My R-3 is a 05 and has an empty box, I have tried the TOR's with the cat box bypass and it was much louder than the same pipes with the empty box. I now run mad dog pipes with the empty box on, as the same pipes with the cat box bypass was just to loud for my tastes. It seems the empty box still diverts the exhaust flow internally and thus reduces the sound dramatically. If you are into really loud pipes you will probably want to buy the bypass pipe, I agree that is too much money for what you get!!