The Best Performance Exhausts for Harley Davidson 103 in 2023

This is my buying guide on the best Performance Exhausts for Harley Davidson 103 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.

BEST SOUNDING

Bassani Pro
Street Exhaust For Harley

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• 3-stepped pipe design
• High-flow exhaust design
• Adds a lot of power throughout the rev range
• Highest boost in torque of any exhaust
• Faster acceleration
• Easier merging and passing on the highway
• 16-gauge steel construction
• Lightweight
• Integrated heat shields
• Available in chrome and matte black
• Louder, more aggressive sound
• Sound is not harsh or unbearable
• All necessary mounting hardware is provided

Best Overall

Freedom Performance Sharp Curve Radius Exhaust For Harley

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• Highest grade stainless steel
• Lightweight
• Stylish curved design
• Durable build
• Perfect fitment
• Full coverage heat shields
• Blue-proof
• Available in chrome and matte black
• Huge boost in power
• Faster acceleration
• Improved power-weight ratio
• Better top-end performance
• Triple stepped headers
• Louder, fuller sound
• The low and bass-heavy exhaust note
• Removable baffles

WORTHY CONSIDERATION

Two Brothers Turnout 2-Into-1 Shorty Exhaust For Harley

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• 2-into-1 style exhaust
• Shorter exhaust design
• Enables scavenging
• Race-inspired exhaust
• More horsepower
• Improved torque down-low
• Better acceleration
• Mandrel-bent stainless steel construction
• Lightweight design
• Louder than stock
• High-temp SS wool mitigates exhaust heat
• Durable and sturdy construction

In this article, we recommend the best performance exhausts for the Harley Davidson 103 ci engine. 

Our review will tackle the most important features of each exhaust. These include the quality of build and the sound characteristics. However, for this review, the ultimate deciding factor for whether or not an exhaust makes it onto the list was performance. 

Freedom Performance stays true to its name with the Sharp Curve Radius exhaust. This stylish set of pipes brings a massive boost in power and sexier acoustics to the Harley Davidson 103. Not to mention, these are some of the most durable exhausts we’ve ever tested. 

We’ve owned and ridden a couple different Harleys with the 103 engine. And we have to say, it’s a bit down on power compared to newer engines. So we went looking for the best performance exhausts for the Harley Davidson 103 and chose the top contenders for this list. 

Keep reading for more of our thoughts on the best performance exhausts for the Harley Davidson 103. 

The Sharp Curve Radius exhaust from Freedom Performance has it all. Loud, beefy sound, a cool design, and the absolute best performance of any exhaust on this list. It also helps that it’s built to withstand a nuclear explosion!

Freedom Performance went all out with this exhaust. It uses the highest grade of stainless steel we’ve ever seen, which improves structural integrity and long-term durability. Our tests involved subjecting each exhaust to extreme pressure and temperature to see how they hold up, and we’re pleased to report that the ‘Freedom’ did not so much as flinch.

The fitment with the Harley Davidson 103 was absolutely perfect, and we have neither exhaust leaks nor cracks to report.

And this exhaust is just as much form as function. The design of these pipes is absolutely phenomenal. The curved pipes and the irregularly shaped openings make for an aggressive look that fits well with the 103 model Harleys. You can get it in chrome, though we are partial to the matte black version.

If you choose the chrome, you won’t have to deal with any ugly pipe discoloration over time. Freedom Performance designed the exhaust to be completely ‘blue-proof,’ so a couple thousand heat cycles later, your chrome is still as shiny as Day 1!

Another pretty useful feature is the integrated full coverage heat shield, which keeps exhaust heat off the rider and passenger. But you’re looking for the best performance exhausts for Harley’s 103 engine. Well, strap in cause the ‘Freedom’ is about to take you on a ride.

Put simply, this is the most powerful performance exhaust for the Harley Davidson 103. It has a free-flowing design, allowing the 103 engine to generate much more power. In our testing, we got better 0-60 times, improved top-end performance at highway speeds, and overall, a bike that was a lot more fun to ride.

You even get some extra torque down low in the rev range, making low-speed maneuvering a breeze. Hell, the lightweight build of this exhaust even improves your bike’s power-weight ratio!

