Motorcycles have a bad reputation to be noisy. When they stop at the red light,....?

Question

they fuel up the engine a few times. Is this necessary? Will the engine die if they don't do that? Or they just want to attract attention?

Answer 1

Some old motorcycles (or really poorly tuned new ones) may have an issue with overheating and will die when idling too long.

However, 99% of all folks who sit at the stoplight and rev their engine are just screaming for attention. Kinda like a 2 year old at the mall having a temper tantrum, but the rider is old enough to know better.

Answer 2

Not all motorcycles are noisy, but some do not like to idle smoothly, and tend to "load up" and may flood out and quit running if left sitting at idle for long periods or the engine will stumble or hesitate on initial acceleration. A quick 'blip' of the throttle clears the excess fuel out of the intake manifold and allows the engine to continue running at idle, and to accelerate smoothly when the light changes.

Or... Maybe the guy sitting on the bike is just in love with the sound of his own pipes... ;-)

Answer 3

Attract attention. You'd be surprised how many drivers of cars, trucks and other non motorcycles, just DON'T see the motorcycle. Even thought the headlights are on, the engine is made to be nosier than it has to be etc. Cars will "squeeze" by if they can or just think that the motorcycle operator will know their intentions and take evasive actions. The problem is not the motorcycle operator or the motorcycle, it's the car driver. The problem is that there are a whole lot more car drivers than there are motorcycle operators, so it's easier to blame the motorcycle and pass legislation by states and the federal government.

Answer 4

Well it depends sometimes the engine will die if the RPM's are to low. Even more so on takeoff from a full stop. You have to have the engine rev's up to a certain rpm before you release the clutch or the bike will bog out and die. I do the same thing.. Another reason if for safety believe it or not, a lot of cars will not notice you a stop light if you dont rev it's a way of letting people know you are there. My exhaust sound so good that people look at my bike like its going to eat them cuz its a high revving v-twin with carbon-fiber racing exhaust. And to be honest thats always satisfying to.
So a little of all 3, safety,launching,and attention getting.

Answer 5

I can honestly tell you that I rarely do that but my friend loves too!!! To me there is no need since we both have brand new bikes but he loves the attention. Sometimes I'll do it ones or twice just to let people know I'm right there for security purposes but like I said my friend can really annoy some car drivers. Funny thing is that we both have stock pipes so they're not even that loud.

Answer 6

Ok, loud pipes save lives....

But what I dont understand is how some bike (when riding next to you) are so loud that I can't even hear myself think, and that is perfectly legal, yet on my Camaro, if I am heard over a block away, I get a ticket for noise pollution, yet the bike can be heard almost a mile away....

I am just a little confused at where is "Loud pipes save lives" become just excessive noise?

Answer 7

I shut down at long lights on hot days. The bike starts instantly.
ZX-14's tend to run a bit hot when idling consistently.

But this bike is very stealthy at idle with factory pipes.

I think the whole revving thing at a light is silly and for amateurs. I laugh at people who do this next to me at a light. Sometimes I'll give 'em a head start just to be nice.

When I want to launch, I don't blip the throttle, I bring it up to my drag shift light's preset engage RPM. Yeah, that's right, ZX-14's come with factory drag shift lights. You can set them for engage (launch) and for shift at your desired RPM.

p.s. Hey Bluff Mike, I think you know who I am, right?

Answer 8

The engine won't die unless it's badly tuned, However I feel that it is a need for the rider to hear his bike and it becomes a habit.

Answer 9

They just want to attract attention, for one thing. The other reason is that the rider enjoys the sound the engine makes.
When new, from the factory, all motorcycles comply with mandated noice level limits. It's the cycle owners who change the exhaust systems to create the desired racket.

Answer 10

Hell ya,you got to let people in cars know your there so you dont get hit by a driver thats daydreaming.I ride a bike and you cant imagine how many drivers of cars and trucks just dont pay attention to bikes.So when ya hear a bike making noise hes not just making noise hes waking you up so he wont get hurt.Thats why bikers get away with loud pipes so you can see and hear them in the area.