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

Not withstanding the excessive volume some have their stereos. However, if they refuse to use their eyes, their mirrors and their ears when driving, there are less subtle measures to help them gain awareness.

If they can do the same to a bright yellow Morgan, someone on a bike doesn't stand a chance.
(35 years on bikes before I decided there were just too many blind tin box drivers out there).

Having twice nearly stepped in front of a Pious in car parks I couldn't agree more!

Of course Graham loud pipes and car noise can’t save everyone, people walk/drive/ride in front of emergency vehicles with Blues and Two’s on for goodness sake but if it can save one person from being injured surely a noise is a small price to pay especially if that person is a small child. It’s the only thing about EV’s I don’t like.

BR
Colin

If you have to rely on noise to avoid crashing, then you need training..!

But then it's a similar mindset to the seat belt wearing mentality and the drink driving mentality. What ever is said, they will 'know' someone who lived because blah blah.

I once had a heated debate with a chap who was insistent that he needed a massively loud horn. Claimed it was for safety etc. Trouble with that is, what he REALLY meant was that it was for a louder-than-yours rebuke, post event. Think of the time you need a horn warning. Where is the scheme of things does it come..?

Information
Position
Signals
Gear
Acceleration.

If a loud exhaust is your horn, then you're already too late.

I’ve been reading this thread since it was first posted.
I was tempted to make a comment on several occasions, but restrained myself. However, I have just read this post by SBM and totally agree. For me, he sums up the situation perfectly.


Bud
4/4 - Stanley

Whilst the safety concerns for both rider and those around him / her are extremely important it was Ewan McGregor's comment regarding his unexpected rider's experience of greater connectivity to the road that caught my attention. It wasn't just about noise but also the lack of vibration and other sensory experiences related to bike travel. I have been the passenger in a short but very fast ride in an electric car and it was a bit like being in a simulator with no feel for the surroundings whatsoever. My thoughts then were that a speed related soundtrack was as important to the driver / rider as it was to other road users.

As drivers we have come to expect sound insulated cars and it probably explains why some seem to be unaware of the speeds they are doing but I would find such an experience very odd on a motorbike I think. Perhaps those riders with fully enclosed helmets could say whether the consequential reduction on hearing makes a difference to their safety and whether a further reduction in the other sensory experiences that an electric bike would bring would further reduce the factor of safety.

If, as is assumed, drivers are concentrating, rational and fully observatnt 100% of the time, then why do all the emergency services rely on those loud, irrating sirens?

If the answer is to draw attention to themselves, and make other road users aware of their presence, then I rest my case

Hi Rob

Over the years I’ve had many combinations of helmets and motorbikes. Open and fullface helmets cheap and expensive versions, I have ridden with earplugs and without, with helmet speakers and without and to be honest the overriding noise that affects you on a motorbike is wind noise.

Around town of course you hear the exhaust a lot more as it echoes off buildings but once on an open road it’s the wind noise that does damage to bikers hearing more than anything else.

I have had bikes with low screens and a couple of my Harley Davidsons had tall screens and fairings fitted and still the wind noise is the biggest factor.

I worked for the local authority in Leicester for 18 months and as I was commuting in on a small Honda put my name down to do an evaluation on their fleet of two wheeled electric vehicles. They had a couple of scooters a pair of small motorbikes (Honda 90 type) and one motorbike closer to something like a Honda CB250 I rode them all for a few weeks each.

It was very easy to adapt to the lack of traditional engine noise/feel but I simply couldn’t accept the number of times pedestrians would just step straight out in front of the vehicles as they didn’t hear them coming. I got the feeling that they glanced as if looking for a cyclist but could not do the mental calculation as they heard no noise but it’s not a cyclist it’s a motorcyclist and the closing distance was over in a few seconds and they thought they had time to step out and cross the road. That’s all I can it down as? This was at pootling along speeds where traffic flow meant it was almost impossible to get above about 30 miles an hour. Comparing that to my commuter bike which was a little Honda 90 I never once had anybody step out in front of that. Not empirical research of course but the difference was dramatic and fairly consistent.

BR
Colin

Thanks Colin - I had completely overlooked the wind noise and your observations and experiences of riding silent bikes are very telling.

I don't really remember wind noise when I had my scooter in the '60s: I was a pesky Mod trying to keep out of the way of those rotters, the Rockers and wind noise was the last thing on my mind ! We didn't even wear helmets - well until I had my first accident that is and I was lucky not to be hurt even though my scooter was damaged.

I just had a feeling that silent bikes weren't going to attract the traditional rider in the same way that I suspect many traditional drivers are put off electric cars. It isn't just about the range but about out parting with the familiar and all that goes with it.

Picking up on TBM's point I now see the future as electric bikes with sirens!!

Don’t worry about being a Mod.... my first (legal) road vehicle was a Lambretta TV175, however I got fed up with being chased and scared by ‘big boys’ on motorbikes and as I couldn’t beat them I joined them ;-).

I gave up biking or rather it gave me up aged 20 not to return until my 40th when I bought the first Harley, that lasted until my 50th when I saw sense and bought a Morgan ;-).

BR
Colin (who also had a Mod Crop, Parka and Who album under my arm ;-))