Loud vs. Quiet

[MrHondamatic]

While riding in the car the other evening, we came up behind 3 H-D's with very loud pipes. I ended up sticking my foot through the floor and passing them ASAP as it was deafening inside the car. The wife and I both wondered how any of those three couples could enjoy the ride with that much noise? Maybe the lead couple, but not the followers.

 

Yesterday we stopped at a gas station, and a very quiet Goldwing rolled in and parked next to us. It was then I realized I was smiling from ear to ear, enjoying the wisper quiet sound of that 'wing. Dang, I must be getting old

[jakfrost]

And the surprisng part is most, if not all, the 'cruiser' riders I have in the local group I sometimes hook up with do NOT wear ear plugs. Its not part of the 'cruiser culture' and somehow doesn't seem 'cool' to be standing there sticking things in your ears. Part of the 'big tough/bad biker image that seems to required in order to fit in with your peers.

I am one of 2 ( ST1300 also ) of 15 bikes that uses a full face helmet as well. Oh, and don't get me started on 'chaps' as asphalt protection. HA!! Wish I had a picture of my buddy's butt after a 100yd slide on his buns. Took his girlfriend 4 days of picking with tweezers to get most of the little melted balls of the polyester bikini underware out of the hamburger patch on his cheeks.

 

But he sure looked cool up to that point.

 

Jim W.

 

P.S. I have a '74 and '76 shovelheads and enjoy riding both of them, but I ride them to enjoy the scenery, not the scene.

[John Bentall]

When I am riding in a social group I have to consciously hang back from (or overtake) a bike with a loud pipe. Maybe that's what is meant by "loud pipes save lives"!

OTOH, if one is following too close then the distraction and fatigue from the noise would make an accident more likely.

[EffBee]

YES, I'M SHOUTING BECAUSE THE NOISE THAT IS ALWAYS ATTACHED TO THESE THREADS IS PRETTY DEAFENING SOMEHWERE AROUND THE 100TH TIME YOU COME ACROSS ONE.

 

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THOSE WHO (ONCE AGAIN, AND AGAIN, AND AGAIN) MAY WISH TO EXPRESS THE SAME, SAME, SAME, OPINION THEY'VE TYPED OUT MANY TIMES BEFORE, THESE DISCUSSIONS HAVE:

 

1. CHANGED NOT A SINGLE OPINION. NOT ONE.

 

2. CONTRIBUTED TO ACRIMONY AMONG MEMBERS.

 

3. HAVE TRULY FAILED TO PRESENT A SINGLE, REASONABLE AND INNOVATIVE PERSPECTIVE. THEY HAVE BECOME REGURGITATIONS OF THE SAME OLD REHTORIC. FROM BOTH SIDES.

 

AS SUCH, I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME WE STARTED JUST CLOSING THESE THREADS. NOT AS A STOMP ON ANYONE'S FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS (WHICH DON'T EXIST ON A PRIVATELY OWNED BOARD SUCH AS THIS), BUT AS A PUBLIC SERVICE. WHATEVER YOU WANT TO SAY, PRO OR CON. WHATEVER YOU WANT TO READ, PRO OR CON. IT HAS BEEN SAID ON THIS BOARD BEFORE.

 

USE THE SEARCH FUNCTION AND GET YOUR FILL. AND THEN SOME

 

IS THIS LOUD ENOUGH?

 

 

Now let's see who's not paying attention.

[eddd]

Yes...I heard you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ken H.]

MY, FERNANDO IS A GRUMP TODAY!

 

 

 

Can I rant, oh please, please, oh pretty please...

 

This board is the only sanity vent outlet I've got...

 

If I don't rant here I'll explode, and it won't be pretty!

 

Please, please, oh pretty please.

 

 

My employer, friends and family thanks you.

[EffBee]

Yes...I heard you.

 

Thanks, Ed. You're the first. A leader if you will. And you have the thanks and appreciation of the entire Moderating Team. I just got to put on my black hat and stomp and yell on their behalf.

 

We love this board with a passion. And we want to have open discussions about all issues related to motorcycling. But we're also volunteers who have jobs, families, church, other interests, and even a motorcycle or two that need our attention. We're each on this board 2-4 hours per day. 15,000 members will keep you THAT busy. Not having to go through the same old arguments on the same old issues, causing the same old interpersonal confrontations, requiring the same old interventions, resulting in the same old warnings, REALLY makes our lives a bit easier. Giving 600 hours a year to this place is pretty tough sometimes, and the pay doesn't make it any easier. But reasonable people do.

 

Again, our thanks.

[Geoff2]

Pardon?

