Hi David, your question isn't an easy one really. It subjective to individuals and what they are after. The subject of noise or louder pipes is one which fits this category, so it really depends on what you are after.
For instance, all I can do is offer my opinion from my experience (obviously), but if you want a better tone than stock and most if not all of us fit into that category, the questions that need to be asked are this:
How much is too loud and, how important is maximum gains from your power plant.
If louder pipes are not an issue and you wear ear plugs, then the Specialty Spares (SS) pipes or the bubs are good value for money, as are most of the others on offer. If you like listening to music as you ride, or in my case even E books and the like, then the Tors are a good compromise IMHO.
I speak from experience here as I have only recently put on SS pipes, but on a recent road trip I (just me, not anyone else) found them to be a tad too loud given my choice to listen to music and the like.
In fact, I am now taking off the SS pipes (sad really isn't it) and putting the Tors back on.
I must admit I'm in a position of flux really cos I know I will lose a bit of oomph, but from memory of my butt dyno it's really quite neglible.
To be absolutely honest with you, if I had the money I would probably buy StainTune pipes. They have easily removable baffles so you can pick and choose as you feel like it. Unfortunately they are very very pricey at $1400AUD, so out of the price range of most buyers. Given at this stage I feel I'll be keeping my speedie for many a year yet as my project bike, I will probably get Staintunes eventually.
One aspect of real importance here in Aus that now needs to be looked at by us bike riders, is the laws regarding noise. Slowly but surely the noise police are getting on their band wagon which is why the StainTunes are brilliant compromise. Particularly considering we can have the Australian Design Rule (ADR) stamped onto these pipes, but can take out the baffles.
So, for me at this stage I am putting the tors back on given I found the SS pipes too loud on my road trip. I intend to keep the SS pipes as a project though and hopefully they'll be back on in the future but not in their standard format.
One thing to take into consideration here is that many people look at the Tors with disdain, whilst others don't mind them. I have always fit the latter but again this is personal taste.
Yes I would like to have my cake and eat it too but unfortunately in my case it's not possible.
To sum up, IMHO Tors aren't a bad compromise as they still allow some good extra gains from your motor but not at the expense of being a tad too loud.
Good luck David, cos I wouldn't be surprised if you now didn't have a number of viewpoints that bag out the Tors.
Each to their own I say.
Staffo
