The Best Exhausts for Harley Sportster Iron 883 Motorcycles

This is my buying guide on the best exhausts for the Harley Sportster Iron 883 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 SLIP-ON

Vance & Hines Shortshots
Staggered Exhaust

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• A clean, understated look
• Highest grade stainless steel
• Lightweight design
• Available in matte black and chrome
• Slash cut ends
• Staggered with narrow headers and wide mufflers
• Anti-bluing design does not discolour over time
• Free-flowing exhaust
• Beefier exhaust sound
• More aggressive exhaust note
• Unique thumping sound on cold starts
• Full coverage heat shields
• Sturdy build quality
• Best in class durability
• All the mounting hardware is provided in the box
• Comes with removable baffles
• Can make the exhaust louder

Best Overall

Two Brothers Comp-S 2-Into-1 Exhaust For Harley Iron 883

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• Best performance of any Iron 883 exhaust
• Available in chrome and black
• Carbon fiber end cap
• TIG welds hold up better to high pressure and heat
• Faster acceleration
• Lightweight stainless steel construction
• Better power-weight ratio
• 2-into-1 style enables scavenging
• Megaphone style muffler amplifies the bass
• Compatible with both forward and mid controls
• Uses stock O2 sensors

WORTHY CONSIDERATION

Vance & Hines 3” Round Twin Slash Slip-On Exhausts

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• Stainless steel construction
• Lightweight build
• Available in chrome or black
• Anti-bluing design
• Integrated full-coverage heat shields
• TIG welds for better durability
• Better backpressure
• Louder sound
• Deep and bassy exhaust note
• Improved throttle response
• Faster acceleration

My review will focus on the performance, sound characteristics, and of course, the build of each exhaust. All of our findings are based on real-world testing, so you can be sure to get what you pay for.

When it comes to adding tons of power to a smaller displacement engine like the 883, the Comp-S from Two Brothers just can’t be beat. This 2-into-1 style pipe provides a significant power-up alongside a beefier, more aggressive exhaust note. The design is also one of our favorites.

The Sportster Iron has some of our favorite Harleys, but we can’t help but feel they’re a bit low on power and exhaust sound. So we went looking for the best exhaust for the Sportster Iron 883 and used over a decade of experience to find the best options.

Keep reading for more of our thoughts on the best exhausts for the Sportster Iron 883.

Two Brothers’ racing heritage shines through with this high-performance Sportster Iron 883 exhaust. It’s a 2-into-1 style pipe, so you know it packs a serious punch. And the unique design is good for more than just aesthetics. In fact, it actually helps amplify the exhaust sound.

Let’s talk about power. The Comp-S is by far the best performing exhaust on this list. It uses the 2-into-1 design to provide better backpressure for the engine. It also enables ‘scavenging,’ a phenomenon wherein part of the exhaust pulses from one header travel to the other, thus improving power output.

Day-to-day, we found our Sportster Iron 883 was noticeably faster in a straight line. Low-speed maneuvering was also easier, thanks to the added torque down low in the rev range. We can also attest to a smoother, more responsive throttle and a ‘zippier’ feeling bike overall.

But what good is a more powerful bike if it doesn’t sound the part? Thankfully, the TBR pipe ticks this box as well. The free-flowing exhaust architecture makes this exhaust louder than stock. Moreover, the unique megaphone-style muffler amplifies bass, making the exhaust note deeper and more imposing. Overall, it isn’t as loud as some other options on this list, but a dramatic improvement over stock.

Speaking of the design, we think you’ll like the retro styling of this pipe. And if you want to customize the look a bit, you can get this exhaust in a dull chrome or matte black. Each color comes with a carbon fiber end cap which we thought was a nice addition.

It uses the highest quality stainless steel, making it lightweight and durable. The weight savings improve the power-weight ratio while also making it easier to maneuver the bike in tight spots.

