Opinion: Good Bikes, Loud Pipes
Aug 15th, 2008 by Leo
It’s Friday night and all the squids are out, so it’s a good time to get on my little soap box and talk about something kind-of serious. No it’s not life and death, I’m not going to talk about biker safety… But it does have to do with life. In particular, life in the city, my city (NY)… Here it goes:
Bikes (motorcycles and scooters) are good for cities. That’s why the most densely populated cities around the world are literally filled with scooters and motorcycles. The U.S. however has been in love with the automobile, which is fine, but it’s time we became more open minded. …Bicycles are good too, but totally incompatible with automobiles to be practical (bicycles are too slow to keep up with traffic, and too fast when lane splitting to keep up momentum). Then why is the most obvious solution to the city’s congestion problem shunned by government officials?
Part of the problem is ignorance. Many people just grew up with mothers who were scared of motorcycles and forbid their children to have them. These folks grow up and go into government and try to do what they think is best for people…so they make it hard for people to own and ride motorcycles. They want motorcycles to be “recreational vehicles” for people in the suburbs while they ride around in government subsidized SUVs (which they consider “safe” even though it’s much more likely to kill passengers in other cars). The rise in motorcycle fatalities just confirm this bias, encouraging them to make it even harder to own and ride bikes in the city. What they don’t take into account is that these motorcycle fatalities tend to be from recreational riders and not the daily commuters from Brooklyn or Queens. It’s the commute-to-work crowd that help reduce congestion and carbon emissions in the city, while not being a danger to others or themselves.
But that’s only part of the answer. Another part, I think that is relevant to us (which is just my opinion) is two words: Loud Pipes… Loud pipes are part of a suburban biker subculture… Who doesn’t like the growl of a loud v-twin? Who doesn’t like the sound of an R1 with an aftermarket exhaust screaming like a F1 race car? I love these sounds, it’s part of the joy of riding motorcycles… BUT I don’t like hearing it from my window late at night or early in the morning. Even scooters with aftermarket pipes can sound really obnoxious late at night. People don’t really hear you coming, (because of the direction the exhausts are facing and the way sound travels) they only hear you after you pass (unless you’re going really really slow). The power gain in aftermarket pipes is negligible for the street. And if your bike sounds good loud, chances are it still sounds good with your OEM exhaust, just quieter.
Part of living in a city is that we have to learn to share space with other people in close proximity. Bikes are really good at that, but loud pipes are not. Loud pipes say, “this bike is a toy.” Loud pipes say, “there is no way for these things to coexist with pedestrians.” Loud pipes invade other people’s space in a way that makes some of them want to get rid of us.
Okay – just my opinion. I’m not saying it’s any more or less important than your opinion – so let me know what you think.
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There was a time not too long ago that I would agree with you whole heartedly. Stock pipes are the way to go. Polite, indiscrete commuting is the right way.
But more and more I am starting to notice that you could tip toe around the general public and they would still dislike motorcycles. yes, I used to be the polite person, with a quiet bike and bright clothing, but in general city riding will force to realize that if your going to ride a motorcycles-people will hate you even when you do things right. It is always your fault.
Respectfully, the whole I’m sleeping at night or its early in the morning is an excellent argument if you live in Nassau county, but it goes out the window if you choose to live in NYC. Its akin to people who live downtown and then complain about the late night bar noises. ( I live by the GWB-All I hear is harleys echoing all day-so i understand)
I agree with the post. Loud pipes rationalized as a safety precaution is BS…the inattentive drivers have their stereos on / cell phones in their ear anyway, and the dangerous ones don’t care anyway.
I don’t think it’s a matter of “tip-toeing” around the general public either, it’s a matter of not being a jerk! Not to mention that you’re spending money on something that usually pollutes more (noise is a form of pollution too, but that’s not what I’m referring to here), gives you nearly NO performance benefit, and annoys the heck out of your neighbors.
I live in Brooklyn, and yes, I hear bar noises and garbage trucks and diesel delivery trucks…but by far the most annoying sound coming through my window is the idiot that lives on the next block who rides a harley with aftermarket pipes. He annoys the piss out of me…and I ride a motorcycle too!
You are right people don’t hear you coming from behind, but they do when you are next to them, in their blind spots. My loud pipe tells them I’m right next to their big SUVs, don’t cut me off until I pass.