Falmouth Targets Noisy Motorcycles

If, as the Falmouth locals on here are saying, it's being enforced with a healthy dose of common sense, then good. I like bikes that sound good, Harleys and sport bikes. But there are a lot of bikes out there that are waaaaaay too loud. If your bike is louder going down the road than my motard at full power on the front straight, there's a fucking problem. And for those who like loud pipes, come on. You know that all you really have to do is ride a couple gears high through towns and not rev the fucking thing any higher than necessary and you won't have any problems. I'm all for the cops ticketing the douchebags who make a shitload of noise for no reason other than they think it's cool. And if they are going after the Fast and Furious wannabee Civics that put a resonator pipe on and think they're Joe Streetracer, even better.

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Originally Posted by jaredonfilm

Hard to believe this hasn't been posted yet.


Officers inspect the vehicle to see whether the muffler is an original part. If not, that is considered an after-market alteration and is illegal, Falmouth police Sgt. Douglas DeCosta said.

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If aftermarket exhaust is "illegal", what are Mineke and Midas still doing in business? They definately don't use OEM parts! My husband got ticketed in Fall River for loud exhaust. He took a picture of the baffels inside his exhaust and showed it to the judge. The ticket got thrown out.

As much fun as I was having in this thread it all comes down to one thing, officers discretion. As a fire fighter I work hand in hand with the police on almost every shift. Luckily the guys in my town on the police force are some of the coolest cops I've met. Even before getting on the FD they have always been VERY lenient w/ the kids in town. I had an '89 mustang running a race exhaust that I would argue is louder than my bike at full song. Be polite, curtious, sincere, and LISTEN to what the officer says. Most times if you do as they say and treat them how you want to be treated they will treat you accordingly. I have a feeling that most people that get pulled over for loud exhaust KNOW that is the reason the minute they see the blues behind them and realize they weren't speeding. I'm not saying every police officer is that way, I'm not saying you will be let go all the time. I'm just saying if you act appropriately the chances go up in your favor the minute first contact is made. Oh, and that riding a gear or two above DOES work I don't care what anyone says. My bike is proof, I can come in pretty quietly if I want to. Idle is loud but in gear it quiets down considerably so when I want to go incognito I keep it in gear at lights with the clutch pulled in.

Nick

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Originally Posted by Woodsy

OK before anybody gets all up in arms, I was born and raised in Falmouth. I ride there often. I have NEVER had a cop screw with me for anything. This is mainly targeted at the ridiculously loud exhausts. the reason for the provision is if they do pull over a straight pipe harley they cannot ticket him without a sound meter. this allows them to hit him on the aftermarket exhaust with out having to produce the meter. if you are not in the wrong bring it to court.

As i said i know these guys, the cops are good people down there. that being said we have a bunch of squids and cruiser riders running straight pipes that are a bit much. if you ride a sport bike with a decent aftermarket exhaust i can say with confidence you will not be ticketed. I ride my VTR1000 with low mount microns down there all the time and the only thing the cops have ever said to me is that is sounds nice.

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The quotes in the article clearly show an anti-sportbike bias. You say it's not true and they're just targeting the really loud bikes. I hope you're right.

Since you know these guys, can find out the how many of the 63 tickets issued last year were issued to H-D and how many to sportbikes?

IEC and ANSI-compliant sound meters are only $100. If they really wanted to test for noise, it's not that expensive.

Thnx.

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Originally Posted by oVTo

The quotes in the article clearly show an anti-sportbike bias. You say it's not true and they're just targeting the really loud bikes. I hope you're right.

Since you know these guys, can find out the how many of the 63 tickets issued last year were issued to H-D and how many to sportbikes?

IEC and ANSI-compliant sound meters are only $100. If they really wanted to test for noise, it's not that expensive.

Thnx.

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Look, there was one quote. he gave an example and it happen to be a sportbike. long story short is if you are not a jackass and your exhaust is not illegally loud per inspection criteria in the first place then you are fine. if you are the guy who goes for the loudest pipe possible, pays a guy to get your inspection sticker, then bitches about the law, you should probably stay away. I know this thread is full of opinions, mine is ride like you want to ride, unless you are being a squid, you will not have a problem. you are entitled to your own opinions however.

