Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 vs Harley Davidson Forty Eight exhaust notes compared [Video]

After a long wait, Royal Enfield finally launched the parallel-twin engine powered Interceptor and the Continental GT 650. The all-new bikes have become quite popular in the market and there are many aftermarket exhausts available for both the bikes. But can a Royal Enfield Continental GT keep up with a Harley Davidson Forty-Eight when it comes to aftermarket exhaust note? Well, here is a video that explains it very well.

Royal Enfield Continental GT vs Harley Davidson Forty-Eight exhaust

Both the bikes seen in the video by Akash Joshi get the aftermarket exhausts. The Harley Davidson Forty-Eight gets the official Screamin Eagle performance exhaust from Harley Davidson. Royal Enfield is yet to offer a performance exhaust for the 650 Twins but there are many options in the market for the all-new bikes. The Royal Enfield Continental GT uses AEW aftermarket exhausts. The video comparison shows that both the exhausts are extremely loud from their stock form.

It should be noted that both the bikes come with dual exhausts. The Harley Davidson Forty-Eight offers the exhausts on the same side while Royal Enfield offers the exhausts on either side of the bike. Also, one of the most important things to notice is the engine type. Even though both the bikes get twin cylinder engines, the Harley-Davidson’s engine is set in V-Twin form while the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 gets a parallel-twin set-up. The different set-up of engines changes the exhaust note completely.

There was no decibel meter to measure the loudness of the exhausts individually but they both sound equally loud in the video. The recording device could be the reason behind the similar loudness of both the bikes as many recorders adjust the level of the sound to make them optimum. The Screamin Eagle exhaust on the Harley-Davidson definitely gets a heavier note and it is evident during the flybys.  Also, there is no backfire from the Harley-Davidson exhausts but the Royal Enfield can be heard popping every time it was revved hard.

There is quite a difference between the engine capacities of both the bikes too. The Harley Davidson Forty-Eight is powered by a massive 1,202cc V-Twin engine that generates a maximum of 97 Nm. Harley Davidson never reveals the maximum power figures of their bikes. The Royal Enfield Continental GT 650, on the other hand, is powered by a 650cc, parallel-twin cylinder engine that generates a maximum power of 47 Bhp at 7,250 rpm and peak torque of 52 Nm at 5,250 rpm.

There is a vast difference in the price of both bikes too. The Royal Enfield Continental GT is priced at Rs. 2.65 lakhs, ex-showroom while the Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight is priced at Rs. 10.5 lakhs, ex-showroom. The cost of the exhaust is extremely stark too. The Screamin Eagle exhausts on the Harley Davidson is priced at around Rs. 50,000 while the AEW exhaust on the Royal Enfield Continental GT is available for below Rs. 10,000.

Aftermarket performance exhausts are not legal for road usage as they exceed the noise level set by the government. However, one can use them in the private places like racing tracks.