Topic: Motorcycle exhaust noise considerations.

[TwoTired]

Yeah I am not seeing the advertisements for "Smooth and quiet". 

CycleX has a muffler I was looking at and they claim "best sounding" which means absolutely nothing. 

I am hearing claims that at lower RPM it is ok as far as noise but once it gets up there its incredibly loud.

Want to start a trend?  Ask them if their exhaust is DOT approved.  Or short of that, ask for a test report using the AMA approved SAE J2825 test method.
But, if it is for race only applications, they'll probably just laugh at you. 

Cheers,

[Greggo]

It'd just be super duper if we lived in a world where no one invaded anyone else's personal space, wouldn't it?   

At this point, I'd like people to at least be aware they are invading someone's personal space (or care that they are doing so), and recognize it as anti-social, distasteful, negative behavior.

I'm with you TT.

While its true we can't always avoid invading someones space. Often by accident, or a lazy lapse, often smoothed over with an "excuse me please".

Its quite another thing when it is a conscious decision to do so.

I'm with both of you guys, I just have limited faith in humanity.

[Rookster]

I learned from a friend who bought a new Harley back in the 90's that they all come with a quiet stock exhaust,

This is correct.  I worked in an HD dealership in the late 90s.  Every new bike comes with stock mufflers that sound good but are quiet compared with the replacement mufflers.  Dealers are actually graded by HD on the amount of genuine HD accessories they sell with each new bike.  Replacement mufflers are at the top of the list.  I don't blame the dealers or even HD for the loud exhausts.  They simply fill a consumer demand.  If there was no demand then there would be no loud exhausts. 

Scott

[veloracermike]

My bike came to me with straight through MAC 4-2 headers, it is STUPIDLY loud. I ordered the MAC baffles this morning.  I have to do some re-jetting anyway I figure I might as well get the exhaust taken care of. 

On the subject of noise I guess a lot of that can be ear of the beholder.  The sound of a lightly or unrestricted Harley makes me want to vomit.  The same from a Ducati makes me horny.  But overall I do think respecting the non M/C public is part of our responsibility as riders.  I know that right now I have to idle out of my neighborhood no matter what time of day just to be a good neighbor. 

[Duke McDukiedook]

Noise pollution is noise pollution. Anything above 90db can definitely be regarded as a nuisiance.

If your ride is louder than that you are a dick, just like using HID lights without projectors.

[TwoTired]

I learned from a friend who bought a new Harley back in the 90's that they all come with a quiet stock exhaust,

This is correct.  I worked in an HD dealership in the late 90s.  Every new bike comes with stock mufflers that sound good but are quiet compared with the replacement mufflers.  Dealers are actually graded by HD on the amount of genuine HD accessories they sell with each new bike.  Replacement mufflers are at the top of the list.  I don't blame the dealers or even HD for the loud exhausts.  They simply fill a consumer demand.  If there was no demand then there would be no loud exhausts. 

Scott

Er, isn't salesmanship the art of convincing someone to buy what they don't need.
I don't see the dealers as innocents, here.  Yes, some customers will ask for the exhaust change.  But, I'm also certain the dealer actively promotes that change for profit reasons, as well as to maintain it's popularity among buyers.  And, if HD is providing incentives or pressure toward circumventing the laws (and any consideration of the general populace), then they aren't blameless innocents either, imo.

Kinda sounds like the "Fat Boy" is sold by "Fat Cats".
Heh, made myself laugh. 

[72 yellow]

 :oI live within 125 feet of a 6 lane divided road.  My street has one of those stupid Michigan turnarounds connected to it.  You have to turn right, go down a ways to another turnaround that allows you to turn left.  The noise from the Harley's and metric cruisers running straights, or the sportbikes with the aftermarket mufflers, or even the scooters that some idiot took a drill to the exhaust is annoying to say the least.  There is a red light 1 block from the turnaround.  Most of these morons wring every last RPM out of 1st gear before they have to stand up on the brakes for the light.
My 72 CB750 has a old Kerker 4-1.  I use the baffle which is properly wrapped in fiberglass. I also ride a 71 BSA Lightning.  It has Norton peashooters on it.  It is louder than the CB,  but not annoying.  I don't need to constantly rap the throttle at the traffic light.  I also don't feel the need to redline in every gear.  And don't even get me started on the 400.00 cars with the 4000.00 boom boxes in them.
There, I feel better now.

[TrueSpin]

For what it's worth, my problem isn't with the exhaust on the loud bikes or cars or what have you.
It's with the nut behind the bars that thinks it's a good idea to spin it to redline every time he moves forward.



Edit:
For what it's worth, I'm one of those guys that will blip the throttle at stop signs/red lights while waiting. I also only put one foot down, and keep the bike in gear. I'm ready to roll if I notice something coming up behind me. The revving is to keep oil pressure moderately up, and make sure the bike responds if I need to go.

[Vincent]

Hate to sound like a fun-crushing hall monitor, but...

I find myself agreeing with everything that's been said here, and wondering why we haven't heard from the "I love my loud bike" people.

We live near a Ducati dealer, and those beautiful bikes go by all the time. Sometimes I hear sounds that would thrill me if I heard them at a racetrack, but just piss me off when I hear them while I'm sitting in the living room having a conversation.

