# Why are motorcycles so loud? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 15, 2014, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-loud/695628 "2014-08-15T18:55:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![sbunny8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@sbunny8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sbunny8)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2014, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-loud/695628/81 "2014-08-18T18:02:37Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > Not all areas require DEQ testing of vehicles. Oregon only requires a vehicle to pass DEQ inspection in the greater Portland and Medford areas, none required in the rest of the state. And motorcycles are exempt throughout the state, even in areas that require testing. So, no, the loud pipes on motorcycles do not violate emissions regulations. [http://www.deq.state.or.us/aq/vip/whatstested.htm](http://www.deq.state.or.us/aq/vip/whatstested.htm) I disagree with your logic. Just because they are never tested doesn’t mean that the modification is legal. If it’s illegal to dump toxic waste into the sewer, and the EPA goes around testing the waste water from factories to make sure they aren’t breaking the law, that doesn’t mean it’s legal for me to do it in my own house just because I’ll never get caught. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2014, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-loud/695628/82 "2014-08-18T18:03:57Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Motorcycle enthusiasts believe that loud bikes make them safer; they’re easier to be noticed. A colleague of mine bought a new Harley Davidson last year and the first thing he did was swap the factory mufflers for the rumbling loud ones. He said he couldn’t stand the quiet sound of the factory mufflers. > > I’m not sure what the dirt bike situation is, but you’re right they can sound like a chain saw at full throttle. > > ETA: Personally, for road bikes, I think there’s a lot of dick waving going on when it comes to loud bikes. No, they dont really think that, nor do they. That’s just their excuse. What’s interesting is that they’ll all be deaf by 50. ---
**Author:** ![PorchePine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@PorchePine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PorchePine)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2014, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-loud/695628/83 "2014-08-18T18:06:10Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > Not all areas require DEQ testing of vehicles. Oregon only requires a vehicle to pass DEQ inspection in the greater Portland and Medford areas, none required in the rest of the state. > > And motorcycles are exempt throughout the state, even in areas that require testing. So, no, the loud pipes on motorcycles do not violate emissions regulations. > > [http://www.deq.state.or.us/aq/vip/whatstested.htm](http://www.deq.state.or.us/aq/vip/whatstested.htm) By this logic, I wouldn’t be violating emission regulations if I took the catalytic converter off my car. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2014, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-loud/695628/84 "2014-08-18T18:21:04Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > Bawahahahaha, did not read my posts did ya? > > Show where I said I ride loud. 😛 > Show where I am an Harley diehard. 😛 > > ] Not wanting to go back many years but I think you did defend “Loud Pipes saves Lives” in one thread and in another bragged that you and your gang beat up some woman’s “cage” for having the audacity to pull inside your pack. Or maybe that was someone else…:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2014, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-loud/695628/85 "2014-08-18T18:29:11Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > Not all areas require DEQ testing of vehicles. Oregon only requires a vehicle to pass DEQ inspection in the greater Portland and Medford areas, none required in the rest of the state. The areas subjected to testing like this are typically [NAAQS nonattainment areas](http://www.epa.gov/airquality/greenbook/); because of persistent failures to meet federal air quality standards in these areas, states and/or localities are required to take extra measures to improve air quality, and one of these measures is emissions inspections for individual vehicles. > [@](#): > > And motorcycles are exempt throughout the state, even in areas that require testing. So, no, the loud pipes on motorcycles do not violate emissions regulations. They may be exempted from _testing_, but they are not exempted from compliance with federal rules for noise and criteria pollutant emissions. ---
**Author:** ![SpeedwayRyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@SpeedwayRyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpeedwayRyan)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2014, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-loud/695628/86 "2014-08-18T18:48:44Z")
Guys who own lawn mowers must have really tiny penises too, right? Those things are really loud. ---
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2014, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-loud/695628/87 "2014-08-18T18:53:35Z")
[quote=“md2000, post:80, topic:695628”] or is it the other way around? At the risk of this being turned against me, I take you are a cup is half empty type? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2014, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-loud/695628/88 "2014-08-18T20:30:29Z")
> [@SpeedwayRyan](#): > > Guys who own lawn mowers must have really tiny penises too, right? Those things are really loud. According to this forum, anyone else who has anything bigger/louder/nicer than what they have has a tiny one. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2014, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-loud/695628/89 "2014-08-18T20:49:43Z")
> [@PorchePine](#): > > By this logic, I wouldn’t be violating emission regulations if I took the catalytic converter off my car. Now that might be violating a law, either state or federal, but many car enthusiasts remove the entire stock exhaust on their cars and replace them with headers and a performance exhaust and still get the license renewed. My car is stock. I have owned it for 12 years and the DMV has only seen it once, the initial registration. Every other renewal has been via mail. ---
**Author:** ![staballoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@staballoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/staballoy)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2014, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-loud/695628/90 "2014-08-18T20:52:00Z")
I ride a Honda Shadow Phantom 750 with stock exhaust. It is slightly noisy at idle and a bit throaty on take-off, but not at all noisy when cruising at suburban driving speeds. ---
