I pulled about 30% of my packing last week and secured the remains with the hardware screen. Awesome sound, but not over the top loud. At first I thought it hadn't changed, than went up and over a mountain near my house - oh yeah they are definitely louder. Rode with the wife today up in the mountains of PA than in our town with narrow streets and tall buildings - lots of reverbations! Wife asked me if I did something to the bike it sounded louder. I said "nope" just those new pipes from January, maybe they are wearing in! (our secret!) I set off one car alarm at a nearby watering hole, told her I just got too close.