What are the best ways folks have found to make these quieter? They're not horribly loud - I'm just seeing if there are any easy ways to reduce noise.
The hardtop...or any top for that matter, reflects a lot of sound back to your ears. Pull the top and be amazed at how the character of the machine is transformed. BUT...a roof is part of the reason for a sxs...
If your running a hard top, some sort of sound absorbing material glued to it will help. I never tried that myself, but I did run a cargo net above the cage and stored blankets and jackets up there, which helped. 2 seaters have an advantage here, since the lack of a rear roof doesn't reflect as much. My current 700 is a 2 seater, and Im Running a soft top as well.
On the other side, meaning stopping sound
before it gets to the top, some sort of mat under the seat helps a lot. Google
@trigger shield to see what I mean...and i think he might be making one for the 700 soon? I have my own homemade version...2, actually.
Heat and sound barrier can be installed under the plastics around the seat as well. All told, I have 3 layers of sound/heat barriers, not including the plastic.
Also, I have pool noodle stuffed in the rubber flap in the gap between the bed and seats, and also stuff a jacket down in there sometimes, which makes a very noticeable difference on my 2p, so i bet it's huge on a 4 seater. De rattle the doors and dump bed as well. I also run a mat in the bed, though that's more to keep stuff from sliding around.
I'd bet I probably have the quietest 700 around, but I've never felt the exhaust was much of that noise. In fact, outside of pure engine noise, the rear diff is the most offensive part of the 700, but there's not much you can do other than run thicker gear oil. I've considered trying to make a sound panel just above the rear diff, but I don't want to keep any heat in, and suspect much of the noise is transferred through the frame, etc.