My son keeps asking me this, and I don't know the answer,

[Redstone]

so I'll ask you all: Why is it that the majority of people who ride motorcycles want their bikes to be SO fucking LOUD? It's absolutely painful to be anywhere near one of thse shitheads unless you're in a car with the windows rolled up.

Is it, as I suspect, that they just want to be obnoxious and call attention to themselves?

If so, it seems pretty juvenile to me...especially given that the average age of the Harley riders out there looks to be about 52.

Ideas?

Redstone

[KitchenWitch]

1. If they are not seen and not heard

they could end up not existing, as in road pizza.

[Redstone]

6. Uh, no. The noise is loudest when they're accelerating

AWAY from you. It doesn't do a damn thing to warn cars of theri presence.

Sorry, that one isn't an answer.

Redstone

[henslee]

27. They accelerate when passing.

[hickman1937]

32. I agree. Too many people, myself included, sometimes don't

see the bike. I think it's defensive.

[u4ic]

2. My motto is

the louder the car/motorcycle....the smaller the member.

[RevCheesehead]

3. Maybe they're hard of hearing?

Don't ask me - I can't stand going to rock concerts, for the very same reason.

[DS1]

4. I wish I knew, but I blame testosterone

When one of those assholes guns the throttle up your road it's like a driveby on the senses - even worse when you're out on a SILENT bicycle ride.

[Redstone]

10. Testosterone, or a lack thereof, and therefore a desire to

compensate for the abovementioned lack.

Or they could just be assholes.

Redstone

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. Well, my dear Redstone....

My feeling is that the answer is a mixture of what you think, and what KitchenWitch thinks...

The noise is useful to make others aware of them, so they don't turn into road pizza, and also because they are a bit juvenile, and want to be noticed.......

This is just my take on it, FWIW....

:shrug:

[Redstone]

8. Nah, I like Kitchenwitch, but she's off base on this one.

I'd feel safe betting about a hundred bucks that the average loud-bike rider doesn't have a loud bike because he thinks it makes him safer.

Beside, see my reply to her. It doesn't even make logical sense to think that a loud bike is less likely to get hit by a car.

Redstone

[friesianrider]

12. Methinks you're right on with this Redstone.

Something tells me that your average motorcycle rider isn't making it loud for the safety benefits. And, you're absolutely right about the noise thing even making sense. It doesn't!

[Redstone]

13. Hey, did you go to the Volvo dealer yet?

I think you'll like the S40.

However, remembering the picture you posted, I think it's a shame they don't make Camaros anymore. You'd look sharp rolling down the road in a Camaro with T-tops. Have you thought about a Miata?

Redstone

[friesianrider]

31. This weekend!

I can't wait to test drive it. I've decided on the black with the sport package thingie (love the spoiler). I may even break down and get some rims for it if I come home with one on Saturday. The stock rims online weren't doing much for me.

I drove a Miata once - I felt like I was in a death trap! Those things are teeeeeny!

[Bossy Monkey]

7. The two universal explanations are "because I'm John" and "because they're

morons." The former does not apply in this case.

[Ksec]

9. we have one who drives by occasionally

His Bike is ear splitting loud. It scares my animals . They say it warns drivers theyre comin and they wont pull out in front of them but this bike is ridiculous. I have to hold my ears it so damn loud.

[knowbody0]

11. i think it has to do with loving that vibration

my experience is light, but the vibration is an embedded memory

[doc03]

14. If it was for safety like some claim, why are they against

helmet laws? The real reason "the girls like it".

[enigami]

15. Answer Here

You are all right. Different strokes for different folks

I ride a Harley. The bike I have now Has stock pipes. But I will be getting new ones that are slightly louder. I'll admit I want them a little louder, but mostly it has to do with performance.

I'll agree that some are too loud. but I get a thrill out of the rumble. juvenile? maybe a little.


And; the girls like it

[doc03]

17. I live next to an intersection on a rural road and on weekends

they have their Poker Runs that stop at a bar nearby. When leaving the bar they stop at the intersection in groups of ten or more, when they take off the noise is deafening. When I was a teenager they would fine you for having a glasspak on your car, I don't understand how they get away with it. It gets irritating after a while when you can't sit outside and carry on a conversation without being interrupted every few minutes. I was told by one biker friend of mine that they raise a lot of money on the Poker Runs for charity and the cops overlook the noise and the drinking and some cops are also bikers. The Goldwing bikes are quiet it's usally the Harleys that are so loud.

[Redstone]

20. Hey, you're honest, my friend. I appreicate that. But:

1) Do you think, maybe that your desire for louder pipes might be in part because the prior ones damaged your hearing a little bit and you can't hear them as well as you did before?

2) I believe you when you say the girls like it. Why is it that they do? Is it that evolutionary / instinctive deal where they go for the guy with the biggest / brightest / loudest?

Redstone

[enigami]

21. My hearing is fine

I have been tested.

As to the rest, I don't know. Something evolutionary/primeval/sexual about it I suppose. some girls like it, I suppose some don't.

like I said, different strokes. I do believe everyone should be more considerate of others when possible. I putt putt through neighborhoods.

[put out]

16. (whisper) BECAUSE SOME OF us WHO RIDE TOGETHER

don't really like each other every minute of the day but we want to ride and it gives us a good excuse to ride and be together without talking BECAUSE WE CAN NOT TALK BECAUSE IT IS TOO LOUD. Then, when we stop, we still can't hear anything, especially each other. We can understand a gesture toward the bar or the bathroom or the gas pump.

