WARNING! GRAPHIC images at link.
http://www.motorcycle-accidents.com/pages/1_story/1-7-04.html
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 ...
In one study I already linked, 53% of mc fatalities involved a rider not maintaining lane/speed control and impacting an object outside his lane.
In that case, I am laughing even harder at the riders who crank up the noise coming from their bikes.
I don’t think many people realize in California lane splitting is legal.
(how about those loud car stereo laws? How about laws to protect blind people from quiet vehicles like electric or hybrid cars?)
hey now, it appears hovering is not just what you do over a dirty seat in the ladies room eh? You kinda hover around the replies and not answer anything.
i am wondering what the heck i am still doing on this thread too lol!
‘tis an unfortunate result of physics that most of the sound eminating from my bike is along side or behind me as i ride and therefore unavailable for use in approaching intersections. i had thought of rerouting one of my pipes to point forward but that presented its own issues. so now, as there are no atheists in foxholes, there are probably just as many atheist bikers approaching busy intersetions.
my wife says i am a real man and she says hers is the only opinion that matters so i gotta believe her on that one.
i did get hit on at a rest stop once. but that may have been because i was on my honda gold wing at the time. it was a ‘fabulous’ machine lol.
lol....see I knew you had a sense of humor.
Happy trails.....
well, you know what they say about statistics...
but seriously - i was on my bike entering a turn and on the “outside” of the radius when some nice fellow in a car coming the other way went wide and forced me off the road whereupon i ventured thru someones front yard making various modifications to their garden while managing to stay upright, i was able to somehow get back to the road and survive. point is, if i had hit a wall or something and got killed, it would have looked like a single person accident (like your statistic) on paper because the other guy was long gone and probably unaware that he had even nearly killed me.
and yes, there was much changing of undergarments subsequently...
There is enough blame to go around concerning fatalities. As a now ex-MC rider, I can attest to the fact that I quit riding because of automobile operators (ran off the road twice by oncoming traffic). A good friend of mine is dead because of a cage operator, hit head on. Yet, I also acknowledge that I deserve to be dead about 3X’s because of my own stupidity, but for the grace of God I’m here to inject myself into a pretty heated debate.
As to the original argument, the noise of bikes on the road and the “safety factor”, I consider it a subjective argument. I will say I consider it a nuisance and at times, a startling distraction, especially when the rider decides it’s time to crack the throttle wide open when right next to me in traffic.
But I also don’t see the need for any more laws on the matter either. I don’t know that there is any quantitative/qualitative data to prove the issue either way.
All I can say is “watch out for the other guy”. Vehicle operators of all types should always have their heads on a swivel, and as an ex MC rider, I always look out for them (MC riders). But I also shake my head in amazement at the brazen and obnoxious riders as well. Been there.
http://www.ultimatemotorcycling.com/index.php?q=2009_Motorcycle_Deaths_California
Motorcycle fatalities continued to spiral upward from 518 in 2007 to 560 in 2008.** Motorcycle fatalities have increased 10 consecutive years and are at their highest level since 1990.
Total motorcycle registrations increased 7% from 772,524 in 2007 to 824,244 in 2008. (DMV)
In 2008, the under age 20 age group had the largest increase in motorcycle fatalities (up 57% from 13 in 2007 to 30 in 2008 with the second highest increase seen in the over age 59 age group which increased 44% percent from 32 in 2007 to 57 in 2008.**
In 2008, 37% of motorcycle operators killed were not properly licensed – up from 36% in 2007.**
Between 2002-08, 60% of motorcycle operators killed under age 25 were unlicensed.**
Of the 560 motorcyclists killed, at least 12% (68) were un-helmeted. Since helmets are about 39% effective in preventing fatalities, NHTSA estimates that 26 of the 68 un-helmeted motorcyclists killed would have survived had they worn a helmet.**
In 2008, 70% of motorcycle operators killed were at fault and 58% of motorcycle operators injured were at fault.*
The percent of motorcycle operators killed with a BAC =.08+ increased from 24% in 2007 to 26% in 2008.**
Super sport motorcycles, defined as consumer versions of the motorcycles used by factory racing teams, account for 14% of the registered motorcycles in California, yet the 211 super sport drivers and passengers killed in 2008 accounted for 38% of the 560 motorcyclists killed in California.**
Between 2002-08, 44% of Super Sport motorcycles that were fatally crashed were less than a year old, compared to 37% Other Sport, 28% Cruiser, and, 34% Touring motorcycles.**
Between 2002-08, 44% of Super Sport riders killed were not properly licensed, compared to 32% Other Sport, 24% Cruisers and 19% Touring motorcycles.**
Between 2002-08, 86% of Super Sport motorcycle fatal crashes were “speed related”, compared to 57% Other Sport, 40% Cruisers, and 39% Touring motorcycles.**
Between 2002-08, 66% of Super Sport motorcycle operators killed were between age 21-34.**
*Data Source – Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS)
**Data Source – Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS)
http://www.ots.ca.gov/OTS_and_Traffic_Safety/Report_Card.asp
http://trafficsafety.org/safety/sharing/motorcycle/motor-facts/motor-injuries-fatalities
Loud Harley’s are like little kids that put playing cards in the spokes of their bicycles. Nothing more. Just a bunch of dumb attention-whore kids.
