Loud Motorcycles

Why do loud motorcycles get a free pass from police? I am sick of motorcycles disturbing the peace. Harley's that blast you off the sidewalk or out of bed from a deep sleep. Sport bikes that sound like angry hornets. Am I the only one bothered by this noise? You can't get away with this in a car without a ticket. I want a crackdown. Loud pipes do not save lives, they only call attention to the rider and make the general public resent them. Loud pipes are totally rude and ridiculous. As you ride down the road, you sound is behind you - not out in front. Want to keep someone from turning left in front of you on a bike - turn on your high beam during the day and add a headlight strobe.

You haven't ridden a motorcycle have you?
sound waves radiate in all directions!!
peaple like you kill bikers and get away with "but I Didn"t see the biker"
I want a crack down on this totally rude and ridiculous excuse!!!

I have to agree they are too loud.
I guess they want everyone to "look at me!!"
"but I Didn"t see the biker"
--as they were speeding
--as they were cutting in and out of traffic
--as they were on the shoulder going around stopped traffic.

1/2 of the time it's the motorcyclists fault.

comments from another -nonrider-
statistlly 28%of accidents are the bikers fault (most of those being sport bikes not harlys or cruisers) the rest are from unaware drivers not looking twice or misjudging
bicycles have the same problems (are they too loud too?)

Motor cycles do not vibrate the walls, doors, and windows of homes but loud car sound systems get away with harassment of neighborhoods.

Leave the bikers alone. The sound of motorcycles is the best way they have to protect their lives from drivers that act unaware of their presence.

The loud car sound systems needs to be turned down. The bass intrusions into peoples homes should be permanently put to rest.

Ive been riding over 40 years. Every day that I ride some driver pulls a bonehead move. You have to be on your toes every minute. People in cars and trucks have Protection in their vehicles. On a motorcycle Just the slightest accident could prove fatal. Loud pipes are a big help. You can hear one before you can see one. Statement from boobs like bobby are wrong. I don't ride so people can (quote) "look at me" I ride because I love to ride. Period!!

We should adopt the same stance as they have in Japan where motorcycling is not just a recreational outlet but the way of live for many commuters. Not seeing a motorcycle is not an excuse, burning headlights and louder exhaust systems are there for the car drivers. The rule is if you hit a biker you are going to get cited if you kill a biker you are going to jail. All of the statistics we read and hear about motorcycle accidents make them out to be a very unsafe means of transportation, but most of those statistics are not accounting for other vehicular driver's indifference. All of the stats get blown out of proportion, it is not only motorcycle operator error. All of you 4 wheelers out there think about this....what is your very first gut feeling when you are driving down the road and a group of motorcycles pull up behind you? If you are honest with yourself you will be saying the feeling is somewhere between intimidation and road rage. It does not even enter into your mind that the majority of today's bikers are driving somewhere between $15,000 to $40,000 worth of machine and their reason for riding is the "pride of ownership" and embracing the freedom riding affords. It would be so much more enjoyable if all of you others on the road took as much pride in you ride and respect for the road as your average run of the mill recreational motorcyclist.

switch feet said it best.
"motorcycles pull up behind you?" How do they get there?? they are speeding!!
Like riding side by side. How safe is that?

switch meant at a red light
Bobby is ignorant
his wife snores to loud
blah blah blah blah
he won't listen he just doesn't like bikers cause we're the last group it's PC to lash out at.
he's intimidated by our freedom
mad cause his daughter has the hots for us
and has his pantys in a bunch

It's not (look at me) it's know I'm here and don't hit me with your car/suv

proud parent wrote:

You haven't ridden a motorcycle have you?
sound waves radiate in all directions!!
peaple like you kill bikers and get away with "but I Didn"t see the biker"
I want a crack down on this totally rude and ridiculous excuse!!!

