[Green Bean]

As many of you have learned from my recent posts that I just bought my first Boss and that 502 engine sounds like a race car (according to the comments I've heard from those droolers standing around). I really like the sound but I've come to realize just how loud the bike is and am now afraid that the neighbors are going to start complaining.

For example, I cranked the bike Tuesday morning and woke my daughter up in bed. When she came to the front door to find out what all the noise was, she said that the front door was literally shaking from me warming up the engine (I wasn't revving the engine...just giving it a little gas to keep it running while it was cold).

I plan to take a ride with a local bike group Saturday morning. We are planning on meeting and leaving from a gas station on the other side of town at 7:00 a.m. That means that I'll have to leave my house at 6:15 a.m. If I crank that bike up that early and wake the neighborhood up, they won't be patient with me much longer and I'm sure the complaints will soon start coming in.

When I bought the bike, I really didn't consider just how loud it was and now I'm feeling restricted from cranking it because of the neighbors. No one has complained yet, but I haven't come home late or left early yet.

How do you guys deal with this? I guess they are all that loud huh?

 

[MBFsupport]

You need to sell it and get a Goldwing.

 

[Green Bean]

You need to sell it and get a Goldwing.

Yeah....Right! That ain't happn'in! If I have to rent a storage unit away from home I'll do it. I thought about purchasing an enclosed trailer to park here at my office and mount the hitch to a permanently installed metal post so no one can drive off with it. I could then park my bike in the trailer and lock it up. Just a few ideas.

But, I was wondering how you guys were dealing with neighbors. Lamont, I picture you living on top of Walton's Mountain....so far in the woods that the nearest neighbor couldn't hear a gun shot. Good night John Boy!

 

[MBFsupport]

You need to sell it and get a Goldwing.

Yeah....Right! That ain't happn'in! If I have to rent a storage unit away from home I'll do it. I thought about purchasing an enclosed trailer to park here at my office and mount the hitch to a permanently installed metal post so no one can drive off with it. I could then park my bike in the trailer and lock it up. Just a few ideas.

But, I was wondering how you guys were dealing with neighbors. Lamont, I picture you living on top of Walton's Mountain....so far in the woods that the nearest neighbor couldn't hear a gun shot. Good night John Boy!

It's funny you should say that. I am out in the country but I do hear gun shots and my one neighbor hears my bike fire up too. He came over one day to introduce himself and said "so that's what I hear firing up" I said that I'm sorry and I feel like there is nobody anywhere near so I never thought about you hearing it. He said don't worry he use to drag race at Bristol and loves the sound of a good V8! We are now good friends and he rides a dirt bike around my house (I have 31 acres) and I don't fuss about his dirt bike he don't fuss about my Boss Hoss or VTX. 8) Of course I shoot my 30o6 and 30/30 off my front porch so we are use to a little noise from time to time around here. :wink:

I think your trailer idea is the best if your really worried about it. I know I never really light my bike up around my house just so I don't tick of the neighbors. You never know when your going to run into them when you live in a small town. :roll:

If you want to check out where I live you can click on this link.
http://lamonster.com/house

 

[NcChopper]

Ricky,

The mere fact that you are concerned about your neighbors signifies that you are a thoughful person. I, too, try to be as considerate as I can when riding the bike in the early morning. Sometimes I will just not ride it when I have to roll out of the hood at 4:00Am to go to work. That is a bit much to have a NASCAR cruising through at that hour.

I have been in my current home for 2 and a half years and I live on a 1/3 acre lot. When I start the bike my wife says th house shakes. A trick I use is to crack the garage door a few inches and start the bike in the garage. IT is still plenty loud but muffles it a bit.

A lot of folks would say "screw it" and go. The garbage truck comes through early and makes all kinds of racket.

My neigbors have never once complained or called the cops. I live inside the city limits and my main concern would be the law enforcement looking hard at my pipes if neighbors started ringing the hotline.

