The Best Slip-On Motorcycle Exhausts

In this article, we recommend the best slip-on motorcycle exhausts.

Over the years, we have tested hundreds, if not thousands, of motorcycle exhausts. Here, we provide an in-depth review of just a few top options. We will consider the construction, the performance, and of course, the sound of each exhaust.

Two Brothers’ S1R is our top pick for sportbikes, with its impressive build and incredible sound. Harley riders will love the Vance & Hines 3” Round Twin Slash’s beefy acoustics. And finally, if you need an exhaust for your custom bike build, Emgo’s universally compatible offering provides a budget-friendly option.

We have been in the business of testing and reviewing motorcycle accessories for over a decade. So rest assured that we can help you make the best buying decision for motorcycle slip-on exhausts.

Keep reading for more of our thoughts on the best motorcycle slip-on exhausts.

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TBR poured decades of racing experience into this sportbike slip-on exhaust design, and it shows. The construction is some of the most premium we’ve seen, and the performance is just as top-notch. The sound quality is through the roof, and we just can’t get enough! 

Let’s kick things off with the design and build of this slip-on exhaust. It ticks many boxes, with only the most premium materials used throughout. In fact, we were surprised by how lightweight this slip-on is. But that’s what you get with a carbon fiber muffler sleeve and an aluminum outlet. 

Moreover, it’s not just any old carbon fiber but 33 million modulus-rated carbon fiber. This means it is more rigid than regular carbon without being too brittle or stiff. The high-temperature resin integration makes it even more durable against general wear and tear. 

This attention to detail extends to the rest of the construction as well. The mid-pipe is made of 0.34” thick, 304 stainless steel. This grade of stainless steel is exceptionally lightweight while maintaining rigidity and structure. 

The design is slick and modern, perfectly matching the sportbike in your life. The slip-on is actually relatively compact and features aggressive angular lines. We liked this design and think it fits well on most sportbike models. 

But what good is a sexy design if it isn’t backed up by an even sexier sound? TBR addresses this with the unique sound characteristics of this slip-on exhaust. The slip-on uses a free-flowing exhaust architecture and spiral-wound perforated core to generate a deeper, more pleasing exhaust note. 

In-person, the sound is deep and imposing and really shows TBR’s racing roots. If you want your sportbike to have a deeper exhaust note at idle but a high-pitched whine at redline, this is the slip-on to have. 

Moving on to performance, this slip-on surprised us yet again. While it won’t give you an extra 20 HP, the free-flowing design and unique tuning mean that it gives you a decent bump in performance overstock. Moreover, throttle response is much more immediate. The whole package has been dyno-tuned to provide best-in-class performance. 

Rounding up the feature set, we have optional P1, and PX1 sound inserts to change the sound characteristics. And we loved the fact that the muffler clamps have cutouts that work to reduce weight even further.

The Vance & Hines Round Twin Slash Slip-ons are one of our favorite Harley Davidson slip-on exhausts. They feature a louder, deeper sound, durable build, and an understated design that makes your Harley look unique without looking tacky. 

The design of this slip-on exhaust features classic lines and a timeless style that goes well with the Harley Davidson aesthetic. The twin rounded pipes have slash-cut ends that look more aggressive and imposing. It’s actually a pretty subtle look, but it makes your Harley look a lot meaner. The pipes can be specced in chrome or black to match or contrast your Harley’s engine. 

This sexy design is backed up by premium materials that make the construction much more durable. High-grade stainless steel provides tons (metaphorical) of weight savings, alongside a more robust build. The chrome version is specifically designed to be ‘blue-proof’ so that you don’t have to put up with discoloration of the pipes over time. 

This slip-on is head and shoulders above the competition, even from a performance standpoint. The TIG welds can withstand the highest pressure and most extreme temperatures. You get better backpressure and improved throttle response. The lower weight also makes it much easier to maneuver a heavy Harley at low speed. 

