# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![sweat209](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@sweat209](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweat209)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/101 "2016-04-29T08:41:21Z")
> [@robby](#): > > As has been discussed repeatedly on this thread, the reason that motorcycles are so loud is not because the engine is out in the open. The reason they are loud is because many motorcycle riders like loud bikes. To please their customers, many manufacturers (such as Harley Davidson) build their motorcycles to be as loud as legally possible with the factor-installed muffler in place. The dealers and/or customers then often replace or even entirely remove the factory-installed muffler, making the motorcycle even louder. > > To say that “Nothing really can be done that just way engines and motors are” is disingenuous at best. Virtually all motorcycles are relatively quiet with their factory-installed mufflers installed. Granted, some are quieter than others–compare a Harley to a Honda Gold Wing, but nobody would be complaining if motorcycle riders would just leave the factory-installed muffler in place. A muffler is still other way of masking the sound. ---
**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 29, 2016, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/102 "2016-04-29T08:50:56Z")
> [@cornflakes](#): > > I’m pretty sure that the factory jetting on modern bikes is on the lean side to control emissions, and blipping the throttle is mostly done for fun. I’m pretty sure most bikes these days have fuel injection. I only see carbs on the entry level sub-250cc bikes from the Japanese makers. ---
**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:** [April 29, 2016, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/103 "2016-04-29T11:49:46Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > I’m pretty sure most bikes these days have fuel injection. I only see carbs on the entry level sub-250cc bikes from the Japanese makers. This. You have to have an awfully small bike to be able to meet the grams-per-mile emissions regs while using a carburetor these days. Morover, the injected bikes often employ a 3-way catalytic converter, which requires closed-loop mixture control in order to keep the mixture dithering very closely around stoichiometric. No reason to blip the throttle. > [@GusNSpot](#): > > I can make a stock Goldwing be your worst nightmare if I am so inclined sitting beside you at waiting for a light. That would be quite a challenge; ISTM most of the noise would be gear/belt-related, with very little coming from the exhaust - and the only reason you’d notice the former is because the latter was so faint. It would be like revving a Honda Accord. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/104 "2016-04-29T11:58:52Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > I can make a stock Goldwing be your worst nightmare if I am so inclined sitting beside you at waiting for a light. Really? Explain, please. ---
**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 29, 2016, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/105 "2016-04-29T14:49:16Z")
Seems as though he can be a terrible neighbor if he wanted to be. Which to me seems quite likely. Any engine can be made loud. Remove the exhaust pipes, start there. ---
**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:** [April 29, 2016, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/106 "2016-04-29T15:09:41Z")
\< veg \> 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/107 "2016-04-29T15:24:41Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Any engine can be made loud. Remove the exhaust pipes, start there. If you take the pipe off, then it isn’t a stock Gold Wing, is it? I read his boast as he can, somehow, make a normally equipped Gold Wing loud while sitting at a traffic light. I am curious as to how he does that. Or rather, I am curious how he does that without damaging a bike that costs thousands of dollars. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/108 "2016-04-29T16:23:58Z")
> [@robby](#): > > \Case in point, I saw a motorcycle safety class in progress at a parking lot yesterday. The class must require factory-spec mufflers for motorcycles used in the course, because all of the motorcycles were nearly silent.\ Yeah, I teach those courses. And we don’t modify the mufflers because that would add an unnecessary costs to the bikes. They are pretty quiet. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/109 "2016-04-29T16:27:55Z")
I should add that whenever a moron in the classroom portion of the MSF course tries to make the argument that “Loud pipes save lives” I just simply shoot down the moron’s argument by stating that if a rider’s pipes are so loud that they would make a difference in alerting other people on the road about the rider’s presence, then the pipes are certainly illegally loud, and that’s not cool. ---
**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 29, 2016, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/110 "2016-04-29T16:28:42Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > If you take the pipe off, then it isn’t a stock Gold Wing, is it? I read his boast as he can, somehow, make a normally equipped Gold Wing loud while sitting at a traffic light. I am curious as to how he does that. Or rather, I am curious how he does that without damaging a **bike that costs thousands of dollars.** Before you check out the latest Gold Wing prices, sit down. 😃 ---
**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 29, 2016, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/111 "2016-04-29T16:43:59Z")
> [@Spiff](#): > > Yeah, I teach those courses. And we don’t modify the mufflers because that would add an unnecessary costs to the bikes. They are pretty quiet. I used to teach too. The bikes are small. Little putt-putts. And quiet. Our range was in a residential area, until it was rendered unusable. We cerainly wanted to be good neighbors. And **Scumpup** (and **Gus** too), I misread that and missed the part about being stocked. