What is it with Harley riders?

[smstonypoint]

The issue is hear it or don't hear it. Even if we don't buy them we still have to listen to them.

Exactly right.
I have no problem at all if someone rides a Harley.
I have lots of friends and co-workers that are Harley riders.
My only issue is the noise. Nearly every Harley owner/rider I know has the loud pipes. WHY ??
No one else wants to listen to the thing..

I'm with these guys.

The problem I've got with the riders now is the increased decibel level they seem to think is important. You can make the argument that the noise level helps make others aware of a bike's presence, but I am pretty sure that I pose little threat to a cycle rider while I am sitting at a table in a roadside café in a resort town.

Excuse my language (economics), but this topic illustrates an important economic concept -- externalities.

An externality is an effect of a purchase or use decision by one set of parties on others who did not have a choice and whose interests were not taken into account.

Externality - Dictionary Definition of Externality

I think that young men with their car stereos and many motorcyclists are oblivious to the noise they make. They enjoy the sound and cannot comprehend that others might not share that enjoyment.

Steve

 

[ovrszd]

Excuse my language (economics), but this topic illustrates an important economic concept -- externalities.



I think that young men with their car stereos and many motorcyclists are oblivious to the noise they make. They enjoy the sound and cannot comprehend that others might not share that enjoyment.

Steve

My Wife and I go Jeepin in Colorado every Summer. Last year we were eating our lunch above tree line on Tomichi Pass. The peace and quiet was astounding. Not a cloud in the sky. short sleeve weather.

We'd been there about 15 minutes when we heard three UTVs coming. Middle-aged couples. The lead UTV had a boom box blaring. I guess so the other two could hear him. Heard the music long before we saw them.

As the leader drove by he acknowledged us and said something about my Jeep but I couldn't hear him for the music. I just nodded and smiled.

Some people just don't get it. Same with loud motorcycles, regardless of brand.

 

[Scooby074]

Any chance anybody knows the South Park season and episode number (so us Netflix users can find it)?

twelfth episode of the thirteenth season

 

[TomSeller]

.
I rarely see a Harley running with a stock exhaust.

Noisy Harleys are cool, they don't bother me a bit.

 

[timswi]

Noisy Harleys are cool, they don't bother me a bit.

Honestly they don't bother me either..I hate the behavior of some sport bike riders and don't get me started on bicycle riders.

 

[DK35vince]

I'm betting the majority of people that claim "noisy pipes don't bother me" are the very ones running noisy pipes.

 

[TomSeller]

I'm betting the majority of people that claim "noisy pipes don't bother me" are the very ones running noisy pipes.

What? Can you speak up? I'm having a hard time hearing.

 

[timswi]

I'm betting the majority of people that claim "noisy pipes don't bother me" are the very ones running noisy pipes.

Currently don't drive anything noisy...My Chevelle has been disabled for a few years..Loudest thing I have is a 6.2 GMC pickup with an OEM exhaust..Loud Harley's et.al. really don't bother me.

 

[Redneck in training]

I've hit two cars with my bike that were oncoming and left turned into my path. Of course, I wasn't winding it out at through the straight tipped expansion chambers at 12k RPMs, so I guess it was my fault they didn't hear me. :laughing:

What are you talking about, they didn't hear you. I bet it was a big bang when you hit them.

On serious note. The problem with motorcycle is that people have no idea how fast it is going. Unless they deal with motorcycle traffic often they will not have a clue. My brother who lives in Czech Republic told me that after the fall communism lot of people bought fast motorcycles. There was huge spike in the fatalities because of car drivers underestimated the speed of approaching motorcycle and turned into its path.

 

[davcog]

Poll Question

Which of the following do you find more annoying:

(a) the aforementioned "Harley" exhaust noises, or
(b) young men sharing their musical tastes with the world via their cars' sound systems?

Steve

Both equally annoying.