I don't leave on it early everyday but when I want to I do. Leaving at 4A is something I avoid but I will hop on her and go at 6A!!!! :wink: I wouldn't worry about it too much. A couple of times a year I'll pull out at 330A or so when riding to a event or something like Daytona. They'll go back to sleep!!! Everything I own but one is loud (72 Chevy Truck with headers and 3" exhaust all the way through, the 502, and a vette) and I have not had one nastygram or phone call!

Good luck.

Chris 8)

 

[HAWK88]

Peace with Neighbors

Rick;

Get a half dozen misc. sized helments and offer to, and take all who want for a ride.

I live north of you, near the Space Center, and leave for work fairly early, Either 6 A or P + or - 15 minutes.

Havn't got anything but waves or smiles since.

Ride Safe!

HAWK88
Jack Phillips

 

[Boss Man]

Ricky,
You sound like I did after I first got my Boss. I also had the "Neighbor" concern. Pretty loud when you light it up at 5 or 6 in the morning, and I knew I wouldn't appreciate it if it was someone living close to me. So I put the 2 inch pipes on that you can use with mufflers. I don't know if this is an option with the 502's, but you could find out easy enough.
Anyway, I bought the 2" pipes and the mufflers from my BH dealer. The mufflers make it sound like a Chevy with Glass Pacs. That was too quiet for me, so I bought 9 inch mufflers, made by Hedman. I also bought 9 inch chrome extensions to be used for when I want straight pipes. Now I can run straight pipes with the chrome extensions, or muffle it with the 9 inch mufflers, or if I want really quiet, the big mufflers. Actually, I've been told just the 9 inch straight extensions aren't too loud. The picture is with the 9" extensions at Daytona. As an added "plus", The 2" pipes also gave me a little more cornering clearance. I still have the 3" pipes if I want to make more of a "statement," and they're not really that hard to switch around. To each his own I guess, but that was my solution........Don

 

[NcChopper]

Lamont,

If I could transfer up to your neck of the woods I'd do it in a New York minute. I'd love to have a little acreage up in the smokies. That is gorgeous! How far are you from Boone?


Chris

 

[MBFsupport]

Lamont,

If I could transfer up to your neck of the woods I'd do it in a New York minute. I'd love to have a little acreage up in the smokies. That is gorgeous! How far are you from Boone?


Chris

I'm about 85 miles from Boone, about 60 miles from Bristrol, 65 miles from Maggie Valley. This is some of the best riding in the country, we love it here. 8)

 

[Busa Dave]

Ricky


I always just let the Shafiroff idle out of my neighborhood and my next-door neighbor who rides also says you can feel it when I start it in the morning. You are correct to be concerned as the last thing we need is to have the neighborhood calling the police :cop2: every time we go for a ride! My procedure usually involves starting and running the engine for about 30 seconds and then putting the bike in gear (my driveway goes slightly downhill) and idle down the street to the stop sign. So far, even with the bigger engine and pipes no problems and it is significantly louder than my factory 502 was.

Did you get your manual ordered yet?

Take care and give me a call sometime.

 

[502WingMan]

I have the same problem here in Europe, specially in Germany where the cops will take a bike without mufflers away from you. And the neighbours dont like it either. One of my neighbours always looked like he had to eat a spider when I left (but never called the police). So I now have a muffler system called "doublefire". There is a electronic motor that opens and closes the muffler system and a small button at my left side panel. To start up and leave I have it closed (sounds like a regular car but has not the full power), as soon I am out I have it open till I see a cop or get back home
Peter

 

[1stgear]

Rick, My neighbors around me don't seem to mind the noise to much. What works well for me is to keep them drunk all the time. Early mornings are not a problem cause I don't get up until 10 or 11. Another thought is when your outside to wear or carry a gun with you, if one of your neighbors looks at you make sure you stare them down, with the gun being in plain site. Other ideas that come to mind :idea: offer to sound proof all your neighbors houses.....buy them all a boss hoss (small block, though, you don't want to be outdone!)....shoot them.....trash the neighborhood so they move away.....start wearing a Hells Angels leather jacket.....you could move in with Lamont.....or... this is my favorite......are ya ready for this.......get on your bike and ride, lifes to short to sweat the small ****....Yahooooooooeeeeeeeeeee!!!!! :biker3: Steve

 

[DeuceRider]

Keeping the noise down

After Hurricane Andrew we had no power and had to use a generator. I built an enclosure out of plywood, 4 sides and no top, It cut the noise down by half. The funny thing was that it was louder with a top on it than without. I guess the sound just goes up instead of out.

