I don't have short shots but I have pipes that are about the same length, with no baffles and I don't think they are too loud. They in fact make my harley sound like a harley not a homelite weed eater. As far as the exhaust heat I don't think you will have a problem or will your passenger as you are moving as the gas is leaving the end of the pipe. WHen I pull out from a stop sometimes I can feel the exhaust on my right leg, but no heat really, I can feel the air moving out of the pipe. My wife has no complaints on the shorter pipes in fact she says it is cooler without a pipe under her butt (as the stock setup)