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tired_and_Cranky)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/112 "2016-04-29T18:23:04Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > I like to have the choice. > > I do not like automation or much of anything that removes all choices but one. > > If you like that way, buy it that was and enjoy. > > What right do you have that I can’t have a choice? Because someone else makes you mad. Lets make all vehicles so that they can not speed, or cross double lines or be started without a breathalyzer test. > > Just who do you trust to make all these things so? I would like the choice to live in a community without overly-loud motorcycles but certain motorcyclists have deprived me of that choice. Some motorcycles are loud enough to make sensitive children cry and to scare dogs into barking. Why does their choice to have a loud motorcycle override my choice to live in relative tranquility? > [@GusNSpot](#): > > Yes it does. Now the old fashioned cut out is against the law because that really was NOISE… > > I have a “thunder header” on my chopper. I can be quiet or I can be loud. I have a choice. I can make a stock Goldwing be your worst nightmare if I am so inclined sitting beside you at waiting for a light. The idea that a stock exhaust will stop an ass hat from being an ass hat is kind of silly. > > It is a people problem. > > As I have said before, I have never had anyone give me grief about being too loud. Or how I look. If those things cause you to not like me and want to get me arrested or fined, wish away. It is not happening. I am not making bikers look bad. > > If I bother you so much that you stay away from me, I call that a win. > > Drive safe and be happy. You seem to suggest that someone who chooses to be loud is an “ass hat.” I agree with that premise. Are you an ass hat? If not, I assume that you never choose to be loud. If you never choose to be loud, why do you need or want a motorcycle that is capable of being obnoxiously loud? What “choices” are your loud pipes enabling, except the choice for you to be an ass hat and a detriment to your community? I have no interest in staying away from you, I have no obligation to do so, and I have no ability to do so because I don’t know where you are. If you call it a win when people stay away from you, perhaps the biggest win would be if you took it upon yourself to stay away from everyone. Then you and the rest of us all “win.” You seem to suggest that you are judged on how you look and how your motorcycle sounds. How you look has zero effect on me and I would strongly defend your right to look or dress however you want. How your motorcycle sounds does affect me and I’m not so amenable to giving you the unfettered freedom to choose. ---
**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:** [April 30, 2016, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/113 "2016-04-30T01:47:56Z")
I said I could make it your worst nightmare. I said nothing about loud. It appears that you only care about noise and **nothing** else would bother you. Yeah, we have been talking about noise but there are many other things that that might5 be more distressing than noise. Many seem to be silly enough to think that all riding takes place where sensitive and wonderful normal humans live on tree lined streets and the only thing that mars their idealistic life is motorcycles with loud pipes. They are oh so wrong. IMO My point is really about the idea that I should not have a choice and should only live the manner that they deem correct. Their is a lot more world out there and since I don’t chose to make big noise just to bother them or because that is the only way to tweak their noses, which it is not, blah blah blah. Give an example of why you get to remove choices from me that are not immoral or illegal and I that I can’t use myself on those things you do that are irritating to me. I also do not believe that how people dress does not bother you or you never judge them according to your own statement and I will drag the ‘people of Walmart’ out and you can tell me about how none of them need to be \*&&^%$ by anyone as it is not nearly as wrong as making a noise at a level you don’t like. I can be obnoxious was well as anyone. I don’t chose to do so at every turn but in threads like this, the silly straight lines I am given, I just don’t have the will power to resist when it is this much fun with people who seem to have lead such protected lives. I’ll quit because this is so easy as to not be fun for long. The lack of knowledge about some bike riders is really too much. Have a great day and rest assured, you won’t hear me… Bawahahaha ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2016, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/114 "2016-04-30T02:14:20Z")
Yeah, well, since the topic was loud motorcycles if you meant that you’d be naked and helicoptering your penis or rubbing feces in your hair or something, you should have just said so. Every time the conversation becomes about you, I regret being part of it. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2016, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/115 "2016-04-30T02:34:50Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Before you check out the latest Gold Wing prices, sit down. 😃 Topped a million, have they? ---
**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 30, 2016, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/116 "2016-04-30T02:41:13Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Topped a million, have they? That would be the Fort Knox Garage Queen Edition. $23K-almost 30K. ---
**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 30, 2016, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/117 "2016-04-30T09:34:21Z")
this thread just reinforces my belief that the worst part of motorcycling is other motorcyclists. I haven’t experienced this level of cliquish bullshit since high school. ---
**Author:** ![sweat209](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@sweat209](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweat209)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2016, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/118 "2016-04-30T22:03:51Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > this thread just reinforces my belief that the worst part of motorcycling is other motorcyclists. I haven’t experienced this level of cliquish bullshit since high school. Than lobby congress to do some thing about it. And pass laws to make it not make it so loud. ---
**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 30, 2016, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/119 "2016-04-30T22:16:23Z")
> [@sweat209](#): > > Than lobby congress to do some thing about it. > > **And pass laws to make it not make it so loud.** It already is. That’s why the louder than legal exhaust systems are marked “For off-road use only.” The manufacturers are off the hook, it’s entirely on the rider. ---
**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 30, 2016, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888/120 "2016-04-30T22:40:29Z")
Since the factual aspects of this question have been answered, and most people are posting opinions, let’s move this to IMHO. Colibri General Questions Moderator [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-motorcycles-so-much-louder-than-cars/752888.md?page=7)