The sound of speed?

[Ericthejet]

Bit of news from Boston.com.


Turning down the rolling thunder By Tom Long
June 8, 2008


Summer is upon us and the sound of bird chatter fills the air - until it is drowned out by the window-rattling roar of a motorcycle. That rolling thunder has become as much a part of summer as birdsong.

Laws are on the books in the Granite State and Massachusetts that limit the noise of the cycles, but they are rarely enforced. One exception is Milford, N.H., where Police Chief Frederick Douglas has begun a crackdown on the noisy machines.

"On the Milford Oval, where the storefronts reflect the sound, it's become a problem and several businesses have complained. I think some of the cyclists rev up their machines just to listen to the echo. It's illegal, it's annoying and we're going to do something about it," Douglas said last week.

Douglas said New Hampshire has two laws that limit the noise motorcycles can produce. One makes it illegal to install "straight pipes" without mufflers and the other sets a noise limit of 106 decibels.

"A straight pipe is an exhaust tube with no baffle chamber," explained Douglas. "They are not illegal to sell, but they are illegal to have on a motorcycle."

He said detecting a straight pipe is easy. "All you need is a flashlight. I'm a former car mechanic and I've taught all my officers how to detect them."

Penalties range from a $100 fine for a first offense to a $500 fine for a third offense in a year.

Douglas won't say how many motorcycles the department has pulled over during the crackdown, which began a few weeks ago. "We've written some tickets and we've pulled over a number of cycles," he said.

At four random dates during the summer, Douglas said his officers will be joined by a team from the State Police with a decibel meter and pull over motorcycles to test their noise level. "We're going to educate the public," he said.

He discounts the claim of some cyclists that the loudness of their machines is a safety issue that makes motorists more aware of them.

"I don't believe loud exhausts save lives. I haven't seen one study that makes that claim," he said.

[Doc]

I agree.

[OreoGaborio]

*waits for Nick to post up about the asshole cop in NH*

[bostongixxer]

I have no problem with it as long as they are targeting Harleys and other loud cruisers.

[seth399]

any one know how this 106 decibals pertains to the bike specifically? Is it at idle? aha

[Ericthejet]

Might as well be at idle for my bike.
Frickin Hindle just won't shut up.

[Pittenger5]

I have no problem with it, except hte baffle part. I dont think mine has a baffle but its not real loud, and I shift out of first gear when I hit about 8k to keep it quiet.
But if they do it I hope its across the board and arent just gonna tag sportbikes.

[Degsy]

I absolutely agree. it's about time cops started ticketing these morons.

BTW, straight pipes on a sport bike would probably make your ears bleed. It's the Harley riders with small dicks that have them.

[Jaynnus]

I absolutely agree. it's about time cops started ticketing these morons.

BTW, straight pipes on a sport bike would probably make your ears bleed. It's the Harley riders with small dicks that have them.

I have a tinnie-tiny dick...and straight pipes on my cruiser!! :

[ChrisNoF4i]

I have a tinnie-tiny dick...and straight pipes on my cruiser!! :

And I have beer on my laptop.

[ff36buell]

NH cops DO have the decibel meter, you just have to wait a half hour for them to get there... then they realize your bike is stock and they scratch their heads (dicks) followed by apologies and one officer ranting at the other. He made me hold steady throttle @ 4500 RPM's too, I thought it was @ idle, he said average cruising RPM. I wonder how they get that figure since some bikes "cruise" @ 3500 and some @ 4500 etc. etc. FYI I guess the decibel meter is from a distance of 20ft @ a 45 degree angle from the exhaust opening but even the two officers seemed unsure of this.

-Nick

[Ericthejet]

Rules seem a bit unorganized.

[Degsy]

I have a tinnie-tiny dick...and straight pipes on my cruiser!! :

Straight pipes?

I'm saddened. I didn't think you were the "me! me! me!!" type.

[ZX-12R]

In NH the meter is 20" away from the end of the exhaust at a 45 degree angle. Singles and twins are measured at 2800 RPM. Triples and up are measured at 3500 RPM. All bikes have to be at or under 106dB.

My SV650 has a D&D pipe and at 2800 RPM it is no where near 106dB. Since the engine isn't loaded, the noise isn't that bad.

[seth399]

well shit if D&D doesn't break that law then my highmount has to be fine

[ff36buell]

well, they were close w/ my bike then haha... my bike didn't even hit 106db @ 4500rpm unloaded

[Sidewinder]

http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...rack-down.html

[Jaynnus]

Straight pipes?

I'm saddened. I didn't think you were the "me! me! me!!" type.

I'm not really, and would like to change them out....but it seems everytime I have bike money....it goes to the sportbike habit.

I do however, actually, roll it down the hill to the corner before starting it cause it is too obnoxious for my small neighborhood.

[MotoFreak]

The D&D I had on my 9R would probly crack the 106db limit...that little pipe made ears bleed at 5k easy...


made pre-teens yelp too (i rev for 12 year olds)


thats a bike night joke for all you parents

[dx3162]

BTW, straight pipes on a sport bike would probably make your ears bleed. It's the Harley riders with small dicks that have them.

My buddy with a damn gixxah 1k just put a straight slash cut pipe on the thing, and you're basicially right. Thing is stupid loud, I refuse to ride with him unless he's behind me & to my right, because I can't stand the sound of the fucker. I was friends with him before he was a squid, I swear...

[dx3162]

I spoke with a Milford officer tonight who happened to be a guest speaker in my Corrections class (former JPP officer)...basicially said what the article said, the shops were bitchin so the chief finally said crack down. Said they are mostly targeting the harley's "leaving the legion half cocked" but will obviously nail anyone being obnoxious. Also said they were sticking their batons up pipes to check for baffles, but that was deemed a search & they'd need a warrant yadda yadda... They DO NOT have decibel meters, but have "a couple times" called state police/highway patrol to come with theirs if necessary. Pretty much told me to take it easy & you should be all set...

[BCT748]

My V&H pipes don't have baffles. I don't think it is really obnoxious until I get above 3,000 rpm or so. I'm probably really close to the 106 at 2,800 though.

[RacerXnh10]

Also said they were sticking their batons up pipes to check for baffles, but that was deemed a search & they'd need a warrant yadda yadda...

Nobody will be sticking anything up my pipe.

[dcen]

interesting i found this cause i was coming home today and as i was going to put my bike cover on my neighbor (statie, off duty and with his kids at the time) walks to my driveway and gave me a hard time.

something along the lines of "you should be more aware blah blah blah ask the last guy that sped down the street blah blah i'll take away your license blah blah blah"

i never really spoke to him before, i always thought he seemed nice but today he sounded wicked angry for no reason. honestly i wasn't speeding at all (15, 20mph max), i was pulling into my driveway after all so i couldn't speed if i wanted to. it was probably just my yosh pipe making my bike sound loud and most people believe a loud bike=high speed which was not the situation at hand.

now i'm afraid he'll be on my ass all the time

[BCT748]

interesting i found this cause i was coming home today and as i was going to put my bike cover on my neighbor (statie, off duty and with his kids at the time) walks to my driveway and gave me a hard time.

something along the lines of "you should be more aware blah blah blah ask the last guy that sped down the street blah blah i'll take away your license blah blah blah"

i never really spoke to him before, i always thought he seemed nice but today he sounded wicked angry for no reason. honestly i wasn't speeding at all (15, 20mph max), i was pulling into my driveway after all so i couldn't speed if i wanted to. it was probably just my yosh pipe making my bike sound loud and most people believe a loud bike=high speed which was not the situation at hand.

now i'm afraid he'll be on my ass all the time

File for harassment?