You obviously have no grasp of psychoacoustics. Sound is very directional. The argument that "loud pipes save lives" is just silly. Travelling at highway speeds you can barely hear the loudest bikes until they are right next to you or just slightly ahead of you. The people who like to destroy the serenity of a quiet evening are just thoughtless numbskulls who like to get noticed by everyone. It's time for the cops to start enforcing noise ordinances and ticketing loud motorcycles just like they would ticket a car with a loud muffler.

WHOS serenity at highway speed? Live on a highway do ya? Maybe they just don't want to be crushed to death by a thoughtless driver.
Oh yeah, can you say doppler effect?

Jurist, Don’t bother they will not comprehend.
The noise comes out of the pipes is pointed back, unless your driving backwards how is the sound going to be heard???
I have to ask, what is the point of revving the engine while stopped at a traffic light?
Unless the bike is a piece of crap and going to stall, why is the revving need???
Brum…Brum…look at me, I’m on a motorcycle…woooow!

I have to agree with the bass pounding cars, they are also a “Hey look at me!!”

I would rather hear the sound of Harley or 10 going down the road than that horrible, rap music with the swearing and bass thumping going on. A Harley in my opinion is music to my hears whether it is 5:00 am or 5:00 pm. All I can say is this...Drive Safely, It's Motorcycle Season.

An Intelligent blogger! Thank you! As an engineer, I can't agree more with you that loud muffler are not heard in front of the bike at highway speeds. The ONLY thing that will keep you alive is a strobing headlight so you alive is a stobing headlight so you can be seen. Incidently, I've had my motorcycle license for 29 years - since I was 16. And loud pipes **** me off.

Jurist wrote:

<quoted text>
You obviously have no grasp of psychoacoustics. Sound is very directional. The argument that "loud pipes save lives" is just silly. Travelling at highway speeds you can barely hear the loudest bikes until they are right next to you or just slightly ahead of you. The people who like to destroy the serenity of a quiet evening are just thoughtless numbskulls who like to get noticed by everyone. It's time for the cops to start enforcing noise ordinances and ticketing loud motorcycles just like they would ticket a car with a loud muffler.

Dave in Wales wrote:

An Intelligent blogger! Thank you! As an engineer, I can't agree more with you that loud muffler are not heard in front of the bike at highway speeds. The ONLY thing that will keep you alive is a strobing headlight so you alive is a stobing headlight so you can be seen. Incidently, I've had my motorcycle license for 29 years - since I was 16. And loud pipes **** me off.
<quoted text>

What kind of engineer are you? lol Have a train set in your basement?lol True a percent of noise is directional but if you are telling me you can't hear a noise coming from behind you You are mistaken. You said loud pipes **** you off. Well then don't make false statements using your glands to think. Use you engineering brain.

so they can hear you when the radios are set at 130 deciabls. and they were using the DAMN CELL PHONE to TX some crap that is not lifes problems

Bikes go by so fast, that usually the noise does not matter. Loud cell phone talkers aggravate me a whole lot more...they don't go by fast enough!

maybe people should turn down their radios, turn off their cell phones and just pay attention to what is going on around them when they are driving.

a few simple changes like that might make bikers think they don't need those loud pipes, everyone has a contribution to the problem and nobody wants to help in the solution.

Just pay attention people, to what you're doing!!!

For those bikers out there, keep your eyes wide open and stay safe!!!

My wife and I have new-born twins at home. The motorcycles are so loud that it makes our babies practically jump out of their cribs. 5 seconds of motorcycle = 1 hour of screaming babies in our house. It has to stop.

I agree that the loud noise is not necessary to warn other drivers and agree that improved visual warning would be a superior solution. I mean stop-lights don't have loudspeakers that announce 'stop' and 'go'! The visual method is better.

The noise premise states that in order for motorcycles to be safe, they need to be loud. If that were the case, then there should be grounds for banning motorcycles altogether since they would be both unsafe to riders and/or a nuisance to the public.

However since people can and should be allowed to ride safely, as long as not at the expense of everyone else, perhaps the better visual warnings are the best all-around solution.