On the topic of performance, these slip-ons from Vance & Hines boost power by a pretty good margin. Our test bike also had aftermarket headers fitted. Still, the throttle response was much smoother, 0-60 times were lower, and overall, the motorcycle seemed more fun.  

We are huge fans of the integrated full-coverage heat shields that this slip-on uses. It makes for a noticeable difference in the amount of heat falling on both the rider’s and passenger’s legs. 

As for the sound, these are some of the most exquisite-sounding motorcycle slip-ons we have ever tested. Furthermore, they are also some of the loudest slip-ons from V&H. 

The exhaust note is deeper and more full. Every twist of the throttle lets out an aggressive roar that makes your Harley’s presence known. We suspect the louvered core baffles are to thank for this improvement in the sound quality and loudness. 

These are some of the best slip-on exhausts you can get for your Harley Davidson. They are built to outlast the bike itself, have a meaty exhaust note, and plenty of cool features that make the riding experience better.

If you’ve been scratching your head trying to find the perfect exhaust for your project bike, Emgo’s Cafe universal muffler is the slip-on you’ve been waiting for. It features a sturdy construction, loud and growly exhaust note, and pretty good performance for a universally compatible motorcycle slip-on exhaust. 

Let’s get the boring stuff out of the way. This universally compatible exhaust doesn’t have the flashiest design. In fact, it’s a pretty basic, torpedo-style exhaust with an all-black, powder-coated finish.

The construction, while sturdy and durable, is nothing special either. In our testing, the exhaust held up quite well to high exhaust pressure and extreme heat, so we’re confident that it will work well for most applications. 

Where this slip-on exhaust excels is in terms of compatibility. When they say universally compatible, they mean universally compatible. We tested this slip-on with many different motorcycles, and it worked admirably with most. 

This does bring up one of the drawbacks of this exhaust. Specifically, you might need to get some custom fabrication work done for it to fit some bikes. But we think that’s a small task to get such an excellent slip-on exhaust to work. 

And you can be sure that it’s pretty awesome. The sound, for example, is louder and more aggressive than stock mufflers. The free-flowing design and perforated core baffle make for a rowdy, beefy exhaust note that demands attention. The tone is deeper and fuller from a sound quality perspective, thanks to the unrestricted design and unique shape that amplifies sound. 

Moving on to performance, we have mixed feelings, to say the least. While the slip-on performs better than most other universally compatible options, it still falls short of dedicated slip-ons for your bike. 

Still, credit where credit is due. Our test bike felt a lot peppier with this slip-on fitted to it. It seemed more eager to get going and definitely had more character than the stock muffler. 

All said and done, this is our favorite universally compatible slip-on, and the budget-friendly price tag just puts it over the top. We highly recommend it for your next project or that bike that you just can’t find a slip-in for! 

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Best Slip-On Exhaust Brands

When it comes to slip-ons, the world is your oyster. There are numerous manufacturers that make some really awesome slip-ons. We thought we would recommend the best slip-on exhaust brands so you have a leg up when you go shopping for one. 

Keep in mind that this is just a general guide, and the perfect slip-on for your particular bike may not be on this list. If you want more info on slip-ons for a specific model of bike, check out some of our other reviews. If you don’t find your favorite motorcycle or manufacturer, just be patient. We’ll get to them soon enough! 

Without further ado, here are our picks for the best slip-on exhaust brands. 

Vance & Hines

V&H is usually near, if not at, the top of our recommendations lists. This is because they make one hell of an awesome exhaust. The V&H pipes we feature are usually for Harley-Davidsons and other cruiser-style motorcycles. However, they make stellar full exhaust systems and slip-ons for many different motorcycle brands. 

The best thing about a V&H slip-on is the attention to detail that goes into the design. These exhausts use nothing but the best and most premium materials for construction. They are lightweight yet also highly durable, so you can expect them to last a long time. 

