Aftermarket exhaust parts and the engine. However, the pipes do "ring" with the exhaust pulses and increase underhood noise. Headers can be ceramic coated to reduce the heat radiated in the engine compartment, and to increase the temperature of the pipes which increases the velocity of the exhaust gases. Terminology: Catalytic converters are necessary to reduce emissions but create back pressure due to the exhaust gases being forced through a catalyst, and therefore decrease high-end engine power. Many modern catalytic converters only produce 1-3 psi of back pressure, though this restriction worsens further with use. Hi-flow catalytic converters can replace the standard units
Exhaust system can be made to be quieter than 70dBa at 6000 rpm without sacrificing any power gains. The latest generations of 4-stroke street motorcycle engines that can come close to a 2T in redline RPM but still having the extra weight and inertia of cams and valves make the differences in being "cleaner burning" negligible, with the decreased engine service life to be expected, while also having the sound of a 4T exhaust carrying for miles in many cases. Additionally, "the nature of the beast" is that a 4T exhaust note above 6000 rpm is unduly harsh to the human ear.