**Author:** ![sbunny8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@sbunny8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sbunny8)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-loud/695628/91 "2014-08-20T20:54:21Z")
> [@SpeedwayRyan](#): > > Guys who own lawn mowers must have really tiny penises too, right? Those things are really loud. Nope. Unmodified motorcycles are about the same noise level as lawnmowers, around 90 dB. The problem is that bikers intentionally modify their motorcycles to increase the noise into the 100-125 dB range. I have never seen anyone make such a modification of a lawn mower for the purpose of making it louder. But if that were to happen, then yes I’d say the person who did it very well might have an issue which would be better served by talking to a therapist before the police begin issuing citations. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-loud/695628/92 "2014-08-20T20:58:15Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > Now that might be violating a law, either state or federal, but many car enthusiasts remove the entire stock exhaust on their cars and replace them with headers and a performance exhaust and still get the license renewed. It may be possible to apply aftermarket mods to an engine and still have it meet emissions regulations. But it’s far more likely that the emissions just aren’t being checked. That’s certainly the case here in Michigan. Once you buy a car, it’s possible to make it as loud and stinky as you want. Doing so is definitely illegal, but since nobody’s checking up on you, it won’t preclude you from renewing your registration every year. ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-loud/695628/93 "2014-08-20T21:23:40Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > To the outraged posters in this thread. > > It is interesting to me, a rider for over 30 years who has had quiet & loud bikes and who can make a loud bike be quiet by how it is ridden and make a quiet bike very loud by how it is ridden, with all this, I have never had anyone ever come up to me IRL, including LEO’s and complain about noise, attire, bike looks, NADA. > > Where are all the aggrieved people? I figure if you are enough of an asshole that you don’t care about polluting others with your noise then you’re probably enough of an asshole that you wouldn’t mind if my face got in the way of your fist. There sure is some tiny penis butt hurt here. Awwww. ---
**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:** [August 20, 2014, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-loud/695628/94 "2014-08-20T21:38:28Z")
Seriously, I think the last time I used a “tiny penis” joke, I was still a teenager. But hey, more power to ya’. ---
**Author:** ![littlespeedysuperbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@littlespeedysuperbike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/littlespeedysuperbike)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-loud/695628/95 "2014-08-20T23:09:36Z")
I have a friend with a $2500 2002 Yamaha YZF-R6 Stock, it made 95 horsepower on the dynamometer. With the muffler removed, it made 101 horsepower. A 101-horsepower 600 that has a muffler is from after 2007 and is still worth over $5000. Earplugs are cheap. Power is expensive. Four-stroke engines sound dreadful with mufflers. Listen to this Yamaha R1 with several exhaust systems fitted. First comes the stock whiny muffler. Next comes the unsilenced system; the change in that engine’s voice is like it hit puberty. Finally, a less-restrictive muffler was fitted, toning down the sound. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5Qdg\_QRAIA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5Qdg_QRAIA) ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-loud/695628/96 "2014-08-20T23:35:07Z")
> [@littlespeedysuperbike](#): > > Earplugs are cheap. True. We’ll all just wear them so you can ride something that will fool people into thinking your balls have dropped. ---
**Author:** ![PorchePine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@PorchePine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PorchePine)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-loud/695628/97 "2014-08-21T01:14:25Z")
> [@littlespeedysuperbike](#): > > I > Earplugs are cheap. Power is expensive. Four-stroke engines sound dreadful with mufflers. So you’ll buy me some then? > **[Amazon.com: Howard Leight by Honeywell Maximum Disposable Earplugs Box, 200...](https://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-MAX-1-Uncorded-Earplugs/dp/B0013A0C0Y)** > > Product Description Howard Leight by Honeywell Maximum Disposable Foam Earplugs offer the best hearing protection in the workplace of any single-use earplugs (33 NRR). The pre-shaped, contoured foam is designed to fit almost any ear canal... Two boxes a year, I plan on living another sixty years or so…120 boxes of these should do the trick. Should I PM you my shipping address? ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-loud/695628/98 "2014-08-21T04:27:52Z")
> [@Laggard](#): > > I figure if you are enough of an asshole that you don’t care about polluting others with your noise then you’re probably enough of an asshole that you wouldn’t mind if my face got in the way of your fist. > > There sure is some tiny penis butt hurt here. Awwww. Bawahahaha What are you on about here? Where did you get the notion that I am an asshole? I said I have had quiet & loud bikes. that I could make them do things. Did I say I changed anything on them? Did I say I go around being an asshole about noise? Did I say I run up & down the street at 3 am with straight pipes making max noise? Has anyone ever seen me do this? Have I ever said I did? :rolleyes: I said I had all kinds of motorcycles over the years and no one, not my sisters, my priest, my Dad, the police, the state patrol, people in the gas stations, no one has ever said anything to me about noise. In real life. Only on message boards. 😃 So you come into the thread and call me an asshole for something I did not do. And I’m the asshole? :smack: " tiny penis butt hurt " ← I wanna know how you got information, wrong though it be, about my genitals and know that my butt hurts? That sounds really like you need to do a self inspection for a dirty mind. MAAOOY is you motto I think. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-loud/695628/99 "2014-08-21T04:55:16Z")
After 97 posts, I’m sure all the traditional issues have come up. I’ll skip all that, to ask what seems to be the obvious question: If you want to fend off inattentive folks who might pull out in front of you, why do your pipes face the rear? Point the pipes forward, dude! By chance, I witnessed a car/motorcycle crash years ago on a city street. I heard the bike a quarter-mile away, but the driver pulled out in front of it anyway. Luckily, nobody was hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-loud/695628/100 "2014-08-21T05:25:59Z")
> [@AskNott](#): > > By chance, I witnessed a car/motorcycle crash years ago on a city street. I heard the bike a quarter-mile away, but the driver pulled out in front of it anyway. Luckily, nobody was hurt. The driver was probably wearing the earplugs that **littlespeedysuperbike** had sent them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-loud/695628.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-loud/695628.md?page=6)