Excuse me? Is that loud?

[MichaelJohn]

Between my Zero and the NC my neighbors hardly know that I ride motorcycles and that's fine by me. It's a very quiet neighborhood and loud pipes just wouldn't work with as often as I ride. I can rev the NC without bothering a soul. The only way that anyone can tell I'm riding the Zero is by seeing me because at low speeds it is totally silent. In fact, whenever I come to a stop around people on the Zero I turn the bike off so some knucklehead doesn't come up and twist the throttle assuming the bike isn't running because there is no noise. That actually happened to a policeman on a Zero when another cop came up and gave the throttle a twist and put the bike and rider into a wall.

One of my neighbors has a beautiful and very fast Ducati literbike that sounds like Hell's trumpet and when he starts that beast up it can be heard for blocks. Thankfully he barely rides it now because the very aggressive riding position has gotten too uncomfortable for him.

 

[DirtFlier]

I was an MSF instructor for 16 years and my own take on the "group rides" are mostly negative. The cruiser group rides impede the learning process in riding. You are bound to maintain the speed of the leader which is normally 40-45 mph in a 55 mph zone. Turns are already predetermined for you as are the stops so essentially all decision are made for you. Sometimes the group will even have someone who stops traffic at intersections and leaving a driveway, similar to a funeral escort, and that's actually illegal in most areas without a "parade permit."

Most cruiser riders can barely negotiate a curve so they usually made it a series of short straight lines! I was in WV last weekend and following 4 cruisers was painful, then they decided to exchange positions, so they freaking STOPPED in the middle of the road so the back 2 could come to the front! Sometimes their stupidity and lack of concern for other road users is asinine.

 

[jtkirk]

I love the wail of a sportbike on full boil.
Like the quietness of the X as well.

 

[SinCityNC]

I would not risk giving the throttle a good goose or being at too high an rpm right beside a closed window cop, so with that caveat, I do wish the Danmoto was a bit more reserved.

I was considering the XG-1 for the price, went with the Dekelvic that I saw on another post....great throaty growl, yet still has the manners of the stock pipe, silky smooth on and off the throttle. $189 delivered and centerstand stop included!

-Don

 

[buckshot]

My '02 Buell Blast came with the barely baffled pro series exhaust (not for street use) and my neighbors despised me. Leaving at 6am every morning I'm pretty sure I woke up the entire neighborhood. I rode with earplugs in until I was able to get a stock exhaust on it...and then I continued to ride with earplugs because it was still damn loud at cruising speeds. Then the heavens parted and the right deal came along on this beautiful, sweet running machine. I now ride around enjoying the sounds of the environment around me. My neighbors literally baked me cookies and thanked me for ditching the blast.

So clearly it can be argued that loud pipes get you cookies......

 

[MotoZen]

About 2 weeks before I bought my NC I stopped by the local Suzuki/Triumph/Ducati dealer browsed around for a bit and then stopped by the HD dealer for the heck of it. I was just looking at the new HD Street 750 when I overheard the sales person saying to a newb rider buying her 1st bike "Well ya know loud pipes save lives." What an utter load of crap, I mumbled loud enough "No they don't, good riding skills do" . I still cant believe people believe this BS, with cars today being so sound proof and people pumping their stereos in cars you cant hear a siren let alone someones tooth rattling noisy HD.

Tried the HD Street 500 and it sounds like my Honda, the first thing the sales guy said "We can change the pipes to be louder" It was an ok bike, but at $8300 CDN for a 500cc bike you could get a whole lot more Honda 750 for that.

 

[anglachel]

I looked up while mowing the lawn yesterday at a bike going past (nothing unusual there, I normally look up when a bike is going past, sometimes it's one of you) The weird part was it was a Harley... but I had to look to see that instead of hearing it...

The rider had a posture I'd only seen in my MSF classes, and as she rode past I noticed the pony tail (which is why I can refer to her as a she)

She took the corner in perfect MSF form...
She went past several times while I was mowing... at least once with her turn signal still flashing from the turn 100 yards or so earlier...
I did a double take each time she went past, because I wasn't expecting to see such a shiny HD before I heard it...
I presume she was practicing on a new bike; one that still had stock exhaust.

 

[fratermus]

That actually happened to a policeman on a Zero when another cop came up and gave the throttle a twist and put the bike and rider into a wall.

Holy crap.

One of my neighbors has a beautiful and very fast Ducati literbike that sounds like Hell's trumpet and when he starts that beast up it can be heard for blocks. Thankfully he barely rides it now because the very aggressive riding position has gotten too uncomfortable for him.

Ducs make my favorite bike engine sounds. /swoon

The NC is incredibly quiet. Even with danmoto on it's still the quietest bike I've heard in my county so far.

 

[drdubb]

I made the mistake of going on a group ride last year. I was on my DR650. Needless to say...I stood out.
A female rider came along handing out earplugs for those of us that thought her bike was too loud. Of course, I had my own. I really wanted to tell her to buy a muffler, but I held my tongue. I've sworn off group rides. I will ride with my buddies, but I don't call that a group ride.

