Topic: "Harleys hurt people"

[Skonnie Boy]

Not my words.  Apparently some people are very sensitive about their quiet time.  I'm not sure what I find funnier, the fact that the Wisconsin politicians waste time on such fluff legislation, or that small, angry people spend so much time complaining about motorcycles.  Either way, its a win for those of us that find politics to be an entertaining farce.  Read on.

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/opinion/editorial/article_e028383e-f555-11de-b2f4-001cc4c03286.html

And of course, the host site of Noise Free America, specifically their section on motorcycles.

http://www.noisefree.org/motorcycles.php

Damn kids!  Get off my lawn!

[Retro Rocket]

Now if only the morons at "noise free" were silent........ironic isn't it....

Mick

[bucky katt]

some people need to have SOMETHING to whine about, too bad they picked motorcycles.

[mgbgt89]

I would much rather hear the worlds loudest harley ride past my house than listen to all these riced out automatic cavaliers and dodge neons in my town. They put a horrible sounding muffler, and it just advertises the slipping automatic transmission. Sounds FAST!

At least harleys sound good.

[ColinMc]

Meh, I'd rather have neither.

I miss my FZ750 with the Kerker white tip exhaust system and race baffle...but I DON'T miss having to wear earplugs even just for a trip to the store lol. Or to be within 50 feet of it running...or trying to ride home in 6th gear at 20mph at 2am so I wouldn't annoy the hell out of EVERYBODY.

I still love the sound of a nice loud bike, but I know that's personal taste and not everyone likes that. But realistically it's a minority of bikers that ruin this for everyone else. Just like the "ricer" crowd who put coffee can mufflers on ruin it for us sport compact owners.

EDIT: More importantly after reading through the one article...the fact that they say "Harley's" are the cuprit is absurd, it's not the bikes themselves its the people riding them that put the straight pipes on them.

That's like saying Honda Civics hurt people because people put load exhausts on them.

It's not the brand or make of bike/car, it's the person who owns it! Garr this kind of ignorance drives me nuts.

[hoodellyhoo]

I like how they say Harleys are a symbolf for drunkeness....I wonder what scientific process led them to that conclusion? My dad had been riding harleys for decades but somehow he never gets drunk..

[Alan F.]

 

[Skonnie Boy]

I think my favorite line was "noise terrorism".  That, and the line about Harley owners and drunkenness make the organizations sound like a 19th century temperance movement.

[edbikerii]

Lord knows this isn't the first time that I have an opinion that seems to be "out of line" with many on this board, but "Noise Free America" seems to be on the right track.

Dressing up like a pirate on Sundays and riding through residential neighborhoods pissing off old ladies and waking up babies doesn't make you tough.

[vanillagorilla]

Dressing up like a pirate on Sundays and riding through residential neighborhoods pissing off old ladies and waking up babies doesn't make you tough.

Cant argue with that... Get that hog out on the highway!!! Stupid doctors and lawyers.
You know what does make you tough. Riverdancing. Yeah riverdancing. 

[KB02]

From the article:

"Harleys hurt people," said group member George Atwood of Milton. "The noise stresses people. The noise ruins the quality of life in our neighborhoods and nation. It frightens and intimidates people. It leads to hearing loss, higher medical costs, lost productivity and loss of peace of mind."

The most frightening thing of all is that these people actually have a leg to stand on and support from others. It just goes to show that if we don't police ourselves, it will be up to others. Not to mention that this is a completely ignorant person being quoted -Harley Davidson Motorcycles are NOT loud when they come off the showroom floor. It is the owners who make them loud in order to irritate other people - or show off - or compensate for something - either way, this action gives these loonies the fuel they need for their battles.

I would much rather hear the worlds loudest harley ride past my house than listen to all these riced out automatic cavaliers and dodge neons in my town. They put a horrible sounding muffler, and it just advertises the slipping automatic transmission. Sounds FAST!

At least harleys sound good.

I would disagree about the Harley, but to each his own. While hanging out in a parking lot at a Motorcycle rally event, two bikes took off. One was a Wanna biker on a ratted out, beat to hell peice of trash with two wheel. Sounded like absolute hell. Just after he took off, someone on a Honda Superhawk took off with nice glass pack. Sounded great! I turned to one of the guys directing traffic and commented on how nice it sounded. His response, "Noise is noise."

What sounds good to one is not to going to sound good to everyone. And the attitude of "They're just stupid," or, "They just don't get it," will hold no value in court.

Join the AMA and help fight to keep our right to ride (Or put a muffler on your bike to help reduce the need for it).

Okay, I'm off my soap box, now.

[dhall57]

I've never liked excessively loud bikes. A stock Harley is actually quiet, just like any other stock bike. Nothing is wrong with making a few modifications to make your bike sound and perform a little better, but its the owners who go overboard with unbaffled straight pipes', etc. that I have a problem with. When you can here any type of bike coming up the road from a mile away, hey that's TOO LOUD!! Just like certain people on play there boom boxes in there cars so loud it rattles my car windows when Im on the other side of the parking lot. Just my opinion.