When I first got mine, I thought oh no.....these are too loud. That was hearing them in the shop. Got the bike outside and they now are enough to turn a head, but not where I hurt my ears. I wouldn’t want them any louder, but traveling at 60 mph, half shell helmet, ear plugs and windshield up (I have a Chieftain Classic), I can hear the stock speakers nicely at level 4 volume.
Now, with my Indian 3/4 helmet that I wear when the temps are in the lower 50’s and down, it seems like the pipes are louder for some reason. Might just be the way the helmet puts pressure on the ear plugs or something.
I had RC exhaust on my 14 Street Glide. These for sure give more volume. They remind me more of the Vance & Hines staggered pipes I had on a 13 Fatboy (if any of these references make sense).
I’m still in the first 1000 miles of my bike, but don’t plan on changing baffles at all. The guys I ride with say the bike sounds fantastic (also have Stage 2 cams, air filter and Powervision tuned). However, if they are riding behind me, they make sure they have ear plugs in (which are smart to wear anyway no matter the sound for wind noise purposes).
Hope this helps!