The sound and the fury of the motorcycle craze
First a statement of principles: I have nothing against motorcycles. I rode one for a couple of years when I lived in Missouri.
I love the idea of motorcycle tourism. Seems to be a major boon for the North Country, with posses of bikers growing larger year by year.
What I hate — and what I don’t understand — is the deliberate, aggressive thunder that these machines make.
I own a farm just south of Westport. Working outside on a summer day, I hear logging trucks go by on one side. Big freight trains rumble past on the opposite side of my fields and creek.
But it’s the unmuffled roar of even a single bike that will often bring me up short. When a whole gang rides past it’s like waiting for a herd of jackhammers to clear off.
So here’s the question to bikers out there: What’s the deal?
Why does this particular craze — otherwise so cool and benign — have to come with this weird, invasive and irritating feature?
I’ve met a lot of bikers. They are, for the most part, middle aged middle class folks. These aren’t bad-apples out looking for trouble.
They’re soccer-moms and soccer-dads on two wheels.
So why not enjoy your hobby in a way that doesn’t rattle my windowpanes on a summer morning?
I’m kind of a libertarian when it comes to recreation. Do your thing as long as you’re not stepping on my ability to do my thing.
But when I can hear you fire up your toy a mile away, that’s too much.
Comments welcome below.
simply, one has to learn to accept things as a whole package….
I agree entirely with you, Brian.
“Why does this particular craze — otherwise so cool and benign — have to come with this weird, invasive and irritating feature?”
Probably the best we can hope for is that fully electric motorcycles – once they become widely available – will quickly overtake internal combustion engine motorcycles.
since when do i have to accept things as a whole package? thanks, but no.
–brian, ncpr
i like the daks and hate black flies.. but that’s part of the whole package, i accept it.
i like the isolation but hate “things” being far away, but it’s a part of the whole, and i accept it.
wah, wah, wah,
Brian,
I think you hit on the reason for the volume in your post. My parents are the stereotypic 21st century Harley owners. They own a small business and live the standard middle class lifestyle.
But when that leather comes out, things change — it’s the celebration of an ideal that may not make total sense anymore, but lingers.
Thie history of the rise of motorcycle popularity is the key here. Bands of “outlaw” WWII vets who had witnessed firsthand the evil humanity is capable of were the first modern “bikers”. They were disenchanted and wanted nothing more than to agitate the “squares.” The volume was essential to this task. Their children adopted this aspect of the culture in the 60s and it hasn’t died since. It is, after all, one hell of a way to disturb a church service on a Sunday morning.
The odd thing about the whole deal, is that now, bikers are the same people who sit on zoning boards, planning boards and town boards.
They aren’t the one’s trying shake the foundational beliefs of the stodgy old folks, in many cases, the are the squares themselves.
Z –
Buying a motorcycle that doesn’t sound like a jackhammer is not necessary or natural. It’s not part of any package. The wah-wah stuff? THAT is apparently part of the whole package.
Brian, NCPR
I have ridden motorcycle for a couple of decades. They’re fun and I like mine quiet but… I’ve had several close calls with motorists because “I didn’t see you”. A lot of bikers get that when someone pulls out right in front of them, crowds them, etc. so many have decided “If you can’t see me, I’ll make damn sure you can hear me”. For my part I’ve given up riding. Other motorists are just too inconsiderate of bikes. My 1986 Shadow 700 is for sale on CraigsList (Potsdam).
More importantly, why does the 10 year old pickup truck with a bad muffler get a ticket, but the unbelivable loud 2010 Harley get the thumbs up enjoy the ride sign from the po-po?
I have a theory on this but it’s a bit flawed as it doesn’t explain the necessity some female riders have for owning the same loud machines. Since I don’t wish to offend anyone, I’ll provide only a hint. It has to do with a certain part of the male anatomy being of small size.