Give it a try, it won't make it any louder and just might make enough of a difference to keep the neighbors happy.

P.S. my neighborhood has at least 5 Harleys and I always hear them when they start out at night. Especially the one that goes to work after midnight.

 

[Green Bean]

Ricky


I always just let the Shafiroff idle out of my neighborhood and my next-door neighbor who rides also says you can feel it when I start it in the morning. You are correct to be concerned as the last thing we need is to have the neighborhood calling the police :cop2: every time we go for a ride! My procedure usually involves starting and running the engine for about 30 seconds and then putting the bike in gear (my driveway goes slightly downhill) and idle down the street to the stop sign. So far, even with the bigger engine and pipes no problems and it is significantly louder than my factory 502 was.

Did you get your manual ordered yet?

Take care and give me a call sometime.

Hey Dave...yep, I just got back from lunch and found a UPS package from Boss Hoss. My manual just arrived. Thanks.... Now I can change the oil!

 

[Conrad]

Peter,

Your post regarding the "Doublefire" exhaust was interesting. Their website is rather generic and I don't see any US dealers. Any information on how you adapted it to the BH would be appreciated.

Conrad

 

[Green Bean]

I have the same problem here in Europe, specially in Germany where the cops will take a bike without mufflers away from you. And the neighbours dont like it either. One of my neighbours always looked like he had to eat a spider when I left (but never called the police). So I now have a muffler system called "doublefire". There is a electronic motor that opens and closes the muffler system and a small button at my left side panel. To start up and leave I have it closed (sounds like a regular car but has not the full power), as soon I am out I have it open till I see a cop or get back home
Peter

Peter...I would like to get some more info on the "Doublefire" muffler system that you have. That sounds like the best workable solution. Does it still use the same size pipes and sound as good when you have them open and do they effect performance? How does it effect ground clearance? Can you PM or post me a link or contact info?

 

[V8GRUMPY]

Steve,

I knew right away in Mo. there was something I liked about you 8)


Ricky,
I live in a development of patio homes, youngest neighbor is about 75, so we leave our Boss and the brides HD at our shop. We're only about 2 miles form the shop and it amkes life pretty simple.

We rode them into the neighborhood once last summer, got some unfriendly looks from a few, but the next door neighbors thought they were preety cool. Think they were jealous that they had given in to old age 8)

Like Steve said, life is way too short to worry about it, just don't abuse it and they will probably leave you alone.

Lamont,

Gorgeous set-up :wink:

Tim

 

[Elvis (Hemicide)]

Hello Ricky,
I also use the crank it in the garage method to get a little heat into the motor, so that when I push it into the alley at 4:30am and fire it up to leave, I can just pull off at an idle.
When working night shift, and returning at 5:00am, I just coast up to the driveway and push it backwards into the garage.

 

[crazy_rick]

Load V8

Rick, your neighbors have dogs that bark all day and half the night. They don't think anything about it. Your bike only makes noise for a few minutes and then you're gone.

Don't worry about it.

 

[502WingMan]

Hi Ricky and Conrad,
my bike came with the long pipes from the factory (2,5"). The "Doublefire" system is mainly made for Harleys with the widest 2,25" available. So the mufflerpipe went inside the factorypipe. Performance is limited in the closed mode, but there is full performance in the open mode. I have done 118mph in first gear (GPS-stopped) which means to me that there is enough air going through :wink:
The "open" sound is great, but not as loud like without a muffler. Still a bit louder than my friends Harley........
I have the motor installed in the box underneath the passenger seat. Unfortunatly I have no information where "Doublefire" is produced, but if you are interested I will find that out.
I will try to post some pictures later (my be Olaf can help me with that :? ) or send your email to [email protected] and I will send them directly.
Peter
P.S. Got to go now for a ride. There is not a single cloud in the sky today