Why are motorcycles so looud?

[Syringer]

I mean, in cars it tends to be that the bigger the engine, the louder the car tends to be..but motorcycle engines are way smaller than even the smallest of engines.

I can certainly understand motorcycles getting real loud when they're being revved at 10,000 rpms, but even at idle they're considerably louder than cars with big blocks and V8's..

And..how is it that motorcycles emit a pretty deep rumbling sound from their tiny engines?

 

[Anubis]

muffler isnt as big or its non existant

 

[conjur]

Cuz it's cool and anti-establishment to be loud.

Was behind some rich yuppie on a Harley (or a knockoff). Dumbass was barely wearing clothes (Polo-type shirt and khaki shorts), no helmet either, and he would purposely slow down behind cars and then gun the engine to 'show off' his coolness. He did that a few times before I made my turn.

 

[Eli]

Because they usually have straight headers and little or no muffler.

Take the muffler off your lawnmower; it will be loud too.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Remember that in a big Harley each cylinder is about 600 cc's. It comes out of a pipe designed to maximize noise, or so it seems. My Hayabusa is not nearly as loud. It isnt meant to be. It is a matter of intention. Frankly, I hate overly loud bikes.

 

[Harabecw]

Originally posted by: Hayabusarider
My Hayabusa is not nearly as loud. It isnt meant to be. It is a matter of intention. Frankly, I hate overly loud bikes.

*drools all over*

 

[TonyG]

In there defense it is one more way for other cars/drivers to realize that there is a motorcycle there. However, I agree that most of the harleys are too loud.

 

[RACER]

True, it's a good way to have other motor-vehicles know our presence... but you have to realize that a car's engine block is extremely insulated within it's frame. Most motorcycles are "naked", meaning there are no coverings for the engines (except sport bikes). And with bigger engines (700+ ccs), they are extremely loud...

 

[aircooled]

Safety. Since they are hard to see, you can hear it first.

 

[BillGates]

Harley hicks judge the size of one another's penises by the loudness of their bike. Too bad loud noise does not equal performance on most of those things - they're pretty lame performance wise. Some are fast in a straight line but that only takes a few thousand dollars in mods on top of the original 10 - 20 grand. LAME.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Syringer
I mean, in cars it tends to be that the bigger the engine, the louder the car tends to be..but motorcycle engines are way smaller than even the smallest of engines.

I can certainly understand motorcycles getting real loud when they're being revved at 10,000 rpms, but even at idle they're considerably louder than cars with big blocks and V8's..

And..how is it that motorcycles emit a pretty deep rumbling sound from their tiny engines?

1300cc (Suzuki Hayabusa) > 995cc (Honda Insight)

 

[computerboy2k1]

also think of how long the whole exhaust is. theres no cat and its not 10-15' long like on a car. its like 1 foot on a motorcycle.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Eli
Because they usually have straight headers and little or no muffler.

Take the muffler off your lawnmower; it will be loud too.

My lawnmower has a muffler?

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: Eli
Because they usually have straight headers and little or no muffler.

Take the muffler off your lawnmower; it will be loud too.

My lawnmower has a muffler?

It most certainly does. They're VERY loud without them; not to mention a fire hazard since they will happily blow flame. You can watch the exhaust valve move.

 

[LS20]

i HATE harley guys going full-throttle right by my window... when they shoot by... that shiit scares me

 

[Cyberian]

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: Eli
Because they usually have straight headers and little or no muffler.

Take the muffler off your lawnmower; it will be loud too.

My lawnmower has a muffler?

Don't know about yours, but many/most do.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: Eli
Because they usually have straight headers and little or no muffler.

Take the muffler off your lawnmower; it will be loud too.

My lawnmower has a muffler?

It most certainly does. They're VERY loud without them; not to mention a fire hazard since they will happily blow flame. You can watch the exhaust valve move.

Yes, but don't try to watch the exaust valve if you have a beard.

 

[Cyberian]

Why are motorcycles so looud?

Loud pipes save lives!

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Hayabusarider

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: Eli
Because they usually have straight headers and little or no muffler.

Take the muffler off your lawnmower; it will be loud too.

My lawnmower has a muffler?

It most certainly does. They're VERY loud without them; not to mention a fire hazard since they will happily blow flame. You can watch the exhaust valve move.

Yes, but don't try to watch the exaust valve if you have a beard.

:Q



On OHV engines, you can see into the combustion chamber. You get to see that nice deep blue flame at RPMs above idle.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: Cyberian

Why are motorcycles so looud?

Loud pipes save lives!

Several almost deaf bikers I know use that phrase all the time. That is the justification 99% of the time. I have an answer to that, but it would piss off the Harley guy's

 

[dionx]

the louder an engine is, the more inefficient it is. that said, harleys are real gas hogs

 

[boggsie]

Originally posted by: LS20
i HATE harley guys going full-throttle right by my window... when they shoot by... that shiit scares me

What scares you, all the parts falling off?

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: Eli
Because they usually have straight headers and little or no muffler.

Take the muffler off your lawnmower; it will be loud too.

My lawnmower has a muffler?

It most certainly does. They're VERY loud without them; not to mention a fire hazard since they will happily blow flame. You can watch the exhaust valve move.

Well, gaddang it! Next thing ya know, you's gonna need put OIL in them thar junks!

 

[silverpig]

My aunt has a friend with illegal pipes on his Ducati. He gets his kicks by revving the engine down a street with parked luxury cars and setting off all their alarms

 

[PowerMacG5]

I think motorcycles should make some noise, so others can see/hear them. I don't think you should have a striaght pipe with no muffler tho (although on an 18 wheeler it is fine. Listen to a jake brake go on one of those, sounds like machine guns going off). I prefer the idea that the person behind my father can hear them.