What's the deal with loud motorcycles?

[Aikouka]

Well, I guess the topic title sort of sums it up... but what's the deal with excessively loud motorcycles? I mean, I don't run into them all the time, but when I do... jeez, they're just borderline painful to be near. I usually notice this issue with Harley Davidson motorcycles more than any other. But what makes it somewhat perplexing is that I don't see or hear of motorcycles being pulled over for excessive noise similar to how a car with a bad exhaust (or none at all) could be pulled over.

I know there are some motorcycle riders on here and I know that not all motorcycles are that loud, but are there any thoughts on it?

Doing some googly searching, I found this stance from some motorcycle organization on it:
http://www.amadirectlink.com/l...tn/positions/sound.asp

Then I found this article from Harley Davidson about noise levels:
http://www.harley-davidson.com...popup.jsp?locale=en_US

It seems the AMA is trying to cut down on the noise (and fix the perception of all motorcycles being loud) but I'm not really sure about HD's stance... it seems like they're saying, "It's our unique noise and fuck you if you want to take it away!"

/blog

 

[KIAman]

Most of my biker buds say the myth is that it helps other drivers know the biker is coming.

They admit the truth is simply because they enjoy it. They in turn ask, "what's the deal with the ricers who install 20 subwoofers in the car and listen to a meaningless drum beat that can be heard 2 miles away?"

And, yes, they get pulled over ALL the time for noise ordinance violation.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: KIAman
They admit the truth is simply because they enjoy it. They in turn ask, "what's the deal with the ricers who install 20 subwoofers in the car and listen to a meaningless drum beat that can be heard 2 miles away?"

Those are really just as bad. But I don't see why they should bring that up. It's a sophomoric argument to say, "Well... well... they do it, so we can too!"

Originally posted by: KIAman
And, yes, they get pulled over ALL the time for noise ordinance violation.

Ahh okay... never seen this myself nor heard of it occurring.

 

[radioouman]

HD has a unique sound. I believe that the sound is patented. Although that doesn't mean that it has to be loud.

 

[Brutus04]

They are assholes....no need to be so loud. IMHO...they are assholes.

 

[JDub02]

loud pipes save lives.

 

[angry hampster]

I like the way it sounds. I like the way they all sound, Harleys, supersport bikes, Goldwings, whatever. I love a loud motorcycle. I run 1 3/4" drag pipes on my classic harley. My state has no noise restrictions for motorcycles.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Wish polic would ticket HD riders for their loud pipes as they are a true nuisance.

I also would like to question why HD riders continually blip the throttle at stop lights.

 

[ajskydiver]

Originally posted by: Fmr12B

I also would like to question why HD riders continually blip the throttle at stop lights.

It's so the engine doesn't stall on them...but they'd never admit that. ;-)

 

[Jeff7181]

Loud pipes don't necessarily mean you're safer. I can imagine a distracted cager just as easily getting lost in their rear view mirror looking for you and running into the car in front of them as they could not hear or see you can pull over into the side of you.

I think it has to do with personal taste... I just put a new can on my ZX6 because the stock exhaust always had a slight hiss to it, like you could hear the exhaust passing through all the baffles in the stock muffler and the valve in the exhaust. I chose one of the more quiet aftermarket exhausts for my bike because I don't want it insanely loud... I just want quality sound from it and a few extra horsepower doesn't hurt either.

 

[BoberFett]

I've got a pair of HardKrome 3" Big Straights. I just love the way they sound. I do have the baffles in mine, but the last time I was at a bike rally some guy with the same pipes took the baffles out for a loudest pipes contest and won.

 

[StageLeft]

They should be ticketed.

 

[exar333]

Originally posted by: Fmr12B
Wish polic would ticket HD riders for their loud pipes as they are a true nuisance.

I also would like to question why HD riders continually blip the throttle at stop lights.

+1.

I know others who have lived next door to bikers who are out at 7am reving their bikes. What a nuisance. It's exactly the same as someone who has riced-out their car with a "weedwacker" exhaust system, it serves no purpose and it an annoyance.