As for the sound, you get a significantly louder, fuller-sounding exhaust thanks to the triple-stepped header. In fact, it’s so loud that we kept the removable baffles fitted. At idle, it produces a booming rumble. When you open up the throttle, it becomes a menacing growl. Put simply, it’s one of our favorite exhaust notes for the Harley Davidson 103.

If you want the ‘bark’ to go with the extra ‘bite’ from your performance exhaust for Harley Davidson’s 103 engine, Bassani has you covered. Their Pro-Street is a mean and grunty pipe that produces one hell of an exhaust note and also offers the most torque of any exhaust on this list. 

Bassani uses 3 different diameters of pipe from header to end cap, which helps the exhaust put out higher power and a ton more torque. This stepped design allows exhaust gasses to exit the system faster, thus improving overall performance. 

These exhausts are tuned for smoother power delivery throughout the rev range. So you get faster acceleration but also higher top speed and a more agile-feeling motorcycle. 

Day to day, the bike felt peppier and more eager to get going. The throttle response was smoother and more immediate. We had an easier time passing vehicles and merging lanes on the highway. And the fact that these pipes weigh a little less than stock also helps. 

In fact, that’s just one of the advantages of their unique design. Besides being lightweight, the 16-gauge stainless steel is also more durable and sturdy. It is perfectly set up to withstand the extreme pressure and heat of this high-performance Harley Davidson 103 exhaust. 

Speaking of heat, the integrated heat shields are really effective at keeping the rider and passenger comfortable on hot days and long journeys. You can get the pipes in black, but for once, we actually prefer the chrome version. 

But the real star of the show is these pipes’ otherworldly sound. Bassani’s pipes are usually the best-sounding in their class, and this one is no different. It utilizes high-flow exhaust architecture and stepped headers to produce a rowdy, aggressive sound that is a treat to the senses. Be it idle or redline, the sound of these exhausts is louder and meatier. 

But despite the loudness, it is not a harsh or unbearable sound. Bassani’s tuning produces a ‘creamy’ sound that seems to go up in quality right alongside loudness. 

Finally, all of the necessary mounting equipment is provided in the box, O2 sensor plugs are provided, and the pipe is made in the USA, just like your Harley Davidson. 

Two Brothers Racing comes on the scene with a peppy 2-into-1 style performance exhaust for the Harley Davidson 103 engine. This ‘Shorty’ exhaust delivers a healthy power-up and a rowdy exhaust note that means business.

TBR are no strangers to motorsport, which is readily apparent from their powerful exhaust for the Harley Davidson 103 engine. This pipe provides a major power upgrade for your bike, thanks to the unique design and free-flow exhaust architecture. In testing, we noticed that the bike was faster and more confident at highway speeds.

The shorter design of this exhaust actually helps it generate more power. It also means that the overall weight is kept low, helping with the bike’s power-weight ratio. In fact, we were surprised by how much easier it was to lug around our usually heavy and ungainly Harley.

And the 2-into-1 design means you get the benefit of ‘scavenging.’ If you aren’t familiar, ‘scavenging’ is when the exhaust pulse from one cylinder helps the other suck in more oxygen and perform better as a result.

Besides horsepower, you also get some extra torque, though nowhere near Bassani’s level. Still, it does make for faster acceleration, improved handling at low speed, and easier merging on the highway.

Moving on to the sound, you can expect a louder, more raucous exhaust note thanks to the shorter proportions and unique muffler design. It’s not the deepest sound, but still pretty beefy and aggressive.

We liked the sound of this exhaust at speed. It reminded us of race-bikes on the track, so TBR’s racing heritage is sufficiently represented.

Finally, this exhaust is pretty well-built and durable. It uses Mandrel-bent stainless steel tubing and hand-crafted TIG welds. The result is a sturdy hunk o’ metal that holds up really well to exhaust pressure and heat. The construction also integrates high-temperature SS wool and other packing material, which mitigates some of the heat coming off the exhaust.

All said and done, the TBR is another really cool exhaust if you want extra performance from your Harley Davidson 103. It doesn’t sound as stellar as some other exhausts out there, but still pretty good.

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