Harley Davidson Exhaust Wish List
H-D Exploring Changes To Exhaust Systems
If this rumor is true, it’s a long time coming. It’s almost automatic that a person buys a Harley, then immediately changes the seat and the exhaust. It’s something that has baffled me for years.
Personally, I am very happy that H-D is looking into this area. I’ve had Harley’s all my life and I am a shiny chrome guy. Always will be. One thing I can say about H-D is their chrome is second to none.
Like most, I’ve always changed my exhaust for a variety of reasons over the years, but nobody’s pipes and mufflers are built better than H-D. End of conversation. However, we all have our preferences for loudness, sound, flow performance, and looks. I personally prefer a certain rumble and growl when I jump on it, but I don’t need to wake the dead on volume. The flow rate needs to be what it needs to be to get the most out my bike.
It’s always baffled me why H-D even bothered to put exhaust on most bikes in my state, only to see them at the scrap yard. What a waste. What a shame too when you consider just how well made these pipes and mufflers are made. Hold up a stock muffler then hold up an aftermarket one and note the weight and build quality of each. Yet we change. This is an opportunity for H-D to improve and cut down on the waste.
I would love to see H-D offer up some choices that allow us to hear and see and understand a series of options. We all know what we like. We all know it when we see it and hear it. If we could choose from a variety of configs from the beginning after hearing and seeing actual demos and dyno pull results then I would go that way assuming price competitive and superior quality construction and durability.
My ideal: I get the pipe routing configuration 2×2, 2×1, true dual, whatever, that I want. Chrome, Black, Colors, Brushed, Gloss, flat, whatever finish for pipes, shields, mufflers, tips, and mounting hardware. We get to listen to and order exactly the tone and loudness in the mufflers we want using interchangeable baffles. A sort of dial a sound setup. If we later decide we want to change our loudness, or tone, we just order another set of inserts and done. Next are the variety of tips. I loved my Magna Flow tips, but sadly they aren’t made anymore. But, being able to choose from a variety of tips and tip finish combos we can have exactly the look we want. Finally, I think it would be cool to be able to order up a custom medallion to put on my mufflers. Perhaps my initials or whatever. Again, in the finish I want.
To me, this is nirvana. It’s what I would do if I were in charge. I would be relentless in making sure there is no reason anyone would ever want to buy aftermarket for any reason, including price.
Am I dreaming? Who knows?
K
