so deaf old people can hear you

I don't pretend that I know what the scientific answer is to the "do loud pipes really save lives" is, but I can state truthfully that they have saved my butt several times overseas. Passing someone in the left lane and having someone start to ease over in your lane is kind of hairy. Several times, I simply revved my engine with the exhaust bouncing off their rear quarter panel and they quickly swerved back into their lane. I've had to do that several times, and it DID work. Believe it or not. Personally, my pipes are too loud for me but they do serve a function. If you don't like my pipes, then either learn to drive properly, paying attention to bikers or wait until we move out of your area of hearing. If you aren't sleeping, I fail to see what a little noise for a few seconds is going to do for your peace and tranquility. Hey, some of you offend me with your loud speaking when your hearing aid batteries go dead. But, I don't complain. I don't complain when some car drives past with a loud boom box roaring either. It's going to be gone in a few seconds. But, complaining is your prerogative. It's a free country, that I defended in Vietnam, Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom to protect for you. And on a side note, I have never purposely made noise to agitate or irritate anyone. I quietly coast through my neighborhood as much as I can so as not to disturb it's tranquility. I do care for my neighbors, and try to respect their privacy.

What?

Horns are to alert other drivers not loud continuous noise.

Most any straight out exhaust is much louder than a jackhammer at 95db.

Lots of us have fought in Vietnam and other wars. There is complaining or whining about something that is annoying to someone and then there is objecting when laws are being broken. Obviously any bike with straight out pipes is breaking the Florida law...

Florida Statutes, 316.293 (2)

Maximum Sound Level
Manufactured before 1/1/79--82 dBA (35 mph or less); 86dBA (over 35 mph). Manufactured after 1/1/79--78 dBA (35 mph or less); 82 dBA (over 35 mph). Florida Statutes, 316.293 (2)


86dba is the maximum noise allowed in Florida at any speed on any bike.

What does 86dba sound like?

Decibel (Loudness) Comparison Chart
Here are some interesting numbers, collected from a variety of sources, that help one to understand the volume levels of various sources and how they can affect our hearing.

Environmental Noise

Weakest sound heard 0dB
Whisper Quiet Library at 6' 30dB
Normal conversation at 3' 60-65dB
Telephone dial tone 80dB
City Traffic (inside car) 85dB
Train whistle at 500', Truck Traffic 90dB
Jackhammer at 50' 95dB
Subway train at 200' 95dB
Level at which sustained exposure may result in hearing loss 90 - 95dB
Hand Drill 98dB
Power mower at 3' 107dB
Snowmobile, Motorcycle 100dB
Power saw at 3' 110dB
Sandblasting, Loud Rock Concert 115dB
Pain begins 125dB
Pneumatic riveter at 4' 125dB
Even short term exposure can cause permanent damage - Loudest recommended exposure WITH hearing protection 140dB
Jet engine at 100' 140dB
12 Gauge Shotgun Blast 165dB
Death of hearing tissue 180dB
Loudest sound possible 194dB

Yeah, but as usual...
 

the whole point is missed...

It isn't about safety and any maroon knows that. It's about ego. The L.E. contingent love the sound...they like being noticed....they could care less about what others think...have no consideration for others and zero respect for others...if they did then they'd either have a switch to turn it off when not needed, a much louder horn(hmmm, that wouldn't sound as manly) and wear all the safety gear(few of them wear the helmet, leathers, gloves, boots and goggles)....

and the reason you can't hear anything at interstate speed is because your exhaust is to LOUD! Imagine that...

