I think skills have more to do with saving your life than an exhaust ever could. I would always feel like an ass when I took off from a light and almost redlined first gear, gradually, not wot. I felt like the exhaust was really loud and that people would think "wow, that guy is a jerk, he's just an incompetent sport biker like all the rest". Well, I ended up shimming the carbs and removing the snorkel, This did make the exhaust louder but a much deeper tone, not the stock moped sound
. I love the sound the exhaust makes now and I have now learned that my exhaust is not remotely as loud as most sport bikes, I've learned to love the exhaust noise when taking off too. So basically, I am more noticeable now and therefore I do feel more comfortable, but I always ride like I'm invisible. Unless you buy an mgp growler exhaust or w/e that sounds like a straight pipe exhaust then I don't think it really makes a difference. But that stuff is crazy loud and normally a nuisance imo; besides, in a car with the radio blasting you won't hear anything...