Get real. It doesn’t take a man to remove a baffle. It only takes a wrench.
quit picking on my noisy overpriced air compressor!
ugh, back to work...
“It really smokes out the cry babies.”
Disturbing ther peace is not manly; it is cowardly. Real men aren’t scared to ride and don’t need loud pipes. “I’m afwaaaaiiid. I neeeeed loooud pipes, I do, I willy, willy do. I’m scaaaared some miniwan might hit me. *sniff*”
Whimp.
I’ve been riding 27 years and I’ve managed to be manly enough to survive without needing the virtual affect of riding my horn the entire time. Loud pipes are nothing but anti-social behavior by little boys with playing cards in their spokes.
The studies that I have seen indicate the most common element of motorcycle fatalities is: owning a motorcycle for less than six months and not having a motorcycle endorsement on their license. (yes you need a seperate license to drive a motorcycle for those in rio linda)
OH YEA!
WELL MY DAD COULD BEAT UP YOUR DAD!
“Yet, I also acknowledge that I deserve to be dead about 3X’s because of my own stupidity,”
Nothing like looking at open space when a mountain curve becomes a hard left turn with about 3 feet of gravel between pavement and the edge. Somehow my senses transitioned from looking ahead to looking down as I fought for the optimum curve, lean and braking pressure. That was 40 years ago but I can still remember the texture of the asphalt.
Not me. Guess I am a slow learner.
I've been involved with bikes for about 35 years now. Most of that time was spent believing that a motorcycle was a device designed for converting fuel and air into noise. Then, one day I woke up and realized that I am an old man and I don't need to shout "Hey, everybody! Look at me!" anymore. At 53, trust me, nobody wants to look anymore anyway.
The pipes on my bagger are just slightly louder (deeper) than stock because I like to hear what my engine is doing. I have lots of younger Brothers with loud pipes, and that's OK... as long as they understand that I am going to INSIST on riding on their left when riding in a pack. (I call it the "Greybeard privilege).
My advice (whether you want it or not)?
Be young. Be bold. If pissing other people off is your thing, HAVE AT IT! Just be prepared to take your lumps, whether it is on the street, or an internet forum. Have all of the fun you can, cause nobody's getting out of here alive.
But be honest. Don't blow smoke up anybody's ass about safety and all that crap. Just admit that you like to be noticed. It's NORMAL when you are young. Why do you think all of these otherwise pretty young things are turning themselves into human tackle boxes with the "piercing" craze?
Raise Hell, just not on MY street.
WARNING! GRAPHIC images at link.
http://www.motorcycle-accidents.com/pages/1_story/1-7-04.html
Sorry, all of that wasn’t intended for you, Toad. I was just throwing it out there for the general audience.
I hear you bro’, it sure can get frustrating out there, seems like nobody has any manners anymore, guess that boils down to a lack of respect which begins with, IMHO, being able to respect one’s self.
There is something to be said for cowboy justice however, and I’m gonna’ leave it at that, other than to say that vengeance is a dish that’s best when eaten cold, lol.
Cowboy justice, something to be said for that, lol
Yea, that was a while ago. Set up for desert riding though.
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