[Ken H.]

OK, I won't get into the same old arguments yet again, but I do have to disagree a bit with your assertion Fernando that we haven't changed a single opinion. Because there has been people, people here on this board even, when the subject of pipes was discussed in the past that posted (in effect), "You know I've given it some thought, and I think you're right, I'm going to quiet down my bike.'

 

And to me (who is obviously on the quiet pipes side of the argument) that makes all the efforts to open even a couple of people's minds/ears worthwhile.

[Joe Frickin' Friday]

USE THE SEARCH FUNCTION AND GET YOUR FILL. AND THEN SOME

 

Searched on "+loud +pipes" for the past three years. Got 250 posts barfed back at me. This is apparently the maximum allowed to be returned by the search engine, as it only went back ten months; I'm sure there are more discussions on the subject in the 2+ years prior to that.

 

Tried again, this time for posts between one and two years old: 198 hits.

 

between two and three years old: 38 hits.

 

between three and four yeasr old: 15 hits.

 

Either it's a huge deal in the past year, or the older posts are simply expiring. I suspect a little of both.

 

In any event, Fernando's right: if someone's got an opinion on this subject, chances are it's already been expressed multiple times (even in just the past few months) on this site.

[subvet]

Because there has been people, people here on this board even, when the subject of pipes was discussed in the past that posted (in effect), "You know I've given it some thought, and I think you're right, I'm going to quiet down my bike.'

 

And to me (who is obviously on the quiet pipes side of the argument) that makes all the efforts to open even a couple of people's minds/ears worthwhile.

 

 

 

Everyone with quiet pipes know that those with loud pipes MUST have teeny-weenies, so maybe it's the promise that with quieter pipes comes some measure of male enhancement.

 

Stop yelling Fernando, or you'll wind up with shrinkage.

[MrHondamatic]

Fernando, you need to go back and read my original post, especially the last paragraph. I wasn't complaining so much, as I was revelling in the amazement of finding myself smiling about the quiet pipes. Had I not heard the loud ones so recently, I might have never found myself grinning like a sh*t eating dog at the quiet pipes. It was just a moment of self enlightenment that I wanted to share, not another rant. Sorry to ruffle anyone's feathers, I'll try to be more explanitory in the future.

[Wyn]

Loud sucks, there's enough noise with other stuff.

 

Nothing like the purr of a opposed twin.

 

A ridin buddy asked me the other day why I don't have an IPod or radio. I told him it would drown out the music my RT makes.

[EffBee]

Fernando, you need to go back and read my original post, especially the last paragraph. I wasn't complaining so much, as I was revelling in the amazement of finding myself smiling about the quiet pipes. Had I not heard the loud ones so recently, I might have never found myself grinning like a sh*t eating dog at the quiet pipes. It was just a moment of self enlightenment that I wanted to share, not another rant. Sorry to ruffle anyone's feathers, I'll try to be more explanitory in the future.

 

Dave, don't take it personally. It wasn't you or your comments. I just had to hit somebody's "reply" button. You were it.

 

It's the topic. It's been done and overdone (see Mitch's comments above regarding past "hits"). And it almost invariably eats up a bunch of the Mod Team's time.

 

We've had enough. Most got that from my post.

[russell_bynum]

Every time I read one of these threads, it makes me want to go figure out ways to make my bikes louder.

 

Like....maybe I could rig up some sort of PA system to the back of my bike that's capable of exactly reproducing the sound of a top fuel dragster leaving the line at full throttle.

 

That would rule!

[Mike O]

...that's capable of exactly reproducing the sound of a top fuel dragster leaving the line at full throttle.

 

That would rule!

I think I would go for a really long and loud fart. That would give folks a reason to roll their windows up so I wouldn't have to listen to that ©rap music.

 

Mike O

[russell_bynum]

...that's capable of exactly reproducing the sound of a top fuel dragster leaving the line at full throttle.

 

That would rule!

I think I would go for a really long and loud fart. That would give folks a reason to roll their windows up so I wouldn't have to listen to that ©rap music.

 

Mike O

 

There you go!!! That's thinking outside of the 9 dots.

 

The system could have a series of high-quality audio recordings to choose from:

Top Fuel Car

Loud fart

Rap Music (for when you ride past the golf course or the yacht club)

Mozart (for when you ride through the 'hood)

 

The possibilities are endless!!

[Little Joe]

Took his girlfriend 4 days of picking with tweezers to get most of the little melted balls of polyester bikini underwear out of the hamburger patch on his cheeks.

Not looking to add to a "loud pipes" thread. Just need some technical assistance on the best way to remove this visual from my memory bank. Thanks in advance.