This same theory may also apply to owners of overly loud four wheelers, dirt bikes, snowmobiles, and absurdly large trucks with absurdly large tires……
brian,
all i’m saying is there is the good and bad in the whole piece.
some mor wah wahs–
“i believe in religious freedom but not the mosque”
“i believe it was a terrible thing to topple two buildings but i don’t think it makes firemen, police, and homeland security automatic demi-gods”
“I LOVE THE BEACH, BUT WHY DOES IT HAVE TO HAVE ALL THIS SAND”
how one makes their bike sound is personal expression, and choice, no matter how apparently senseless it may appear to others.
jon alexander- you’re dead on.
I think James has it correct. Can’t see me, then hear me. I have more of a problem with people that intentionally sit in one spot and rev the darn thing up like and idiot. Can you smell that exhaust? Yee haw. Its not for me thanks. I also have a huge problem with cycles that seem to feel like they should be driving down the middle of the road. If you are too close I will be hitting that foot thats sticking into my lane. Who is going to feel that more.
BTW – Is riding side by side still legal?
I am soooo with you on this one Brian. Full disclosure: I owned a motorcycle back awhile for a few years also. I’m almost embarrassed to admit what it was in this day of over-the-top gigantic bikes. (ok, it was a Honda 250 – got great gas mileage) and I enjoyed it although it was significantly quieter than the Harley’s we hear today. (I got rid of it because a friend that was a lifetime motorcycle rider suggested that sooner or later you’re going to dump it – I didn’t like that idea so I sold it) Hank commented that perhaps only electric bikes will satisfy this issue. Not so – I’ve noticed other motorcycles go by almost silently – quieter than cars even. Why?… because they have MUFFLERS! I had a conversation with a customer in my gallery recently, a biker that owns a BMW motorcycle and he commented that he had a noisy Harley a long time ago (he’s probably in his early 50s) but that he had outgrown the need to draw attention to himself every time he cranked it up. What I’d like to better understand is why do many of the riders have to continually rev the engine while sitting at the traffic light or just after they start it up or even as they are driving by (it must require de-clutching to rev it so it is intentional) I know it is not to keep it going – I have a neighbor that owns a Harley – it is loud but he never revs it and he does leave the driveway as quietly as a Harley can. So, it isn’t because they can’t idle (if it is, perhaps the owner needs to tune it up) Zenitwill – there are bikes that are quiet so the noise does not have to come with the territory. I can be way into the wilderness in my canoe and I’ll hear Harley’s roaring down a road someplace. Can’t be seen but can be heard?… I don’t buy it. Coming toward me or from a side street they are not as loud and many drivers have their windows up. I’ve had fast bikes come up very close to my back bumper (the boy-racer biker types – not typical of Harleys) and then blast by, often over double yellow lines – I never heard them until they went by… but then, earsplitting sound that left my ears hurting afterward. I have always respected motorcycles – I know they don’t have much protection and so I give them even more leeway than cars.
TurdSandwich – yes, it is legal to ride side by side… and I’ve seen some side by side bikers take up more room than oncoming 18 wheelers.
Thank you for giving me the chance to rant on this subject – it’s bugged me for a long time. One of the advantages of long winters here in the Adirondacks – longer time with no Harleys!
If you made them electric, The bikers would probably put playing cards on the forks like we did when we were kids, LOL,
I don’t know why they like to make noise, they just do.
I also don’t know why some of them would buy the 3 wheeled varietys and attach a little trailer to that and tour the country, When it seems like a car with the windows rolled down would be about the same, and a lot drier on some days, But they like it, and that’s all i know.
It must be something that’s born into us to want to be noticed , examples such as , peeling out at a corner, Boom boxes, or now loud bikes, I don’t know all the answers, But some folks like to make a lot of noise, in one way or another, and it’s not just bikers,
It is disrespectfull of the Park and the people who come to enjoy it to have people roar through for their personal gratification.
I like the sound they make, but I understand being annoyed.
There are probably a lot of “reasons” people have for preferring their bikes to sound like very loud, disgusting farts going down the road, but it is unnecessary. People claim that it’s so people will know they’re coming, but in truth there are several other ways to do this and to help ensure added safety/visibility on the road.
