Do motorcycles have to be so loud?

[foghorn67]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: torpid
The problem with the loud = safe theory is this... the most dangerous motorcyclists are the ones who ride crotchrockets and zoom all over the place. Those things are generally pretty quiet. I have never almost killed a harley rider because they don't tend to drive like morons. For whatever reason, I find people who ride the huge harleys to be some of the safest drivers.

I have almost killed crotchrocket riders numerous times. The most common scenario is when I signal a lane change and then the crotchrocket zooms into the lane I'm about to go in without signalling and accelerates from behind. This is almost a guaranteed scenario if there is a crotch rocket behind me and an open lane to my left or right.

If they made motorcycles with a loud on/off button that would be great, so I don't hear the 200 decibel motorcycle pulling into the driveway of my apartment buliding at 3am.

Actually, my last 2 crotch rockets were loud for this very reason. Now I ride a Harley.

Yes, rider responsibility goes far. But so does driver awareness. And my loud bike makes drivers much more aware of me... and that's ALL that matters to me.

BTW, I lug the engine in neighborhoods and late at night to be as quiet as possible. I added the "quiet baffles" to my V&H pipes so the idle is a bit quieter.

Running with no baffles at all is not only too loud, it makes your bike far less powerful. An engine needs backpressure.

you're a good man, more people should be like you.

 

[Topplayer]

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: Kalvin00
Oh please, don't tell me the Harley people don't have mufflers to help people from turning into them. They do it because they think their POS v-twin motors sound good :roll:

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.

pwned

 

[franksta]

Originally posted by: ballmode
they are loud, they caught your attention, more likely to be noticed so people dont run them over

If this were true then nobody would ever get hit by trains.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: franksta

Originally posted by: ballmode
they are loud, they caught your attention, more likely to be noticed so people dont run them over

If this were true then nobody would ever get hit by trains.

How many deaths by train are there a year compared to Motorcyclists getting hit by cars where the driver didn't notice them?

 

[cKGunslinger]

Originally posted by: WiseOldDude
Porches are sign of the small pee pee, loud motorcycles are a sign of small brains

Porches?

 

[Descartes]

I live in an area of Atlanta where I have to deal with those ridiculous motorcycles and ridiculous cars with sound systems that you can literally hear from half a mile or more away.

They serve little purpose other than to annoy others as far as I'm concerned, and I look at it as a sign of insecurity and immaturity than anything else.

One of my good friends rides a bike, and he's explained the noise situation to me before. He used to tell me that he'd have to rev the bike when he saw a car trying to merge in his lane. For this I can understand the noise argument, but this doesn't explain the ridiculously loud bikes that rattle windows, set off car alarms, etc. Speaking of which...

Originally posted by: ValkyrieofHouston

Originally posted by: BoberFett
Oh, and I to add that that it gives me great pleasure to know that I piss off girly men like the ones in this thread. The only thing better than having loud pipes is when I'm doing a regional run where there are 1000s of bikes with loud pipes. The sound of a pack of rumbling v-twins is music to my ears. Pissing off uptight tools and their shriveled up prudish women is just icing on that cake.

LOL... yea, I love riding my bike at my apartment complex and setting off all the alarms, watching peeps come running out to see wtf is going on with their car!

I'm right there with you Bober!

Yes, that's mature.

 

[Descartes]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: torpid
The problem with the loud = safe theory is this... the most dangerous motorcyclists are the ones who ride crotchrockets and zoom all over the place. Those things are generally pretty quiet. I have never almost killed a harley rider because they don't tend to drive like morons. For whatever reason, I find people who ride the huge harleys to be some of the safest drivers.

I have almost killed crotchrocket riders numerous times. The most common scenario is when I signal a lane change and then the crotchrocket zooms into the lane I'm about to go in without signalling and accelerates from behind. This is almost a guaranteed scenario if there is a crotch rocket behind me and an open lane to my left or right.

If they made motorcycles with a loud on/off button that would be great, so I don't hear the 200 decibel motorcycle pulling into the driveway of my apartment buliding at 3am.

Actually, my last 2 crotch rockets were loud for this very reason. Now I ride a Harley.

Yes, rider responsibility goes far. But so does driver awareness. And my loud bike makes drivers much more aware of me... and that's ALL that matters to me.

BTW, I lug the engine in neighborhoods and late at night to be as quiet as possible. I added the "quiet baffles" to my V&H pipes so the idle is a bit quieter.

