Motorbikes

[dustypuss]

Is there any reason why motorcycles have to be so* * #+*)%' loud.

[Clanad]

You've intermixed two terms that, at least here in the U.S.) would be contradictory. Motorbikes are small, innocous little scooters that are incapable of making much noise due to their size.

Motorcycles, on the other hand, can range from 50 to maybe 150 horsepower or so (as seen here: http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-top-10s/the-10-best-motorcycle-engines--ever/9854-5.html ).

But notice, in the link, that the higher horsepower engines only achieve that H.P. at relatively high revolutions per minute (RPM's). That is the major difference, since an automobile engine achieves it's H.P. at much less max RPM's.

But, of course, most riders that wear the head scarves, leather jackets and beards (male or female) want the notoriety of high handle bars and magnificient noise... hence the drilled out, baffling removal and accentuator tailpipes often seen on "Hog" riders. It's a way of saying "Look at me!", not unlike the driver of the sedate but noticeable 1964 Chevrolet Corvette Singray he has just spent $40,000 purchasing and rehabilitating...

[mikey4444]

This is very spooky dustypuss ! Just as I was reading this, a very loud motorbike drove past the open window of my study, twice !

Its a Harley Davidson, belonging to a neighbour of mine. He wakes me up most nights at the weekend, as he leaves the house at about 03:30, to catch the revelers coming out of nightclubs, so he can sell drugs to them.

[gness]

Mine was just to annoy my parents, Dusty...but that was a long, long time ago......☺

[stuey]

I used to place pieces of cigarette packs in the front forks of my bicycle...rmmm, rmmm!

[Clanad]

We'd steal the Jokers from Mom's Canasta card decks, Stuey... that and a couple of spring type clothes pins...

[joggerjayne]

Motorbikes are loud for three reasons ...

1. For safety. If a bike is loud, car drivers are more likely to know that you're there, and less likely to knock you off.

2. For sexiness. A loud bike roaring along the sea front is ... just ... so ... damn SEXY!

3. For kudos. If your bike roars, it tells other bikers that you have a big fk off bike, and they have a little whiney hairdryer bike.

[piggynose]

nicely put, j.jane

[douglas9401]

Hmmm, I wonder if this thread will morph from leather clad folk having a good time and upsetting only a few into an ill judged debate on the pros and cons of perversion.

Over to the usual interest groups. :-)

[Misky]

Bikers like loud bikes! You can modify your exhaust so it's nice and loud then replace the baffles ready for the MOT. I could be sensible and say that motorists and pedestrians need more warning coz we're smaller, so we make more noise. It's too easy to be surprised by one of those electric cars that don't make any noise for pedestrians to hear...