NOT THAT I'D KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT. JUST MY THEORY.

DID YOU SAY SOMETHING?

edit: muffed (not muffled) my subject line. Oh dear. Oh well.

[Redstone]

19. Ding ding ding! We have a WINNER!

Excellent answer. Very funny. And makes sense.

Redstone

[evlbstrd]

25. oops

replied to the wrong message. damn, this can get confusing.

[evlbstrd]

23. WHAT? I COULDN'T HEAR YOU!

Coming to the meetup tomorrow?

[put out]

29. Hey there, you!

I'll take this to your thread where you, uh, er, were given the wrong date for a meet up and got stood up. Missouri.

[WCGreen]

18. Mufflers aren't long enough to fully deaden the sound

[Whoa_Nelly]

22. This is right up there on my obnoxious noise level list

with cars with sub-woofers.

Seems there are those who think being loud to the point of taking over anyone else's noise is something of which to be proud (take a cue from Republicans OVER & OUT speaking anyone who is in a conversation with them)

[evlbstrd]

24. My sister rides with these people.

It's about projecting an image of power.
But she's a huge Mickey Mouse fan and prone to panic attacks. It's a very wierd mix.

[henslee]

26. They want to be damn sure other drivers know they are there....

That's the most important reason. Coming up on somebodys blindspot on two wheels is dangeorus. Thats why you need the noise.

[swag]

28. Does your son kiss his mother with that mouth?

Such language from a 9 year-old.

Although I will acknowledge that Patrick Doyle made me a fan of the word (if not of the thing itself) "asshole" when I was seven.

[Redstone]

35. Those are my words, not his! I don't even talk like that

around him.

Redstone

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

30. Noise does nothing NOTHING to help others

know where you are.

Shit, sirens don't help the average moran know where anything is.

It is a false assumption, based on shitty drunken-machismo mythology.

Quiet bikes have a lower accident rate. It has been proven over and over again.

[WilliamPitt]

33. My friend Fitz

loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooves how loud his motorcycle is. The goddam thing sets off car alarms.

He's a good guy, so it must be some hyperactive asshole gene. :)

To answer your question: Loud bikes are safer for the rider, because you will hear him coming and not change lanes without seeing him and splatter him all over the road.

[Whoa_Nelly]

34. Like those bike riders who come out of nowhere

when you're stuck in gridlock?

Damn! Have almost lost my hand or arm a couple of times when passing through Los Angeles.

[BikeWriter]

36. WHAT? I CAN'T HEAR YOU.

:shrug:

[supernova]

37. This girl doesn't like the LOUDNESS at all

I actually wouldn't mind riding one, but the noise is offputting for me. So, if I could get the rumble without the ear-splitting noise, that would be great.

[ldf]

45. you CAN get the rumble without busting someone's eardrums.

that is another myth.

a low, throaty rumble has all the sound of "controlled" power. much more appealing. i hear bikes all the time that have that sound of power.

but these jerks make it super loud on purpose.

here in nyc it is a real problem. i wish bloomberg, or hopefully, ferrer, would start a "quality of life" campaign and address all these super loud, ridiculous and totally selfish actions of assholes.

if you like your motorcycle so loud, park your ass behind a motorcyle, WITHOUT a helmet, and let them gun the gas. you'll be covering your ears in a nanosecond. or you would be deaf in no time.

and the loud ring-ding-ding bikes are just as bad. these are usually late teens, traveling in packs, literally taking over residential streets.

the car stereos are just as intrusive into other people's space, and just as selfish.

i think the police should have noise meters, so when they pull you over and tell you the decibles of your noise machine, and give you a thousand dollar fine, you will reconsider how much you like your racket. plus, fines should double everytime you are stopped, until you get the message.

in addition, the sellers of these monstrosities should be fined, too.

and it doesn't have a damn thing to do with free expression.

NOR safety.

it is nothing but HEY, LOOK AT ME! AIN'T I SOME SHIT?

sorry, noise is a major problem (and one of my hot buttons) and people just don't give a shit how they intrude into other's lives.

pure selfishness.

[johnnie]

38. For the same reason people start flamebait

Just to get a rise out of people and piss them off. Some people like calling attention to themselves.

[Laelth]

39. It has always amazed me ...

... the lengths to which men will go to get laid.

imho, this is attention-getting, peacock tail-fanning behavior, and nothing more. Entirely subconscious and instinctual.

-Laelth

[tavalon]

40. It's kind of like the truck thing

and it only applies to males. The bigger (the louder the bike) the truck, the smaller the penis.

Compensatory mechanism.

:hide:

[skygazer]

41. I agree with you Redstone on the safety excuse

I don't buy it. I've heard it many times but I don't buy it. There are plenty of bikes out there that don't sound like the Blue Angels passing through the front seat of your car and the people who ride them are not going SPLAT all the time. My dad's ridden a BMW for years - a relatively quiet bike - without a problem and he's ridden it all over the country.

Safety is a convenient excuse, IMO - it's ego pure and simple and it's annoying as hell. This is one girl who is NOT impressed by a man on a noisy Harley!

[ghostsofgiants]

42. What about people who feel the need to make their CARS as loud as possible

I contemplated smashing the mindows of my brothers friend's car with my skateboard just about every day this summer.

[SarahB]

43. They're insecure about their penis.

:shrug:

There are people who ride motorcycles for fuel efficiency or because they have for years which is fine (kind of cool even), but for some it seems to be little more than alpha male strutting. :boring:

[neuvocat]

44. That's what I thought too.

I think the same is true for people who have excessively loud stereos and tv's.