VStarman
Nebraska
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Joined: 10/22/2006
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In Denver, they passed this motorcycle sound law because of property owners complaining of loud bikes in their neighborhoods. The City Council and the cops needed to do something... So this was it!
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Payloader
Denver, Colorado
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Joined: 01/19/2004
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The deal is that there was already a law about how loud you could be. So, now there is no specific decibel level, as far as I know. But, you must have a "stock" exhaust system on your bike with an EPA stamp. This does nothing to keep sould levels down, it may be easier to enforce though. All a cop has to do is see the non-stock pipes and pull you over. I think it's a burdensome law that will require too much money to comply with. Downtown will lose some business, how much remains to be seen. I don't think this one will pass the first challenge. I could be wrong, we'll see. On a more philisophical note, I think it's sad that people need to have laws to coerce them into being considerate of others.
"If you can't be a poet, then be the poem." David Carradine
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Payloader
Denver, Colorado
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And it's not just property owners, it's people in general. Bikers are sometimes property owners too.
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Tommy Tune
Newark, De. 19713
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Joined: 08/12/2004
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I don't like to be disrespectful toward anyone. However, I also want to be safe. Louder pipes are a bit of a safety factor and we need all of the safety factors that we can get while we're riding. People don't pay attention and because bikes are smaller than cars, they're naturally harder to see. We need all the help we can get. That's another reason for me being so adamant about louder pipes. I'm not talking about obnoxiously loud pipes. I just want them to be able to be heard by someone who is on a cell phone or someone who has the radio turned up a bit. Fair enough???
I’m martyr to a motion not my own - Author Unknown
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VStarman
Nebraska
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Tommy, the problem is that your problems are in front of you and your loud pipes are pointed to the rear of you... No way people in front of you are going to hear you coming....
You need a very loud horn! A horn that points it's sound forward.
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Tommy Tune
Newark, De. 19713
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Yeah but you can actually feel it sometimes. I understand what you're saying but that low frequency rumble can be felt. You can't feel or hear anything with stock pipes. I intend on getting a louder horn. It just makes sense.
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Payloader
Denver, Colorado
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Horns only work after something has happened. You don't ride around honking your horn so people will know you are there. But, I have read tests where people in their cars windows up, air on, radio at a reasonable volume did not hear a bike with loud pipes, maybe drag pipes. I have personally not heard a Harley. Also, how a person rides is a big factor. Just yesterday a car in front of me was cut off by a guy who used no turn signals. I went around the car in front of me, she used her signals to get into the same lane I just got into, she looked as she was changing lanes, saw me and stopped moving over. I know she looked saw that the lane was clear, and out of nowhere I appeared. A bike can do that. I have that happen to me. Because I know what that is like I didn't have to get all pissed off. She did everything she was supposed to do, and still could have creamed me. Motorcycles are little short narrow things that alot of times blend into the scenery, they are quick, nimble, and can get into spaces that cars can't. People don't expect them to be somewhere so fast, or at all. Even guys who ride bikes don't always see them. Loud pipes help get you noticed more than real quiet ones, but I don't think that having loud pipes is the cure all to getting noticed on the road. This issue is about personal responsability nothing else, plain and simple!
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scotchian
Dixon, CA
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Joined: 07/28/2005
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So I ride in NorCal where lane splitting is legal. What with a 3-day weekend, my ride this evening from San Francisco to Dixon was brutal. It took about an hour and a half. I'da been in the cage, It'da been 3 hours easy.
On a couple of occassions, I found myself behind riders who were frantically revving their engines to no good effect. I've found getting right in the middle of the rear view mirror with the high beam on gets most folks to give me the few inches I need. The horn works on most of the others.
Here where splitting's legal, there are some basic rules of thumb: Most trucks with union bumper stickers will pull way over and let you through. Convertibles with the top down tend to let you through, top up posers screw with you. Big, fancy SUVs will deliberately try to get in your way. Cops, on or off duty, will always pull over a bit and let you through. Same with anyone with a fire dept "family" sticker in the back window. Anybody with a "W" sticker will deliberately try to kill your ass.
Pickup trucks with Harley decals, strangely, will totally block. Black women, regardless of their ride, same way.
2005 Black Cherry RKC - Naked
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Hawg Man
Lakeland, FL
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Joined: 10/26/2006
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Why ride a Harley?
Look, if you're going to ride a Harley wanna-be look-alike bike, all your buddies are gonna know you took the cheap way out anyway.
So why not get off the extra bucks, buy the Harley you really want, and show everybody you're willing to step up and ride the real deal instead of a clone with poor resale value? 
I see 'em every Saturday, buncha dudes (and dudettes) hangin at the local H-D dealership, guys on non Harleys, wearing Harley T-shirts and riding sumpin else.
WTF is up with THAT? 
"$15,000, a new leather jacket, and 15 miles under your butt doesn't make you a biker."
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Tommy Tune
Newark, De. 19713
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I don't think that I've even been inside of a dealer for what's been well over a year now.
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