X2M3.... I know what you are feeling.... Remember, we are all sledders on this forum and we all care weather or not we'll be able to sled in the future.
I think the problem is that the folks who want areas closed will not stop there..so why give them a inch?
The groups that want to close off access to the trails are NOT
asking for you to "GIVE" them anything... If we as sledders don't choose to interact with the public in a civil way... closure groups will continue to use our own lack of control against us.
"Why give them and inch, they'll take a mile" Also works from the oppositions view, for the same stubborn reasons that sledders with loud pipes/Turbos use.
Now about outboards....
I'm in the marine industry (Yachts), and in the antique boat preservation business for some time now.
Underwater exhausts have been around since the 50's....at the request of the Users/Buyers of the engines so that they were enjoyable to use. Run a 250 hp Optimax outboard and tell me that the engine lacks power.
I've used small lakes in Michigan and all over this country since the the early 70's (before that when I was a kid).... Going to cleaner burning engines and taking away the ability for people to mix too much oil has been a benifit to all those that use the lakes... The oil residue on some of those lakes back in the day was pretty bad. That is the reason for going to injection and getting away from premix. I have ZERO problem with that as a user of the lakes, a mechanic and user of the lakes in general. If it adds to the complexity and cost.... so be it...gotta pay to play. 4 strokes on the lakes are the best solution... I see plenty of bass boats that can do 60mph + with a 4 stroke on the back.
I could go on
Ad nauseum... but what does this do for
SNOWMOBILING?
I see the rest of the sarcasm to try to prove a point... but really, does it?
ICR, the builder of your exhaust chose to use the least expensive mufflers available for your install, I can see the many reasons for it... from keeping the customers business by not making the price too high, to keeping the profit margin so he can pay his heating bill... But like you said in your earlier post, you would pay more if something was available. Did you ask him to make it somewhat quiet when you had the pipes made?
You also, I noticed, live in Fairbanks... lots more friendly "others" and much less dense in population than say Colorado, Utah, Wa or Ca...
A snowmobiler in Colorado has different levels of exposure to the public at large. In short, you run into less people that don't like sleds than your average sledder on mount hood or Togwotee.
Is your need for the last drop of power more important than others need for an enjoyable outdoor experience... including other sledders? Is it more important than keeping lands open for as long as possible?
Don't get me wrong, I consider you as a brother in the sport, and I mean that sincerely, that is why I'm taking the time to present this topic... If you and I sat down in your garage with a beer, we'd probably end up talking for hours about how we love snowmobiling and wrenching... so please don't take this discussion as disrespect for you.
You want to make your stand on exhaust... Normally, I'd say go right ahead, but your decision to do this gives the opposition more PUBLIC justification to close down access for everyone.
I am a firm believer that if WE, as snomobilers act on our OWN behalf to participate more responsibly with the public we share the mountains with, we have a better chance of enjoying the mountains in years to come... Right now, the writing is on the wall, and it does not look very good for access for OHV's.
When the closure groups show videos of sledders to prove their point, they dont show Mom and Dad on their clean burning XP or Nitro with little Sally sue on the back in her pink helmet.... they show the guy on the turbo sled with straight dump exhaust using trees for traction Brappin loud enough to be heard in the whole valley.
When it comes to legislation for land closures.... ESPECIALLY in this economy... if it comes down to the cost of sound sampling out in the field or closing down the area and not having to pay for this.... well then, often times these days... that is an easy question to answer.
I feel for you and the point that you don't want anyone to tell you what to do... but at some point, we need to step back and take a look at how much we enjoy what we do here and regulate ourselves.
I'm a mod sled owner... Love the wrenching, the performance and hanging out and just talking about it sometimes...BUT, most of the mountain sleds out there are run BOX-STOCK for their entire life.... way more than are modded, even with just a can.
Like I said before, your loud exhaust will not be taken away, your abiliy to sled in the backcountry will.
The New Colorado sound check system is in place because the sleds were too loud, there is not a stock exhaust, in functioning condition, made in the last 10 years that wont pass this test, I doubt that there are any of the SLP systems or other companies that make it a point to invest in technology to make exhaust that performs well, and controls sound output. Companies, like SLP, have helped stave off a govt mandated ban on aftermarket exhausts being manufactured.. that will be the easy way to limit it. They do it with aftermarket car parts, it would be much easier to do it with sled parts.
quite exhaust?? I have no problem with that at all , its where it leads that I have a HUGE issue with. 