Running with no baffles at all is not only too loud, it makes your bike far less powerful. An engine needs backpressure.

If everyone were that considerate there wouldn't really be a problem.

 

[RaiderJ]

Originally posted by: MotionMan

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: Dubb
it's exactly a small pee pee type of thing. I hate those bikes. especially when you're in traffic next to one and can't carry on a conversation with the passenger in your car because they're so loud.

I've always wanted a device that would make small engines die. it'd be so useful. farty motorcycles, snowmobiles, jetskis...all the anoying little gnat machines.

Actually, it's a life saving thing. With those loud bikes, you're move aware that they are indeed present and less likely to hit a biker.

So bikers are all into safety, like wearing helmets all the time and signaling before changing lanes (or, to be more percice, swerving between cars)?

LOL.

MotionMan

Exactly. Helmets and leather will do more to protect yourself than stupidly loud pipes. There is some to being loud enough to be noticed, but the typical Harley bike is excessive on this level.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: Descartes

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: torpid
The problem with the loud = safe theory is this... the most dangerous motorcyclists are the ones who ride crotchrockets and zoom all over the place. Those things are generally pretty quiet. I have never almost killed a harley rider because they don't tend to drive like morons. For whatever reason, I find people who ride the huge harleys to be some of the safest drivers.

I have almost killed crotchrocket riders numerous times. The most common scenario is when I signal a lane change and then the crotchrocket zooms into the lane I'm about to go in without signalling and accelerates from behind. This is almost a guaranteed scenario if there is a crotch rocket behind me and an open lane to my left or right.

If they made motorcycles with a loud on/off button that would be great, so I don't hear the 200 decibel motorcycle pulling into the driveway of my apartment buliding at 3am.

Actually, my last 2 crotch rockets were loud for this very reason. Now I ride a Harley.

Yes, rider responsibility goes far. But so does driver awareness. And my loud bike makes drivers much more aware of me... and that's ALL that matters to me.

BTW, I lug the engine in neighborhoods and late at night to be as quiet as possible. I added the "quiet baffles" to my V&H pipes so the idle is a bit quieter.

Running with no baffles at all is not only too loud, it makes your bike far less powerful. An engine needs backpressure.

If everyone were that considerate there wouldn't really be a problem.

Nah you Wankers would still blubber on about the noise, that's what you do, whine!

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: Descartes

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: torpid
The problem with the loud = safe theory is this... the most dangerous motorcyclists are the ones who ride crotchrockets and zoom all over the place. Those things are generally pretty quiet. I have never almost killed a harley rider because they don't tend to drive like morons. For whatever reason, I find people who ride the huge harleys to be some of the safest drivers.

I have almost killed crotchrocket riders numerous times. The most common scenario is when I signal a lane change and then the crotchrocket zooms into the lane I'm about to go in without signalling and accelerates from behind. This is almost a guaranteed scenario if there is a crotch rocket behind me and an open lane to my left or right.

If they made motorcycles with a loud on/off button that would be great, so I don't hear the 200 decibel motorcycle pulling into the driveway of my apartment buliding at 3am.

Actually, my last 2 crotch rockets were loud for this very reason. Now I ride a Harley.

Yes, rider responsibility goes far. But so does driver awareness. And my loud bike makes drivers much more aware of me... and that's ALL that matters to me.

BTW, I lug the engine in neighborhoods and late at night to be as quiet as possible. I added the "quiet baffles" to my V&H pipes so the idle is a bit quieter.

Running with no baffles at all is not only too loud, it makes your bike far less powerful. An engine needs backpressure.

If everyone were that considerate there wouldn't really be a problem.

Yeah. If I could find a way to forward this thread to those crotchrocket lane changing sneaks it would be great!

The thing about loud soundsystems is, the SQ is often pretty crappy because the people who rumble the jungle are more concerned with volume and vibrations than sound quality. My car has sound dampening materials and even when I have the woofer up somewhat high (just in the chest vibration stage), you can barely hear it outside of the car.

 

[Ika]

Originally posted by: RaiderJ

Originally posted by: MotionMan

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: Dubb
it's exactly a small pee pee type of thing. I hate those bikes. especially when you're in traffic next to one and can't carry on a conversation with the passenger in your car because they're so loud.

I've always wanted a device that would make small engines die. it'd be so useful. farty motorcycles, snowmobiles, jetskis...all the anoying little gnat machines.

