Are you looking for the best exhaust for a Softail Slim? You’re in the right place.
Harley Davidson Softail Slim is a highly distinctive bike known for two things: the impressive motor sound and the stylish looks. And the exciting part for bikers about owning a Harley Davidson is the ability to modify it.
After all, if you can release a few more horses at the rear wheel and make that tremendous V-twin thunder even more profound, why wouldn’t you?
By upgrading your stock pipes for high-quality performance exhaust, you can release some extra horsepower from your motor, plus you’ll get a very distinctive sound.
Below we’ve reviewed some of the best exhausts for a Softail Slim. Check them out here:
Best Exhausts for Softail Slim – Comparison Table
1. Vance & Hines VH-46875 Exhaust (Editor’s Choice)
The product is manufactured with great value and gutsy sound and is the most preferred exhaust for the Softail Slim. The Vance & Hines are known for producing high-quality pipes that sound great and provide noticeable performance gains.
Features
This Chrome or Wrinkle Black exhaust comes with full coverage heat shields to match black heat shields’ factory look. It gives enhanced sound at an affordable price and is finished with the important signature Vance & Hines twin slash look.
The product is manufactured in the USA and can be fitted with competition baffles or quiet baffles. It gives your cruiser bike a custom look that allows you to ride with confidence. These mufflers can be with either competition or quiet baffles.
Pros
- Easy to install with essential tools
- The sound is impressive
- It comes in Chrome or Wrinkle Black
- Quiet and Competition Baffles
- Value for money
Cons
- Quiet is louder than stock but not much at idle
This exhaust promises to give just what it says – formidable roar enough to lower your radios! A marvelous piece of engineering enriched chrome-plated tips for sleek looks; it’s a must-have.
2. Vance & Hines VH-16875 Exhaust (Runner-Up)
This new exhaust system gives your bike a fantastic sleek and twin-pipe look. The best part of this exhaust is the blue-proof technology. It provides 3-inch coverage of heat guards to cover your bike’s body with louvered core baffles that are pre-installed in the muffler.
This exhaust model will open up your bike’s performance along with dealing in a nice throaty and deep exhaust note.
Features
This exhaust model comes with a 3-inch round with Twin Slash End Treatment and provides you with full coverage heat shields. This product is available in chrome finish.
After installing, these exhausts provide a deep throaty rumble sound, a massive improvement from the factory sound for sure! The exhaust pipes are short in size and give you more space in the rear wheel and fender.
Pros
- Easy to Install
- It provides fantastic sound; loud but no obnoxious
- The exhaust has a sleek design
- The exhaust is a quality fit and finish
- Optional quiet or competition baffles can be used for these slip-on mufflers
Cons
- It could be wicked and noisy for some
This exhaust is a perfect piece for you if you want deep, throaty thunder with incredible horsepower. The best part about these exhausts is that they are a lot shorter than the stock mufflers, which gives you more rear wheel and fender.
3. Vance & Hines VH-16712 Exhaust
The Eliminator 300 Slip-ons for your Milwaukee-Eight fueled Softail equivalent the completion of your stock warmth shields impeccably with an extraordinarily defined glossy silk chrome finish.
Feature
Harley Davidson exhaust system from Vance and Hines is leading the market for decades. Their consideration of detail is perfect, from the CNC Machined Billet End Caps to the satin chrome finish that looks like a factory custom!
The 3″ muffler bodies are made of quality steel that promotes the excellent thick sound and offers durability for as long as you own the bike. The astonishing thing about Vance & Hines exhaust systems is that they allow you to replace the baffles if your situation requires you to do so.
These unique exhaust systems come in Chrome or Wrinkle Black, and all hardware is included in the package.
Pros
- The sound is powerful but not repulsive
- Very mellow at idle
- Installation is super easy
- It comes with all the hardware
Cons
- You will find it expensive compared to other exhausts with similar features
This exhaust system is a great piece to replace your stock exhausts. It is exquisite as it provides a satin chrome finish. It also comes with CNC Machined Billet End Caps.
