# Harley Davidson's Motorcycles are Too Damn Loud! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 3, 2002, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harley-davidsons-motorcycles-are-too-damn-loud/135139 "2002-11-03T22:27:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chubbs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Chubbs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chubbs)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harley-davidsons-motorcycles-are-too-damn-loud/135139/1 "2002-11-03T22:27:41Z")
For God sakes put a freekin muffler that works. Nothing worse than at 3 a.m. some biker dude waking the kids because he wants to be cool. I honestly don’t see why noise is so cool. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harley-davidsons-motorcycles-are-too-damn-loud/135139/2 "2002-11-03T23:43:24Z")
Two words: Water balloons. ---
**Author:** ![roadrunner70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@roadrunner70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roadrunner70)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harley-davidsons-motorcycles-are-too-damn-loud/135139/3 "2002-11-04T00:13:34Z")
Don’t blame Harley Davidson. The stock bikes are not that loud. When the owners yank out the baffles, or put on aftermarket exhaust systems, then, they get loud. The most common argument is “loud pipes save lives”, and that may be true, but I think it comes down to attention. Everybody loves attention, some through message boards, some through loud pipes, some by becoming snipers and killing innocent people. The squeaky wheel gets the grease, and all that… Chubbs, you have my sympathies, but really, there’s not a whole lot that can be done about it. A lot of cops are bikers, and won’t mess with a noisy biker, at least around here anyway. On the plus side, we had a food/toy rally here in Charlotte today, over 650 bikes, 1000 bikers, donating toys and food to the needy. They may be noisy, but their hearts are in the right place. But once again, it’s not H-D’s fault. jjtm, irresponsible comments such as yours don’t help a thing. I’m hoping it was an attempt at humor, but trust me, it wasn’t funny. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harley-davidsons-motorcycles-are-too-damn-loud/135139/4 "2002-11-04T01:05:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by superbee \* > \*\*. On the plus side, we had a food/toy rally here in Charlotte today, over 650 bikes, 1000 bikers, donating toys and food to the needy. They may be noisy, but their hearts are in the right place. > \*\* They raise money for the Children’s Hospital here in Sydney too. Then they go back to manufacturing speed, selling heroin, and shooting people. I know that’s an awful generalisation, but a lot of them have complete disregard for society, and if I were a cop, I’d be ticketing 'em. ---
**Author:** ![roadrunner70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@roadrunner70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roadrunner70)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harley-davidsons-motorcycles-are-too-damn-loud/135139/5 "2002-11-04T01:17:43Z")
I do believe the OP was about loud pipes. I was trying to provide an insiders viewpoint, although I did stray a bit. If you have a problem with bikers, I suggest you start another thread. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harley-davidsons-motorcycles-are-too-damn-loud/135139/6 "2002-11-04T01:26:53Z")
I don’t have a problem with bikers. Most of them are good people. I do have a problem with those bikers who feel they are above the law. These are the ones, in my experience, who tend to have the loud pipes. I just wonder how they can get away with it when a car with a fraction of that noise would be ticketed by the first cop who sees it. You might not be experienced in trying to get small children to sleep. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harley-davidsons-motorcycles-are-too-damn-loud/135139/7 "2002-11-04T05:22:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TheLoadedDog \* > \*\* > They raise money for the Children’s Hospital here in Sydney too. Then they go back to manufacturing speed, selling heroin, and shooting people. > \*\* 😃 I dunno how much the ‘outlaw’ bikers are involved in the Toy Run’s **Loaded**. From what I can gather, it is bikIES who make up the bulk of the volunteers, leaving the hard-core gang members to their amphetamine production. Unfortunately, anyone who rides a two-wheeler gets kudos after the fundraising, despite their other less-savoury activities… ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harley-davidsons-motorcycles-are-too-damn-loud/135139/8 "2002-11-04T08:53:06Z")
Loud pipes is a safety feature? Yeah f’ing right. Should we all install loudass engines in all our cars to ward off wayward deer and pedestrians? > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by superbee \* > \*\*jjtm, irresponsible comments such as yours don’t help a thing. I’m hoping it was an attempt at humor, but trust me, it wasn’t funny. \*\* It was an attempt at humor, and, I would hope obviously, not meant to be taken seriously. You don’t think it’s funny, but hey, you can’t please everyone. The comment may not have helped but levity never hurts in Pit threads such as this, no? ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harley-davidsons-motorcycles-are-too-damn-loud/135139/9 "2002-11-04T09:08:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by superbee \* > The most common argument is “loud pipes save lives” Har, har - thanks for the laugh. > [@](#): > > , and that may be true, but I think it comes down to attention. I think you hit the nail on the head: Notice me! I’m ever so cool. I’ll say this for the Harley crowd, though: at least they don’t drive as idiotically as some of those buttholes on their “rice-rockets”. ---
