Loud Pipes…
I was annoyed and learned something about myself. Are bikes too loud or am I too old?
Mrs. Bald Rider and I went to the hardware store to buy supplies for our never-ending deck project. There was the local chapter of a motorcycle association meeting at the bar next door. Walking by a dozen or so v-twins revving their engines for no apparent reason, I realized that loud pipes suck.
When you are part of the noisy crowd, loud pipes are not annoying at all. I’ve never owned a particularly loud bike but I used to own a very loud car. My friends had cars that would set off car alarms idling through parking lots. If all of your friends have loud machines, you fit right in. We all thought we were cool. I had no idea how it affected others.
Being an outsider or recipient of the noise pollution really highlights to me how unnecessary and obnoxious loud pipes are. The civilians/bystanders who aren’t part of your group don’t want to hear your 90dB+ (at idle) exhaust revving for 5 minutes before taking off. I don’t want to be required to carry earplugs around with me as I walk down the street because your bike is too loud.
If your philosophy is that any attention is good attention, the purpose of your loud exhaust is to piss people off or wake up your neighbors at 4:30am, congratulations I guess. You have succeeded. South Park was right on the money when it covered this topic way back in 2009 (Season 13, Episode 12 - “The F Word”).
It is always easy to single out Harley Davidson enthusiasts for their loud exhausts as South Park did but it isn’t limited to them. You can buy ‘for offroad use only’ exhausts for just about anything and, if not, at least a louder slip-on. That said, putting loud pipes on your black Road Glide isn’t highlighting your originality or nonconformity. Half of the bikes in the parking lot are identical to yours.
I wouldn’t mind the noise if it was selective: loud out on the highway/bike night/rally and quiet through neighborhoods or Main Street. The automobile industry has someone addressed the issue of loud exhausts with electronic-actuated valves in the exhaust system. Quiet sometimes, loud sometimes. I’m not saying that would fix the issue at hand because I’m guessing the ‘quiet’ mode would only be engaged when the fuzz is around.
California’s Vehicle Code restricts the noise level of a motorcycle manufactured after 1985 to 80dB. Cars have a higher limit which makes absolutely no sense. LEOs can issue “fix-it” tickets where a motorcyclist can just throw on their old exhaust, get it certified and have the ticket waved. That isn’t much of a deterrent other than needing to keep space in your garage for your stock exhaust.
Loud pipes don’t save lives. That tired old trope is used to justify unreasonable exhaust volume and needs to be retired. If you were worried about safety, you would be wearing more safety gear than a leather vest and the smallest DOT-rated helmet you can find.
I know my opinion isn’t very popular in the motorcycle community. You’re welcome to disagree. I used to agree with you. I must just be getting old.
Counterpoint:
Mrs. Bald Rider said she didn’t mind the noise. She is more tolerant than I am.
