# Why are motorcycles so much louder than cars? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 23, 2016, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888 "2016-04-23T12:27:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/41 "2016-04-25T07:00:09Z")
If the lovely sound of a Harley from far away makes your vajayjay hurt I strongly recommend you not come to Milwaukee! Hearing that sound from a distance is soothing and relaxing. Like the sound of thunder on a rainy spring night. Or a slow moving train rumbling down the tracks. It is not the same as some slob snorting his Hog outside your house at 3 in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/42 "2016-04-25T07:21:49Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > If only they could inevent a device that makes noise _only when necessary_. Maybe some electrically powered device activated by a button. I’m talking about making _some_ noise almost all of the time so cars and pedestrians don’t just pull out / walk in front of you. When I sense someone is about to do that of course I tap the horn but it’s added safety for people to be generally more aware of me. And I’m in a good position to say this. I actually ride an _electric_ bike. It’s basically silent, which I found to be dangerous. Cars would turn across me all the time and pedestrians would walk out in front of me even if I thought they had been looking in my direction. So I got a device fitted that makes noise when the throttle is on. It’s still much, much quieter than a typical motorcycle, and it’s sure as hell not going to disturb people in their homes, but it helps other road users be more aware of me (though I still need to use the horn sometimes of course). I picked my words very carefully in my previous post. I said I _didn’t_ condone loud exhausts, but making _some_ noise can be beneficial. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/43 "2016-04-25T12:51:57Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > If the lovely sound of a Harley from far away makes your vajayjay hurt I strongly recommend you not come to Milwaukee! There are plenty here in Connecticut, and they travel in packs. > [@pkbites](#): > > …Hearing that sound from a distance is soothing and relaxing. In your opinion. :rolleyes: > [@pkbites](#): > > …Like the sound of thunder on a rainy spring night. Or a slow moving train rumbling down the tracks. Ah, we should accept loud Harleys just like natural phenomena or heavy rail. At least the rail traffic generally stays on the tracks and doesn’t cruise around randomly on weekends. 😉 > [@pkbites](#): > > …It is not the same as some slob snorting his Hog outside your house at 3 in the morning. OK, so even if we take your words at face value, you admit that Harleys are annoying “outside your house at 3 in the morning.” What about the next lane over? What about multiple groups of them riding by my house on a weekend? Or riding down Main Street in my small town? Or roaring by the small cafe my wife and I are eating in on a Sunday afternoon? At what distance does a Harley magically go from being aggravating to annoying to allegedly “soothing and relaxing?” Can you promise to keep that distance from everyone else at all times? :rolleyes: Or maybe you could just stop inflicting your noise on the rest of the world. There’s no need for motorcycle riders to modify their bikes to be as loud as they are. Modern life is loud enough without motorcycle riders intentionally adding to the din. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/44 "2016-04-25T13:33:12Z")
sure, so long as you also go after anyone who has put a louder exhaust on their car, or 18 wheelers with straight pipes as their Jake brakes go “rat-tat-tat-tat-tat” or anyone whose car stereo you can hear from more than 10 feet away, etc… ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/45 "2016-04-25T13:34:06Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > Been stopped on my bike many times because of how I looked or what I wore. Never for noise. Many times? What is it about your appearance that is causing these stops? ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/46 "2016-04-25T13:49:38Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > sure, so long as you also go after anyone who has put a louder exhaust on their car, or 18 wheelers with straight pipes as their Jake brakes go “rat-tat-tat-tat-tat” or anyone whose car stereo you can hear from more than 10 feet away, etc… Yep, I’m fine with all of that. There are (in most areas) ordinances that cover each of those types of noise pollution. The problem is enforcement, as most police officers see noise control as low on their list of things to do. I’m a rider, so I have a different reason for disliking loud exhausts. Simply, they make motorcyclists look bad. I don’t have loud pipes on my bike, but other jack-holes that do give the public an impression of motorcyclists that I, in turn, get painted with. And there is no real reason for loud pipes. No study has ever shown that they really do 'save lives", and as for performance, I’ll put my stock piped bike up against your average Harley anytime. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/47 "2016-04-25T13:50:00Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Many times? What is it about your appearance that is causing these stops? [Hint.](http://www.nouilles.info/sdpix/33.html) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/48 "2016-04-25T13:52:45Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > If the lovely sound of a Harley from far away makes your vajayjay hurt I strongly recommend you not come to Milwaukee! > > Hearing that sound from a distance is soothing and relaxing. Like the sound of thunder on a rainy spring night. Or a slow moving train rumbling down the tracks. It is not the same as some slob snorting his Hog outside your house at 3 in the morning. Even in the Hog drenched environs of Milwaukee, not every one agrees with you. [http://urbanmilwaukee.com/2014/09/02/murphys-law-the-unbearable-loudness-of-harley-hogs/](http://urbanmilwaukee.com/2014/09/02/murphys-law-the-unbearable-loudness-of-harley-hogs/) ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/49 "2016-04-25T14:11:16Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > And there is no real reason for loud pipes. No study has ever shown that they really do 'save lives", and as for performance, I’ll put my stock piped bike up against your average Harley anytime. 😃 yeah yeah yeah, we know. Harleys aren’t sportbikes and nobody believes they are. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/50 "2016-04-25T14:19:03Z")