[Joe Frickin' Friday]

...that's capable of exactly reproducing the sound of a top fuel dragster leaving the line at full throttle.

 

That would rule!

I think I would go for a really long and loud fart. That would give folks a reason to roll their windows up so I wouldn't have to listen to that ©rap music.

 

Mike O

 

There you go!!! That's thinking outside of the 9 dots.

 

 

What are the nine dots? These?

 

 

As for the PA system...didja ever see the Simpsons episode where Bart stacked up like 30 megaphones in a row, yelled "TESTING" in the receiving end, and set up an hours-long, city-wide reverb?

[russell_bynum]

What are the nine dots?

 

 

Come on man...haven't you ever been in one of those corporate "off-site" meetings where some fly-by-night consultant rambles on for 3 days about synergy?

 

The nine dots

 

I thought this was a standard. A requirement, even. Like...you can't get your "crappy management consultant" certificate unless you make everyone do the Nine Dots puzzle during your seminars.

 

 

As for the PA system...didja ever see the Simpsons episode where Bart stacked up like 30 megaphones in a row, yelled "TESTING" in the receiving end, and set up an hours-long, city-wide reverb?

 

Classic!

[Joe Frickin' Friday]

What are the nine dots?

 

 

Come on man...haven't you ever been in one of those corporate "off-site" meetings where some fly-by-night consultant rambles on for 3 days about synergy?

 

The nine dots

 

I thought this was a standard. A requirement, even. Like...you can't get your "crappy management consultant" certificate unless you make everyone do the Nine Dots puzzle during your seminars.

 

I'm from the government, and I'm here to help you.

 

We don't consult with anybody.

[russell_bynum]

[exwingnut]

Wish I had a picture of my buddy's butt after a 100yd slide on his buns. Took his girlfriend 4 days of picking with tweezers to get most of the little melted balls of the polyester bikini underware out of the hamburger patch on his cheeks.

 

 

The entire thread was worth the trouble if only for this visual...now THAT'S FUNNY!

[Quinn]

JUst because I'm a butt. I want to pull up beside a loud pipes guy and ask him how may lives he's saved today?

 

Also want to pull up beside the car sharing his rap music with the world and crank up the RT's radio with a tape of The Beer Barrel Polka on it.

[Patallaire]

These posts on loud pipes are confusing, I just can't hear the point!

[John in VA]

...and crank up the RT's radio with a tape of The Beer Barrel Polka on it.

 

Isn't that a felony??

[russell_bynum]

Also want to pull up beside the car sharing his rap music with the world and crank up the RT's radio with a tape of The Beer Barrel Polka on it.

 

My buddy and I used to do that in High School...except we'd have classical music blaring...and we'd be headbanging to it.

 

Rockin to Mozart, yo.

[Tommy_Boy]

... Oh, and don't get me started on 'chaps' as asphalt protection...

 

Chaps + Asphalt = Ass + Fault

 

Asphalt..AssFault..Get it?

 

I kill me!

[harleyjohn45]

Fernando, you need to go back and read my original post, especially the last paragraph. I wasn't complaining so much, as I was revelling in the amazement of finding myself smiling about the quiet pipes. Had I not heard the loud ones so recently, I might have never found myself grinning like a sh*t eating dog at the quiet pipes. It was just a moment of self enlightenment that I wanted to share, not another rant. Sorry to ruffle anyone's feathers, I'll try to be more explanitory in the future.

 

 

you fooled me.

[Dennis Andress]

In the Air Force I got to use a piece of equipment known as a -60 (dash 60). It contained a small turbine engine that drove a 115 VAC 3 phase 400 Hz alternator to power an aircraft during servicing. It also provided 60 lbs of bleed air through a 4" hose used to start engines. They would burn 60 gallons of jet fuel in about 4 hours. And, man, were they LOUD! But, the best part was the air horn, it came on when there was less than 15 minutes of fuel remaining. You could hear that horn above an idling B-52....

 

Threads like this one come in many flavors; loud pipes, cruiser vs sport, Harleys are good/Harleys are bad. These threads are like that horn, everyone hears the noise and responds immediately, by taking sides and making more noise than the other guy.

 

One day I started a -60 without wearing my ear defenders, the habit of a young and foolish man. This time the noise hurt. It hurt bad enough that I fell to my knees and grabbed my ears. Sometimes, reality bites and we have to face the music. The music here is that this board is about sharing our passion for riding, not about arguing a point without end. I ran away as fast as I could from the noise that hurt my ears. A lot of people run away from threads like this too. Perhaps, if they'd stayed, they would have shared something we all would have enjoyed.