4. Cobra 6047 Exhaust
This exhaust system manufactured by Cobra gives the bike a nice deep low-end rumble which your neighbors will hate. The 3″ Neighbor Hater suppressors transform that quiet Milwaukee-Eight motor into something every one of your companions will envy.
Feature
These mufflers are designed specifically for the new Softail and the Milwaukee-Eight engine, which maximizes the sound and performance of your Harley Davidson. The 3″ muffler body flares out to 3.25-inches at the rear, which gives you ample space.
The inner tip finishes off the bottom and adds sound. It also comes with a 2″ spun-louvered baffle that produces back stress and stimulates the exhaust gases. The weight of these exhaust systems is 13.5 pounds.
Pros
- High-quality chrome finish
- Good sound
- It comes with a lifetime warranty
- It maximizes sound and performance amazingly
- Sleeker than the stock mufflers
Cons:
- Requires exhaust gasket, which you have to buy from Harley
For the great worth, gorgeous, great-sounding header pipes for your Street Glide or Ultra Classic, Cobra’s 6047 are difficult to beat.
5. Radiant Cycles GP2032C Exhaust
This 2018-2020 Harley Davidson Softail Slim is another unique exhaust system on our list. The exhaust comes wholly welded with chrome plated for a durable finish.
Feature
Radiant Cycles has a GP shorty exhaust that will add a sleek design to your bike at an excellent price to your wallet. The exhaust system is welded with chrome for a durable finish.
If you have a convertible, this is an inappropriate exhaust because of extra bracing under the convertibles. The larger piping of the exhaust does not give much space on the rear wheel.
Pros
- It gives a great sound
- It comes with all the fixtures and an instruction manual
- Easy to Install
- Chrome finished for more durability
Cons
- It comes with cheap quality clamps
This exhaust system from Radiant Cycles is an excellent product if you want fantastic sound with finish look pipes. But as it doesn’t have suitable clamps, you have to buy another one that can affect your pocket.
6. Vance & Hines 46077 Exhaust/h3>
It comes wrapped in precision-sculpted heat shields finished with scalloped-cuts ends. Big Radius mixes revolutionary style with high craftsmanship.
Feature
The exhaust system comes with custom bike styling, which provides full coverage from heat shields. This beautiful exhaust for your superbike is available in Chrome or Matte Black finish.
Pros
- The exhaust provides impressive sound
- It comes in chrome and matte black finish
- Optional Quiet baffle
Cons
- No cons found for this product yet
This exhaust system is a fantastic example of craftsmanship and perfect for you as it comes covered in precision-sculpted heat shields finished which protect your bike from heat.
7. Vance & Hines 26077 Exhaust
The exhaust system is manufactured in the USA and is supreme quality and durable exhaust.
The exhaust systems of Big Radius have broken the stereotype design and have started delivering white-knuckle performance along with style, and this thing has won in the motorcycle market. It combines the blue-proof technology across the entire length of the pipe.
Feature
The exhaust systems will keep their finish, whether at the drag strip or on the streets. Furthermore, these frameworks additionally incorporate mounts for processing plant O2 sensors. This exhaust system is, however, headlines lovely as it may be useful.
It comes with chrome pipes that feature scalloped tips for a unique look. The dark lines are all slice cut and feature heat shields covered with a race-quality matte dark fired diverged from a mark chrome identification and tips.
It likewise accompanies a mounting board that positions the sensor more profound into the fumes stream, giving upgraded feedback to the ECM.
Pros
- Removable baffles and mounting hardware included
- Dual bung mounting panel for the 12mm and 18mm
- It comes with blue-proof technology
- Durable and amazing quality
- Provides excellent sound and performance
Cons
- The buyers have noticed no negatives
This USA-made exhaust system can be an excellent choice for you as it has blue-proof technology, comes with removable baffles and mounting hardware.
