They are indeed holeshots.
I live the sound, and it's louder than stock but not TOO loud.
My only gripe is that riding 2 up and *slightly* over the weight limit of the FJR, my axle enter the space exactly where the exhaust pipe shouldn't be. Now i have a slip on with a dent and scratch in the back where you can't see them. I loosened everything up and worked them out slightly and tightened back down, so it's not a problem any more. Still, it was something I hadn't heard of being a problem before, and certainly didn't get close to interference solo.