Call me a P***Y, but...
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 310
Likes: 1
From: Dayton, OH
Hell Yeah!!
Who cares what the neighbors think? Just don't rev it in the neighborhood. Life's too short worrying about what everybody else thinks. Do they bother you at times with their lawn mowers, leaf blowers, kid's, fireworks or other crap? Life ain't fair, and boo-hoo to the snooty neighbors. Be respectful, but don't give in to them. What are you, Canadian? JK!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 7,138
Likes: 26
From: Southern Oregon
This winter I went from stock pipes to the Bub Seven, 2 into 1.
It finally stopped raining the other day so and went for a cruise. I was doin 55 in 5th and noticed some sheep in a pasture beside the road.
When I twisted the throttle to see if they would turn their heads they jumped so hard their fleece was left in a steaming pile of dung!
I felt bad, there is a time for everything. That wasn't one of them
It finally stopped raining the other day so and went for a cruise. I was doin 55 in 5th and noticed some sheep in a pasture beside the road.
When I twisted the throttle to see if they would turn their heads they jumped so hard their fleece was left in a steaming pile of dung!
I felt bad, there is a time for everything. That wasn't one of them
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,949
Likes: 150
From: South of Mordor
Is there a noise ordinance in your neighborhood? If so, do they enforce it with the "Hotrods" in your neighborhood? If you take your bike and get it inspected and it passes, then they can complain all they want because you are within the law, even if you find away to get it passed with a bent law, lol. My neighbors kid threatened me, via my kid, that he was going to trash my bike (my old sporty w/ V&H Slip-ons and no baffles) because it would wake him up earlier then his alarm. So I figured I would just wait and video tape him doing it (i love my motion sensor recorder). Then the juvy corrections could wake him up early.
The way I see it, it's like living by a rail road track, it bothers you at first, but the more you hear it the more don't hear it!
The way I see it, it's like living by a rail road track, it bothers you at first, but the more you hear it the more don't hear it!
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,514
Likes: 454
From: Canada
3db in the electronics is equivalent to reducing the power by half. Consider a 100W per channel amp vs a 50W amp.
3 db is a reduction in SPL.
Feather/coast til you get away to a more major road.
Imagine living next to the major road...
My tuner had to go to 35 Discs in the SuperTrapp on my FLHX. That makes it louder for sure.
3 db is a reduction in SPL.
Feather/coast til you get away to a more major road.
Imagine living next to the major road...
My tuner had to go to 35 Discs in the SuperTrapp on my FLHX. That makes it louder for sure.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 12,229
Likes: 7,806
From: Along the shoreline in SW FL
I say be good to your neighbors. Why take the attitude of saying "screw the neighbors..do what you want?" Are your neighbors good to you? Do they respect you? Or do you want them being disrespectful and ignorant towards you?
One thing I do...since on my garage side...the house next door is sort of close....I back my bike out of the garage..and turn it around so the front wheel faces my neighbors..and my pipes aim at a tall row of hedges that hides the garage door side of the house. I then fire up the bike. With pipes aiming away from neighbors house....much better (quieter) than starting my bike up in the garage..with the pipes aimed right at their house.
Doing the above actually can make a decent difference to your neighbors ears...and guess what...you didn't have to change much!
One thing I do...since on my garage side...the house next door is sort of close....I back my bike out of the garage..and turn it around so the front wheel faces my neighbors..and my pipes aim at a tall row of hedges that hides the garage door side of the house. I then fire up the bike. With pipes aiming away from neighbors house....much better (quieter) than starting my bike up in the garage..with the pipes aimed right at their house.
Doing the above actually can make a decent difference to your neighbors ears...and guess what...you didn't have to change much!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 4
From: NC
I agree that aiming your exhaust into or toward hedges or anything else that willl add additional muffling so your neighbores dont hear as much. I dont rev my bike, nor do I excessively idle my bike in my driveway. My neighbors are great and many of them ride also. Some of them are building on Sunday which is against HOA rules and I dont say anything about that either. They are also noisy in their own ways, so its a mutual respect. We all do what we want while trying to be respectable. I got lucky I guess, cuz I have alot of old grey beards that live in my neighborhood. They all love HD and the older the better.
I know the weather is nice when all the Harleys are idling together, early in the mornings. Thats the neighborhood alarm clock. I say out of 30 homes on my block 10 of them have Harleys in the garage.
Bottom line is if my bike passes state inspection, I am good. I went through the DMV hoops and ended up making my own baffles out of quiet baffles. They pass inspection, and sound and run great. Thats how I know the quiet baffles sucked so bad. I cut them in half, leaving only the wrapped portion and they worked perfect.
I know the weather is nice when all the Harleys are idling together, early in the mornings. Thats the neighborhood alarm clock. I say out of 30 homes on my block 10 of them have Harleys in the garage.
Bottom line is if my bike passes state inspection, I am good. I went through the DMV hoops and ended up making my own baffles out of quiet baffles. They pass inspection, and sound and run great. Thats how I know the quiet baffles sucked so bad. I cut them in half, leaving only the wrapped portion and they worked perfect.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
You're a nice guy for trying to be repectful but I wouldnt go as far as to sacrifice my ride. If your next door neighbor decided to paint his house pink with purple dots on it and you didnt like it they probably wouldnt give a rats *** so why should you. Like I said they probably dont like bikers anyway. You going to sell your bike cause they dont like that you ride? Again, changing the baffles isnt going to make it quiet enough for them so, WHY BOTHER!
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: florida
Flip'em off (respectfully) as u ride by...If u stay loud MAYBE they'll notice u are there and not run u over!
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out of respect to my neighbors id never rev up my bike loud, especially in the morning/night. but if my pipes were too loud at idle and they said something i'd probably change them back to the older quieter ones.
but honestly besides being an american brand and a comfy ride, i got a harley for the loud pipes. theyre very noticeable and other drivers are aware when youre coming, after all loud pipes save lives
but honestly besides being an american brand and a comfy ride, i got a harley for the loud pipes. theyre very noticeable and other drivers are aware when youre coming, after all loud pipes save lives