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Originally Posted by Woodsy

...if you are the guy who goes for the loudest pipe possible...

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Check! :hellyeah:

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Originally Posted by Woodsy

...pays a guy to get your inspection sticker...

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Check! :hellyeah:

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Originally Posted by Woodsy

...then bitches about the law...

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Well only when I don't think it should apply to me :dunno:

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Originally Posted by Woodsy

...you should probably stay away...

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Aw, but I wanted to stunt down 28 while banging the rev limiter...Boo! Hiss!


No, seriously guys, Woodsy, Nick, you do make some good points. I def agree with Nick, I'm always kicking up a gear or two when I go through a town center anywhere, and it does help. I didn't like the pissy little whisper of my stock can, so I got a louder one to add some beef, and it sounds good. But I don't exploit it, or take it for granted. I know I could get some shit from Johnny Law about it, so I just watch my back. But you do have to admit that sportbikes have become a favorite target, even it is because of a few irresponsible pricks. I know the stigma, but I still ride. Just gotta use your head sometimes...

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Originally Posted by g®eg

I sat down there in the fall, it's beautiful in the historic district, and we pay a heap of taxes.... you can't even have your windows open on a nice day due to the window rattling straight pipes running through town. If I lived downtown, I'd be pitching a fit too.

As with everything else, a few ruin it for the majority.

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this is a problem in famouth as well. you can be sitting on the beach and you cant even have a conversation because the harleys with straight pipes AS WELL AS the stupid sport riders with either a bafflectomy or an obscene aftermarket exhaust are ripping by or revving the engine. i actually saw a Kawi 250 with the cans cut down to approx 7in! there was virtually nothing inside and it was louder than my hawk with the microns! what is the point? everybody has seen those guys who crack the throttle for the sake of doing it. Loud exhausts are like drugs, dont flaunt the fact that you have them and you won't get caught.

Went thru this same bullshit in Newburyport a few yrs. back. I just stopped going there. WTF? What about the azzhats with the monkey music blasting?

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Originally Posted by Woodsy

Look, there was one quote. he gave an example and it happen to be a sportbike. long story short is if you are not a jackass and your exhaust is not illegally loud per inspection criteria in the first place then you are fine. if you are the guy who goes for the loudest pipe possible, pays a guy to get your inspection sticker, then bitches about the law, you should probably stay away. I know this thread is full of opinions, mine is ride like you want to ride, unless you are being a squid, you will not have a problem. you are entitled to your own opinions however.

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I'm about the biggest loud pipes risk rights guy you can find and as far from being a squid as you can get. Most of my street miles are on a BMW that's slightly louder than a bicycle. We agree that loud bikes are a problem and piss off the general public.

I have aftermarket cans on my sportbike, but they're reasonably quiet especially when riding at street revs. My bikes always easily pass inspection. I pay the guy $15 a year for my sticker. So I'm not part of the problem and I'm not defending those who are.

All I'm saying is that the article gives the impression that sportbikes are targeted. It's not just the chief's quote. It's also that the first thing they're looking for is 'original equipment' and that's what they're ticketing. It's easier to ticket than noise level and harder to fight. I don't agree with it, but I understand why they write up for equipment instead of excessive noise.

On the other hand, it's more common for sportbikes to have aftermarket cans, while HD's more frequently drill the baffles in original equipment. Looking for original equipment instead of testing for noise (the real problem) might be a sign of bias.

I have no opinion about what the Falmouth PD will or won't ticket. Like I said in my first reply, I hope what you're saying is true and what's in the article is giving the wrong impression.

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Originally Posted by g®eg

I live in Bristol, and every spring the local paper lights up with downtown residents complaining about loud pipes.

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The "speak out" section in the phoenix adds ass-loads of fuel to that fire. I swear it's the same 6 people every week bitchin about something different.

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Originally Posted by oVTo

All I'm saying is that the article gives the impression that sportbikes are targeted. It's not just the chief's quote. It's also that the first thing they're looking for is 'original equipment' and that's what they're ticketing. It's easier to ticket than noise level and harder to fight. I don't agree with it, but I understand why they write up for equipment instead of excessive noise.

