About two years ago there was some anti-motorcycle flack.

[Momz]

Delray Considering Motorcycle Ban	powered by Aeva

Ever wonder if it can happen in your town?

[asfltdncr]

If people don't start voluntarily quieting their bikes down, there may come a time (soon) that their will be a mandatory compliance.Even the aftermarket exhaust manufacturers get it.They are developing mufflers that still increase horsepower without all the noise.They see the writing on the wall.If the noise keeps up, aftermarket exhaust could be outlawed.
It's funny that so many will try to squeeze an extra few horses out of their motor or lighten up their bike at great expense when they are so obese, they haven't seen their feet or d..... in years.

[RoadKill]

What Socialist Republik considered that?  Why wouldnt they consider a decibel ordinance in the same 5 block area ? Is it not really the noise they are against?  I dont like stoopid people or ugly personalities but I dont see any one in charge legislating against the things that bother the rest of us! If they get rid of whiny stupid people I will quiet my bike and probably  be more considerate all around!

[solo1]

There now is a new Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) standard for street motorcycle exhaust sound levels.

I measured the sound from  Mark's bike which has aftermarket great sounding mufflers.  His bike passed this new standard db test. .  The standard is designed to pass mods to the exhaust system but NOT straight through pipes.  It's easily used by LEO's and requires the bike to be stationary and involves a brief check based on DB. 

I am and always will be against straight through pipes.  These pipes are responsible for many unfair ordinances against motorcycles.  Another thing, people aren't against motorcycles per se but against the loud pipes, which in turn, pisses people off so much that they insist that the city council "do something about it"

I'm always amazed that riders, even VRCC riders, equate interfering with "my straight through pipes" as an invasion of the riders rights. BUllshit!!!!   You do NOT have the right to make intolerable noise that affects your neighbor.  That is an invasion of your neighbors rights.  You DO have the right to wear or not wear a helmet as that doesn't affect your neighbor.  Helmet laws are unjust, laws affecting straight through pipes are just.

Again please note that I'm consistently talking about straight through pipes.  I am not talking about modifed mufflers or aftermarket MUFFLERS.

I wholeheartedly believe that if we, the riders, don't accept the facts that we are outnumbered by the non riding public, we will see a proliferation of unjust and discriminatory laws.  People simply do not like loud noise!

This new standard, SAE J2825, was created by the motorcycle industry, and is meant to weed out straight pipes while still leaving modified mufflers the ability to pass the sound standard.

I won't say the usual disclaimers as I attended the American Motorcyle Association conference on sound in 2005.  I have nothing to gain though since you all know that I soon will be out of riding, I'm just concerned about the future of riding.  We don't need to have impossible regulations against riding.

Wayne, solo1

[Charlie]

Well said Solo.  But, like everything else, your comment about the helmet issue not affecting your neighbor is also debatable.  It may not hurt them in a physical way, but absolutely does affect their pocketbooks.  I always laugh when I hear people in the Healthcare debate say they don't want to pay for other peoples insurance, and they don't need insurance themselves, when the fact is, they often end up in the emergency room and can't afford the cost to be there, so guess who ends up paying for their visit!!!!

[solo1]

Well said Solo.  But, like everything else, your comment about the helmet issue not affecting your neighbor is also debatable.  It may not hurt them in a physical way, but absolutely does affect their pocketbooks.  I always laugh when I hear people in the Healthcare debate say they don't want to pay for other peoples insurance, and they don't need insurance themselves, when the fact is, they often end up in the emergency room and can't afford the cost to be there, so guess who ends up paying for their visit!!!!

You're absolutely right Charlie.  However, that is a VERY slippery slope as I mentioned in a different post.  The pols are looking right now for fines(read that tax)or decrease of services to help pay for that proposed health bill. Wouldn't it be nice for them to say, for example," Hey Wayne, since you're on Medicare, any illnesses or accidents that you're in, Medicare won't pay for them since you engage in a risky life style "  Just think of the possibilities!

[Bob E.]

Well said Solo.  But, like everything else, your comment about the helmet issue not affecting your neighbor is also debatable.  It may not hurt them in a physical way, but absolutely does affect their pocketbooks.  I always laugh when I hear people in the Healthcare debate say they don't want to pay for other peoples insurance, and they don't need insurance themselves, when the fact is, they often end up in the emergency room and can't afford the cost to be there, so guess who ends up paying for their visit!!!!

What I find humorous is that is really the definition of insurance.  Everyone pays in to a giant pot of money that is there to pay for ANYONE that has a problem that generates an expense, whether it is for a health problem, an auto accident, or a home fire/flood/whatever.  If everyone only paid for the insurance they used, well, they wouldn't really need or have insurance.  That would be called a savings account.  Not everyone gets out of insurance all that they put in, and some obviously get more than they put in.

[Bob E.]

You're absolutely right Charlie.  However, that is a VERY slippery slope as I mentioned in a different post.  The pols are looking right now for fines(read that tax)or decrease of services to help pay for that proposed health bill. Wouldn't it be nice for them to say, for example," Hey Wayne, since you're on Medicare, any illnesses or accidents that you're in, Medicare won't pay for them since you engage in a risky life style "  Just think of the possibilities!

Exactly right...that's a path I don't think any of us what to start down.

[RLD]

Either WE control the noise or their will be consequences. For example:

http://www.hvcamping.com/motorcyles.htm

I can't say I disagree with his policy, but I will choose to not stay there.

