Noisy Bikes

[Channa]

HD do have an electric bike, the Livewire.

The only thing louder than a Harley exhaust is the bling.
Mind you when a Harley gets up to a decent speed, the riders leather tassles
can go off like a cracked bullwhip, but thankfully this doesn't happen too often.


They've recently brought out a 'small' 750 naked, looks like a Moto Guzzi an attempt
in getting away from the stereotype Harley look. Quite a nice looker I'd say.

HD as a manufacturer are quite clever, Where has the Japanese marques tease the market with R1, Fireblade Kawasaki ZX etc their customers are "brand tarts" switch and swop to the latest flavour . customer retention opportunity is limited.

HD sell more than the bikes, branded everything ! sell the lifestyle ( hence the posers) They really are leagues ahead in selling a brand.

A few years ago the people I worked for acquired a large Motor cycle dealership Yamaha, Suzuki franchise we were ready to off load it was the car side we were interested in a Peugeout franchise we had 5 already so a case of imprinting our business model. However when we saw the value of accessories leathers helmets and the like we paid the bloke running it a retainer to keep him kept the business and made a few quid. Sold eventually to J & S who are the big player nowadays.

HD have been doing it for years

Channa

 

[Byronic]

The Americans in general, the masters of selling an image. In the 50s and 60s they
sold a whole lifestyle, HD were part of it. They missed an opportunity though when
Marlon Brando bestrode a Triumph for On The Waterfront, thankfully!!
I think the epitome of successful image making/lifestyle must be Apple.

 

[alwaysared]

There is a lot of sentiment amongst bikers, that despite running lights some wearing hi viz vests Motorists still don't see them. With that in mind a loud exhaust gives an audible warning of one presence. They may have a point.

Channa

As they say "Loud Pipes Saves Lives"

Regards,
Del

 

[harrow]

Nice slow tick-over but far too much clatter for me.

And the petrol bike is not exactly quiet either, you would not need a horn !

 

[Channa]

As they say "Loud Pipes Saves Lives"

Regards,
Del

I have to admit a theory I subscribe too, albeit in fairness to Gwaygway 4 am early morning is a little inconsiderate.

Is it a man thing ? Why do the hairs stand on our neck when we hear a Merlin on a Spit, Vulcan. It can reduce us to dewey eyed why ?

I managed to salvage a " sounds of the TT " off my Dad, old Agostinis Honda the Guzzis Nortons thumping on the island Murray Walker commentating ...a Dark room its like an orchestra.

Summat primeval going on ! stirs the soul

Channa

 

[mariesnowgoose]

I have to admit a theory I subscribe too, albeit in fairness to Gwaygway 4 am early morning is a little inconsiderate.

Is it a man thing ? Why do the hairs stand on our neck when we hear a Merlin on a Spit, Vulcan. It can reduce us to dewey eyed why ?

I managed to salvage a " sounds of the TT " off my Dad, old Agostinis Honda the Guzzis Nortons thumping on the island Murray Walker commentating ...a Dark room its like an orchestra.

Summat primeval going on ! stirs the soul

Channa

It's not exclusively male. Depends what makes you tick

At the opposite end, good brass or silver bands reduce me to tears every single time!

 

[Channa]

It's not exclusively male. Depends what makes you tick

At the opposite end, good brass or silver bands reduce me to tears every single time!

I am smiling last weekend some ladies a dozen or so in a Kawasaki group I am part of decided to have an outing to a café down south somewhere, The weather was less than accommodating , the dog refused a walk..all got there and home safe and on some lively bikes. the group picture big smiles and a coffee no doubt girly chat too) lasses that love bikes as much as I do.( whats not to like)

Last week a lass had a tyre change the chain like a skipping rope , one of the lads showed her how to tighten it ...I am sure he would behave the same way had it been a bloke in my world it isn't a crime not knowing how to do something stacks I cant do...So now she knows how to do a basic maintenance task on her bike

That is the biker culture ( not as strong as it was 30 years ago) but it is still there..I think a commonality with wild campers and the number that have bikes too

Brotherhood and Sisterhood whats the combined term ?
Channa

 

[alwaysared]

I am smiling last weekend some ladies a dozen or so in a Kawasaki group I am part of decided to have an outing to a café down south somewhere, The weather was less than accommodating , the dog refused a walk..all got there and home safe and on some lively bikes. the group picture big smiles and a coffee no doubt girly chat too) lasses that love bikes as much as I do.( whats not to like)

Last week a lass had a tyre change the chain like a skipping rope , one of the lads showed her how to tighten it ...I am sure he would behave the same way had it been a bloke in my world it isn't a crime not knowing how to do something stacks I cant do...So now she knows how to do a basic maintenance task on her bike

That is the biker culture ( not as strong as it was 30 years ago) but it is still there..I think a commonality with wild campers and the number that have bikes too

Brotherhood and Sisterhood whats the combined term ?
Channa

Problem is that bikes are more of a status symbol nowadays and therefore the comradery isn't as strong as it was, I still wave to anyone on a bike regardless of whether it's a big bike or some kid on a 125. We need to encourage the youngsters so the culture continues. One problem with bikes is that the cost of obtaining a full licence is way too expensive, plus the government see them as a problem whereas they could well be a solution to the traffic problems in cities, I believe that Edinburgh (along with a few other cities) are now allowing bikes to use the bus lanes which is welcome thing.