Actually, it's a life saving thing. With those loud bikes, you're move aware that they are indeed present and less likely to hit a biker.

So bikers are all into safety, like wearing helmets all the time and signaling before changing lanes (or, to be more percice, swerving between cars)?

LOL.

MotionMan

Exactly. Helmets and leather will do more to protect yourself than stupidly loud pipes. There is some to being loud enough to be noticed, but the typical Harley bike is excessive on this level.

So you would rather get into an accident and be protected than not be protected and not get into an accident?

I didn't understand the loud motorcycle thing myself a few days ago, but since being surprised by a quiet crotchrocket, I'd have to reconsider. I'm a safe driver and generally aware of my surroundings, but quiet bikes are NOT the easiest thing to see/detect.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: RaiderJ


Exactly. Helmets and leather will do more to protect yourself than stupidly loud pipes. There is some to being loud enough to be noticed, but the typical Harley bike is excessive on this level.

All the leather and fiberglass in the world will not help you if a car swerves into your lane at 80 miles per hour because they didn't know you were there.

And I rather prevent an accident so my leather and helmet won't have to protect me after the fact.

Finally, while open pipes are excessive, pipes do need to be loud enough to be heard through closed car windows, blaring stereos, screaming kids and chatty cell phone users.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Descartes

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: torpid
The problem with the loud = safe theory is this... the most dangerous motorcyclists are the ones who ride crotchrockets and zoom all over the place. Those things are generally pretty quiet. I have never almost killed a harley rider because they don't tend to drive like morons. For whatever reason, I find people who ride the huge harleys to be some of the safest drivers.

I have almost killed crotchrocket riders numerous times. The most common scenario is when I signal a lane change and then the crotchrocket zooms into the lane I'm about to go in without signalling and accelerates from behind. This is almost a guaranteed scenario if there is a crotch rocket behind me and an open lane to my left or right.

If they made motorcycles with a loud on/off button that would be great, so I don't hear the 200 decibel motorcycle pulling into the driveway of my apartment buliding at 3am.

Actually, my last 2 crotch rockets were loud for this very reason. Now I ride a Harley.

Yes, rider responsibility goes far. But so does driver awareness. And my loud bike makes drivers much more aware of me... and that's ALL that matters to me.

BTW, I lug the engine in neighborhoods and late at night to be as quiet as possible. I added the "quiet baffles" to my V&H pipes so the idle is a bit quieter.

Running with no baffles at all is not only too loud, it makes your bike far less powerful. An engine needs backpressure.

If everyone were that considerate there wouldn't really be a problem.

Naw, people still complain about my bike being too loud. No matter what you do, people will complain if your vehicle is any louder than a sewing machine covered in pillows.

But I do try to please some folks.

 

[foghorn67]

Originally posted by: ValkyrieofHouston

Originally posted by: BoberFett
Oh, and I to add that that it gives me great pleasure to know that I piss off girly men like the ones in this thread. The only thing better than having loud pipes is when I'm doing a regional run where there are 1000s of bikes with loud pipes. The sound of a pack of rumbling v-twins is music to my ears. Pissing off uptight tools and their shriveled up prudish women is just icing on that cake.

LOL... yea, I love riding my bike at my apartment complex and setting off all the alarms, watching peeps come running out to see wtf is going on with their car!

I'm right there with you Bober!

I'm pretty sure it's going to more then old prudish women getting pissed off if you do that.
Why do you aholes always have to rev it? You guys are worse then ricers.
I've never heard of anything more pathetic then over the top harley people.
You guys are begging for so much attention, you would rather piss people off then be more considerate.
Pretty soon, states are going to pickup exhaust laws based db measurements. This is something SEMA is pushing for. That way it's not up to someone's mood on how loud it is.
Good riddance to open-pipe and glasspacked harley exhaust.

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

Originally posted by: foghorn67

Originally posted by: ValkyrieofHouston

Originally posted by: BoberFett
Oh, and I to add that that it gives me great pleasure to know that I piss off girly men like the ones in this thread. The only thing better than having loud pipes is when I'm doing a regional run where there are 1000s of bikes with loud pipes. The sound of a pack of rumbling v-twins is music to my ears. Pissing off uptight tools and their shriveled up prudish women is just icing on that cake.

LOL... yea, I love riding my bike at my apartment complex and setting off all the alarms, watching peeps come running out to see wtf is going on with their car!

I'm right there with you Bober!

