AJR wrote:
I bought my 2012 ElectraGlide Classic new last year. IMO one of the biggest sins is a Harley with stock pipes. I didn't want to spend a fortune but couldn't handle the quiet stock pipes. After reviewing many slip-ons I decided on Bubs. The reason is the removable baffle & the price at JP Cycles of only $370. With the baffle in, the Bubs were slightly louder than the stock....but still not loud enough for me. I took the baffles out completely & chattered my teeth when going out for a test ride that way. I wanted an in-between decibel. I'm a steel fabricator/machinist so I figured if I could block off only some of the baffle pores I could adjust the sound to what I wanted. What I did was make a sleeve that snugly slid over the baffle. I took a gamble at blocking 6" of the approximate 18 inch of pores. A 5/16" set screw locks the sleeve exactly where I want it. After experimenting I realized I got lucky with the length because if I put the sleeve halfway back on the pores it gave me just the perfect amount of decibels I was after. I can be heard well around town & when I go on an out-of-stater trip it's not obnoxious after a period of time. I really like these bubs. If I ever decided I wanted to be even louder, I could always add another sleeve or make a longer sleeve. On a scale of 1-10 with stock pipes being a 1, I would say these bubs with 6" sleeve that I put on run the loudness up to about a 5. Without the sleeve the bubs were about a 3.
AJR
Quiet pipes versus loud pipes is depending where you are in life. I am 57 years old have a life time of loud open drag pipes that visibly shoot flames out at night. I now prefer quiet stock pipes the last couple years. My bikes have always been a reflection of where I am as a person and in life at any given age. After 30+ years of being outwardly anti society obnoxious rebel type its nice for me to realize I'd been possible intruding on other peoples right to peace and quiet. Thats just how I feel about it now and I like it.