 

Dennis

[KDeline]

Every time I read one of these threads, it makes me want to go figure out ways to make my bikes louder.

 

Like....maybe I could rig up some sort of PA system to the back of my bike that's capable of exactly reproducing the sound of a top fuel dragster leaving the line at full throttle.

 

That would rule!

 

And that comment wants me to get behind you with a headlight modulator!!!!

[russell_bynum]

Every time I read one of these threads, it makes me want to go figure out ways to make my bikes louder.

 

Like....maybe I could rig up some sort of PA system to the back of my bike that's capable of exactly reproducing the sound of a top fuel dragster leaving the line at full throttle.

 

That would rule!

 

And that comment wants me to get behind you with a headlight modulator!!!!

 

No problem....the PA speaker would block my mirrors anyway.

 

[SUCATI]

My point of view. If we don't keep discussing this issue there won't be any motorcycle forums in the future.

 

Mike

[tnmtnrider]

I like it quiet, so that I can hear the motor not the pipes.

I also like it quiet so I can sneak up on the people I into pass.

Richard

[jakfrost]

I like it quiet, so that I can hear the motor not the pipes.

I also like it quiet so I can sneak up on the people I into pass.

Richard

 

This is a REALLY bad idea, worthy of its own thread. You never want to sneak up on people...if they don't know you are there a quick left turn can ruin your day .

 

But I'm sure you were just trolling and I bit..right?

 

Jim W.

[tnmtnrider]

I like it quiet, so that I can hear the motor not the pipes.

I also like it quiet so I can sneak up on the people I into pass.

Richard

 

This is a REALLY bad idea, worthy of its own thread. You never want to sneak up on people...if they don't know you are there a quick left turn can ruin your day .

 

But I'm sure you were just trolling and I bit..right?

 

Jim W.

 

[texasaggie97]

I am glad some of the same tread or post keep popping up. Please show me one post that I have not already seen here or on some other website. Keep on speaking your mind. Remember slavery was a good idea at one time and thank God some people kept speaking out and I think some close minded people finally change their mind. I enjoy reading all the things written here and if someone does not want to read a comment then do yourself a favor and do not click on the post. Oh and last thing not everyone on this site reads every post. Keep on posting some of us enjoy reading new and old posts.

[Davitt_Potter]

Amen. Thank you.

[Davitt_Potter]

The problem is that nothing new is said. Nobody changes their mind, nobody has the epiphany of "Hey, yeah, my pipes are too loud."

 

Because here's the problem: "Loud" is subjective. Loud is even hard to define with a decibel meter. What's loud at 96db/1kHz is way different than 96db/35Hz.

 

I'm with the mods - this ain't a public forum - it's private. We're here at the owner's pleasure. You don't have the right to speak your mind here. Even if you did, why? If you feel so strongly about the issue, then please - call, write, or email your elected officials and talk to them about the issue for whichever side of the fence you fall on.

 

These pipe threads, cruiser bashing, squid hating, general "put-down" threads have greatly reduced my enjoyment of the BMW Sport Touring board. I enjoy the Ride Well sections, Motorcycle Talk about new bikes, technical stuff, and Ride Tales.

 

If I wanted bashing and "yeah, me too!" crap ... well, there are other forums that excel at that.

 

Man.

 

Thanks EffBee for the rant/scolding. I probably deserve one too, now, but I'm in total agreement about "Shut the hell up about loud pipes/quiet pipes" issue.

[velomoto]

The problem is that nothing new is said. Nobody changes their mind, nobody has the epiphany of "Hey, yeah, my pipes are too loud."

Hey it's winter - I thot this was a mandatory thread! The good thing about online forums is one can still be active long after the eardrums are gone!

[tom collins]

this "loud pipe" theme is like a crack habit, people just can't seem to give it up even though they know it's bad for them. this iteration seems to lack the usual harley bashing however so maybe we are improving?

perhaps the moderators could create a separate column for just this topic like the one on trailering? just a thought.

 

Tom Collins

[MrHondamatic]

All right, you've all gone and done it. I'm starting a synthetic vs. dino oil thread next

[Ken H.]

I am glad some of the same tread or post keep popping up. Please show me one post that I have not already seen here or on some other website. Keep on speaking your mind. Remember slavery was a good idea at one time and thank God some people kept speaking out and I think some close minded people finally change their mind. I enjoy reading all the things written here and if someone does not want to read a comment then do yourself a favor and do not click on the post. Oh and last thing not everyone on this site reads every post. Keep on posting some of us enjoy reading new and old posts.

