What is it with Harley riders?

[npalen]

I rode a Harley as a kid and have always liked the sound. What I don't understand is the habit of gunning the engine when slowing up for a stop sign or whatever. Is this something they teach in "Harley School" or what.

 

[murphy1244]

I rode a Harley as a kid and have always liked the sound. What I don't understand is the habit of gunning the engine when slowing up for a stop sign or whatever. Is this something they teach in "Harley School" or what.

That's old school from the Pan head with S&S carbs with no accelerator pump.

 

[Toyboy]

Could they be down shifting? When I do that w/mine it does sound like I'm revving it up a bit.

 

[npalen]

Reckon any of today's Harley riders know that?

 

[sweettractors]

Maybe they just want to share the sound? Sorta like the unique sound of a old JD 2 banger tractor. Ken Sweet

 

[strum456]

I'm with you npalen. I used to like to listen to the Harleys. These days there are just too darn many of them and more often than not they have straight pipes with a throttle happy rider. If you want to rattle and rumble until everybody's ears bleed, then you buy a Harley and put on the customary straight pipes. If you want to go somewhere fast and use less gas, then you get get an inline 4.

 

[Depmandog]

Back in the day, I rode a 650 Triumph Bonneville that I put together out of 3 boxes of parts. I always had to rev up when coming to a stop because If I didn't, most likely she was gonna die

 

[Clint S]

Maybe they just want to share the sound? Sorta like the unique sound of a old JD 2 banger tractor. Ken Sweet

More like say " look at me, look at me " .
I don't think I could hear a an old JD 2 banger that was on a road about a 1/2 mile from the house, but that is what I have to listen to all summer. Almost every one on the road, if modified, is over the legal decibel limit, but nothing is ever done.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I don't understant it either. Why don't they fine them for unnecessary noise? Next, they can go after those dang airplanes. They disturb many square miles of peace and quiet at any given moment!

 

[Clint S]

I don't understant it either. Why don't they fine them for unnecessary noise? Next, they can go after those dang airplanes. They disturb many square miles of peace and quiet at any given moment!

By all means. Please ticket any airplane owners that modify their STOCK exhaust systems to make them louder.

 

[bajabum]

Regular piston planes need all the oomph they can get, so they run tuned straight pipes.
The only quiet planes are piston engined with a turbocharger OR a Turbine engine (jet) ..
The worst noise offenders are the Radial engine jobs (usually ex military), however I enjoy the Growl! :thumbsup:

 

[polo1665]

I rode a Harley as a kid and have always liked the sound. What I don't understand is the habit of gunning the engine when slowing up for a stop sign or whatever. Is this something they teach in "Harley School" or what.

I agree, very annoying. I think there are a lot of wanna be's out there who want to draw attention to themselves. They think it's "cool".

 

[sixdogs]

Agreed. Nothing says "cool" like being understated and nothing says "not cool" like being overly obvious.

 

[Thomas]

Some do it for show and some for quick go,I for do it on both bikes for shifting into lower gear...helps keep oil pressure up.

 

[jimmyj]

I think it is for attention.

 

[Bird]

I rode a Harley as a kid and have always liked the sound.

Yeah, I liked the sound, too, . . . . when I was a teenager, but for many years I've been unable to understand why anyone would want one of those noisy machines.

 

[Danny C]

It actually helps make downshifting smoother along with making decelleration smoother in conjunction with downshifting in order to use engine compression to help decellerate. I use the technique in every manual transmission I drive including my tractor!

 

[MossRoad]

Uh-oh.... maybe I should put the muffler back on my Suburban. :laughing:

Haven't any of you every rode or drove a vehicle with a loud exhaust and gone under a bridge or through a tunnel and stomped on it just for fun?

I believe most folks that rev it up when coming to a stop just either enjoy the sound or want to be noticed, but probably both. :confused3:

 

[MossRoad]

It actually helps make downshifting smoother along with making decelleration smoother in conjunction with downshifting in order to use engine compression to help decellerate. I use the technique in every manual transmission I drive including my tractor!

Its not needed if the transmission is synchronized.

 

[Heywood Jannockitov]

Its not needed if the transmission is synchronized.

Reduces clutch wear by bumping up engine rpms to match rolling speed when re-engaging clutch during downshifts.