What is it with Harley riders?

[PapaPerk]

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.

They are doing it for attention! The look at me club!

Cops need to enforce muffler laws. I'm all for freedom and wind in the hair.... But I don't wanna hear it!

 

[Redneck in training]

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

I am guessing airplanes can't be made any louder. Only quieter. Most have straight pipes only.

 

[Pine Strip]

Half of all the Harleys ever sold are still out on the road....the rest of them made it back home.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upuC5ZdyxXI

 

[Clint S]

I am guessing airplanes can't be made any louder. Only quieter. Most have straight pipes only.

And that is what they came with STOCK from the factory. They may be loud, but they are not modified.

 

[AGRIMAN]

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:

Yes sir, I sure have. Over the years, I have had many 4x4 trucks that I have put my touch too. Got to add a lift and build the motor. Throw in a big cam and add some headers. I usually ran 3 inch pipe from the headers straight out the back ( I don't think that I have ever bought a muffler).

LOL, Go under a overpass or cross a bridge and the echo will rattle the windows. As far as hitting the throttle at a red light, that's what a clutch is made for.

 

[Sodo]

I do understand the part about revving when downshifting to get the engine speed to match lower gear. Used to do that on the farm trucks without thinking about it.

I do that too, sometimes just for the challenge of getting it just right. I suspect there are some older harleys (and newer beemers ) that downshift with less clunk if you match the RPMS. My motorcycles are quiet.

I doubt many Harley riders even comprehend matching the rpms, they are doing it just to act like a Harley rider. Same as the guys with the diesel pickup owners who leave them idling or warm up forever and make a lot of racket. They are trying to act like they have a big rig with air brakes.

A built Harley with high compression is a wicked sounding engine. I like to hear them sometimes but it can be embarrassing sometimes when I'm around people that know I'm a motorcycle nut,,,,,, and a guy with loud pipes goes by with the throttle wide open.

If loud pipes save lives then think how much more effective an ambulance could be with open headers.

I've also heard it said that "If loud pipes can save lives try to imagine what a helmet and protective riding gear could do."

 

[RobertN]

Rode Harley's for years. Liked them long before Yuppies.

Funny, cause one of the best sounding bikes, was a ~'82 Suzuki GS1000 that was built, running a Kerker header wide open. Acquaintance used to run one at Sacramento Raceway. At 6-8000 rpm, it sounded awesome.

A built Harley with high compression is a wicked sounding engine. I like to hear them sometimes but it can be embarrassing sometimes when I'm around people that know I'm a motorcycle nut,,,,,, and a guy with loud pipes goes by with the throttle wide open.

 

[RobertN]

We're in an area where they sometimes do maximum enforcement of speed limit on Freeway. CHP airplane circles for hours. A quick call to them, they move up 500', and sound is not so annoying.

Although, if motorcycles should have mufflers, so should planes...

I am guessing airplanes can't be made any louder. Only quieter. Most have straight pipes only.

 

[sd455dan]

Matching engine rpm to the speed of the tranny also allows you to shift without using the clutch, thereby saving your throwout bearing

Can't speak for a Harley but on my KZ-1000 there is No throw out bearing... don't believe it has syncros either..

 

[Redneck in training]

We're in an area where they sometimes do maximum enforcement of speed limit on Freeway. CHP airplane circles for hours. A quick call to them, they move up 500', and sound is not so annoying.

Although, if motorcycles should have mufflers, so should planes...

Originally Posted by Redneck in training View Post
I am guessing airplanes can't be made any louder. Only quieter. Most have straight pipes only.
I should have added that they can be made quieter only if there is certified/approved retrofit muffler.