Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) Electric Motorcycles

The sooner the motorcycle fraternity get a clampdown on stupid exhausts the better. They're a curse on everyone else and completely unnecessary.

TriumphMotorcycles put out some social media a day or two ago regarding the dealer custom build competition. This is something Harley used to do about a decade ago, and is designed to showcase the range of in-house capabilities and parts etc. One of the dealers has fitted their entry with exhausts that are about a foot in length and end at the bottom of the engine..!!

All it highlights is that there is a crying need to curb the mobile noise makers so that the rest of us get some peace from the aggressive penis extensions. It isn't big and it isn't clever.

The McGregor/Boorman trip airs from today, but only on Apple TV unfortunately. The idea of electric motion is growing, it's exciting and it's the future.

I couldn't agree more, Steve. There's a guy down our lane with a Harley Fat Boy, it makes an unbelievable racket, you'd think WW3 had started. Nice bloke, but hardly the sharpest tool in the box. He's actually quite proud of the noise his bike makes. Doesn't seem to understand or care about the impact on others.

Mind you, I have to say the the absolute worst example of this from which I have suffered was a few years back from a member of our own community. I was going to ToTH and was followed for the last few miles by a green M3W that appeared to have had amplifiers fitted to the exhausts rather than silencers. Even from in front it was ear-splittingly loud, god knows what it must have been like for the poor sods behind him. Completely anti-social.

I’d be interested to ride a electric motorbike. I’ve never ridden a Harley, but I know that, as on a Ducati, the sensations and noise from the engine are a visceral part of the riding experience, so an electric Hog seems a particularly strange concept. Once you get away from noise and vibrations, one of the attractions of a Harley is the stump-pulling torque, which an electric bike could certainly deliver.

A cop once came up to me in Leighton Buzzard, where I was astride my KH250, engine running, waiting for my brother. He tapped me on the top of the helmet and shouted “don’t you think your exhausts are a bit noisy ?” “No” I replied......

My Ducati had a Harris F2 exhaust on it, which I thought was noisy until I was alongside my mate James at some lights He had a Verlicchi pipe on his Ducati. It was so noisy, I thought I had stalled as I couldn’t hear my own bike.

Now that I’ve grown up, I’d hate to have such a noisy exhaust that it would annoy my neighbours, particularly as I sometimes get home from work at 2am.

Some remarks from a Morgan owner:

The M3W was not a quiet thing before I changed to the stage1 kit, afterwards one could hear it long before it came in sight.
My 4/4 runs much better after modifications on the exhaust side, noise increased to a significant level. Both modifications were not done for noise but for the need for speed.


Experience on motorcycles: I owned several models of Honda GoldWings. While the first one was quite silent every new model produced more noise than the one before. Plenty of engine capacity so no need for exhaust noise to free the motor. I did not understand the "sound design" but obviously it was a selling advantage for Honda.

I think a little consideration goes a long way. Even with a noisy bike, it can be ridden to lessen the effect at times. When I used to commute to work, there was little traffic so I would get into as higher gear a possible, as quickly as possible so the bike would literally be ticking over and much quieter. Same if I was coming back from the bike club at night. Be virtually coasting by the time I reached home. Out on main roads, or if overtaking, more likely to give her a gobfull to make my presence known.

I don't think it's limited to bikes though. My road is constantly being buzzed by 'souped up' cars with very loud exhausts, and as mentioned above, there's many a Morgan and M3W that has been adapted to give a more enjoyable exhaust tone. I live within earshot of Santa Pod, and spend many summer afternoons hearing the roar as they go down the strip. Get buzzed often by some great classic aircraft too - either on Santa Pod flybys, or from Sywell Aerodrome a few miles north. Also have those that use the A45 as a race track. Can't say I get my knickers in a bunch about any of it. Probably due to my tiny penis.

I just find it hilarious that many who bitch about loud bike pipes say nothing about the number of cars (especially Morgan’s) that have none OE exhaust, manifolds, Cats, side exit exhausts etc. Not to mention bigger or modified engines all of which have an effect on the exhaust note and noise, I can’t recall many being quieter after modifications?

Maybe if they spent a year in hospital and another 6 months being taught to walk again because of a car drivers “I never noticed the motorcycle” claim in court (and he was prosecuted) they might have a different view of loud pipes, then again lack of specific knowledge has never stopped opinion has it?

Ho Hum
Colin (totally happy to admit that the noise of bikes closing on me has many times alerted me to their presence when I had not seen them approaching)

+1

Not been in that position myself, but have been to the funeral of many that have.

Yup, that’s what they prepared my parents for! It was a long long time ago (48 years) the driver got a 2 year ban and that’s about it. Seen so many examples of cars pulling out of side roads right in front or turning right into an oncoming bike. Of course some will still do it no matter how loud the bike or how bright the bikes lights but if it saves one incident it’s worth it.

The BMF did some research years ago and presented the transport secretary with the data showing that bike noise and headlight illumination increased driver awareness but nothing much came if it.

BR
Colin

I've always avoided riding with my headlight - on several occasions I've hit a bump, the front end has dipped and risen and cars have mis-interpreted that as me 'flashing them out' and pulled out straight in front of me. I've fitted a couple of small bright LED spotlights to the front, but have the headlight off, so they can never be confused about my intentions.

I think that drivers in modern cars are now so well insulated from external road noise that the sound of even a loud bike isn't noticeable until too late unfortunately. However the sound produced by most bikes, not just the very loud ones, must have alerted many pedestrians and cyclists in urban areas to the danger and this is where a noiseless vehicle would pose most danger.