Here's a better link to that article:
https://www.carblogindia.com/royal-enfield-dealerships-bold-step-no-service-for-loud-exhaust-bikes/, and well worth reading if only to be exposed to the Punjabi concept of
"Fukras," an exotic appellation which I intend to commence employing forthwith in my own parlance.
As for me, I think I'm pretty happy for now with what I assume is likely the stock "long Bengal bottle" exhaust setup on my 2005. I think it's lovely. I might be taking a little bit of a hit horsepowerwise what with its emissions rigmarole: an odd little "pulse air" doodad pipe welded into the header up near the exhaust port and a catalytic converter, which I am led to understand may be either just tap-welded into the exhaust end of the header pipe (and easy enough to grind out) or included in the silencer body somehow. I've got neighbors on either side with very young children, and I don't really want to be that guy who rousts them at naptime just as Mom's breaking out that box Chardonnay to finally catch a little "me time" breather. It's snorty enough on the open road for me, while still being a gentleman about it. And after all, I didn't get an Enfield for speed. Also, I live on a long steepish hill, so some
"Fukra" gunning his shitbox up that hill at 4 in the morning like some Dopplering jackhammer or wailing like an air raid siren, typically with boosted subwoofers in the trunk buzzing his fenders and rattling my windows with "ghetto cred" is always a real treat that I would spare others from enjoying. That shirtless dreadlocked submoron who regularly wheelies up and down the hill over and over and over on his mufflerless ATV 4-wheeler earns my special regard. I'm quietly rooting for Darwin there.
Here in Virginia
the exhaust noise laws seem to be seldom enforced, except maybe as a pretext for John Law to pull one over to investigate other possible hi-jinx. They are also vague to the point of being practically unenforceable. That said, for those elsewhere whose local laws might be a bit more specific decibel and distance-wise as to what may or may not be legally allowable might find the little freebie Android decibel meter called
"Sound Meter" by ABC Apps useful. There are LOTS of freely downloadable decibel meters out there, but this one gets solid reviews. I used it primarily for checking out
portable generators, where quieter is
always better. A basic state-by-state rundown of motorcycle noise laws
can be found here, albeit utterly lacking guidance in applicable cases as to the crucial variable of "measuring distance." Many (though not all) generator manufacturers measure from approximately 23 feet (7 meters), but this has no bearing on vehicles.
By the way, everyone should have
SOME kind of generator gassed up and ready to go, even if it's just one of those little 900 watt Harbor Freight 2-stroke fussbuckets perenially on sale for less than a hundred semolians...
Really, they're super portable, just the ticket to run a power tool, and when that storm blows through and those lights go dark for who knows how long, you and the significant others will be much happier campers with one of these and an extension cord out in the shed or on the balcony. Just break out the Monopoly board and hunker down. If
the linemen haven't sorted it out by morning, that little 2-banger will even dig in to run most refrigerators for a bit to keep that Ben and Jerry's Chunky Monkey from getting all melty. I've got two. Better get one, you Fukra. I'm off for a ride...