Over the years I've spent a good amount of time at The Rock Store here in LA. There are always guys on big twin Harleys with fishtail-tipped straight pipes, and when they start their engines, people wince and give up trying to talk until the bikes pull away. And the people doing the wincing are people who love motorcycles. I always want to ask one of these straight-pipe guys "Would you like to be your next-door-neighbor?" Hmm. Maybe I'll put my helmet back on first.

[BobbyR]

I suggest a full face helmet for that mission. 

[BeSeeingYou]

I can attest to the quiet 4 into 1 on the CB750F bikes.  My house is at the end of a dead end alley shared by several houses.  My wife and I are both night people so we often take late night rides getting back at midnite or 1 am.  Never hear a complaint from the neighbors.   It's another hot night....after 11pm...getting ready to go out for a ride.

[Tews19]

BobbyR ---
I also use eaplugs when riding for wind noise. I keep a bunch of them in my pack. I use them at work and sometimes forget to take unused packs out of my pockets.


I was thinking of this. As I stated in other threads, my 550 with stock headers and open flow Lossa reverse megaphone is loud. After reading the other thread, today when driving home from work I was thinking to myself how I couldn't really tell the difference with the loundess of the muffler and the wind in my ears. I think I may need to pick up some foam ear plugs at walmart tomorrow. I have Tinnitus as well. Occurred while in the Army. Only 31 now, but on a daily side note, when I am getting ready for bed, that damn ringing with so loud!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Someone asked which exuast is close to stock sound. I think my 4-1 kerker with baffle in is quiter then a stock 4-4 set up on a 750. My wife doesn't hear it when I pull away

[750K]

You know what, I like a bike that isnt quiet. A motorcycle should sound like a machine IMHO and that means alittle noise sometimes, I got a ride on my friends 2010 bonneville last year. It was almost silent, it was brutal. If I want to ride something that quiet I'd own a Prius...

Just for the record I run a 4-1 with a proper baffle, I don't rev it incessantly at red lights and when I'm in residential areas I ride normally. Especially on my own street, I like my neibours and they like me. You better believe when Im out on the highway I could care less what anyone thinks about the decibel level my 77 makes, if there's no congestion I'm not near you long enough anyway. I do my best to stay ahead of the idiots in cars that have no idea I'm there anyways.

Flame away.

[TwoTired]

You better believe when Im out on the highway I could care less what anyone thinks about the decibel level my 77 makes,

That pretty much says exactly what you think of others, and your regard for society as a whole.  F 'em all, right?

[750K]

TT, no I wouldn't say that. All I'm saying is in certain places I'm not concerend if there's any noise from my bike or anyone else's for that matter and my 77 is not loud by any means. It idles at the proper rpm and I'm not a retard reving it at any chance I get, on the highway at 1/2 or 3/4 throttle it hums not barks and I think that's fine. It's a motorcycle after all. The world is full of noise, I think we should be used to it by now. A bit of car or moto noise is nothing compared to the planes, trains, highways, etc. I have better things to loose sleep over.

[dave500]

i love my qjet induction roar,the induction noise on my 550 is pretty heavy aswell,probably not from a distance though,a decent straight through muffler wont be too noisey,,only if they are short.
  heres a straight through,,not for everyone but this wasnt loud,i put a reducer in the outlet to cut drone,it got all the ugly comments,just as good as any crap power pipe bull#$%* youll spend more money for.

i put that system onto a bike i sold,,im running a longer repackable straight through now,not loud, but throaty?

[trueblue]

Reading this thread has reminded me of a certain movie.





But seriously, I can't stand an exhaust that is loud just for the sake of being loud, be it on a bike, a car or anything with an engine for that matter, but I do love a nice note, eg. My 650 when it is singing at 9k.  What I really can't stand a Hyundai Excel with a wanker cannon hanging out the arse being forced to rev to 7k when the engine redlines at 6k, and stops producing power at 5k, these are normally driven a P plater.

[dave500]

im with you true blue,my wife drives an excell,,,it has the stock noiseless exhaust though,,when she rarely drives my car she loves booting it and getting the v8 crackle,,its not loud with its reverse flow mufflers(walker super turbo) but does have that "tuned"sound,,,how many names can be given to exhaust noise?its in the ears of the beholder?or is that the be listener?

[trueblue]

Oh, I almost forgot about the burble of a nicely tuned V8, I've been playing with 4's for so long.  I can't believe I just said that, I thought I would never see the day.   

[dave500]

i would never be without eight cylinders,,there just aint no other way,unless its a sohc bike!

[trueblue]

I sold my HJ Monaro a couple of years ago, I haven't really played with them much since then.  Just after I sold the munro I bought my 650 and never really looked back.   

[dave500]

gday im dave your new neighbour,

 this was a 351 windsor i rebuilt for a mate,,we went next door but no one was home,,when they got home their washing drying on the clothes line smelt like dunlop sp sport radials.

[trueblue]

But officer I was only bedding in the new rings

[solo 2]

I am amazed that anyone can hear the exhaust noise over the whimpering and crying...noise laws, now that's Fascist.

Thinking like this deserves your Honda be taken off the street because it can't meet EPA regs, then you can quietly reflect on it in your livingroom.

[lucky]

DELETED by poster.