why do people on motorcycles rev up their engines at stop lights?

Question

there are ONLY two reasons that i can think of, tell me if you agree.

1.) you THINK it makes you look cool (it does not btw)

2.) youre just a complete idiot and dont know how an engine works.

...i guess there is a 3.) and that is "you want to go". ... i do that with my truck sometimes.

but that is not the way people on motorcycle rev their engines. they....lol ahhhh i hate it.

Answer 1

the real reason they do it is to change the light. duh. stop lights are set up by sensors and motorbikes dont make them go off but the noise will. thats why in some states if theres no traffic a motor bike can stop at light and then cross even if its red.

Answer 2

It's because they think they are bad-asses, and they are starving for attention. I've been riding a motorcycle since 1980. I never rev the engine.

Revving the engine is bad for the engine, and can cause overheating. In fact, if you are looking at buying a used motorcycle, look at the exhaust pipes where they come out of the engine. If the chrome on the pipes near the engine has a bluish tint to it, that is a sure sign that the engine has been overheated (probably due to revving the engine).

Answer 3

So much hatred towards motorcycles. I wonder why. Good answer Muffie, and AMEN Robert R. Why do car drivers talk on the cell phones, play with the radio and think they own the whole road. Do you think it makes you look cool? BTW ... IT DOES NOT. It gets other killed. And if I were a complete idiot , I would be hanging around with other people like yourself and slamming something I obviously know nothing about. If the sound of revving motorcycles at an intersection annoys you, good. At least you know we are there.

Answer 4

Actually, I think this originated back in the old days when Harleys were less than reliable. THey did not idle well, and they would sometimes quit when idling, so the way to counter this was to give it a little gas which would keep it running. Actually, most bikes with multiple carbs were like this, ask an old time hot rodder about syncing multiple carbs.

On the other hand, a Race-replica bike will usually idle quite well, so I don't understand this at all with these bikes. They also sound very nice when idling or reving, so I really don't get it.

Answer 5

The only REASON that someone would do that is to increase the oil flow through the cooler. At a stop light, since there's no air moving over the engine to cool it, reving increases the amount of oil recirculating through the engine.
I'm sure that if the pipes weren't loud, like on a stock Goldwing (yes, birdbrain, that's a motorcycle) you wouldn't even care.
Other than that, turn your Hip-Hop RapCrap down, hang up your cell phone, mind your own business, and drive!

Answer 6

I rev my engine at stop lights when I think the driver in the car near me is unaware of my presence because it's less likely to be ignored and people get angry when you honk. Sometimes the engine is still cold or choked up and needs a higher RPM to keep from dying. It's easier to rev the engine for a few moments than try to mess with the choke in traffic.

Can't tell you why anyone else does it.

Answer 7

I've done it for 2 reasons:

1) My engine is too cold, and will die if I don't keep revving gas through it.

2) It's nicer than honking when the person in front of me doesn't see that the light has turned green.

Answer 8

I do it to let my husband know that the light is about to change. But it's just a little rev, enough to get his attention. Not even loud enough to wake a light sleeper.

He sometimes gets on it for fun, but I usually cringe when he does. I would probably only do it outside the city where it's not going to disturb so many people.

Unless I'm feeling cranky, in which case I'd do whatever I wanted.

Answer 9

I only rev when I have some guy/gal in a car next to me with the stero bumping the inside of my skull around. Why do these people feel we all want to hear their bass? Hmmm, just as much of a "think they look cool" question as yours huh?

I used to do it on my bike that did not like to run cold. I would not choke it, and just keep the engine slightly rev'd so it would not die.

Answer 10

I agree - they are silly and as a lifetime biker I think they harm the image of motorcycling, there are very few bikes that wont tick over on their own so unless you really are Valentino Rossi, Bikers BE COOL, Be quiet and do your engine a favour

Answer 11

4) it's the only stereo you get on a bike
5) it's a preemptive strike against roadkill
6) you hate the feel of a saddle with constant tremble (only women ride washing machines..), and prefer a few decent thunders to make your spine tingle.
7) the sound drowns out the ever-present whining car motors.
8) it annoys the traffic lights
9) it shuts people up

There's plenty of reasons. Plenty of drawbacks too (your reason 2) but pleasure always costs something.