I never said I had straight pipes. I don't. I have a bit of a baffle, but it is still loud. I thought that my comment was reasonable, but some folks are agitated and argue about anything that displeases them. I doubt seriously that a motorcycle passing you on the highway is going to disturb you more than three seconds, so I believe some folks just need something to complain about. Until you ride a motorbike down a highway with the air streaming and nothing to inhibit your view, you don't realize that it is NOT a "hey, look at me" type thing. It's a "wow, what a great feel of freedom" almost like flying. Anyone with a convertible probably gets some of the same feeling.
Someone said we should "grow up". Why? I think being told all your life to grow up, is sufficient. Supporting family, raising children, fighting wars is "growing up". If you haven't experienced the "freedom" of riding a bike, you have no right to comment on it. And I am not speaking specifically to you, but generalizing to those that say "loud pipes don't save lives" when I say you don't know what you are talking about. It may not help in front of you, but it has saved me several times when driving WITH traffic. If you can't take a little noise for a few seconds, then you probably can't take it when the landscaping folks are working in your neighborhood, or a plane flies over, or the train along Rt301 makes it's daily run through the area.
If you think we are all looking for attention, then I guess you are saying the same thing about convertibles, bright red cars, the folks in the squares dancing, etc.

Next time the Christian biker club or the POW biker club comes around doing their charity fund raising, let them know how much you dislike the noise they make with their bikes.

And if any of you want to get indignant about my sharp reply, do yourself a favor and don't get your blood pressure up over someone else having a little enjoyment in the later years of their lives. I think we earned it. Maybe if you cared as much about others as you like to say, then you wouldn't insult some of us with something you don't know anything about. If a few seconds of noise is going to ruin your day, then you are a very unhappy person to begin with.

At about 9am this morning I am going to be cutting some lumber for a project I am working on, in my driveway. I live in Belle Aire so I just want to warn you in case my loud noise might disturb you. Feel free to make a wide circuit around my area.

Have a great day, because I plan to. Now, on to my second cup of coffee.

Must have a cheap car, because in mine, I hardly notice motorcycle noise until they are coming up near me. Doesn't bother me at all. In fact, I enjoy trying to guess at what make bike it is before I see it. Harley has a distinct sound.

I respect your "OPINION" but you hardly speak for all of us. As a matter of fact, I doubt you even know for a fact what others are thinking. You make a statement about "them" not wearing safety gear, and you are almost correct. Florida does not have a helmet law, so many do not wear a helmet. Their prerogative. It shouldn't matter to you, because it will not inhibit your safety, just as someone else not wearing a seat belt will not inhibit your safety. If you knew anything about the Villages motorcycle club you would know that they all wear helmets and have either windshields or goggles. I'm sorry that you don't like motorcycles. I don't care for convertible cars either, but I don't fault or disparage those that have them.

By the way, I wear a helmet whenever I am riding. If it is not too hot, I wear a leather jacket or a durable fabric jacket with elbow and back pads. I don't care if other riders don't wear them, because it doesn't affect my safety. I always wear boots to protect my ankles from the hot engine. Just thought I'd let you know so you would not include me in your label of "any maroon".

Motorcyclists who are at least 21 years old and have a $10,000 medical insurance policy don’t have to wear helmets while operating their bikes.

I guess the state of Florida figures that $10,000 will cover the cost of any head injury.

You obviously don't ride a motorcycle. Wind noise at interstate cruise speed is the loudest thing for the biker. And if you're going to call someone a moron, you should at least spell it correctly. Also, you do realize you just qualified yourself as a "maroon"? Just sayin'

Covers the emergency paperwork for cause and time of death.

You're not including the wind noise right outside your window. If you roll your windows down, you will understand what I mean regarding wind noise. At 1/2 mile behind you, with about 90% of the motorcycle exhaust noise aimed in the other direction, the wind noise at your ears will overwhelm any exhaust noise that far away. Now if you had said the motorcycle noise 1/2 mile away from your house while you were outside sleeping in your hammock could be heard, I would not have challenged you.

So you're saying I should buy a sandblaster to get the girls?:confused:

Good post! It will probably be deleted...

I only had one cup of jo before commenting. I'm getting as bad as the rest of these old codgers. When I first came down here with my brother, I commented that there were a lot of old folks here. He asked me when was the last time I looked in the mirror.