-world testing with various Harley models to better gauge the performance of these exhausts.

Vance & Hines’ slip-ons for Harley-Davidsons are still undefeated, offering by far the highest build quality. These slip-ons are also some of the loudest on the market while maintaining the unique V&H sound that we love. 

We’ve owned quite a few Harley-Davidsons over the last two decades. Slip-ons are an awesome accessory that enhances the sound and increases the volume of your exhaust, which is why we always use them for our bikes. Not to mention, they also add a tonne of style to the bike. 

Keep reading for more of our thoughts on the loudest Harley slip-on exhausts.

IMPORTANT! – Make sure you have the correct sizing and fitment so you don’t waste your money.

It seems Vance & Hines can do no wrong. Of all the Harley slip-ons we tested, Vance & Hines’ pipes offered the best construction and a balanced sound profile. They are not the loudest Harley slip-ons on this list, but we think they sound and look the best.

Let’s start with V&H’s standout feature: the construction. If you want a loud Harley slip-on that will outlast the bike itself, V&H pipes are your best bet. They feature stainless steel construction with beautiful TIG welds that are painstakingly perfected.

Another awesome feature of Vance & Hines slip-ons is their clean and minimalist design language. These pipes have a classic, restrained aesthetic that fits right in with most any Harley Davidson, from Sportster to Road Glide.

You can find most slip-ons in classic chrome or a dull matte black that fits in with powder-coated engines. Vance & Hines pipes also have a special surface coating that resists bluing over time, so your slip-ons stay pristine.

Moving on to more important aspects of the slip-on, we have the sound. And boy, do we love the sound characteristics of Vance & Hines slip-ons. They use special louvered baffles and a unique inner muffler design that produce a deeper, louder and more throaty sound.

These slip-ons are louder and more full-sounding than the stock exhaust. And V&H pipes have a cool air intake sound on cold starts that few other manufacturers have been able to replicate. Overall, Vance & Hines slip-ons have, in our opinion, the most balanced sound. It is loud enough to get your heart racing but quiet enough to keep you out of jail!

V&H is one of the oldest Harley exhaust manufacturers, so they know to outfit their products with some unique features that will be used every day. One such feature is the integrated heat shields that the slip-ons have. It is pretty effective at keeping excess exhaust heat off the rider and passenger.

Similarly, the slip-ons are fully compatible with dB killers, which let you quiet down the exhaust if you need to. Conversely, the baffles can be removed for an even louder exhaust if that’s what floats your boat. It’s simple features like these that make the Vance & Hines our top pick for the loudest Harley slip-on.

Rinehart is another top-notch slip-on manufacturer for Harleys. These slip-ons have a loud and raucous exhaust note, high-quality construction, and more style than you could ask for.

While it doesn’t quite stand up to Vance & Hines’ robust build quality, the construction of Rinehart pipes tops the budget category. You get high-quality materials such as stainless steel, aluminum, and even titanium for your money. These sturdy materials enable the slip-ons to hold up better to high exhaust temps and pressure while increasing their loudness.

Rinehart stands out for their use of CNC machining in the slip-on’s construction. This allows for a more precise build that is less prone to exhaust leaks and cracks. The CNC parts also just look nicer than the traditional alternative.

As for the design language, Rinehart opts for a low-key, classic style reminiscent of V&H’s offerings. Straight, unbroken lines and smooth curves dominate the build, preventing your Harley from looking over-stylized and tacky.

Moving on to sound quality, we are pretty pleased with Rinehart’s sonic signature. It is a deep, guttural sound that blows stock pipes out of the water and gives other aftermarket brands a run for their money. In fact, our testing found that Rinehart slip-ons routinely beat other brands when it comes to volume and the loudness of the exhaust.

This is again thanks to the CNC machined inner sleeve, which channels exhaust gasses so that they sound louder, exiting the pipe.

But it’s more than just a loud Harley slip-on. It is a more pleasing exhaust note that sounds and feels robust. Let’s touch on the performance benefits of Rinehart’s Harley slip-ons.

Unlike other brands, Rinehart focuses on building the most powerful in addition to the loudest Harley slip-on exhausts. The slip-ons have a unique inner design that facilitates higher exhaust flow. This helps the engine crank out even more power, and it definitely shows in everyday driving.

Remember that this is a slip-on, so it won’t give you heaps more power. However, the free-flowing architecture enables noticeably better throttle response and a bit more low-end torque as well.

Lastly, this is a small detail, but one that we really liked. Most of Rinehart’s loud slip-ons for Harleys have a CNC machined endcap made from aviation-grade aluminum. It adds a bit of flair to the whole package without making it look too flashy.

Finally, we have the S&S slip-on for Harley-Davidsons. This one uses premium materials and focuses on delivering the loudest exhaust note for your Harley. Besides that, it comes with some nice performance benefits that don’t go unnoticed for everyday riding.

S&S knocked it out of the park with this slip-on’s construction. It uses high-quality stainless steel, making it more durable and resilient against scratches. The whole slip-on is finished in a satin black powder coat which we absolutely love. If that’s not to your taste, classic chrome is also available.

The design of this loud and rowdy Harley slip-on is a bit divisive. While we love the twin, large rounded mufflers, some folks might prefer a sleeker exhaust slip-on. But we think everyone will appreciate the slash-cut design that gives your bike a modern, trendy aesthetic.

Next up, let’s talk about the massive performance benefits of this Harley slip-on. The free-flowing architecture breathes new life into your bike’s engine. We noticed a smoother roll-on of the throttle, slightly faster acceleration, and even more torque down low.

All of the above help with maneuvering at low speed but also aid you in passing other vehicles on the highway. You shouldn’t expect a massive bump in power, but it is definitely the highest of any slip-on on this list.

And finally, we have to commend S&S on the sound characteristics of this Harley slip-on. It is probably the loudest slip-on for Harleys, owing to the larger muffler bodies and aggressive styling. We regularly clocked it at a couple dBs above the other two, so suffice to say, it means business.

The sound itself is a bit deeper than stock. It is more full and beefy at idle, while every crack of the throttle induces a volcanic eruption! Besides being the loudest, it’s also one of the best-sounding slip-ons for Harleys.

If you want to unlock even more power and volume, the dB killer, which comes as standard, can be easily removed. Just double-check any noise regulations in your area because this Harley slip-on is loud with a capital L!

Rounding up the feature set, we have one of the easiest installation processes of any slip-on. It bolts right onto the stock header pipes of your bike. In fact, the process is so easy that you should be able to do it yourself.

One thing to consider is that this slip-on only fits Softail models, so Touring and Sporster riders will have to look elsewhere.

---