Anti-Noise Group Honked-Off At Noisy Hot Rods

CNSNews.com ^ | October 5, 2002 | Michael L. Betsch

[maxwell]

It's the motorcycles that make the most noise.

Heck YEAH!

BIKER BUMP

[-YYZ-]

I'm not sure what to say. On the one hand, rice boys, boom-box cars, Harleys and sportbikes, and even v-8s with glasspacks can be really annoying when they troll through my neighbourhood at night. Or did you ever have one of those boom-box cars park next to you while you're trying to eat your drive-thru meal at a fast food place, and sit there with their stereo booming so all you can here is their bass line? Yep, they're really the most annoying, as that thump-thump-thump comes right through the house.

OTOH, I have a slip-on on my bike (a Kawi ZRX 1100), and when it hits 8000 rpm or so, it will drown out any rice-boy car I've ever seen, and even in moderate riding is pretty loud. I don't imagine the folks out on the country roads I ride particularly enjoy the sound of me wailing through a corner and accelerating onto the straight.

However, I'd be willing to give up my loud pipe if something could be done about the boom-boxes, unmuffled Harleys and the rest that disturb the peace in my neighbourhood.

[3AngelaD]

Probably lying. Note to you and to Charles Martel, all this is being communicated to you tongue-in-cheek.

[Charles Martel]

If your car is to get you to point B from point A, in reasonable comfort and reasonable convenience... why would you need to "tweak" a brand new car engine?

If you are using your car for something other than this, then yes, my answer is that someone is trying to compensate for something.

Okay, so you view an automobile as a road-going major appliance. Lots of people share that view. A significant portion of drivers, however, actually want to *enjoy* the trip between points A and B, and if their car or truck is not performing in a satisfactory manner, they may choose to improve it.

When I install larger brakes, I am compensating for the manufacturer's cheaping-out on critical hardware. When I install aftermarket springs that lower the ride height by an inch or so, I am compensating for some ludicrous design compromise that makes the car heel over in turns like a tuna boat in heavy seas. When I install headlamps with European-specification (E-code) reflectors, I am compensating for 1930s technology that the U.S. DOT still foists on the buying public.

In short, I am improving the car in any number of ways. As I posted way up above, my car currently has a quieter exhaust system than it was equipped with at the factory. I must be "de-compensating", by your logic.

[MissMillie]

Look... if you're improving your car, then terrific... you're giving your car what it needs to get you from point A to point B in "reasonable comfort" and "reasonable convenience". And yes, doing that means you can enjoy your trip, and no, that doesn't mean you're compensating or de-compensating for anything.

However, if you're making your car so loud that everyone in town can hear you start it, you obviously have some need to get attention. If you're souping up your car to leave everyone else in the dust, you've got issues.

There's a difference betwen improving your car's ride, and revamping your car to be some kind of a "mean machine".

I'm sorry if you misunderstood me, but I don't think I'm that far off base.

[MissMillie]

I agree. There's nothing worse than renting a moving on a warm evening and not be able to hear it while you're watching because loud cars, loud motorcycles and mega-whoofers out on the road in front of the house.

[MissMillie]

Improve your car as you see fit. If making your car into a "noise machine" is what makes you an individual, then you're compensating for something. Good cars don't have to announce to everyone that they're on the road. End of story.

[MissMillie]

My commute is 90 miles a a day. I wish I didn't have to live so far from my job but housing near my job is priced out of my range (and I'm not too thrilled about bringing my kid to live in the city).

Honestly, I'm not sure there's a car made that can make me enjoy 2 hours a day of putting up with the lunacy that happens on the roads here... unless we're talking about something that would fly over it all. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, maybe.

Again, there is a difference between "improving" a car, and turning a car into a "noise machine".

Jeez... I must have struck a nerve.

[templar]

My usual response is Sayanora Sucker!

And should you end up killing someone with that attitude on the street someday, what will your response be then? Sayanora Sucker?

I find it both irresponsible and juvenile to brag about reckless show off driving on the street.

[templar]

My commute is 90 miles a a day.

90 miles? Ouch! How expensive is the housing, that it is cheaper to commute that far?

[templar]

Good cars don't have to announce to everyone that they're on the road.

And good drivers generally don't feel the need to.

[HELLRAISER II]

Opinion's vary, look my idea of racing is just short little sprints maybe light to light. Hell I probably never break 55 or 60 mph unless i'm on some country road. Your just sore because I didn't like the fact that you would throw spikes under somebody's tires and I told you so, so why don't you just Chill out.

[templar]

When I install larger brakes, I am compensating for the manufacturer's cheaping-out on critical hardware. When I install aftermarket springs that lower the ride height by an inch or so, I am compensating for some ludicrous design compromise that makes the car heel over in turns like a tuna boat in heavy seas. When I install headlamps with European-specification (E-code) reflectors, I am compensating for 1930s technology that the U.S. DOT still foists on the buying public.

Out of curiosity ... Why would you buy a car you wre that dissatisfied with in the first place? seems to me like you're spending a lot more in terms of money and effort than you would by just buying something you liked in the first place.

[HELLRAISER II]

Can you honestly sit there & tell me that you've never sped over the speed limit or sat at a light & then tried to out run somebody beside you for just a short distance. Come on now use the Scouts honor pledge when you answer.

[flying Elvis]

He obviously never heard the sweet thunder of my first car, a 72 Olds Cutlass with a 455 engine, 3/4 cam, headers, and cherry bomb mufflers with the exhaust pipes turned out just in front of the rear wheels. It was music to my ears and a menace to light sleepers everywhere. lol

[steve-b]

The appropriate penalty for these disturbers of the peace would be a gadget (like the dashboard Breathalyzers required for some DUI convicts) that only allows the car to move while the stereo is playing the "Barney" theme song (use a verification mike in the back of the car so the perp can't cheat by drowning it out with something else).

[templar]

Opinion's vary, look my idea of racing is just short little sprints maybe light to light...

Which end up killing and injuring people on a regular basis. Those people on the side streets wanting to cross or turn out are counting on you going the speed limit to make their decisions. Why do you think that there are contest of speed laws and speed limits? Hopefully the cops will take your license before you take someones life.

BTW, I'm not sore. I don't make a statement if I can't handle the response.

[HELLRAISER II]

I'm glad your not sore and I completely respect your point of view even though you probably don't think that I do. Speeding is something I shouldn't be doing, but I would tell you that I live in a small rural town with only 3 redlights and it's a little different than downtown Atlanta. Now I know that's not going to make any difference to you and your right the chance is alway's there that I could hurt someone. But believe it or not I will scope out the scene before I would do something like this. Is there someone trying to cross the road, is the road wet is there anyone coming towards or behind us. I am actually a very good driver that only occasionally get's a wild hair. But it does happen.

[Minutemen]

Noisy cars or noisy greenpeace hippies...hmmmm.....I'll take the noisy cars!

[templar]

Can you honestly sit there & tell me that you've never sped over the speed limit or sat at a light & then tried to out run somebody beside you for just a short distance.

When I was 16. Till I saw a classmate mangle himself that way by loosing controll and taking out a telephone pole on the way to school. If you are still 16 and inexperienced, maybe I can cut you a bit of slack. But if you are an adult acting like a child, that's another story.