Hi everyone, 

It's still my first 24 hours on the forum (http://www.hdforums.com.au/Default.aspx?tabid=71&forumid=2&postid=441661&view=topic) and I can tell I'm going to spend a lot of time here already. 

Anyways, my 2012 Iron 883 arrives in May, and I'm keen to get every once of chrome off it, and want to lose the pipes.  I love the look of the Vance & Hines short shots, but just keep hearing they are obnoxiously loud, and I'm looking forward to the growl of a Harley, but not something that is painfully loud. So my question: 

What's a great looking (matte black) alternative to the V&H black pipes? 

There are a lot of options, a simple easy one is something like the screaming eagle slip ons with black buckshot heat shields. Gives an okay note, and not loud enough to gain you unwanted attention. Most aftermarket pipes will take you above the 'legal' threshold, but you just have to be wary of how you ride it in certain places if you don't want to get defected.
Cheers

Hey there Jye. If you love the short shots just buy them, quiet baffles are available. Or bang in some ear-plugs!

And just out if interest, is yr Iron a 2010 or 2012?

Slap.

Jye, there's a heap of alternates out there and they range from quiet to ridiculous! If you want something middle of the road, buy the exhaust that you like and put in quiet baffles. Like the blokes have already said the V & H Short Shots will be much quieter with baffles in them. However, you need to bear in mind that they are still a drag pipe and will always produce a reasonable amount of noise.

If you want to get a better understanding go on Youtube and have a listen to the exhaust of your choice, but if quiet is what you're after try a 2-1 longer pipe or 2-2 Screamin Eagle slip ons, they're both going to be much quieter than the short shots but still produce the performance you want.

Cheers

Waz

Jye, i went thru the same before i got my bike, you are just not able to tell what they sound like in real life, so i went with what looked best. I also got the quiet baffles with mine (not fitted) but just in case i needed them, they are still in their box gathering dust, and i have since had the chance to hear the Screaming eagle stuff and dont like it at all. Way too quiet for me, i dont have any issues with the V&H SS that i have they are loud but not offensive in my opinion, my neighbour has a sports bike and his pipes are louder and annoying. My advise is just go with what looks good to you if you are unable to go and listen them them first hand.
T1

Gday mate,

check out bubs.com
They have a cool pipes called side cutters in black or chrome, blackmamba a member here got them I think. Also, chesck out bassanni....they have some cool designs in black. Walka, a member here sells them for a decent price. Theres heaps out there....
Enjoy,
Bunyip

rollies has a good range - the freedom pipes look interesting. Then there's d&d bobcats, bassani, rush slip ons etc. "too loud" is a matter of opinion. And if they don't come in black, you can get them ceramic coated.

I had V & H Short Shots with quiet baffles fitted and they were still too loud. Every town I went through I was waiting for Officer Plod. I decided to go Screamin Eagle slip ons with black buckshot heat shields and I am extrememly happy. Not as loud, but I can ride how I like without worrying too much, and I like the note too.

Coppers are starting to ping people for noise more often now, just didn't want the headache.....

In the end it depends on a couple of factors. Where you ride. What you like the look of. How much you can afford, either in outlay or fines. The sound your after. But the best bit of advice I can provide in reality is, whatever you choose, keep the stockies wrapped up in the shed.

I have BUB pipes on mine (model name escapes me at the moment, though there is apost somewhere on them). They look amazing, when I first put em on, I thought they were loud, but I've come to really like their sound. Havent been pulled over yet for the noise, so thats a plus! They don't have a bitey loud sound though which helps, its a deeper kinda growl which is nice. Don't seem to be to popular here either, so not many getting around with em on.

Sidecutters! yeah thats the one. good sound out of them.

BUB makes great pipes...........http://bub.com/Harley-Davidson_Sportster.cfm?pa=list&psearch=&zsb=0&sc1=Harley%20Davidson&sc2=Sportster&sc3=2%20into%202

I like the look of the midlength staggered "Straightaways" personally. (bottom of page)......Plenty of choices though, in black or chrome.

Burto.

Sweet! This has been really helpful. Took myself down to Trivett's today and had a listen to V&H and the SE gear. And yes, the V&H were too loud for my tastes. Thanks for the link to BUB and the other brands - all very interesting and some great designs out there.

At this stage I think i'll pursue the SE slip ons with the buckshot heat shields (which I think look very nice/industrial).

But going to check out some more of these other brands in the flesh I think.

Sweet! This has been really helpful. Took myself down to Trivett's today and had a listen to V&H and the SE gear. And yes, the V&H were too loud for my tastes. Thanks for the link to BUB and the other brands - all very interesting and some great designs out there.

At this stage I think i'll pursue the SE slip ons with the buckshot heat shields (which I think look very nice/industrial).

But going to check out some more of these other brands in the flesh I think.

There's a pic of mine in the members photo section in "pubs n bikes" on page 8 from 23rd Feb, with the setup you are looking at.

Really easy to install, just remember the WD40 when removing the exisiting mufflers.

Check this out
http://www.hdforums.com.au/Default.aspx?tabid=71&forumid=1&tpage=1&view=topic&postid=233483

Cheers Jye, I love the blacked out look! I got the mufflers and heatshields from EBay for 220. Keep an eye out. they come up occassionally. Mate, the slip ons are the easiest thing to do to your Harley - 15 minutes work easy! Two clamps to loosen, 4 bolts to remove (2 for each muffler). Mufflers slip off with a bit of wobbling back and forth. Heatshields probably 30 mins, just a few hose clamps on each one - easy!

What PK2 said! Couple of hunge for slip ons and 60 - 80 bucks for the heat sheilds (buckshot or not)... and anyone could install in a half hour. Just make sure you tighten the muffler clamps nice and tight so that your new matte black slip ons dont go firing off down the road behind you!

I was already sold on the look of the SE slip ons, and Im also a sound engineer, so I after riding other noisey bikes with to work - and then being half deaf in my right ear for the day.... not really practical.

Hope you got the reply to your PM jye.

SJ

Fantastic - thanks everyone. SJ, cheers, got it

Seems very very straight forward then.

Yeah - I'm a musician so my hearing is paramount to me too. Actually, recently been doing plenty of producing myself!