Intentionally LOUD bikes are nearly as bad as those folks that purposely feed deisel? fuel into their exhaust to “protest” global warming or Obama or something. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/51 "2016-04-25T14:21:50Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Intentionally LOUD bikes are nearly as bad as those folks that purposely feed deisel? fuel into their exhaust to “protest” global warming or Obama or something. rolling coal. and on a scale of badness, I’d say rolling coal is way worse. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/52 "2016-04-25T14:29:24Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Intentionally LOUD bikes are nearly as bad as those folks that purposely feed deisel? fuel into their exhaust to “protest” global warming or Obama or something. It’s called [“rolling coal”](http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2014/07/rolling_coal_conservatives_who_show_their_annoyance_with_liberals_obama.html), and that can be much worse - some of them have side exhaust that can target other cars, cyclists, pedestrians, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/53 "2016-04-25T14:35:42Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > Harleys aren’t sportbikes and nobody believes they are. We know they aren’t sport bikes. The question isn’t what they aren’t, but rather what they are. I’ve been into motorcycles for over 40 years and I’ve never seen what the appeal of Harley Davidson’s products is supposed to be. Loud seems to be mostly what they are selling. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/54 "2016-04-25T14:42:16Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > We know they aren’t sport bikes. The question isn’t what they aren’t, but rather what they are. I’ve been into motorcycles for over 40 years and I’ve never seen what the appeal of Harley Davidson’s products is supposed to be. Loud seems to be mostly what they are selling. I’ve ridden BMWs which are mostly quiet. I like Harleys but have never owned one. Loud pipes annoy me (sometimes they piss me off). Especially when stopped, like at a light, and the rider keeps blipping the throttle. LOUDLY. Funny thing is, I once borrowed a Harley with stock pipes, and the rhytmic thumping of the V twin motor with single pin crank has a nice and distinctive sound like “potato potato potato potato potato potato”. At stop lights I found myself blipping the throttle. And liking it. Hmm, maybe there’s a Harley in my future. With stock pipes. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/55 "2016-04-25T14:42:17Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > We know they aren’t sport bikes. The question isn’t what they aren’t, but rather what they are. I’ve been into motorcycles for over 40 years and I’ve never seen what the appeal of Harley Davidson’s products is supposed to be. Loud seems to be mostly what they are selling. You know so little. There are plenty of other appealing features to Harleys. For instance they also shake enough to loosen your teeth and the repairs and parts cost a small fortune. The only downside is that everyone thinks you’re really cool. ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/56 "2016-04-25T14:46:51Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > yeah yeah yeah, we know. > > Harleys aren’t sportbikes and nobody believes they are. My bike isn’t a sport bike either. It’s a sport TOURING bike. So a bike made for the open road, for touring. Like supposedly Harleys are made for. Smaller displacement than most “real Harleys”, and much quieter. It’s a better touring bike than a Harley, and a better performer. My point is, you don’t need a loud motorcycle to have a powerful, capable bike. It’s just that you like the noise. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/57 "2016-04-25T14:48:32Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > My bike isn’t a sport bike either. It’s a sport TOURING bike. So a bike made for the open road, for touring. Like supposedly Harleys are made for. Smaller displacement than most “real Harleys”, and much quieter. It’s a better touring bike than a Harley, and a better performer. My point is, you don’t need a loud motorcycle to have a powerful, capable bike. > > It’s just that you like the noise. I don’t have a loud exhaust on my Dyna. try again. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/58 "2016-04-25T14:52:23Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Whining about the sweet visceral notes of a Harley cruising down the road is just being a puss. > [@pkbites](#): > > If the lovely sound of a Harley from far away makes your vajayjay hurt I strongly recommend you not come to Milwaukee! **Moderator Warning** **pkbites** , you know that insults are not permitted in General Questions. The sexist nature of the insults doesn’t help matters. Since these remarks are clearly directed at other posters this is an official warning. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/59 "2016-04-25T14:55:06Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > You know so little. There are plenty of other appealing features to Harleys. For instance they also shake enough to loosen your teeth and the repairs and parts cost a small fortune. The only downside is that everyone thinks you’re really cool. In their defense, the AMF days are long gone and they’ve been building a good machine. For many years now. Back in the 1980s the running joke (okay, one of the many) was that if you owned a Harley you also needed to own a pickup. And, you’d often see them broken down on the road side from time to time. But not much any more, right? ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/60 "2016-04-25T15:02:44Z")
Reminds me of the South Park episode “The F word” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888.md?page=4)