**Author:** ![j\_kat\_251](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/71c47a/32.png) [@j\_kat\_251](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j_kat_251)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harley-davidsons-motorcycles-are-too-damn-loud/135139/10 "2002-11-04T11:03:48Z")
Innit crotch-rocket? And a boxy import car is a rice-burner, often shortened to ‘ricer’. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harley-davidsons-motorcycles-are-too-damn-loud/135139/11 "2002-11-04T12:52:00Z")
[biker checking in] Uh… anybody that says loud pipes don’t save lives, obviously doesn’t ride a bike. As a bike rider I can’t tell you how many morons have practically ran me the fuck over becuase they didn’t see me comming. So if I can help prevent that by even just a little bit by throwing on some loud pipes then I’m gonna do so. Lets see…wheigh the options here: Save poor whiney peoples eardrums and get ran over… or… Put loud pipes on and have a little more piece of mind… Hmmm… yep seems like a pretty easy choice to me. And hey if it makes me look cool to my fellow bikers then thats just gravy. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harley-davidsons-motorcycles-are-too-damn-loud/135139/12 "2002-11-04T13:04:50Z")
“All sane men hate noise” - Mark Twain ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harley-davidsons-motorcycles-are-too-damn-loud/135139/13 "2002-11-04T13:08:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SHAKES \* > Lets see…wheigh the options here: > > Save poor whiney peoples eardrums and get ran over… > > or… > > Put loud pipes on and have a little more piece of mind… I vote for the first option. ---
**Author:** ![EchoKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@EchoKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EchoKitty)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harley-davidsons-motorcycles-are-too-damn-loud/135139/14 "2002-11-04T14:01:58Z")
Loud pipes DO save lives. And they sound cool. It’s a Two-fer. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harley-davidsons-motorcycles-are-too-damn-loud/135139/15 "2002-11-04T14:33:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TheLoadedDog \* > \*\* > They raise money for the Children’s Hospital here in Sydney too. Then they go back to manufacturing speed, selling heroin, and shooting people. > \*\* Goddamn! I used to have a Harley, with loud pipes, and I never got to shoot people! I must have missed the memo, since I never manufactured any sort of illegal drug. \ I always miss out on the good stuff… ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harley-davidsons-motorcycles-are-too-damn-loud/135139/16 "2002-11-04T15:15:25Z")
I drive a beat-up Suzuki, and I’ve also got a Yamaha scoot (hey, it’s good for the city, and my wife can ride it too, meaning we don’t need a car). When exactly do loud pipes save your life? From being sideswiped-- heck, you should know better than to be in someone’s blind spot. And honking works well when this has happened to me. From having an oncoming driver turn in front of you? You should expect this behaviour because drivers misjudge distance. Then again, I was trained to slow down in this situation. Loud pipes just annoy **EVERYONE** in the vicinity, and create hatred for you and other bikers. Want legislation to make motorbikes illegal-- then just keep on riding on your LOUD PIPES. Me, I can’t stand ricers with their coffee can exhausts-- and people who hear them and think it’s a biker. ---
**Author:** ![carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrot)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harley-davidsons-motorcycles-are-too-damn-loud/135139/17 "2002-11-04T15:16:08Z")
> [@](#): > > **Originally posted by SHAKES** > Save poor whiney peoples eardrums and get ran over… > > or… > > Put loud pipes on and have a little more piece of mind… Must be a very _small_ piece. > [@](#): > > **Originally posted by minty green** > I vote for the first option. I’m with you. Actually, I really LOVE being awakened on a Sunday morning by the sweet, sweet melody of some asshole revving his goddamn motorcycle loud enough to crack glass in the parking lot of my fucking apartment building. Lucky he has those ‘loud pipes’, really. Don’t know what he’d do if he couldn’t ruin my morning every weekend. ---
**Author:** ![EchoKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@EchoKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EchoKitty)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harley-davidsons-motorcycles-are-too-damn-loud/135139/18 "2002-11-04T17:08:51Z")
Loud pipes don’t annoy everyone. Just you. Get over it. It’s not like it goes on as long as some asshole mowing his lawn for an hour or two. ---
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harley-davidsons-motorcycles-are-too-damn-loud/135139/19 "2002-11-04T17:20:41Z")
Loud pipes seem to annoy alot of people. Even others that drive HDs. (yes, I am talking to you Echokitty) So it is not just Him. What I just LOVE is those assholes that pull up beside me, slow down, slip the gear into neutral, REV the fucking engine really loud next to my eardrum, while I have my window down, give me a look, and then drive off. Makes me WANT to run the inconsiderate person off the road. Loud pipes at night are not a monopoly held by Bikers though. I just adore those small dicked, large truck driving assholes with glasspacks on their trucks, doing 50 mph in a residental area, making as much noise as possible. (shaking my windows) ---
**Author:** ![Macro\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Macro\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Macro_Man)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harley-davidsons-motorcycles-are-too-damn-loud/135139/20 "2002-11-04T18:13:38Z")
I can’t believe everyone’s overlooked the fact that an unrestricted exhaust makes more power, everything else being equal. This is probably the primary reason anyone fiddles with the exhaust on any vehicle. Remove the muffler baffles, pick up a couple horses in a HD. This is cheap, effective hotrodding. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harley-davidsons-motorcycles-are-too-damn-loud/135139.md?page=2)