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I stopped for gas last night. In Oregon we aren't smart enough to pump our own gas, the attendant is required by law to fill you car. For bikes the attendant runs the pump, hands you the nozzle, then you fill. Technically you are supposed to hand him the nozzle when your finished.
Anyway, it was slow so the guy is chatting w/me while I fill it. All of a sudden he yells "that's a Harley, I didn't even hear you come up. Wow!" I explained that I was running stock pipes, and have a mostly quiet "technique." It was clear in his head that "loud = Harley." I was wearing my hi-vis neon yellow jacket at the time, and a full face helmet, so that could have thrown him off too.
When you're driving by my bedroom past 12:00am, loud pipes suck.... However, it's too much work to ticket that jack ***. He's too hard to find.
It's easier to hang at the gathering points and write a pile of tickets.
Once we get done paying for Healthcare, Welfare, Cap and Trade, GM, AIG, and ....... We won't be able to afford gas anyway. The problem will resolve itself.
When you're driving by my bedroom past 12:00am, loud pipes suck.... However, it's too much work to ticket that jack ***. He's too hard to find.
It's easier to hang at the gathering points and write a pile of tickets.
Once we get done paying for Healthcare, Welfare, Cap and Trade, GM, AIG, and ....... We won't be able to afford gas anyway. The problem will resolve itself.
I am sad to say you are right here.....people making the decisions for us apparently forgot what its like to be human and screwed us for the next 20 years. 2010, talk with your vote!!
Well the noise police are at it in the Cleveland area issuing citations at many local bike nights. Some other bike nights in Pa are seeing the same thing where there is a local uprising to loud pipes. Some are paying a $100 fine plus whatever else you are stopped for. I have already seen 2 bikes on the wrecker hook with one guy in cuffs. The police are using equipment to check your sound levels right on the spot and have laws on the books to support them.
This issue will only get worse as more people try to get the loudest pipes they can, for that "Harley sound". As someone with 45 years riding these scoots, I can tell you we have crossed this bridge before, along with helmet laws. You can't blame the people who live in these areas as I have seen the idiots making it bad for everyone else.
My point in this post is to not discourage you from changing your pipes but, when you do, have some respect with the throttle in these neigborhoods where you frequent, you just might be able to come back again.
Unless you are in a sound proof booth, all variables on the roadside stop cannot honestly give accurate results of an exhaust system. Traffic,Trains,Radios,Planes, and any other sound contributes to db levels. Can you prove beyond a reasonable doubt my pipes db level at roadside? Bottom line, Show respect; you get respect.
I am sad to say you are right here.....people making the decisions for us apparently forgot what its like to be human and screwed us for the next 20 years. 2010, talk with your vote!!
Assuming Fidel doesn't suspend elections in 2010, I'll be there. This idea that we are entitled to free Health Care is a huge winner and can't be stopped.
A lot of retired people in my neighborhood, and I am careful to be as quiet as I can when I'm coming and going. Never fails though that when I start up my bike someone comes around the side of their house to give me the "stare". These are the same people who have yippy little dogs that bark at all hours of the day and night, grandchildren running around yelling and playing under my windows, family memnbers who feel the need to blow the horn when they pull in or leave from a visit, run lawn mowers and weed wackers at 6 am. etc. I agre that people with loud pipes should try to be respectful in residential areas, and I think that most of us are. But I promise that these people who complain will still be complaining about stock, legal pipes as well. It's not the noise imo, it's the fact that we are on motorcycles.
Most people use common sense with their pipes, stay off the throttle in residential areas.
Sadly there is no such thing as "common sense" these days.
I have V&H Classics & TD's on my bike. They can bark pretty loud when I crack the throttle, but I try to be respectful during the roll out of my neighborhood in the mornings.
It's a double edge sword, really. Some people bitch and whine just because they can, and they like being whiney-bags. Then again, there are some riders who intentionally try to irritate people with their abusively loud pipes.
I was in the parking lot of a shopping center a few weeks back, probably 100+ yards away from the highway when I hear the absolute loudest bike that I've ever heard go screaming by up on the highway. This thing sounded like a top fuel dragster with the pedal to the floor coming off the line.
It's people like that who ruin it for everyone else. I like loud pipes, but I use my "uncommon sense" so it doesn't intentionally offend others.
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