Granted this is fairly subjective and there are probably very few that have heard all or even most of these but I think we can get a pretty rough scale going. I'm starting this from a few different threads. I propose two subjective measures, overall loudness and sound quality, a 1-10 scale from rappy/barky to deep/thunderous. And this is all subjective and relative and we'll never have 100% agreement, but I think we can get close. Also, this is not a contest. Not everybody wants loud pipes just like not everybody wants quiet. If there's a tie we'll put them on the same line.
Loudest to Quietest (with sound quality rank in parentheses):
Non-Baffled:
Straight pipes, no baffles, e.g. fishtails (5)
Thunderbike, no baffles (8)
Sceptres, no baffles (8)
Specialty Spares, no baffles (9)
Epco, no baffles (2)
D&D, no baffles (4)
Bubs, no baffles (6)
Aftermarket:
Thunderbike (8)
Sceptres (8)
Specialty Spares (9)
Epco (2)
D&D (4)
Bubs (6)
Factory:
Short TORs, gutted (6)
Long TORs, gutted (6)
Stock pipes, completely gutted (7)
Stock pipes, 2 baffles drilled (8)
Stock pipes, 1 baffle drilled (7)
Short TORs (6)
Long TORs (6)
Stock pipes (4)
Discuss (civilly, please). Feel free to reorder, mix and match, etc. Don't get your panties in a bunch when someone disagrees with you. I've heard all of these, I think, but rarely together, so this initial list is just a shot in the dark. Personally I think my Specialty Spares slashcuts (with worn baffles) are some of the loudest pipes around, but don't hold a candle to fishtails. That said, I like the deeper sound of the SS over the fishtails. Also, I've currently got factory pipes split out. That's probably the biggest gap I have in my listening experience. I've only ever heard 2 baffles drilled out of stock pipes, so totally gutted pipes could be the loudest thing out there.
Lastly, if someone has access to a db meter and wants to take it to the next large gathering for some informal testing, that would be most excellent. And it would settle most disputes that are sure to crop up in this discussion.