Well seeing as this seems to be more of a "should we talk about it" thread, than a thread about the specific titled issue, and I wasn't originally going to bring it up, but... Let me ask this paradoxical question - If this and other controversial subjects go more and more on the 'Let's not talk about this yet again' list of the moderators, how long before this website just becomes too boring to bother going to any more?

[Joe Frickin' Friday]

Let me ask this paradoxical question - If this and other controversial subjects go more and more on the 'Let's not talk about this yet again' list of the moderators, how long before this website just becomes too boring to bother going to any more?

 

It's more like "let's not talk about this again so incredibly soon after the last reiteration." some people find it boring to see the same opinions posted over and over again.

 

The main issue for the mods, however, is having to check the thread every five minutes to make sure a fistfight hasn't broken out; that gets tiring.

[Ken H.]

What's wrong with a few (figurative) "fistfights"?

 

"No politics", OK I'll can go along with even if I don't fully agree with the policy. But after all this IS a motorcycle site, yes?

 

'No Discussion today about a controversial motorcycle subject' kind of leads to a, "Well what's the point of the site at all then?" question.

[russell_bynum]

What's wrong with a few (figurative) "fistfights"?

 

"No politics", OK I'll can go along with even if I don't fully agree with the policy. But after all this IS a motorcycle site, yes?

 

'No Discussion today about a controversial motorcycle subject' kind of leads to a, "Well what's the point of the site at all then?" question.

 

Our goal is to minimize our work. If a discussion takes lots of our efforts, but is meaningful, or at least something new, that's one thing. When it is the same stupid conversation happening over and over and over and over and over and it always devolves into the same name-calling junior-high bitchfest, then it isn't worth our time.

[rob1100r]

And the surprisng part is most, if not all, the 'cruiser' riders I have in the local group I sometimes hook up with do NOT wear ear plugs. Its not part of the 'cruiser culture' and somehow doesn't seem 'cool' to be standing there sticking things in your ears. Part of the 'big tough/bad biker image that seems to required in order to fit in with your peers.

I am one of 2 ( ST1300 also ) of 15 bikes that uses a full face helmet as well. Oh, and don't get me started on 'chaps' as asphalt protection. HA!! Wish I had a picture of my buddy's butt after a 100yd slide on his buns. Took his girlfriend 4 days of picking with tweezers to get most of the little melted balls of the polyester bikini underware out of the hamburger patch on his cheeks.

 

But he sure looked cool up to that point.

 

Jim W.

 

I WANNA RANT TO!!! But I won't..... It is amazing aint it?? They need to have a migraine headache before they realize the loudness isn't worth it, unless they have truly jetted up to those pipes...Fuel injection makes it even EASIER to be the loudest on the block I suppose...

[EffBee]

What's wrong with a few (figurative) "fistfights"?

 

"No politics", OK I'll can go along with even if I don't fully agree with the policy. But after all this IS a motorcycle site, yes?

 

'No Discussion today about a controversial motorcycle subject' kind of leads to a, "Well what's the point of the site at all then?" question.

 

Our goal is to minimize our work. If a discussion takes lots of our efforts, but is meaningful, or at least something new, that's one thing. When it is the same stupid conversation happening over and over and over and over and over and it always devolves into the same name-calling junior-high bitchfest, then it isn't worth our time.

 

This is PRECISELY the issue. We've had surging discussions galore. We've had the same for PTTR, Autocom/Baehr/Starcom/Chatterbox/Collet/Nady/Bluetooth/tin-cans-and-a-string. We've had a ton of oil discussions, riding technique discussions and tire discussions. Windshields. Tankbags. Driving lights. Stock vs. aftermarket brake pads. Seats, oh my! Riding schools. Radar. Laser. Tire pressures. Shocks. GPS. XM/Sirius/MP3. FRS/CB. And then some. And while they've not been totally free of contentious comments, the vast majority of these threads have been in the spirit of helpfulness.

 

However,when it comes to loud pipes, especially on cruisers, it almost invariably brings out the fractuous comments, the bashing, the "rights" argument, the "image" argument, the "poser" insult, the "inadequate" insult, and nothing ever gets accomplished except we end up shutting the thread down. Perhaps it's because the topic does contain a strong political element and maybe we should prohibit it as well on that basis.

 

It's been done and done and overdone.

 

Personally, I don't think any of you really feel that strongly about it. I think it's just a place to vent, to try and be clever, or to see if you can "stick it" to someone with an opposing view. If you really felt strongly, you would take all that energy and contact the AMA or whichever riding rights organization supports your views, and donate your time to their cause, because we're DONE donating our time to refereeing this one.