"Loud Pipes Save Lives"

[eliot-ness]

Love loud bikes. The sound of half a dozen Manx Nortons on full song with Hailwood on the MV howling off into the distance was music to my ears. Blew my eardrums tuning an MV single racer and have been partially deaf ever since. But all that was on the track. On the road I prefer quiet, To hope that someone is going to hear you coming and keep out of your way is like handing a portion of your personal safety to that someone in the hope that he gives a damn. Far better in my mind to take every precaution yourself, make sure you are seen, and antagonise no-one.

On the question of what is loud. My bike produces 93dbls at 100kph approx. The generally accepted level. All modern bikes should have the figure on the vin plate.
However, the accepted level in some U.S. states is only 85dbls. About as noisy as a vacuum cleaner. The Harleys must suffer badly in those states, maybe the after market muffler manufacturers make quick fit baffles for people passing through.
Wonder if the law applies to lawn mowers???

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Better to keep your mouth shut and let everybody think you're a fool than to open it and remove all doubt

[TwoSeven]

Is there any way to check how many dB your pipe is? Or do you need to take it into a bike shop to find out?

There are two types of sound you need to measure - first one is sound level (dB) and is directional. The second method sound power that is non-directional (radiated) and is measured in Bels. There are 10 dB to the bel.

An official way of recording sound level is to measure the bike with a sound measuring device. Its done at half a meter horizontally behind the bike and 45 degrees to the side.

Sound power is done in a special room with lots of sensors. Hence the sound meter form is the most common way of doing it.

In general 50dB is background noise in a room, 80dB is movie theatre volume and 104db is an aircraft taking off. (remember its logarithmic).

As far as I can make out the difference between sound level and power, is that the latter is a pressure wave and the former is just a measurment of resonance (or something like that).

[Motu]

We don't want to go over ''The Great Noise Debate'' again,we did it to death when the Boi Racer Muffler Scare was on.Anyway,I got myself a noisy meter thingy and tested everything that came in the door with the ''official'' noise test you describe - so now I can fail ANY motorcycle and every diesel car on noise...it's no real world test at all.

[phantom]

I'd just like my bike to sound more like how it looks, I know its just a reliable japanese replica of an unreliable british 60's cafe racer, but its got that standard Honda anemic mobility scooter sound and its just not right

[vifferman]

I'd just like my bike to sound more like how it looks, I know its just a reliable japanese replica of an unreliable british 60's cafe racer, but its got that standard Honda anemic mobility scooter sound and its just not right

It should sound like a lightly-muffled megaphone zorst.

[phantom]

yeah thats right, anyone gota free one

[Slim]

Loud Pipes may not save lives, but your average Ducati-ista will have to admit that Loud Clutches DO save lives!


I like fruity exhausts & hate over-loud ones. I was pleased to see the writers distinction of these two states of loudness.


Check out http://www.roadsafety.mccofnsw.org.au/a/40.html for an apparent advocation of LPSL from Aussie, although it too makes a distinction between "loud" and "overly loud" exhausts.

[GSVR]

I just got back from the dentist and while I was waiting read a motoring magazine as you do.

A full page add was about this device called a Shu-Roo that bolted to the front of your vehicle and emited a high fequency noise that scared off wildlife(kangaroos). Claimed to be highly effective with fleet vehicles trucks etc getting them fitted.

[Wolf]

I just got back from the dentist and while I was waiting read a motoring magazine as you do.

A full page add was about this device called a Shu-Roo that bolted to the front of your vehicle and emited a high fequency noise that scared off wildlife(kangaroos). Claimed to be highly effective with fleet vehicles trucks etc getting them fitted.

So all we need is a "Shu-Cage device mounted to the front of the bike that emits a loud "GET OUT OF THE WAY YOU FUCKING USELESS CAGER!"

Where do I get one?

[Ixion]

So all we need is a "Shu-Cage device mounted to the front of the bike that emits a loud "GET OUT OF THE WAY YOU FUCKING USELESS CAGER!"

Where do I get one?

They would not hear it.

[N4CR]

I used to ride around with the rediculously quiet stock zxr pipe. People took every oppertunity to pull out infront of me/crunch me into large solid objects etc etc. Even when I wasn't as noob and started understanding the whole 'distance' thing people still pulled out infront of me or BRAKED HARD and changed lanes .

Three days after mid term break, with me having to take evasive action at least once a day for the three first days of uni.. I decided something. 'Fuck the world, the baffling comes out today'. Did it and have had NO incidents or dangerous 'cager pulling out etc' situations what so ever (3000+kms of riding in 3 months or so). They not only see me (yes it is possible sometimes) but they hear me before they see me now.... works wonders.

I use steel wool and some chicken wire to hold it (steel wool) in for moderating volume/back pressure. - Kiwi ingenuity huh

I see people looking behind them and looking around for where the noise is coming from - it works well. It seems to not be 'rediculously' loud but a *distinctive sound* that people have never heard before, causing interest.

Anyway, highly reccomended, especially if you can keep your stock can like I do for woffing, just in case .

[DingDong]

My pipes pretty loud, but they dont save lives... guys have shot past me at 200 and have scared the living shit outta me, so then I gotta shoot past them at 200 to return the favour... someones gonna lose.

[placidfemme]

There are two types of sound you need to measure - first one is sound level (dB) and is directional. The second method sound power that is non-directional (radiated) and is measured in Bels. There are 10 dB to the bel.

An official way of recording sound level is to measure the bike with a sound measuring device. Its done at half a meter horizontally behind the bike and 45 degrees to the side.

Sound power is done in a special room with lots of sensors. Hence the sound meter form is the most common way of doing it.

In general 50dB is background noise in a room, 80dB is movie theatre volume and 104db is an aircraft taking off. (remember its logarithmic).

As far as I can make out the difference between sound level and power, is that the latter is a pressure wave and the former is just a measurment of resonance (or something like that).

Thank you (I didn't know there were 10dB to one Bel... lol but then again I didn't even know "Bel" existed )

There are no noise restrictions on bikes in New Zealand are there?

[N4CR]

Thank you (I didn't know there were 10dB to one Bel... lol but then again I didn't even know "Bel" existed )

There are no noise restrictions on bikes in New Zealand are there?

Uhh as far as I know 'not on import' but WOF will get ya if you are running some nutty straight thru twin brothers system on a gixxer or something I would say.

Unless you happen to 'know them' heheheh

I got through a roadside WOF check with mine so they can't be that bad.

[Ixion]

Thank you (I didn't know there were 10dB to one Bel... lol but then again I didn't even know "Bel" existed )

There are no noise restrictions on bikes in New Zealand are there?

Yes, I think so, indirectly. There was an enormous discussion a year or so back about it.

There is no specific rule about dB for bikes on the road.

But new bikes to be complied and registered have to comply with various design standards . And those impose a restriction of *(I think ?) 104 dB.

And there is a rule that you must (a) maintain the silencer in good order (and have one!), and (b) any third party zorst must not be noticeably louder than the original , makers one.

So yeah, if you mean can a cop give you a ticket for having a bike that's too noisy, yes, he can. I got a compliance ticket years ago on the Jawa (which had nothing at all in the silencers - unbelievable racket, 350cc two stroke. ). Luckily I had a spare set , rusty but with innards. Had to fit them, ride it round to the snake shop and show him. Also got a warning that if he ever caught me with the noisy set again he'd do me like a snake's dinner.