Regards
Del

 

[Deleted member 12539]

I am in the camp of " loud bikes saves lives", however, there is a time and place.
I commute to work every day on a motorbike, on one of the bikes I occasionally swap my standard exhaust for a louder one when I need to.
There is a definite difference to car driver reactions when I am filtering through the daily persistent car queues, more cars move over before I get level with them, if they hear me coming, compared to when I filter with the standard quieter exhaust.

I am aware that my loud exhaust can set off car alarms in a covered garage.
My garage at home is at the bottom of my garden, and I have retired neighbours, so I push the bike out of the garage and past the house before starting the bike in the mornings to go to work.

 

[Byronic]

Summat primeval going on ! stirs the soul

Channa

You've got it in a nutshell.....I think. Could be it's done for the same reasons as to why it can be considered manly to crack off a loud one, just a mechanical version and likewise the louder the more macho. :lol-061:

 

[Channa]

Problem is that bikes are more of a status symbol nowadays and therefore the comradery isn't as strong as it was, I still wave to anyone on a bike regardless of whether it's a big bike or some kid on a 125. We need to encourage the youngsters so the culture continues. One problem with bikes is that the cost of obtaining a full licence is way too expensive, plus the government see them as a problem whereas they could well be a solution to the traffic problems in cities, I believe that Edinburgh (along with a few other cities) are now allowing bikes to use the bus lanes which is welcome thing.

Regards
Del

I wouldn't want to be doing a bike test today , various modules and all sorts of nonsense. Some of it is very good , trail braking looking at lampposts to spot junctions etc. it is more informed than when I passed my test ( a bloke on foot with a clipboard)

I am a member of over 50s and still riding bikes, and it is fair to say a lot of the group are people who are empty nesters a few quid in their pocket and perhaps living a youth they didn't have. I see it all the time posing on sports bike on PCP at the local café (Squires) but they are totally dis enfranchised as to what motorcycling is about.

But you cant buy experience and the ethos

Channa

 

[Nabsim]

I remember going round to pick a mate up one morning and even though I wasn't revving the engine my XS1100 set off just about every car and van alarm in the street. Luckily it wasn't stupid early but around 8am but after all the alarms started I just thought sod it and opened it up.

I prefer to think it was a rich nice sound rather than noise

 

[Fazerloz]

I've never bought into the loud pipes saves lives argument, to me its just a good excuse for having a noisy bike. Just admit you like noisy bikes and have done with it. The argument stacks up less today than it has ever done. As cars over the years have got more and more sound proof and louder and more sophisticated sound systems in them the chances of been heard are far less now than years ago when the phrase was coined. Sound is a very directional thing. You fire your loud exhaust noise backwards whilst you travel forwards negating most of the argument. Just listen to emergency vehicles once they have passed you . Its very noticeable because they are directing the sound forwards, not backwards.
All my bikes have genuine stock exhausts to keep them quiet.
Those with loud pipes just admit it. You like them.

 

[Nabsim]

I dont mind admitting I like loud pipes

I would have given anything to get my hands on my mates Laverda Jota back in the 70's, seemed t0 fire every other lamp post and what a sound

 

[Fazerloz]

Anyone who likes loud exhaust notes should get themselves to a big meet at Santa Pod for the drag racing. They make the Merlin engine sound like that oilfield diesel in the other thread. Now the dragsters ARE worth listening to.

 

[Nabsim]

Anyone who likes loud exhaust notes should get themselves to a big meet at Santa Pod for the drag racing. They make the Merlin engine sound like that oilfield diesel in the other thread. Now the dragsters ARE worth listening to.

Never done the pod for bikes but been a few times with cars. Is Red Victor One still the resident beast? It was the fastest (or was it most powerful) road legal car in the country by a long way.

 

[1807truckman]

Can't beat the sound of a good ole Hog

Graham

 

[GWAYGWAY]

Rumour as it that HD are about to launch an electric motorbike I wonder if it will come with a sound track ?

There is a lot of sentiment amongst bikers, that despite running lights some wearing hi viz vests Motorists still don't see them. With that in mind a loud exhaust gives an audible warning of one presence. They may have a point.

Channa

Y^ou can feel the Earth shaking even through the cars suspension, then you hear the noise, then feel the vibration then the blissfull silence of all those quiet lorries going passed you.

 

[mistericeman]

Few things nicer than the sound of a 750 kettle......

[video=youtube_share;auB7m3Q1C2w]https://youtu.be/auB7m3Q1C2w[/video]

 

[mariesnowgoose]

Sounds like that collection of rattly tins they tie behind the 'just married' vehicle :lol-049::lol-061: (only joking - well, sort of... hehe)

Seriously, if I rode one of those I would probably kill myself!