Ma Helmet law may change.

[Kurlon]

One of the shootout articles said the Ducati 1198 and Suzuki GSXR idled at 86 decibels.

Damn that number is hard to chase down, I'm seeing references to it being 88db and 84db now... at 35mph. The 1198 at the very least closes the exhaust valve at that RPM range to pass the noise limit test, and lets it open at idle so it still sounds like a Duc.

The other thing to look at is the Euro II/III standards, as many bikes are designed to pass the stricter Euro III requirements now.

[Garandman]

That's the current EPA requirement for stock exhausts. REALLY quiet.

Don't thing so.

The AMA worked with SAE to develop a standard sound test.

The SAE J2825 on-highway motorcycle sound test procedure is similar to the one used for the SAE J1287 off-highway motorcycle test. The streetbike measurement requires holding a calibrated sound meter at a 45-degree angle 20 inches from the exhaust pipe of a running engine. The procedure spells out how to do the test with the bike at idle, at a predetermined engine speed ("Set RPM Test"), or by slowly increasing the engine speed of the bike, known as the "Swept RPM Test."

The SAE J2825 standard, prepared by the SAE Motorcycle Technical Steering Committee, recommends a decibel limit of 92 dBA at idle for all machines or -- using the Set RPM or Swept RPM Test -- 100 dBA for three- or four-cylinder machines, and 96 dBA for bikes with fewer than three or more than four cylinders.

The one test I saw for 82 dB was at 50 feet. The AMA got involved because many states an municipalities were developing their own arbitrary measurement specifications and noise levels.

[Kurlon]

Yeah, but nothing says the SAE test is the EPA reg for getting exhaust approved on a production bike. I'll do some more digging later to pull up the exact requirements.

[rbrais]

I agree, I dint have to wear no steenkin helmet when my uncle took me fer a ride on his harley when I was about 4 years old

They didn't make helmets small enough when I started riding on the tank of my uncle's gold wing.

[oVTo]

According to the AMA, the current MA law is: link

Maximum allowable A-weighted sound levels as measured from 50 feet (Chapter 90, Sec. 7T): 82dBA at 45mph or less; 86dBA over 45mph. Stationary noise levels: Motorcycles required to be registered for operation on the ways of the commonwealth shall not exceed the following noise levels when operated at 1/2 redline speed--99dBA manufactured after 1/1/86--102dBA manufactured before 1/1/86 (540 CMR 3:00)

[Garandman]

Lots of lifestyle/cruiser riders on NES, so you get jems like:

Helmets; Unless you buy a very expensive high quality helmet (the kind and grade that GP motorcycle racers wear) the usual helmet is only good to about 30mph. So the helmet issue should be about "Choice", Gee, where have we heard that before? NH has a helmet law, 18 and under you wear a helmet.
//

I had a paramedic tell me that helmets help identify the body after an accident.[rolleyes]

Of all the riders I know that ride cruisers 80% have non DOT brain bucket helmets. I have 4 and buy a dot sticker online for a $1 each and put them on...

[fjrrider RI]

Lots of lifestyle/cruiser riders on NES, so you get jems like:

If you just stick a DOT sticker on your head they wont have to change any laws