Is it quieter than the stock exhaust ?
Yes.....but it's complicated.
I was planning on putting together a post for the group about my "journey", but I'll do it here instead in a greatly abbreviated version:
I spent a couple months (and a couple hundred $$$$) insulating and sound deadening the machine. These efforts netted me about a 4 dB(a) reduction in sound pressure (I recorded detailed measurements, taken with reasonably priced sound pressure meter, between each step). I then added the muffler and picked up another ~3dB(a) of reduction. Interestingly, my final resultant sound pressure level (-79 dB(a)) is almost exactly the same as another member here who only added the muffler (and reported about a 3dB higher starting point), as well as yet a third member who modified an automobile muffler. So three different approaches yielded a similar result, and I speculate that you just aren't going to get a machine of this nature (high reeving motor, CVT, poorly insulated, open cab) much quieter than about 78 to 79 dB(a). I researched yet a fourth approach (an after market add-on to the existing muffler) that I now suspect would have given the same results (but, of course, I don't have any data for it). Or, you could simply wear some noise canceling hearing protection (Bluetooth to your radio and/or an intercom system and you are good to go).
What does 79dB(a) sound like you may ask.
- Your TV is probably at about 60 dB(a)
- Our old Maytag washing machine (on wash cycle) ~66
- Our Honda CRV going down the same test track I used for the all my measurements, with all the windows open, measured the same way (meter held between the driver and passenger's ears) ~70
- My bandsaw ~74
- My old, rattly, drill press ~84
- Your Polaris General ~ 86 to 89
But not only is the sound pressure less, but the tone is less too. Where before it sounded like being inside a snare drum, it now sounds like?????? I don't really know. Maybe still somewhat like a drum, but not that irritating high pitch sound it used to have. This tone changed when I did the insulation/sound deadening, but reports from changing the muffler alone indicate similar results.
Should you do something to reduce the noise level of the machine???????????? Absolutely. (more on that in a moment)
However, which approach is somewhat dependent on how much money and time you are willing to spend. If I were to do it again, I would do the same (insulation and the HMF muffler) because I got the added advantage of reducing heat in the cab as well. But all the insulation was a lot of work and not every step gave a measurable reduction.
If you do decide to go with the HMF muffler though, note that it will not work with the Polaris OEM rear bumper as the bumper hits the muffler when you open the tailgate. (anyone in Oregon wana buy a Polaris rear bumper???)
Here IMO is the most important part. Not only is a quieter machine much less fatiguing but it is safer too. These machines are noisy (mine started out at ~86 dB(a) and another member's started out at ~.89dB(a). (measurements were the mean of multiple readings in the 5 to 25 mph range for both of us). And faster = louder. Human hearing damage starts at 85 dB(a) and, even more importantly, after a ton of research, I have learned (from the Cleveland University FETCHLAB.....look them up to see their qualifications) that the maximum recommended exposure for dogs is 80dB(a).....for four hours. Our dog rides with us.....indeed if she couldn't go (safely) then we would immediately get rid of the machine. So these modifications were necessary for us. Yes, there is hearing protection for dogs (we have some) that I will report on in a different post but we wanted to be able to most of our riding without..
I feel like I barely touched on what I did, but that is my quick and dirty answer. I hope it helps.