The exhaust gets high-quality TIG welds to withstand the immense pressure and heat of the free-flowing exhaust. Not to mention, they just look a little nicer than regular welds.

To sum up, the TBR Comp-s is one of the most powerful exhausts you can get for the Iron 883. It sounds aggressive and beefy, though it isn’t the loudest pipe on this list. We think the retro bobber design and awesome power-up more than make up for this.

The Vance & Hines Shortshots is the Iron 883 exhaust to have if you want the absolute best build quality. These pipes sound incredible and have a timeless design that fits the Sportster ethos.

First, we have to talk about the build quality and design of these Iron 883 exhausts. The construction features the highest grade stainless steel, a lightweight and sturdy material. It holds up really well to extreme temperatures and exhaust pressure. The pipes do not exhibit any cracks or leaks even under heavy load.

V&H’s focus on build quality is evident in other areas too. For one, the whole exhaust is designed to be ‘blue-proof’ so it won’t discolor over thousands of heat cycles. You get full-coverage heat shields that protect the rider and passenger from excess exhaust heat.

As we said, the design is classic and restrained. But that does not mean it’s boring. Far from it, in fact. You have your choice of either chrome or a deep matte black for the finish, and the subtle slash-cut ends give this pipe the look of a ‘gorilla in a tuxedo.’ We mean that it’s a pretty aggressive design hidden under a sensible exterior.

Speaking of aggressive design, the free-flowing exhaust architecture of this pipe makes for a healthy power-up. Moreover, this is a staggered exhaust setup, meaning the header pipes are narrower than the rest of the pipe. This improves backpressure and engine power while maintaining a beefy exhaust note.

But just how does this Iron 883 exhaust sound? Well, suffice to say, this is one of our favorite sounding exhausts currently on the market. It is over 25% louder than stock and has a deeper, rowdier character. And when you do a cold start of the Iron 883, the exhaust makes this unique fluttering, thumping sound that we just can’t get enough of.

Finally, you get a noticeably more responsive throttle, better acceleration, and an easier time passing other vehicles on the highway. It helps that these pipes are lighter than those they are replacing, so you get an improved power-weight ratio.

If you’d rather have an aftermarket slip-on for your Iron 883, there’s only really one option that we recommend. Vance & Hines’ Round Twin Slash pipes deliver a meatier, growly exhaust note, a noticeable increase in performance, and a straightforward design that looks effortlessly cool.

This V&H pipe has the same classic approach to design as the last one. It is a pretty basic-looking design with rounded mufflers and slash-cut ends that add a bit of flair to the pipes. Again, you can get the pipes in chrome or black. Not the flashiest design out there, but it works.

The pipes are not without some special features, however. You get a high-grade stainless steel build designed to resist ‘bluing’ over time. You get 220-degree full coverage heat shields integrated into the design, which are an absolute godsend on hot days and long journeys.

Beautifully done TIG welds ensure better durability and allow the pipes to hold up to high exhaust temperature and pressure. And of course, it’s a V&H pipe, so it’s built to outlast…well, everything really!

But don’t miss the forest for the trees. These subtly designed pipes have a tonne of grunt where it counts.

The performance you get out of these slip-ons rivals that of a full system exhaust for the iron 883. The Shortshots have a unique design that facilitates higher exhaust flow. They improve the backpressure in the pipe, so the 883’s engine can output a bit more power. Ideally, these slip-ons are paired with a set of aftermarket headers, but even on their own, they are pretty powerful.

The biggest difference we felt was the improved throttle response. It makes the bike feel smoother and more eager to get going. Launching the bike from a standstill is faster, as is merging on the highway.

And don’t even get us started about the sound! These slip-ons have a deep and rumbly exhaust note that exudes power all on its own. It is a lot louder than stock, and the bike can be heard from a couple miles away. But despite the louder volume, these exhausts still have a crisp and pleasing tone. We suspect the louvered core baffles are to thank for this fantastic sound.