Why are many motorcycles so loud?

Question

I understand that autos have limits as to how loud they can be. I would assume that motorcycles have the same standards. But many motorcycles are alarmingly loud.

Answer 1

Many motorcycles (especially American bikes) run straight pipes - meaning there is no baffling in the exhaust. This makes for a louder running bike. Couple that with large displacement engines, no sheilding around the motor, and the psycological affect that motorcycles seem to have on nonriders and you have a generally loud machine.

Answer 2

The owners of these loud bikes will tell you it is a modification to add power. The fact is there are many more better power adders you can do to a motorcycle engine than punching out the baffles in the mufflers. Unless the engine is very highly modified, most of these aren't, loud does not = powerful. To a stock or nearly stock engine, slight back-pressure in the exhaust is beneficial.

The noise laws in most states are the same for a motorcycle as they are for a car. I think they aren't usually enforced very much because the police have better things to do than harass bikers for their loud pipes.

In reality, it's an ego thing. They are saying notice me in my cool bike.

Answer 3

Simple fact is, LOUD PIPES SAVE LIVES. Motorcyclists have no protection compared to a car. We have to compete against the punks with loud sound systems, driver's on their cell phones, careless drivers, people eating and putting on make-up. Our horns even go unnoticed. When you have a fender bender with another car, both drivers stop and look at their cars' damage. When you have the same minor accident with a bike, the car driver almost always claims that they didn't see the bike. (what were they paying attention to if not driving?) The biker on the other hand is on his/her way to the hospital. I do admit there are lots of bikers out there that like to be as loud as possible because they want to be cool or whatever. There are many more bikers out there that have loud pipes but know how to ride quiet (this is possible). So before you blame the bikers, blame yourselves for not actually driving while operating a motor vehicle. On a side note to all you people with loud stereos, how do you hear the ambulance or fire truck's siren that's going to the aid of someone who's life is in jeopardy? Might even be a family member or a friend that got hit on his/her bike. How did you even hear the siren of the cop that pulled you over to ticket you for the loud stereo?

Answer 4

Thoughtless people (I won't call them motorcyclists) modify their exhausts to make noise. "Safety" is a very lame excuse, not a valid reason. Very few accidents happen when a motorcycle is hit from behind, which is where the noise is. Most are caused when a car turns in front of a motorcycle and noise won't stop that.

It makes me mad, as a long time motorcyclist. Noise is a major reason for anti motorcycling prejudice. It's why I couldn't ride the scenic drive after riding 1500 miles to Monterrey. Guys who modify exhausts are not real motorcyclists, they're hurting the sport of motorcycling.

And it's the height of arrogance. One guy modifies his bike to make noise because he likes it, and annoys thousands of other people, many in the privacy of their homes. Phooey.

Source: serious long time rider, commutes on a bike, tours cross country on a bike, rides racetracks on a bike, owns multiple motorcycles.

Answer 5

From the factory motorcycles aren't that loud. people remove the exhausts and modify them. This gets more power, and like other answers say, "makes them sound bad!"

Police can and do issue tickets for loud pipes, but they usually take it easy on them unless they really cause a lot of complaints.

Some bikers say it's a safety feature: most bike accidents are not the biker's fault. Cars just don't notice motorcycles like they should!
They say the noise gets them noticed.

Answer 6

Import car owners are buying mufflers to make their exhausts sound loud like motorcycle exhausts/pipes.
-I personally have a loud exhaust on my Kawasaki ZX6-R to let the old lady or girl in the huge SUV know I'm in their blind spot.
-I'm tired of guys in import cars whining about how come guys with bikes have insecurity issues and small pecker insecurities.

Answer 7

what? what? I can't hear you, can you speak a little louder? did you say something about Harley Davidson? Loud you bet! keeps the cows off the sidewalks, deer can hear one a mile away in any direction, so loud it sets off auto alarms. a lot of fun in a parking garage.or at the airport. some of these bikers are poster children for ear doctors. some can't hear a camel fart if standing within five feet down wind. set your phone on vibrate it wont do any good but you can tell your mom you didn't hear it, see it's on.

Answer 8

No. Hip hop coming out of low riders is loud. Motorcycles seem loud to you because they threaten your manhood.

Answer 9

Bikers want their bikes loud so that they are noticed by fellow motorists. Because most people don't even notice bikes like they do cars, it makes the bikers presence known so hopefully they won't get cut off or hit.

Answer 10

"Loud pipes save lives" is SUCH A CROCK---these very same types are driving on bald tires, have "armchair seats", leg pegs sticking way out in front, and extended forks and high bars---just about the best possible combination of things to get you killed on a motorcycle.

Your question is easy----the bikes are loud because the owners are inconsiderate ******* who don't give a FF if they wake up everyone in their neighborhood.