I am running V&H Big Radius pipes on my softail (yes -I know they are on every 2nd Softy)

They are loud & I have definitely found them alot safer on the road with other motorists able to hear you easily.

My problem is I live in an appartment block with basement parking & an early weekend start up near shakes the walls & is a little unfair.

I am close to the exit gate but like to run the bike at least 30 secs to get the oil flowing. Even though its EFI.

Its an upslope exit so no chance of pushing it out.

Does anyone know of a good way/technique of quietening during stationary idle ?

I heard that you can lean to the side & hold a towel or similar to the pipes opening,  just whilst you idle. Then drop the towel & go.  

Its a litlle tricky though, nearly dropped the bike trying.

Cheers.

Can you push it out of the complex and then start it?

My neighbours have a shitty little hand bag size dog thats starts yapping at anything that moves everyday around 5am non-stop. My exhausts are my sweet, sweet revenge. I figure I get a wake up call everyday of the week so they can get them nice and early on the weekend.

I think I have read somewhere in the forum about a setup that keeps the exhuast quite at low revs then goes to normal as you open it up (some kind of pipe attachment I think). I remember it was pretty pricey though. Tried to see if I could find the thread but no luck, maybe one of the other guys will remember and post it for you..

I would rather have the guy next door start a HD than have to put up with his friggin dog that barks anything that farts at all hours of the morning!!!

 

read Ozroders post about warming the bike.... shouldn't have any problems riding straight out of the underground park

Years ago I lived in a cul-de-sac that was all unit blocks.

Only got 2 complaints

 1 was from the old biddy that lived above my garage about the motorised door opener

The second was from when I worked away for a couple of months.

Turned out everyone was using my bike for their alarm clocks & they were all sleeping in & late for work.

So obviously you are doing them all a favor by letting them know it's time to get up.

You could try:

http://www.bigcitythunder.com/pages/qq_thunderMonster.html

I have them fitted to my BR's and I reckon they probably knock the volume down say 10% but they're still bloody loud!

 

 

Okay so what Ive read in replies doesnt help too much.
Most say:
#1- "f#*k em, they should enjoy." Well its a small block & the neighbours are also our friends so consideration & courtesy is the issue. Not everyone shares our interest in a 103 cubic inch, big V-twin at 6am just below their bedroom window!
#2-The similarity someone made to a "lawn mower, whipper snipper or barking dog." May I suggest you change your pipes.
#3-The baffles at low revs ($1000) fitted not an option, plus I dont want to sound lilke #2 above @ idle in the traffic.

So I think I will stick to common sense & keep covering with a towel. It helps a little. As one poster wrote. They know Im aware its noisy & Im out of there ASAP then warm up down the street.
Cheers

As long as your neighbors know your having a go at keeping it softer then I think they'll understand. Maybe you could keep your right boot pressing over the pipe while you ride out the door and drop it at the footpath or something. I'm not sure but I think V&H make a baffle insert to quieten them up, but you won,t want that in all the time.