Posted on 09/22/2010 12:56:11 AM PDT by Terrence DoGood
"As the popularity of motorcycles increases, loud pipes become offensive to the general public out there," Scott added.
The roaring motorcycles -- primarily Harleys -- have led to a bill that would target motorcyclists who remove factory-installed emission control devices mandated by the federal government and replace them with custom, aftermarket parts that often make their bikes louder and more polluting.
SB 435 had been approved by the state legislature and now is sitting on the Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk. The Harley-riding governor has until Sept. 30 to sign the bill into law or veto it.
If the governor puts his stamp of approval on the measure, motorcyclists would be required to post a visible, unaltered Environment Protection Agency stamp to confirm the exhaust system is clean burning and does not exceed 80 decibels -- about the same noise level as a vacuum cleaner. The stamp would only be required for motorcycles and aftermarket parts made after 2013.
"The noise caused by illegally modified motorcycle exhaust systems is a major quality of life issue across the state," said state Sen. Fran Pavley, a Democrat from Agoura Hills. "Basic common sense and decency dictates that when a motorcycle drives by and sets off every car alarm on the street, that is too loud
First-time offenders would be fined up to $100; tickets could be voided if the owners bring their bikes back into compliance. Subsequent infractions would be subject to fines of $100 to $250.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
Motorcycles are NOT seen by many drivers. Many people do not see vehicles that they believe should not be on “their” roads. I see that phenomenon among drivers of tiny cars vis-a-vis big trucks. The ittybitties do things in front of big trucks they would never do in front of other small cars.
Bull S***
Personally, I could care less about the motorcycles’ volume in the city, but when I go to a National Park and hear the incessant sounds of motorcycles at high decibels it greatly takes away the purpose most of us want to be in a National Park: peace and tranquility.
^^ This.
I find nothing impressive or manly whatsoever about something that makes tremendous amounts of obnoxious noise and doesn't even produce any appreciable power for all its drama.
I ride a large-bore Japanese I4 sport-tourer which makes just as much torque and more than twice the horsepower of a typical HD Big Twin, without setting off car alarms and waking my neighbor's children. Added bonus: the bike actually turns and stops too.
I also call BS on the "Loud Pipes Save Lives" rubbish. HELMETS save lives.
I'm all for individual liberty and don't really care one bit if someone doesn't think the contents of their skull is worth the price of a full-face helmet, but as a very avid rider myself, I find the loud pipes & HD elitism to be just silly and obnoxious.
Pit bulls are not noted for having low testosterone.
Wrong. The decibels are directly connected to the throttle. My bike is louder than most, but I can roll in fairly quietly at 2am just by rolling a higher gear, keeping the RPM’s down and creeping up the alley to the garage. Or I can twist the throttle and set off every car alarm I pass.
That, too.
So, you're intentionally trying to get someone get hurt? Nice. You're some piece of work.
“Yeah, we’re all wimps. We all know that tough guys drive mini-vans and complain about bikers on the internet. As for my mother, she’s long dead, but my wife thinks I’m pretty wonderful.”
I’m not complaining about loud bikes. I’m just making fun of the psychology of loud pipes.
I don’t really presume manliness is related to a mechanical conveyance - that really is the domain of biker psychology, and Harley Davidson has been manipulating that psychology to get those who think it’s related and selling them $20k motorcycles for years.
After all, how much is proving that that little episode in High School in the locker room didn’t really define you really worth? Yes, by all means drive the Harley if you wish.
Just having fun with you all Harley Drivers - because, for some reason - it is all too easy to do.
“So, you’re intentionally trying to get someone get hurt? Nice. You’re some piece of work.”
Those loud pipes have knocked a screw loose in you. I’m just playing with you.
I am exhibiting the absurdity of your loud pipes by being equally absurd.
We’re free to be absurd, aren’t we?
Everybody is pretty snotty about his own preferences regarding motorcycles.
There are noise laws in nearly every community in America. I know this because I have been fined before, not for my bike, but for work crews in my employ who started too early on a Saturday morning, or had gas powered too close to an occupied dwelling, or because someone filed a noise complaint.
This is what I have been laughing to myself about all morning, if your neighbor is causing a disturbance, file a complaint (that’s call the cops to all of the panty waists apparently residing here now), the police will show up and present the fool with a cease and desist order so the next time he comes home at 3AM, a phone call will land him in jail.
If I pull up next to you at a stop light and start revving my motor and genuinely intimidate you with the sound of my pipes, take down my plate number and call the cops. I will most likely be written up or worse. Do all motorcycles bother you, or is it just the loud ones?
If you see, or more appropriately, hear someone breaking the law, have them arrested if they offend you. You people are not powerless. But if your solution to a minority of bad actors is to adversely effect my chosen lifestyle and a lifestyle of millions of other bikers, how are you any different than the nanny’s that I THOUGHT we were all against in here.
My bikes are just as loud as any out there, louder if we’re talking about the ‘66, but you wouldn’t know that when I ride through town or a neighborhood. I like and respect my neighbors and they seem to feel the same about me. I like to keep it like that.
Ah, so you're "that" guy. When my daughter was 5 or 6, she'd look over at a guy riding a scooter when we'd pull up next to him and say, "Ciao" in her best Italian accent, which really wasn't very good. It was funnier than hell though.
Nannies.
Like I said, if you don’t ride one, STFU and stay on the porch.
Well stated
I stand corrected, thank you sir. I believe that should have chosen the word affect as opposed to effect as well, lol.
Nope. You did nothing but wind up looking like a "chat room" wannabe with a small pecker syndrome.
Sorry about your affliction.
I was about to post to you about that. I had hoped you were just kidding. I ride (although I have a relatively quiet bike) and cars pulling out in front of me was my biggest fear.
I had a guy one time sitting at an intersection looking to cross the road who looked me straight in the eye then promptly proceeded to pull right out in front of me. I almost rammed the front fender of his car. His response to almost killing me - a look of ‘where the hell did YOU come from??’
As far as loud pipes, I don’t care for them, and having them won’t necessarily protect you in traffic when someone makes a lane change or stops suddenly. Sure, they can HEAR you, but they may not know WHERE you are - back, side, etc, and people often make sudden split second decisions like that even though they know there’s a bike around somewhere.
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