Touring Bike M8 Exhaust
- Motorcycle Gear Reviews
- Jul 10, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 3, 2024
When you think of a Harley-Davidson, you focus on the freedom of the open road, but nothing is more somonis with the brand than the sound. The stock exhaust for a Harley-Davidson is sewing machine quiet. That's not the brands fault. They have to build a bike that meets EPA and noise restrictions to be able to sell the motorcycle in every market. It is also why the exhaust is usually the first thing riders change on their new bike. If you are looking for the best ways to upgrade the sound and power of your Harley-Davidson touring bike exhaust, you've come to the right place. Let's review our top picks!
Before we get started, let's talk about the Milwaukee 8. It is important to understand that this motor is very different from the older Twin Cam. Harley-Davidson knew that strict EPA regulations were coming to the world of motorcycles. So, from the beginning, the M8 was designed to meet these tough standards and still produce the power and sound riders have come to love. This is very relevant when it comes to exhaust. The newer engines are designed to love and need a lot of back pressure. For this reason, I do not recommend any full exhaust systems, unless you are doing a two into on set up, but we'll touch on that in another article. Free flowing head pipes may be louder, but they will cause you to loose bottom end torque. That is why every recommendation we have here are slip ons.
Khrome Werks HP Plus -Touring Bike Exhaust
Khrome Werks makes a variety of slip ons or mufflers for the touring bikes with the M8. Khrome Werks mufflers are made in the United States from 16 gauge steel and coated with either nickel chrome or their black finish for a great look and durability. Their coating is one of the reasons I really like these pipes. They coat and chrome many of the parts for Harley-Davidson. So that means when paired with the stock head pipes and heat shields, everything is going to match. Now, you have to really be paying attention to notice the difference in the chrome finish between pipe manufacturers on a set of new pipes. That's not true on a blacked out bike. The Khrome Werks mufflers will match in color and finish to your stock heat shields. If you are particular like me, this is a big deal!
Of course, there is more to a great exhaust than looking good. How does it sound? The Khrome Werks offers a good deep rumble, that under throttle, has a crisp and satisfying sound. On longer trips, I do not find the exhaust to be annoying or a constant irritating roar. Installation is easy as long as you have a basic mechanical knowledge. Also, by leaving the stock head pipes, there is no need to tune your bike after installation, unless you are also changing the air cleaner. On a dyno, Khrome Werks claims a 12% increase in torque and a 7% increase in Hp with their HP Plus Slip Ons. They are a 4.5" muffler, which is the same as stock. This fit nicely if you have stretched bags. The Krhome Werks HP Plus Slip-On Mufflers are available in both black and chrome finishes.
Cobra Neighbor Hater
Cobra has been in the motorcycle accessory business for a long time. For us that have been around for a long time, the Cobra name was not always recognized as a quality product. That's not true anymore. The R&D and quality of materials makes Cobra a real contender in the market. They are also a great value, as one of the least expensive quality slip-on mufflers market. Yes, they are still cheaper options, but you get what you pay for.
As far as sound, the Neighbor Haters are not the loudest pipe on the market, but have a great sound. They have a deep aggressive roar to them. They really come alive under throttle. On the interstate, they do roar a bit, but at this price point, I can certainly accept that.
This is a 4" pipe with a bell end which increases to 4.5". You either love or hate the bell end. Either way, it is distinguishable. They do look great on the bike, especially with stretched bags, as the bell fills the space well. The Cobra Neighbor Haters are available in both chrome and black finishes. If you are looking for a quality slip-on muffler that won't break the bank, the Cobra Neighbor Haters are a great choice.
Rinehart
Rinehart has it's roots in racing. That shouldn't be a surprise for a North Carolina based company. For decades, Rinehart has been the go to exhaust for a Harley-Davidson. They are major players in the motorcycle accessory market. They are known for making a quality product out of top notch materials. You can not go wrong with Rinehart exhaust.
Their slip-on mufflers are available in both a 4" and 4.5". Regardless of which size you go with, they have a crisp aggressive sound. They have a very distinct sound that Harley-Davidson riders and fans have always loved.
They are available in both chrome or black finishes. I really like that you can mix and match the end caps as well. Being able to personalize your motorcycle is what makes it yours. You can do a chrome pipe with black end cap or vise versa in addition to all black or all chrome. Pick whichever style you like the best. There is no tuning required for their slip on set up, unless you are changing the air intake as well. If you have basic hand tools and knowledge, this is something you can install yourself.