[Robert]

Let me explain why noise is a problem in Delray in order to make it a tourist spot they made the restaurants outside dinning. There is also a bar just a little down from all the upper end restaurants that is like a biker bar and thats where all the bikes are headed. Really there are not many that go there its not like a bike gang goes through. But some of the Harleys are really loud I have eaten at the some spots and I must admit it was loud. The street is a narrow street with buildings on both sides so it does make it louder. Whats also funny that the lady that owns one of the boutiques in the area that they wanted to restrict owns a custom Harley and she rides it and it sits in front of the store regularly. Sometime I will share a spot when I want to pickup a pizza. I will also say that when a truck goes by its really just as noisy.
   As for the health care situation the insurance companys are one of the few businesses that are making money now and on a consistent basis. When things happen and they start having to dole out money they turn to Uncle Sam. I also notice that doctors are not havening to much trouble paying their bills nor do I see to many go out of business for reasons of lack of income. I dont understand why with all this talk about health care is no one restricted the income in these 2 areas or at least cutting off the waste and abuse.

[Bladedog]

I have stock pipes, and have toyed with getting something with a DIFFERENT sound, not neccessarily a LOUDER sound.  There IS a difference.  The loud "BRRRRAAAPPP" of a Harley (or any other brand, for that matter) echoing through my neighborhood at 1 in the morning OR if I'm sitting outside at lunchtime trying to have a conversation with my wife is indeed annoying.  There are three folks I work with who ride Harleys (including my boss), and when the third guy got his Harley last year, he was complaining about all the grief he was getting from HIS Harley buddies because his bike wasn't LOUD enough.

As far as helmet laws go, personally I don't ride without one, law or no law, but I believe it should be my choice, not some silly politician's decision.  I think Texas has the right idea:

"Over age 21, riders are not required to wear a helmet with proof of successful completion of rider training or $10,000 of medical insurance covering injuries resulting from a motorcycle accident."

[RoadKill]

The problem is not the motorcycles, it's the DAMN NOISE! Many cars are ALOT louder than our bikes and yet the whiners attack motorcyclist in general. I agree a few inconsiderate idiots are earning the stereo type but the people labeling bikers are NO BETTER!
I am usually the 1st (or at least the loudest  ) to tell the blatant offenders they are a jack ass giving us all a bad name and yet there are those in the community who just label us all because they dont need motorcycles at all in their happy little world.

It seems that it is too difficult to police the blatant offenders so the answer is to persecute every one as long as it doesnt affect me.
I dont drink beer and most crimes are committed while drunk on budwieser...so lets ban drinking everything except my favorite margaritas!   

[alph]

What about these kids that have extremely loud stereo systems in their cars?  I my self can’t stand loud pipes, they don’t save lives, they wake the neighbors at 5am!  That’s why I’ve got the bike I have.  If you look at the federal noise sticker on your cycle you’ll notice that you’re not suppose to tamper with the exhaust system anyway!! 

[fudgie]

I like to hear the Thunder before I see the Chrome...... IMHO. 

Love to hear a pack of bikes 5 miles down the road roll by the house. Sweet sound. There are a few straight pipes I don't like to ride behind, esp when they backfire. I don't have straights but modified stockers.

I read about the locals (100 mile radius) in SD that hate Sturgis BW. Even talked to a few. They never mention the loud pipe noise. Take that back, very, very few mention it. The biggest 'hate' is the amount of bikers, so-called lawless behavior, nudity (which is not much), drinking, and drugs. Its not as bad as they say it is, imho.

[GreenLantern57]

IIRC, and at 52 that is a big IF, California has made non-stock exhaust systems on motorcycles illegal!  Or did that one get dropped?  Anybody know the specifics if (there is that word again) it was passed.

[Serk]

IIRC, and at 52 that is a big IF, California has made non-stock exhaust systems on motorcycles illegal!  Or did that one get dropped?  Anybody know the specifics if (there is that word again) it was passed.

What ISN'T illegal in California???

Did some poking around, and it LOOKS like the bill (SB 435) got shot down because it'd cost too much money to enforce, for a state that's writing IOU's already...

*** 5/27/09 Update: A California State Senator has informed me of the following: "Due to the fiscal costs associated with SB 435, it has been placed on the Senate Appropriations legislative suspense file." It appears that this bill has been placed on the shelf for now!

[Dogg]

I have rediculously loud exhaust. I dont deny it. I dont have a horn either. it wouldnt be heard over my exhaust...

Im not saying I am ok with this, but, there isnt much I can do about it without replacing a totally custom system. 


All the police here in town know me. they know I dont create any problems and I am respectful, not revving my bike when i come thru town. I just come on thru

and, because of this, yesterday, I went to visit the wife at work, rode uptown, parked on main st, right downtown center and shut it off. 1 woman stood up who was eating outside at the hotel and shouted"THANK YOU!!!" with another comment made under her breathe. then all 4 of them stood up and gave me a standing ovation because I turned my bike off.
 Cute. one of our town finest walks up to me, says hi, asked if i felt what they did was uncalled for. why, Yes it was. I didnt gun the engine, I putted thru and parked...simple. He proceeded over and had a small talk with them. funny isnt it?? the a bunch of the guys following their wives around all the antique stores had something to look at and talk about instead of old antique vases and  spice racks... I hada good day and a positive pat on the back from MY town's finest.

Its some of the people coming thru that gotta crank the throttle at a stop, constantly revving their poor v-twin till it cries in pain then off they go as fast as they can....showing off leaving town. those are the idiots that most complain about. I have a fan club here of older women(over 60) that love my bike....so...cant be all bad...