Do motorcycles have to be so loud?

[VtPC83]

Sorry if this is a repeat but:

Loud bikes do not necessarily save lives. Most situations where a bike is in danger is when you are facing them, directly next to them or in front of them (they are attempting to pass you). If you notice, all of these situations result in the exhaust pipe (where the sound comes from) being faced away from the car in question. This means the sound is SO muffled that it doesn't matter to the actual car in danger of hitting you.

It may help in some situations but more often than not it's just a nuisance.

 

[Thebobo]

its all about look at me I am cool

 

[Gibsons]

Did that South Park episode succeed in getting them relabled 'fags'?

For anyone that missed it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGyKBFCd_u4

 

[dabuddha]

they are loud, they caught your attention, more likely to be noticed so people dont run them over

zing!

This.

 

[dabuddha]

Sorry if this is a repeat but:

Loud bikes do not necessarily save lives. Most situations where a bike is in danger is when you are facing them, directly next to them or in front of them (they are attempting to pass you). If you notice, all of these situations result in the exhaust pipe (where the sound comes from) being faced away from the car in question. This means the sound is SO muffled that it doesn't matter to the actual car in danger of hitting you.

It may help in some situations but more often than not it's just a nuisance.

When I'm driving around and I hear a loud exhaust, I look around to see where it's coming from (second nature). That alone makes me aware of the biker no matter where he is in relation to me.

 

[JJ650]

Never mind.

 

[Vdubchaos]

I hate harleys or how they sound.....applies to crotch rockets as well (but at least those have mufflers).

 

[KeypoX]

Yeah. My bike, a ninja 250, has a stock exhaust (read: quiet) and i've never had anyone switch lanes into me. It's as easy as staying out of people's blind spots. The loud pipes argument is BS.

wow your one example changes my mind!

 

[VtPC83]

When I'm driving around and I hear a loud exhaust, I look around to see where it's coming from (second nature). That alone makes me aware of the biker no matter where he is in relation to me.

I understand your point but usually that doesn't make the biker any safer. The noise can attract the attention of drivers as far as 200 meters away on some bikes. You wouldn't hear the bike at all if he were coming toward you. The real danger, as I said, is from cars outside of the 'hearing cone' of the exhaust.

Usually the noise is just a nuisance. Now if they had a noisemaker on the front of their bike, that would make a difference!

 

[dabuddha]

I understand your point but usually that doesn't make the biker any safer. The noise can attract the attention of drivers as far as 200 meters away on some bikes. You wouldn't hear the bike at all if he were coming toward you. The real danger, as I said, is from cars outside of the 'hearing cone' of the exhaust.

Usually the noise is just a nuisance. Now if they had a noisemaker on the front of their bike, that would make a difference!

I dunno, the fact that I heard the noise in general and now know where the biker is (vs a bike with a quiet engine so I don't notice him until I'm about to change lanes into him) seems like he's safer.

 

[zerocool84]

I dunno, the fact that I heard the noise in general and now know where the biker is (vs a bike with a quiet engine so I don't notice him until I'm about to change lanes into him) seems like he's safer.

Driving properly by looking over your shoulder before changing lanes solves any problems.

 

[unokitty]

For anyone that missed it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGyKBFCd_u4

++

Nothing like living in Daytona and listening to all the 'non-conformists' roll into town with their trailered Harleys for Bike Week.

“Nonconformists travel as a rule in bunches. You rarely find a nonconformist who goes it alone. And woe to him inside a nonconformist clique who does not conform with nonconformity.” --Hoffer


Uno

 

[OutHouse]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4353853.stm

A hyrdrogen powered bike that they're adding an artifical noisemaker to due to safety concerns.

there has been talk of doing the same for Prius and Leaf.

 

[T9D]

It really does help. Both driving one or being in a car. I take notice and I see others take notice. The people saying it doesn't just hate the loud sound that's all there is to it.

That doesn't mean they should be revving them up to insane RPM's though while driving down a residential 25mph street. Some of them are just insanely loud where it goes to far and to loud. You don't need the attention 500 yards ahead.

 

[dabuddha]

Driving properly by looking over your shoulder before changing lanes solves any problems.

You've never seen how some motorcycle drivers drive between lanes at high speeds?

You can check your blind spot all you want but if a bike is coming at you 10-15 mph faster than you are, there's a chance for an accident.

 

[Brainonska511]

You've never seen how some motorcycle drivers drive between lanes at high speeds?

You can check your blind spot all you want but if a bike is coming at you 10-15 mph faster than you are, there's a chance for an accident.

So because they are already driving like jerks, they should also add to the noise pollution?

 

[iRONic]

Whoa...

 

[Paladin3]

I've been riding my whole life and the idea that bikers like loud machines for safety makes me laugh. Owners of loud bike boasts about how good it sounds, not how safe they are. Most of these guys hate helmets or anything else that restricts their "freedom." More often than not they are obnoxious jerks looking for attention and a confrontation.

I've never understood the attraction of a motorcycle so loud you need earplugs to ride it. Their riders remind me of the jerks who tote their AR-15s into Walmart trying to prove a point. "I'm loud, I'm obnoxious. Fuck you if you don't like it."

/necro

 

[*kjm]

there has been talk of doing the same for Prius and Leaf.

I test drove an electric motorcycle a couple months back and let me tell you it opened my eyes especially in parking lots!

It was by far the worst ride I have ever had on anything as far as close calls. I took the bike back and said no way in heck I would ever own it unless they put something on it to make noise.... motor sound/music... something.

 

[MotionMan]

That was a fun trip down memory lane.

MotionMan

 

[dabuddha]

So because they are already driving like jerks, they should also add to the noise pollution?

You do know bikers are allowed to drive between lanes?

 

[KK]

there has been talk of doing the same for Prius and Leaf.

They already do have a noise maker speaker for the prius, I unplugged mine.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

You do know bikers are allowed to drive between lanes?

Absolutely not. In the US, the only place this is explicitly allowed is California.

 

[Wyndru]

A lot of random necros by noobs lately.

 

[olds]

If it's too loud, you are too old!

Not really. I've ridden for over 40 years and I don't care for loud bikes.
Had a neighbor who had a Harley. He went to work at 5 AM and he would let the thing idle in his driveway to warm up and then leave the neighborhood at high RPMs. Asshole.