8. Vance & Hines 47941 Exhaust
The Bigshot staggered exhaust system keeps up the beautiful look of a 2-into-2 system while accomplishing a 2-into-1 race system’s benefits. These summit hunters highlight a restrictive force chamber plan, which utilizes the two suppressors’ volume to expand drive and force.
Features
The exhaust systems give an aggressive sound and come with removable baffles. They also feature long and low 2-into-2 style pipes with 2-into-1 performance.
The exhaust system is finished with one-piece of full-length heat shields. It also comes with straight-cut CNC machined chrome end-caps, which can also be implemented with optional quiet baffles.
Pros
- Power Chamber Crossover Technology
- Full Coverage Heat Shields
- Optional Quiet Baffle Available
- Excellent performance with a loud sound
Cons
- Expensive exhaust system
- The pipes are long and do not give you ample space
Vance and Himes’s exhaust system, known for excellent quality and performance, comes with two into account with power chamber crossover technology. But it can be quite expensive.
9. Bassani Xhaust 1S26E-36 Exhaust
Bassani uses their equivalent length headlines to augment execution and still keeps the framework looking sterile. This framework consolidates magnificence and performance such that it offers a significant expression in a downplayed way.
Features
The exhaust system comes in 1-¾ inches head pipes that move into 2-¼ inches in mufflers. It has chrome heat shields that cover headers. The design of dampers is in the shape of a fishtail.
The exhausts are manufactured in the USA, which includes O2 sensor port plugs.
Pros
- Delivers excellent sound and performance
- Durable exhaust system
- Fishtail mufflers
Cons
- There are no baffles in this exhaust system
This exhaust system is an excellent option if you want your Harley Davidson to look classy yet deliver outstanding performance and sound. The fishtail exhausts make the big statement piece to the bike.
How to Pick the Best Exhaust System for a Softail Slim?
Finding the best exhaust for a Softail Slim can be a challenge. With unlimited features and new technologies, you want to be sure of your investments and the benefits you can get from the exhaust system. We have an in-depth guide that details prime considerations for replacing the exhaust on your Softail Slim for your ease and convenience.
Below we have listed the top factors that you must consider before you buy the best exhaust for your Softail Slim:
a) Type of Exhaust
The first thing that you should consider is what type of exhaust you want for your bike. Choosing the correct type of exhaust also depends on what kind of riding you do!
Bike exhaust systems come in two types:
- Mufflers only: This type of exhaust maintains the factory head pipes and replaces the muffler.
- Full system: This type of exhaust replaces everything from the heads to the back of the bike.
b) Material of the Exhaust
Titanium and carbon fiber-made exhausts are popular because of their lightweight. Aluminum offers a few advantages of weight reduction and lower cost. Hardened steel is ever-famous because of its expense and strength. Chrome-plated steel is regularly valued for its magnificence and life span. How you maintain your bike’s appearance and how you want it to look will decide the material.
c) Sound
All the aftermarket exhausts deliver more sound than the factory-fitted exhausts. If the exhaust is too loud, some manufacturers offer quieter baffles that you may install to bring the bike’s volume closer to stock.
d) Outlet Type
Some aftermarket exhausts, especially for cruisers, can be fitted with various easily swappable tips to give a different look. It’s about what you think looks great!
Wrap-Up: The Best Exhaust for a Softail Slim
Harley Davidson Softail Slim has always produced great performing bikes. Like any other bike modification, your bike also deserves an aftermarket exhaust upgrade for enhanced performance and a better sound.
The winner from the above list of the best exhausts for a Softail Slim is the Vance & Hines VH-46875. The top features that stand out with this exhaust are its full-coverage heat shields to match black heat shields, affordability, and attractive finish with the signature of Vance & Hines twin slash look. It also comes with quiet baffles.
So be prepared to roar in your neighborhood with your new stylish bike.