The next standout feature of Vance & Hines’ slip-ons is their awesome performance. Combining well-tuned exhausts with a less restrictive design, V&H can extract a lot of power from your bike’s stock engine. This results in faster acceleration, smoother throttle response, and a more fun motorcycle overall. 

Not to mention, these slip-ons feature some of the most pleasing exhaust notes on the market. The exhausts sound deeper and more imposing but simultaneously refined and classy. On cruisers with big displacement engines, V&H pipes produce this unique fluttering sound on cold starts that just puts a smile on our faces. 

V&H pipes also come with useful features such as full coverage heat shields and a blue-proof design that prevents the pipes from discoloring over time. 

That said, V&H pipes do have some drawbacks. The design has often been called too basic or boring. And while their exhaust catalog for Harleys is pretty diverse, their offerings for other manufacturers are somewhat limited. 

Two Brothers Racing

Two Brothers Racing, or TBR, as they are sometimes known, is a performance-focused exhaust brand. Their exhausts feature high-quality materials and impressive sound quality. Still, all of that takes a back seat to the raw power and performance these exhausts bring to your motorcycle. 

TBR’s slip-ons come with some unique and modern designs. You can find a TBR slip-on exhaust to fit with just about any motorcycle. The construction of these exhausts is always top-notch, with premium materials such as stainless steel and aluminum on offer. 

In testing, TBR exhausts go above and beyond in terms of performance and durability. They are designed to withstand even the highest exhaust pressure and heat without cracking or leaking. Most of TBR’s slip-ons have a magnesium end cap that is even more resistant to heat and a non-stick Teflon coating on the mufflers that prevents any dirt or debris from collecting on the exhaust’s surface. 

The sound of TBR slip-on exhausts is a throaty, race-inspired one. The tone is deeper and more aggressive than stock. At idle, these slip-ons produce a booming, resonant sound, but one twist of the throttle, and you get an angry growl that means business. 

But again, the impressive sound and build of these slip-ons are overshadowed by the otherworldly performance figures. Each Two Brothers exhaust is specifically tuned to extract more power from the engine that it is fitted to. You can expect a healthy bump in both horsepower and torque with TBR exhausts. After all, the ‘Racing’ in Two Brothers Racing isn’t just for show. 

We highly recommend TBR slip-ons for sportbikes and other high-performance motorcycles. 

Akrapovic

This exhaust brand requires no introduction. Akrapovic makes some of the absolute best exhausts and slip-ons for motorcycles. Period. If you want the highest quality construction, best materials, and highest performance and are willing to pay for the privilege, Akrapovic is the exhaust brand to have.

Speaking of premium materials, Akrapovic would probably make an exhaust out of Unobtanium if it were possible. For now, you can expect your Akrapovic exhaust to feature such high-quality materials as stainless steel, aluminum, carbon fiber, and even titanium! These make for some lightweight and durable exhausts. 

The weight savings you get from these exhausts are pretty noticeable, whether in day-to-day motorcycle riding or when you take the bike to the track. 

The same can be said about the performance enhancements that Akrapovic exhausts bring to your bike. Much like TBR exhausts, Akra slip-ons unlock your motorcycle’s hidden potential. This means you get a faster bike, a more agile bike, and a bike that is perfectly poised to put others to shame on the track. 

Akra even gives you a gnarly soundtrack to go with that enhanced performance. These slip-ons have an unmistakable sound that is deeper and more resonant than stock but also provides louder acoustics. Akrapovic’s exhaust note is our absolute favorite of any slip-on exhaust. 

Lastly, Akrapovic does not compromise on the design and looks of their exhausts either. Most of their slip-on exhausts have a futuristic vibe that makes your bike stand out from the rest. Design is subjective, but personally, we think Akrapovic slip-ons are some of the sexiest slip-on exhausts currently available. 

So there you have the best motorcycle slip-on exhausts. Be sure to check out our other reviews, where we go into even more detail and talk about slip-on exhausts for specific motorcycles. And as always, ride safe!