Do you ride a motorcycle and go out of your way to make it loud?

[Silent3]

Modifying the exhaust system? Revving the engine for no good reason other than making more noise?

If so, you're an asshole.

That is all.

[arcane1]

1. I'm on the 11th floor and they echo like crazy. It's second only to the Blue Angels in loudness.

[orleans]

2. no...no i don't. n/t

[NYC_SKP]

3. I would like to see noise ordinances enacted and enforced. Bumper heights, too, and stereo systems.

Some of these already exist but simply aren't enforced.

It seems to be a matter of community standards, where my new house is people don't litter or leave their carts in the parking lot.

And they pick up their dog poop and they say hello.

But there is still the occasional biker on a loud bike or a big truck.

[Tobin S.]

4. Many motorcyclists claim that the noise is for added protection.

In other words, if you can hear them well, you are more likely to be aware of them and not run them over. I don't know if there have been any studies conducted on the matter to show if that is true or not.

What I can say for sure is that you will never find me on a motorcycle. In my time as a trucker, I've seen some horrific accidents involving motorcycles. If you crash on the highway on one of those things, you are probably going to die.

[Silent3]

5. Judging from the way the noisiest riders ride...

...safety is not their highest priority.

When they slow down, wear bright colors instead of black leather, and wear their helmets... maybe then I'll buy the noise/safety thing.

[Tobin S.]

7. 10-4.

That's the excuse, anyway. I think a lot of them do it because they think it's badass.

[Hoyt]

6. I think they want recognition. but not for that. The guy who blips his throttle at traffic light

while your windows are down on a beautiful day is just another jerk.

[edgineered]

8. As a motorcycle mechanic

I see more difference in the individuals who ride them than I do in the very low number of different motorcycles.

There are some bikers who will always say how bad the cars are. These are the ones that get some friendly safety advice from me. Its usually telling them they know the cars are bigger and don't always see them, but you are the one who knows this. I won't go on with it, but do also want to say something about a neighbor I had.

My neighbor would call the sheriff's to complain about the ice cream truck. Someone upthread reminded me of that when he mentioned that big ice cream truck that disturbed his very own piece of the planet.

[In_The_Wind]

9. I don't roll on the throttle. Does that really prove I'm not an asshole?

[Silent3]

11. Sorry, it only rules out one possible reason for being one. :) n/t

[In_The_Wind]

13. ___

[sharp_stick]

10. Yes they are n/t

[Jamaal510]

12. One of my neighbors

has a noisy motorcycle, and it used to annoy the Hell out of me especially when I'm taking afternoon naps. I always hated how he parked in the same exact spot outside my apartment. After a while, though, I got used to it and I try to ignore the noise.

[Kaleva]

14. I have playing cards hitting the spokes of my bike.

I like being an asshole but don't have the money for a motorcycle so I do what I can with what I got.

[csziggy]

15. You should upgrade to Trotify!

http://www.trotify.com/

[edgineered]

16. Yea! I want one

or should that be, neigh, I want one, eh?

[Silent3]

18. I had to send this to my horse-riding niece...

...to tell her she doesn't need all the trouble and expense of keeping a horse any more.

[Kaleva]

19. Cool!!

[steve2470]

17. I used to live near a major highway in the Daytona Beach area

At least twice a year, I dreaded bike weeks. Super loud motorcycles you could hear for blocks. I pity the people who bought houses near those roads. I'd rather live in the woods than (permanently) near one of those highways.

[LiberalElite]

21. I had a friend in the DB area -

she stayed indoors for all of bike week. (She was retired.) My friend HATED motorcycles and the way the operators drove between cars instead of staying in a lane.

[steve2470]

22. totally get that

Bike Weeks are like an invading army, truly. The loud pipes herald the black-clad throngs. I was so f****** glad when they finally left town, for a while. Now I live far from there, and I'm very glad of it.

[raven mad]

20. The answer to your first question is, yes, I ride a motorcycle -

instead of being rude, could you not have made it two questions? My bike isn't loud - it could be, but it's not. I'm considerate of my neighbors.

Many towns have noise ordinances; if you have a problem with noise, check and see - sometimes all it takes is a quick LEO visit.

My biggest objection is to the assholes that pull up in the drive at 3 a.m. with their car stereos cranked to the max and the bass so loud it feels like an earthquake.

[Silent3]

24. I formed my question like that precisely to make it clear that my only problem...

...is with someone who answers yes to both parts of the questions.

I suppose someone might not ride, but might help make other people's bikes louder... and that would make someone an asshole with only one "yes"

[edgineered]

33. What a shallow attitude.

Would you also think that a vet treating a pit bull, if you don't like pit bulls, is an asshole also?

How about those who teach their kids how to play cards if you are against gambling?

Someone bringing their bike to my shop might think I was an asshole if I told him that I don't like his choice of tires. I could end up pretty a very hungry asshole.

I do understand where you are coming from though. Some bikers, and I am saying some, not all, make bad decisions and deliberately annoy people with thinks like loud pipes. But to call someone like me an asshole because I make a living working on motorcycles is wrong (and I don't think that was your intent either - just saying...)

[Silent3]

34. Even people who don't like pit bulls probably don't want pit bulls to suffer.

The analogy isn't a good one. I have sympathy for animals. I don't have sympathy for motorcycles, as if a motorcycle were suffering and it's only way to find relief were to be someone helping it be louder.

Card games also aren't a good analogy, as the can, and often are, played without any money changing hands.

Making a motorcycle louder is making it louder, which does precious little other than make the motorcycle more obnoxious than it otherwise has to be, with only a very weak case that can possibly be made for slightly increasing performance.

[edgineered]

35. OK,

another reason I don't like fundies as friends or neighbors.

[JVS]

23. Noise saves lives.

[Silent3]

25. The kind of "vrroooom VRROOOOMMM...

VRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM... LOOK AT ME!!!! LOOK AT WHAT A KEWL BIKER DUDE I AM!!!!!!!

...noise that I'm talking about is way, way, WAY beyond anything necessary or helpful for safety. Until such noise makers are also wearing their helmets and safety orange instead of black leather, I'm calling BS on noise-for-safety rationalizations.

[JVS]

27. And until drivers of cars are not busy texting, eating, and all kinds of stupid shit that makes...

sound the only way to gain their attention them, your call of bs is crap.

[Silent3]

29. If a person is truly worried about safety because of all of that texting, eating, etc...

...going on around them, then why choose only the most obnoxious supposed "safety" measure, not bothering with others measures, and take that one selective measure to a level well above and beyond anything needed to send a clear "I am here" signal?

[Taitertots]

36. The must be a mountain of data showing that louder bikes are safer

I've yet to see anyone produce anything tying bike noise with increased safety.

[liberal N proud]

26. The say it is so you can hear them and it is for safety - I say bullshit

The only place that I hear them is when I am sitting in my living room or on the patio out back of my house.

I never hear a loud motorcycle when sitting in my car with the windows closed and the radio on.

I totally agree with your assessment!

[JVS]

28. "I never hear a loud motorcycle when sitting in my car with the windows closed and the radio on."

That's why cyclists need to be even louder.

[liberal N proud]

32. So they can be deaf and everyone else too

Then no one will hear them!

[Inkfreak]

30. I'm not much of a fan of bikes, myself.

A bit noisy for my tastes. But I get that folks like em. I was in Myrtle Beach during bike week once. That was LOUD!!

[Silent3]

31. If they save indulging their love of noise...

...for "bike week", at specific gatherings, or for when they are a good way away from annoying other people, that's fine with me.