Why do you aholes always have to rev it?

It's so all the parts fall off in one place.. Don't you know anything??!

 

[foghorn67]

Originally posted by: JoLLyRoGer

Originally posted by: foghorn67

Originally posted by: ValkyrieofHouston

Originally posted by: BoberFett
Oh, and I to add that that it gives me great pleasure to know that I piss off girly men like the ones in this thread. The only thing better than having loud pipes is when I'm doing a regional run where there are 1000s of bikes with loud pipes. The sound of a pack of rumbling v-twins is music to my ears. Pissing off uptight tools and their shriveled up prudish women is just icing on that cake.

LOL... yea, I love riding my bike at my apartment complex and setting off all the alarms, watching peeps come running out to see wtf is going on with their car!

I'm right there with you Bober!

Why do you aholes always have to rev it?

It's so all the parts fall off in one place.. Don't you know anything??!

lol.

 

[KMFJD]

Originally posted by: Kalvin00

Originally posted by: MotionMan

The article talks about "concerns" about it being to quiet, but does not back it up with any facts.

MotionMan

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.

QFT so bad it hurts

 

[Dubb]

the more I read this thread, the more I don't buy the "It's for safety" argument at all. Seems like alot of childish ego and posturing.

so: grow up, and realize that being an asshole doesn't make you cool.

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: sisq0kidd
But I'm not so sure about your last statement. I believe the police are starting to crack down on motorcycle noise more and more; at least in California.

If it's above the legal limit, they can and should crack down on it.

I would guess that 99.9% of the 'loud' bikes you are all talking about are above the legal limit. I'm in FL and I was told (by an officer) if your exhaust or stereo can be easily heard from 50ft it's considered illegal. FWIW, I have a loud stereo but it's not loud with the windows up and it can be turned down in neighborhoods, at night, etc. Loud pipes can not.

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: kalster
the most annoying are those group of bikers, the noise is deafening,

But you see them, don't you? You stop what you're doing and look for them, don't you?

THAT is why we do it. I agree that open pipes are a bit much, but stock is ridiculous and unsafe.

So it would be okay if I modified my car to have the horn always on while moving? That way other drivers would hear me as well. Would that be okay? Maybe everyone should do that.

I'm sorry but IMO the extremely loud pipes are for show and the Harley riders who can't let their bike sit at idle at a light for 15 seconds without reving it further prove that. They might like the sound but most people around them likely do not.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: Dubb
being an asshole doesn't make you cool.

Well at least in your case

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: KMFJD

Originally posted by: Kalvin00

Originally posted by: MotionMan

The article talks about "concerns" about it being to quiet, but does not back it up with any facts.

MotionMan

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.

QFT so bad it hurts

Ah yes... You're going to quote a beginning rider on a Ninja 250 "for truth" over someone like me, an experienced rider with over 20 years of experience on every type of bike, from fast, to slow and quiet to loud.

On a crowded freeway, there is no such thing as "staying out of a blind spot."

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Robor

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: kalster
the most annoying are those group of bikers, the noise is deafening,

But you see them, don't you? You stop what you're doing and look for them, don't you?

THAT is why we do it. I agree that open pipes are a bit much, but stock is ridiculous and unsafe.

So it would be okay if I modified my car to have the horn always on while moving? That way other drivers would hear me as well. Would that be okay? Maybe everyone should do that.

I'm sorry but IMO the extremely loud pipes are for show and the Harley riders who can't let their bike sit at idle at a light for 15 seconds without reving it further prove that. They might like the sound but most people around them likely do not.

If someone comes into your lane when you're in a car, it's a scartch and a dent if you don't over react. If someone does that while you're on a bike, it's deadly.

SOME Harley riders rev their engines at stop lights. Not all. Just like SOME people with good sound systems shake the pictures off your walls as they drive by... not all.

Funny how all the experienced riders here readily accept that loud pipes get you noticed, and therefore enhance safety.

 

[erwin1978]

I believe it's illegal to not use a muffler. Some riders use a fake muffler that doesn't deaden the noise but it looks like a muffler.

It should be illegal how some choppers can damage the ears of bystanders.

 

[BoberFett]

Originally posted by: kalster
move right next to an airport. so even at night you will have pleasure knowing that you are so 'manly' that you can stand noise all night long. so 'macho' of you to be able to listen to other people's annoying noise and not whine like a 'pussy' :disgust:

Poor baby. Need a diaper change?