The Personal Blog Of
Boston Motorcycle Lawyer

Mandatory Cruiser Upgrade: Slip On Mufflers
March 5, 2010

When I used to ride my Suzuki Marauder 1600 with my Harley buddies, I used to hold my own. My bike looked great, ran great, and got as much attention as anyone else’s bike in the pack.

My bike had lots of motorcycle upgrades including chrome accessories, lowered progressive suspension, fat handlebars, a chin fairing, and other items. My Suzuki was a great looking bobber.

The one thing that I did not upgrade was the exhaust. I contemplated doing it but decided against it because I felt my bike ran strong and sounded pretty good.

My Harley buddies disagreed and frequently teased me about how quiet my bike was. They were right. Compared to some of their Harleys, my bike sounded like a scooter.

I now have a 2007 Harley Street Glide and even the stock exhaust on this bike is relatively quiet. There has been much debate over whether loud pipes are a safety feature or a public nuisance. As aftermarket exhaust continued to get louder and motorcycle manufacturers like Harley Davidson received more public backlash, they decided to outfit their bikes with pipes that are quieter and socially acceptable.

Recently, I replaced my stock pipes with a set of Rinehart Slip-on Mufflers and all I can say is wow. Now, my bike sounds like a Harley should. It also feels that the bike has a bit more throttle response but that might be the placebo effect of the increased noise.

The best way I can explain the sound is to compare it to the sound of a fat guy snoring on a couch after eating a full rack of ribs and drinking a six pack of beer. This is not the best visual image but, the sound is accurate; low, deep, and nasty! The increased sound gives the bike the type of attitude that a Harley deserves. While the bike is much louder, it is not so loud that my bike is annoying to my neighbors. It’s perfect.

I should have gotten slip on exhaust with my Suzuki and now that I have them for my Harley, I strongly suggest this upgrade. The sound, style, and maybe even the performance are all worth the cost.