The Loudest Exhausts for the Harley Sportster 1200 in 2023

This is our buying guide on the loudest exhausts for the Harley Sportster 1200 in 2023. Below is a quick summary of my top recommendations. Scroll further down to read in depth, hands on reviews for each exhaust.

BUDGET LOUDEST

Cobra Speedster 909 Exhaust

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• Timeless design
• Much improved performance lower in the rev range
• Full protection heat shields
• Powerport technology
• Lightweight design
• One of the loudest exhausts for the Sportster 1200
• Deep and aggressive exhaust note
• Better torque
• Most affordable option

Loudest Overall

Bassani Radial Sweepers

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• 16-gauge double-wall steel
• Modern design
• More ground clearance
• Shorter exhaust
• Saves a bit of weight
• Rowdy exhaust note
• Loud and imposing sound
• More torque down low
• Acceleration is a lot quicker
• Passing on the highway is smoother
• Integrated heat shields
• Easy installation process
• All the mounting hardware is provided in the box

WORTHY CONSIDERATION

Vance & Hines Big Radius Exhaust

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• Unique styling with curved pipes
• Significantly more powerful than stock
• Anti-bluing heat shields
• Loud exhaust note
• Deep, thumping sound
• Lightweight build
• Best in class construction
• Premium materials used
• Free flow exhaust architecture
• Awesome fluttering sound on cold starts
• Design fits well with Sportster 1200

Today, we take a look at the loudest exhausts for the Harley Davidson Sportster 1200.

The Sportster 1200 is one of our favorite Harleys, but we have to admit that it doesn’t sound the best. A high-quality exhaust will add tonnes of dBs and a couple HPs too! As such, our review will focus on the build quality, performance, and of course, how loud the exhaust is.

And when it comes to loud exhausts for the Sportster 1200, Bassani’s Radial Sweepers can’t be beaten. These shorty pipes deliver the loudest exhaust sound, alongside a much-needed power-up that makes the Sportster 1200 rip!

Over the past twenty years, we’ve ridden a couple of different Sportster models. An aftermarket exhaust is the first accessory we got for all of them. Today, we’ll share what we think about some of the top performers, warts and all.

Keep reading for more information about the loudest exhausts for the Harley Davidson Sportster 1200.

The Radial Sweepers are by far the loudest and rowdiest exhausts for the Sportster 1200. Bassani designed these pipes to be shorter than usual for added style and weight reduction. Not to mention they also add plenty of power to the Sportster 1200.

If you want an eye-catching design for your Sportster’s 1200 exhaust, look no further. These Bassani exhausts have a modern, slash-cut look that looks absolutely phenomenal. Furthermore, they are significantly shorter than their competitors.

The shorter proportions have some functional benefits too. Firstly, the pipes are positioned higher on the bike, aiding ground clearance. Another benefit is the lower weight, which makes flicking the Sportster into corners a whole lot easier and more fun.

Shorter pipes tend to have better power output, and these loud exhausts are no different. Speaking of, the sound of the Bassani pipes is like a crack of thunder. It is loud, in your face, and beefy.

These pipes are some of the loudest we’ve seen for the Sportster 1200. But more than that, the sound is deeper, fuller, and more imposing. It’s an angry grunt of a sound that really helps the 1200cc engine come into its own.

But this loud exhaust for the Sportster 1200 isn’t just a one-trick pony. In fact, it uses integrated heat shields that prevent excess heat from making long rides miserable. Still, the unique shape will cause a bit more heat to fall on your legs than usual.

But we think you’ll be too busy playing around with the extra torque these pipes bring to the Sportster 1200 to notice a bit more heat on your legs. Besides being louder, the Sportster 1200 was more agile, easy to maneuver, and just a tonne of fun!

Acceleration was quicker off the line, and the bike was a lot more confident passing vehicles on the highway. Overall, we think these Bassani pipes really wake up the Sportster’s 1200cc engine and make it come alive.