 

[MotoZen]

It,was probably the new HD Street 500 or 750, they are designed like a Honda shadow, exceptionally quiet & lowest price HD they make. Was the bike black? it think that is the only colour option on it.

 

[mgmirabelli]

I have a 2009 Harley Sportster with Vance and Hines Short shot pipes. I am not a douche bag and I don't enjoy scaring children (I have five of them). I just really like the way it sounds.

 

[Bug Dr.]

Others probably don't. That is the problem. If you were the only one that could hear them there wouldn't be a problem from people like me that hate to be disturbed by pollution.....air, light or noise pollution. You may not enjoy scaring children but I bet when you ride past them you do.

You will correctly say that it is your right to have loud pipes and it in fact is your right. It is also someone's right to blow cigarette smoke in my face in a public space but that doesn't mean that I'm going to like it and not say anything to the person that does it. Rights and courtesy are two different things. I also have a right to free speech and intend to voice my displeasure when and where I feel like it because I truly feel that bikers that do things to intentionally disturb or intimidate the general public give all motorcyclist a bad name. That is why we don't have the same respect as riders in this country as many other countries. We are lumped together with the loud pipe, cruiser faced asses that ride 20 miles between two or three bars and call themselves hardcore riders.

So, good sir, continue to ride whatever bike you wish with whatever pipes you see fit. I will try my best to publicly separate myself from people like you and try like hell to be an ambassador for all motorcyclist. I correct people that call me a biker and tell them that I am a rider or a motorcyclist.....but not a biker. Bikers go to restaurants like Twin Peaks and shoot their rivals. I'd bet almost all of their bikes have loud pipes too.

Carry on,
Mike

 

[ronsaw]

Wow - that's a smackdown!

 

[mgmirabelli]

The sound a motorcycle makes is part of the motorcycling experience. I already own a vehicle that sounds like my care. it's my car! The "sewing machine" sound my NC makes is certainly very benign. I have yet to change the exhaust as there were other projects with higher priority. To lump everyone with loud pipes as douche bags, asses, and whatever other insults you can think of is patently unfair. You are guilty of the exact hatred you espouse for loud pipes. I will carry on (your language) and separate myself from haters like you.

 

[670cc]

The sound a motorcycle makes is part of the motorcycling experience.

The sound is apparently part of some riders' motorcycling experience. It is not part of every rider's motorcycling experience. I find that the sound detracts from my motorcycling experience. The important thing is that riders should not force their loud motorcycle experience on to the people around them that find it intrusive, annoying or painful.

 

[vman1313]

My NC came with a GPR exhaust which to me is LOUD and I HATE it...I see the benefits of a loud pipe when you are in traffic cause people can definitely hear you better BUT I want stealth in the woods. Just ordered a stock pipe so we shall see...

 

[Bug Dr.]

You are guilty of the exact hatred you espouse for loud pipes. I will carry on (your language) and separate myself from haters like you.

Yes, I am guilty of hatred of loud pipes. I believe that has become quite obvious in this thread. I also don't like people that think their loud pipes are cool, save lives and don't bother the general public. When motorcycle riders intend to anger the general public with their loud pipes it does nothing positive for the rest of us. If you would say that you don't intend to anger anyone with your loud pipes then you are, in fact, clueless and need to observe people when other loud piped bikes ride by. Just look at their reaction.

Like I said....you have the right to piss people off with loud pipes.....I have the right to call people like you whatever I want. If you want to label me a "hater" then so be it. My point is that you are part of the problem not the solution for earning respect for motorcyclists.

Have you ever seen the South Park episode about the Harley loud pipes? It pretty much sums it up.

Mike

 

[mreric]

I have a 2009 Harley Sportster with Vance and Hines Short shot pipes. I am not a douche bag and I don't enjoy scaring children (I have five of them). I just really like the way it sounds.

this addiction is part of why Electric vehicle has not caught on.

even tho electric vehicle could have and can have all advantage over gasoline vehicle.

 

[Fuzzy]

I agree with finding a sound that one likes, but that doesn't mean volume has to be high. I don't want to listen to the boom box in the car next to me either. They can enjoy it without blasting me.

 

[MichaelJohn]

I once pulled up to a Cyclegear store on my Zero just as a guy was getting on his big Harley to leave. As I pulled into the slot next to him he made a face, looked at me and said "no noise". I replied "Yes, it's electric". He then said "That's not a real bike" and he seemed genuinely upset that I was riding such a thing. Normally I'm pretty mild-mannered however something about his disdain for my motorcycle ticked me off so I challenged him to a race to 100 mph. Dumb, I know, but I just couldn't resist. That took him by surprise and I don't think he knew how to respond. He looked at me blankly for a bit then started his bike, revved the hell out of it (and it was REALLY loud), looked at me and said "This is a real motorcycle!" and roared off. Loud pipes mean an awful lot to some people.