My boyfriend and I, who ride a 2006 Suzuki VStrom (looks like a “crotch rocket” but is really a sport touring bike and super quiet), wear full gear in bright colors, have extra lights on the bike, and even have a truck horn after having several close calls from drivers who aren’t paying attention. We love riding and frequently get asked not to do burn outs, or other various lectures while on charity rides, and yet the majority of other riders are much louder and apt to drive recklessly.
I think there are a lot of misconceptions out there, especially about riders, but I do think that there are a fair number of people who help keep these misconceptions in full swing. Everyone assumes that bikers have to look the same (leather chaps, beanies, vests with fringe) and that they have to have a loud bike. It’s the image and the appeal, not that it’s right, of course. I’m not sure why the appeal of the open road can’t be enough without all of the noise, but it does seem to give other riders a bad reputation.
In response to Buddy’s comment about touring around on a motorcycle, it’s fun first and foremost! We took the motorcycle to Virginia Beach packed down with a tent, a week’s worth of clothes, camping supplies,etc for a week’s vacation. It was one of the best trips ever, and when you get over 50 mpg it’s far more economical than taking the car that gets 24-26 mpg. After riding for the last few years on the bike, I’ve also found that I see things from a whole new vantage point- driving down roads I’ve driven for most of my life I’ve noticed things I know I’ve missed driving/riding in a car.
Turdsandwich, I agree with you 100% on the reving up thing. Seems to be only the Harley riders who have this problem. Pull in to park and rev it up 10 times before shutting down, then start up to leave and rev it up another 10 or 20 times before pulling out. Seems like a juvinile attempt to attrack attention. As for the bikes riding in the middle of the road, or worse right on the yellow line next to oncoming traffic, that’s a death wish. With all the idiots talking on cell phones, texting or whatever behing the wheel I ride as far right as possible on the open highway. Even then there are always idiot drifting into oncoming lanes in giant SUV’s or worse Semi drivers talking on cell phones. It seems lately that there are more bad drivers on the road than good, I’m seriously thinking of selling the bike, it’s getting to the point where it is not worth risk.
I’m with Wi5ea55 on this one…literally.
Some food for thought, the “LOUD PIPES SAVE LIVES” mantra that they love to spout is total hogwash thanks to our good friend the Doppler effect, it’s the same reason you can’t hear emergency vehicles until they are nearly right behind you.
The revving it up immediately on start up is actually quite detrimental to the engine, the oil hasn’t had a chance to circulate yet and you are putting a load on everything without proper lubrication.
The majority of the loud pipes are literally just straight through, no muffler, no baffling, nothing. This is also detrimental to the performance of the machine. It may make a heckuva lotta noise but it actually hurts the usable power and torque since there is so little back pressure now. There is no tuning for a straight exhaust unless of course you are building a drag strip only machine where you want maximum flow at maximum rpm.
A lot of the revving it up while stationary is due to state of tune, it seems like this crowd loves to see how low they can turn the idle to listen to the “lub dub dub lub” of their open exhaust. As such if they were to let it idle for the entire time the light is red the darn thing would stall! I’ve been behind a few like this and you could just about count each time it fired the idle was so low. TURN THAT LITTLE SCREW IN A BIT AND YOU WON’T LOOK LIKE AN ATTENTION ***** and you could actually let the machine idle for crying out loud!
The boy racer crowd that act in the above manner has no excuse, most sport bikes are now fuel injected and computer controlled, there is absolutely no need to twist the throttle unless you are in motion.
I equate the above crowd to a toddler with a kazoo, “BZZZ LOOK AT ME, HEY BZZZZZ I’M OVER HERE BZZZZZ LOOK WHAT I CAN DO!” Or perhaps its more like the dreaded vuvuzella
“One of the advantages of long winters here in the Adirondacks – longer time with no Harleys!”
Of course, then the snowmobiles take over…