This will put a frown on a few faces:

Nationwide anti-noise ordinances are gaining favor
By EMILY FREDRIX | The Associated Press
August 25, 2007

MILWAUKEE Cities from New York to Denver are giving motorcyclists the silent treatment.
And that worries riders rights groups, which fear that a wave of ordinances aimed at muffling Harley-Davidsons, hushing Hondas and stifling Suzukis will create a confusing patchwork of laws that motorcyclists won't be able to navigate. The motorcycle industry is concerned it could turn these frustrated riders away.

"From our perspective, this creates enormous problems for us because people notice the one motorcycle that makes a lot of noise," said Bill Wood, spokesman for the American Motorcyclist Association. "They don't notice the 50 that pass that don't. So there's a perception that motorcycles are noisy."

Ordinances come in many forms. Some are against certain types of products — like mufflers that would rattle the apples off trees — while others are aimed more at the intent of the driver, who may want to turn some heads or rile the neighbors on a Sunday afternoon.

As of July 1, riders in New York City are subject to a minimum $440 fine for having a muffler or exhaust system that can be heard within 200 feet.
In Lancaster, Pa., starting this month riders — and all motor vehicle drivers — could be ticketed for drawing attention to themselves, whether by creating too much noise by revving their engines or doing hard accelerations. Tickets start at $150.

As of July 1, motorcyclists in Denver could be ticketed $500 for putting mufflers on their bikes made by someone other than the original manufacturer, if the bike is 25 years old or less. These so-called after-market products can be louder than their manufacturer-made counterparts.

Denver's plan is unique because it targets the after-market equipment. Wood said it limits riders' freedom to choose what products to use. Many motorcyclists who need to replace parts use these products, rather than go to a dealer, which can be more expensive, Wood said.

Ordinances restricting motorcycle noise have been around for years. The American Motorcyclist Association does not track the numbers of such ordinances and often only hears about them just as they're being passed, Wood said.

The association would rather see an ordinance that targets all vehicles or uses a decibel test to measure actual noise output.

The changes leave riders confused, said Pamela Amette, vice president of the Motorcycle Industry Council, the industry's trade group. Enforcement can be subjective, too. The council is working with the American Society of Engineers to establish a sound test that would help equalize enforcement.
A similar test has been set for off-road bikes, and several states have adopted it, Amette said. The group hopes to have the test ready next year. The new tests could even heighten demand for quieter systems, she said, because riders will know what they need.

"Unless it's very precise and adopted uniformly, then it's just really not fair to the riders and to the industry," Amette said.

The stakes for the industry are big. There were 1.1 million new motorcycles sold for $9.8 billion in 2005, the most recent year available, the council said. Parts, including those after-market mufflers, accessories and riding apparel, were an additional $2.8 billion.

"I think more and more people are putting pressure on communities," said Ted Rueter, director of Noise Free America, based in Madison, Wis. "That fact that Denver has done so is going to give a lot of encouragement to people who love peace and quiet."
Harley-Davidson Inc., which tried in the 1990s to trademark its products' distinctive rumble, is monitoring the growth of anti-noise ordinances that target motorcyclists, said Rebecca Bortner, a Harley spokeswoman.

The Milwaukee-based motorcycle maker thinks the issue is l

 

Wonder if this will negate Harleys ability to advertise thier "street legal in 50 (or 49) states" SE's??

 

My understanding is that Harley-Davidson has already (as of this year) stopped the marketing of the SE II exhaust slip-ons through their dealers.Some dealers may havesomein stock, but once they're all sold, there will be no more.

Can anyone confirm this?

 

That is exactly why HD changed from the SEII to the SE-SP

 

I suppose if you get on it near a cop, or in your neighborhood early in the AM or late in the PM you are going to get cited.

Other than that I don't see the ordinance being enforced. I remember when loud mufflers were a concern in the 50's, a safety sticker was required, the vehicle was inspected by (big brother) for basics tire's/wipers lights, and loud mufflers, if they were loud, no sticker, no license plates.

So if states adopt such a inspection law then your going to have a problem, or else swap put the pipes before and after the inspection .

Look what are the cops going to do sit wait and listen for a loud bike, when they can't even stop red light runners?

Tom

 

that sucks! I like loud pipes even if their not mine. I don't like Those damn car kicker box rap music crap at 2:00 3:00 in the morning but thats OK. My bikes pretty loud now and get lots of looks from cops no one has pulled me over yet but I'm waiting for it. Just the other day some cager was coming into my lane would have run me over if I didn't rev the engine and was heard by the blind sumbish. Pipes saved me a trip to the hospital. There has to be something we can do about this. If all the bikers in the United States stood together.

 

If one of us gets a ticket we should all go to court with that person on our bikes. Give me freedom or give me death.

 

Wonder if they'll outlaw those darn leaf blowers and lawn mowers? Personally, I use a manual rotary mower that is whisper quiet and it really pi$$es me off when the neighbors mow their lawn at any hour! If they put these so called "laws" into place, I sure hope that they focus on yard machines, boombox cars that you can hear the bass from 2 miles, etc.

Fight the man!

 

I agree with you anyone with a TUB THUMPER STEREO you should be allowed to shoot out their dash!!!!!!!

 

Uh, oh... You mean, it's not legal? [sm=drooldude.gif]