Finally, you won’t have to fiddle around with the installation too much. The necessary mounting hardware is provided in the box, and the instructions are pretty intuitive. All of the hardware is manufactured in the USA, and you get a warranty to go along with it.

If you aren’t too keen on dropping your life savings for a loud Sportster 1200 exhaust, Cobra have you covered. Their Speedster 909 brings a timeless design and loud acoustics to the table, alongside a decent boost in power.

Kicking things off, we have these pipes’ throaty, growly exhaust note. If you want the loudest exhaust for your Sportster 1200, the Cobra should be near the top of your list. Cobra went for an aggressive, meaty sound that can be heard from a mile away.

The exhaust note is deeper than stock, but Cobra also focused on the higher frequencies. The result is a crisp and balanced exhaust note for your Sportster 1200 and one that absolutely screams when you open up the throttle.

Moving on to the design, we have a pretty straightforward and restrained exhaust that kind of goes under the radar. In fact, it is pretty similar to the stock exhaust’s style. We would have liked to see something a bit more unique, but the stealth look is pretty cool too.

Whether you get chrome or matte black, both use the same high-grade stainless steel. It is sturdy and durable, focusing on being lighter than stock for easier maneuvering of the bike.

Cobra outfitted this exhaust with something called Powerport technology. It claims to direct exhaust gasses more efficiently so that the engine can perform optimally. And we can report that the free-flowing architecture of this exhaust makes your Sportster not only louder but also peppier and more eager to go fast.

The power gains are pretty noticeable, as is the higher torque low down in the rev range. This certainly helps with getting the bike going, but we can’t help but wonder if top-end performance could have been even better.

Another drawback of this exhaust is the fiddly installation process. The instructions provided are clear enough, but we still had our work cut out for us trying to get the pipes bolted onto the Sportster.

But at the end of the day, this exhaust is all about the power and the sound. And when you consider the fact that this is one of the loudest exhausts for the Sportster 1200 and undercuts all the other options, it more than makes up for it.

The Big Radius is a pretty well-regarded, loud Harley exhaust. And on the Sportster 1200, it delivers some of the loudest exhaust sounds we’ve ever heard. The 2-into-2 pipes have a really cool look, and we appreciate the extra performance too.

Let’s start things off with the sound. If you have a stock exhaust on your Sportster 1200, this loud exhaust will make a noticeable difference. It has a throaty sound profile that makes itself heard.

This is one of the loudest Sportster 1200 exhausts but also one of the deepest sounding. It has a booming quality that you just don’t see with any other exhaust brand. Even the air intake sound on cold starts is a unique fluttering sound that we absolutely adore.

Moving on to the build quality, the fact that this is a V&H pipe should tell you everything you need to know. It is a robust aftermarket exhaust and does not give us any cause for concern. Top-grade stainless steel ensures better durability and resilience to extremely high exhaust temperatures.

The chrome finish has a unique anti-bluing surface that keeps your pipes nice and shiny. And the TIG welds are some of the most well done we’ve seen on any exhaust. Leave it to Vance & Hines to think of every possible detail.

But what good is a loud, well-built exhaust if it doesn’t add a bit of power to the Sportster? Here again, Vance & Hines does not disappoint. Firstly, these aftermarket pipes are noticeably lighter than stock. This makes the hefty Sportster a little bit easier to maneuver and ride every day.

Next, the free-flowing exhaust architecture adds at least 3-5 HP to your engine, depending on the model year. Overall, we were impressed by the more responsive throttle, the faster acceleration, and the smoother roll-on. Put simply, this is one of the most powerful and one of the loudest exhausts for the Sportster 1200.

Lastly, we have to commend Vance & Hines for making, at least in our opinion, one of the sexiest exhausts for the Sportster 1200. It is curved just right to match the bike’s lines, and if you don’t want classic chrome, you can get the pipes in a deep black.

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