Motorcycle noise ordinances

I think the excessively noisy mufflers employed on purpose by some riders is an obnoxious habit, and I wish they'd quit it. I hate to see more ordinances, but frankly, after the extremely lengthy "parade" of them by passing my house today, I was ready to take aim with the pea shooter.

A pea shooter? How unlady like…

Just had a bunch go by my office – loud, obnoxious I totally agree. Hope you get’em all, Naran.

Well, you may be sure that after each use, I wipe my mouth and the weapon quite discreetly, with a hand-embroidered hankie. Nobody could possibly find anything to complain of, I'm sure.
:D

KABLAM!!!

If I drove my car with that much noise, I imagine I'd be stopped repeatedly.

Not to mention hearing-impaired.

What?

They're not mufflers (otherwise you wouldn't hear much) they are either gutted mufflers or straight pipes. I'm also equally annoyed by the boom-boom "hip-hop" subwoofers of the crap culture.

I, however, am very quiet as I run a real muffler (except of course for the backfiring)

It's annoying. Very annoying. It's rude, obnoxious, inconsiderate and did I mention annoying?

That said. It's also expression.

I would think "disturbing the peace" should cover it.

I'm pretty sure a dB meter or two out in the field wouldn't cost much, and would yield some pretty quick results.

Those results could include, immediate revenue from fines until the word got out, and then a significant reduction in the overall noise level.

We could install the meters at the Kittery Tolls along with a giant "bar code scanner." That way we can kill two birds with one stone. We'll get those "noisey baby-boomer bikers" for ruining our quiet here in Maine, and we'll also nab those rascally "tax avoiders" who shop in New Hampshire and don't claim their "ewes" tax! Bahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! :lol:

Do something but quiet the noise.
Cars can be stopped for excessive noise and bikes should be controlled also.
I know it is a life " style" but all those boomers should spend more on
mufflers than the HD regalia adorning their bodies!

I can just see the legislation now.
What ever happened to freedom? Bike noise is the expression of all that can be American.
I am suprised people on AMG are complaining about this. Must not be many bike owners here.

Are you against all noise ordinances, or just bike noise ordinances?

I am in general against more of anything that can be enforced. And since I live on a dead end road I would say yes. But I know some people who live in Route One and have for 100 years would like a quieter road. However I still remain in the "get over it or move" camp. I bought a place away from cars for a reason. Others can do the same. Maybe someone who lives near a busy loud road can advise or chastise me.
The placement of laws and regulations is always a slippery slope. We started caring for vehicle safety and now we have a manditory seat belt law but because of the greenies, cars that are not heavy enough to withstand a crash.

I'd be happy if, as noted above, the public disturbance was enough to quiet them down.

With a popular biker bar across the street, though, I figure it isn't worth the fight. And winter's coming anyway.....

That said. It's also expression.

My feelings EXACTLY. I have always wondered why motorcycles have escaped all the Nanny and Green laws. Must be a VERY powerfull lobby for them in Augusta.

I feel for ya Bob but you did know that bar was there BEFORE you moved across the street. Probably it's best to let that dog sleep.Not exactly the crowd you want P Oed at you... :wink: :lol:

That bar has been here longer than Main Street. I know better than to bring it up locally. But actually, it's the summer tourists making most of the noise, not the bar crowd.

Bob, bikes do not get a pass on noise, it only seems like they do. It's just about impossible to get an inspection sticker from a reputable shop if you have anything but factory pipes nowadays. The problem is that the loud bikes either don't bother getting an inspection, or they alter after inspection (takes about 10 minutes to change pipes on an HD). Call the local PD and complain, you don't need an ordinance, they are in violation of state statute.

I am more annoyed by those pesky kids who hook baseball cards to their bike spokes, irritatating little twerps!

An ordinance is useless. We already have a state law that makes it a crime to alter a vehicle after inspection and a law against any alteration of a stock exhaust system. I do think loud pipes help motorists realize that you might be nearby on your bike but some of these morons have to act like delinquents with them. I hate it when a bike drives by, opens it up and jumps the crap out of me from inside the comfort of my air conditioned car. Fact of the matter is that most police departments have more important stuff to take up their time.

Bikes don't have to be loud. They perform better with a nicely tuned exhaust. Too bad most of the Harley folk think they need a large noise to impress people.

Give me a whisper quiet BMW over a Harley any day.

Set the police up with decibel meters and arrest them all.

I have other family members that own these bikes...My brother says that HD is a kidees bike and Suzuki is a real bike. Anyway, my family members say they like the noise because when some idiot tries to intrude on their lane without notice...They make it known they are there. My brother and father both say they can outdo almost all those cars with the loud subwoofers.

Trying to enforce these bikes with the db meters, you would have to double the size of the police force and quadruple the payroll to take on these bikers. In some cases, these are not people you want to take on.

lamaine, I will send my brother and father over with a bunch of their friends, as you like these bikes so much. :twisted:

Oh, coincidentally, most of their friends with motorcycles are police officers. So the police will already be there. :lol: :lol:

Half of them won't make it. They'll break down on the way! :P

Perhaps why existing law isn't enforced?

The direct correlation between the loudness of a Harley's engine and the rider's manliness seems to be widely accepted, if not scientifically established.

Have you seen the biker's shirts emblazoned with "Loud pipes save lives!"?

I'm not sure where the definitive research proving that contention came from, but if it's true, then Harley Davidson can be credited with saving about a third of the World's population, and should be heartily commended!
It's a pity that they are so under - appreciated by the 4-wheeled masses.

I'm with LaMaine for once; I'll take a BMW any day.
The Russians make a copy of a circa 1938 BMW which looks pretty interesting; the wheel on the sidecar can be connected to the drive system making the whole rig essentially an ATV.
Not many Americans like them though, as they will only go about 60 MPH.

Back when I was in the NHSP we used to test bike mufflers by running a night stick up the chute; if it didn't hit a baffle somewhere along the way, they got a ticket!

Don't look for much enforcement here in ME though;
There is a definite double standard; whereas the drivers of cars & trucks are constantly strapped with intrusive laws regarding seat belts, smoking and such, Bikers seem to have a special relationship with Emperor Baldaccivich, and get a free pass on most everything.

It does irk me that here in the "country", the major disruptor of the general peace is the staccato roar of super-macho Harley cowboys who can be heard coming... and going... for about 25 miles either way. And how they love to "pump" the throttle going through a populated area, so as to induce a series of shotgun-like backfire blasts with every crank.

And as far as I know, ME Police officers simply turn a deaf ear to them... as I suspect they are ordered to do.

Cheer up though; soon it'll be Winter....

And we'll get to listen to straight-piped hyperpowered snow machines tearing up the woods!

Come on, this blame Baldacci for everything is getting old. Loud pipes on bikes have been around forever.

Ironically, Harley's are the worst performing bikes out there. In addition, the "pocket rockets" with the whiny sounds are equally inept as well.

For disclosure purposes, I must humbly admit that I once owned a Yamaha RD 350. It would beat ANY bike in a quarter mile. And yeah, it was a little loud, but far less obnoxious than a Harley with straight pipes.

One bike with loud pipes isn't really the problem, although it's a minor annoyance. The real problem is when 100 of the things go by, several times a day, loud as they can possibly make them go.

Is it ego? Is it a narcissistic need to be noticed?

Is it possible for the curses of surrounding homeowners to follow them home, and taint the next tankful of gasoline?

I hate it when we agree.

There must be an epidemic! A bunch of us got together last night and halfway through the evening everyone started complaining about loud bikes. I haven't heard any at my house, however. I'm more in ATV country than bike country.