Are all Harley Davidsons really noisy?

Answer 1

For the most part yes. But the really loud ones have aftermarket exhast on them.

Answer 2

Quick answer. No, not all Harleys are noisy.

Unfortunately they have really low horsepower (like 65hp). This is because The Motor Company must adhere to the law with regards to emissions and that means restricting the engine.

One of the first and easiest mods to do to a Harley to give it more horse power is to replace the stock slipons (the mufflers), remove the back of the air box, and replace the Fuel Injection module. Generally you get a Stage I or Stage II slipon mufflers.

This should give you about 15 additional horse power. It also opens up the air flow. The engine runs a little richer (more gasoline in the mixture) so your gas mileage goes down a few MPG.

But the bike is a little (or a lot) louder and a bit faster.

This is the same procedure that many sport bike riders do as well. Replace the stock slip ons with ones that increase the air flow and upgrade the Electronic Fuel Injection. It makes the fuel mixture a little richer and the gas mileage goes down a tad. The bike's a bit (or a lot) louder and a bit faster.

Unfortunately due to the loud pipes in both groups, many locations are writing equipment violation tickets if the slipons don't have the proper stampings (emissions information) which you'll never find on an after market set of mufflers. Colorado Springs is one of these locations. If you're in the city limits and a police officer pulls you over, you can get an equipment violation ticket. Same at Palomar in California.

If you check out the slipons for either group, they all say they're not for street use.

Answer 3

Harley Davidsons are known for their characteristic 'potato, potato' exhaust sound. So much so in fact that Harley Davidson have patented the noise their engines make. All Harleys these days are powered by V-twin engines. Meaning they have two cylinders connected to a common crank shaft at an angle which gives a V shape. V-twin engines always have a very characteristic sound. Harley engines sound different to most other V-twins for a number of reasons;

Harley Davidson engines (until recently on some models) had valves which were pushrod operated. Pushrods are a very old fashioned way of getting a fuel mixture into the combustion chambers. They mean that the engine cannot rev as highly as one with overhead camshafts. So Harley engines are tardy and slow to rev, meaning each slow cycle can be clearly picked out in the exhaust noise.

Harley engines are long stroke engines, with small bores. This means more torque, but lower power. As Harleys have very old fashioned suspension, brakes and chassis they’re not meant to be speed machines, so rely on a big wave of torque to shift their considerable bulk. A long stroke engine will also sound different from a short stroke, performance engine.

The main reason that Harleys sound so loud is the fitment of aftermarket exhausts. In the UK these are marketed as Screamin Eagle. Most owners, upon a new purchase, will immediately upgrade the exhausts and brakes. This is because the exhausts on a standard model have to pass noise emissions regulations which in the UK and Europe are becoming more and more stringent. Standard Harley exhausts are not loud at all, however you are unlikely to come across a standard Harley; customisation is what Harley ownership is all about.

Answer 4

OK...let's break it down....
First off, air cooled engines, by design, are noisier than a liquid cooled engine, simply because of the looser tolerances needed, as they run hotter.
A bike will generate more noise than a car, because there is no sheet metal/insulation surrounding things to help quiet it down.
Harleys, for years, have sold a "California" model, and a "49 State" model, as California has the tightest restrictions on bikes noise emissions.
The "really noisy" ones are after market replacements, as the stock ones rob soooooo much horsepower.
Plus, for the benefit of the car drivers that "didn't see the bike", (funny..think about it..a bike is taller than, almost as long as, and marginally narrower than an old English sports car....and these same people can see skunk crap at 500 yards at night on an unlit road while doing 60 mph) well.....maybe you can hear me coming, if your vision/concentration is so poor!
"LOUD PIPES SAVE LIVES!"

Answer 5

No, some of them sound like lawnmowers. If you keep a newer bike with the carb and exhaust stock, she won't make much noise if you ride it in a normal manner.

Now take for example, an XL1200C with drag pipes. You can hear that for blocks. And just for giggles, take a TC-88 and put an S & S carb and Screamin" Eagle II pipes on it. People are gonna be looking for a low flying plane when you open that puppy up!

But, at low (About 1700-2000) RPM, she just putts along making contented little popping noises. H-D knows thay have a bad noise rep and make the stock bikes quiet. It's up the individual who owns it for them to decide how anti-social they are going to be.

As for KSP a few answers ahead of me, I can assure you that all my parts are of normal or better size.

Answer 6

Not until we get our hands on (into) them.
Thier very first model was "The silent grey fellow".
Even now they are the only motorcycle I know of that comes with a "Noise Warranty".

The factory bikes are known to be quiet, however even now most Harley owners are not the quiet type. And we all know that what we ride reflects our personality. So they don't stay quiet for long.

Oops, I voided my warranty!

Answer 7

Harley's are known for being noisy the older ones came factory pretty quite but everybody always made them louder today its kinda what sets them apart from other bikes. now days they come from the factory noisy

Answer 8

They are quiet from the factory, but there is a law that requires Harley owners to make them loud.

Answer 9

Harley's unlike other bikes seem to be immune to noise emission laws but when was the last time you saw one squashed under a car.

Answer 10

loud and clunky? I like it the best when the tools that ride em rev the motor while comming to or at a stop Generally this is done to increase the revs of the motor to sync it with the gear selected. You can see this being performed properly on a race trac where you will never see a harley........ for long.