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I have no opinion about what the Falmouth PD will or won't ticket. Like I said in my first reply, I hope what you're saying is true and what's in the article is giving the wrong impression.

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Well, you also have to consider who wrote the article, who their audience is, and what the writer's goal was for writing the article.

When I was a municipal employee, my boss, the CIO, was interviewed for the local paper. He mentioned we have a monitoring system, called Big Brother, that was Open Sourced (he was pro-open source and was trying to promote that we were saving money). The title of the article : City's Big Brother is watching employees.

That quote about the crotch rocket could have also included a reference to the obnoxious cruiser with straight pipes, that the writer or editor chose to cut.

Well i decided to spend a 4 day on the cape for the 4th of july weekend. I took my Honda and anyone who has ridden with me with tell you that it is, lets say, clearly audible. all four days i had not problem. I passed the falmouth LEO's on multiple occasions and even had one compliment me on my bike down at the heights. As i suspected there is no problem in town. did i go ripping it up down main st or bounce of my limiter by the beach? no. did i rip up some backroads and act semi-grown up? yea. Ride like you do normally and if you get yanked it will probably be for something other than this new law.

I took the RC51 through Falmouth on Sat morning and rode by a couple cops. They didnt care.

I can picture it now:

"Back in my day (early 2000), almost everyone had an aftermarket exhaust, and they were LOUD!"

:lol:

that is a different thing. Falmouth says any exhaust, epa or not, that is not OEM is a violation. Both are practically impossible to enforce and none of these tickets will hold in court.

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Originally Posted by g®eg

it's Boston now....
http://www.boston.com/news/local/mas...ub_noise_rule/

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It's just getting rediculous, everyone always has something to complain about. Funny how I don't see mustangs and things like that in there who throw catless pipes on their cars and drive around, just motorcycles. OR how about the people that drive around with the base turned so far up in their cars it rattles windows :spit: nope, they aren't there either.

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Originally Posted by g®eg

it's Boston now....
http://www.boston.com/news/local/mas...ub_noise_rule/

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Wonder how this will affect the Newbury Street Pose. :confused:

The problem, fucking Harleys and a desire for a new tax but not being able to get re-elected into office if you do that.

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Originally Posted by cappinto

Wonder how this will affect the Newbury Street Pose. :confused:

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I might be there

Mmmm I loves me a loud exhaust...

It looks like Falmouth is stepping up the pressure. "Noise abatement patrols" started July 19. At least they mention both car and motorcycle noise. They're obviously getting a lot of pressure from the Quiet Roads Association.

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pb...NEWS/807190320

I was in Newport, RI today and it appears that they're doing something similar. As soon as you cross into Newport on 114, there's one of those roadside lighted signs that reads something similar to:

"Excessively loud motorcycles and cars, and stereos prohibited. Strictly enforced"

I hate to say it, but aspects of the riding community have entirely brought this upon themselves. I've no sympathy at all.

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Originally Posted by Woodsy

Wirelessly posted (Opera/9.60 (J2ME/MIDP; Opera Mini/4.2.13057/516; U; en) Presto/2.2.0)



I couldn't agree more. Someone needs to tell them that that front brake will not kill them.

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Don't tell that to the Deggs or Doc..

Oh yeah, it's that REAR brake thang that pisses em off!

I'm kidding, dammit!http://www.boomfox.com/forum/images/smilies/hissy.gif

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Originally Posted by g®eg

well... certain aspects of the riding community have brought this upon ALL OF US

make no mistake, the average non-riding citizen doesn't see any difference between a sportbike rider, and a guy on a harley.

bikes = bad

and there are a lot more of "them" than "us"

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True, we are getting painted with the same brush here.
However, I'd hope that enforcement will be against those who *are* the problem, be it those who fail spot DB checks, pipe checks, whatever, rather than outright motorcycle bans.

Sadly, that has happened in other locations in the country as a reaction to this kind of problem :(

(I didnt mean to specify cruiser vs sportbike in any way either. I've heard some ear-splitting sportbike exhausts, and ridden behind others with the migrane to prove it :( )