 

[Possessed Freak]

Motorcycles with straight pipes makes me want to merge into them.

 

[MiataNC]

Originally posted by: JDub02
loud pipes save lives.

Statistically the most common multiple vehicle accident involving bikes occur when a driver pulls out or turns left in front of an oncoming bike.

"Loud pipes" offer nothing in these situations. The next time you notice a bike coming towards you the other way, you will not hear him/her until they are beside or past you, regardless of how loud they are.

Personally I love the sound of a well tuned pipe (car or bike) that accentuates the nuances of the engine (HD/Duc twins, Mazda Rotaries, V8s, V12s, Suburu boxers, etc). You don't have to be loud to accomplish this.

 

[jessieqwert]

There is nothing cool about those bikes that have the insanely loud knocking noise

Also what's the deal with raised handlebars? Is it really that comfortable to be doing a pullup the entire ride?

 

[DougK62]

They want people to look at them and see how "badass" they are on their cool motorcycle. It's sad. Then they try and hide behind some ridiculous arguments like "loud pipes save lives" to justify it. They're an embarrassment to true motorcycle enthusiasts.

Yes, I do ride.

 

[Thump553]

If they made a highway capable bike that was dead silent (or nearly so) I'd buy it in a heartbeat. Except for the tire noise, it would be like sailplaning on the ground.

 

[hanoverphist]

Originally posted by: KIAman
Most of my biker buds say the myth is that it helps other drivers know the biker is coming.

They admit the truth is simply because they enjoy it. They in turn ask, "what's the deal with the ricers who install 20 subwoofers in the car and listen to a meaningless drum beat that can be heard 2 miles away?"

And, yes, they get pulled over ALL the time for noise ordinance violation.

yup, and as long as they have a muffler system installed (not factory, just any past the old pop tab inserts) the ticket will be dismissed. the rule when i got mine in tempe was as long as they could stick a pencil in there and feel an obstruction. literally, i had to trailer my bike to the court and the bailiff went outside and stuck a pencil in the exhaust pipe. didnt matter that it was a kirker race pipe and was hellishly loud. i also wish i could get a stereo in my truck that i could hear 2 miles away...

 

[hanoverphist]

Originally posted by: ajskydiver

Originally posted by: Fmr12B

I also would like to question why HD riders continually blip the throttle at stop lights.

It's so the engine doesn't stall on them...but they'd never admit that. ;-)

stock bikes dont stall at lights. cammed bikes might. mine had the idle so low it would stall sometimes, but i didnt juice the gas arbitrarily. my stepdad however, loves to hear his bike roar so he does. constantly. even when doing 40 he will slow down a bit so he can speed up and hear the bike lol.

 

[big man]

Originally posted by: Aikouka
"It's our unique noise and fuck you if you want to take it away!"

/blog

You can't label one universal opinion on all bikers. Even on all harley riders. some (most?) are indifferent, uneducated a-holes who could care less what you think about their loud pipes let alone explain why they have it.

However with that said, motorcyclists are at a much higher level of danger than cars when out on the road. They rarely get pulled over for things like loud exhaust or riding with high beams (in the daytime) constantly on because there are so many negligent car drivers out there.

I do feel its safer for riders to be heard and seen

 

[imported_Imp]

I keep my living room window closed during the summer now because of them and ricers (house not A/C equiped).

I'll admit that I do notice them more, but at the same time, it's distracting the hell out of me as I'm focused on how annoying the sound is as opposed to traffic around me.

 

[JulesMaximus]

It's just a big fuck you to people in cages.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Thump553
If they made a highway capable bike that was dead silent (or nearly so) I'd buy it in a heartbeat. Except for the tire noise, it would be like sailplaning on the ground.

You wouldn't hear anything but the wind noise on the freeway anyway.

 

[RU482]

Originally posted by: JDub02
loud pipes save lives.

so do the orange flags they put on mopeds