Steve Saunders Goldwing Forums banner
Cancel

British tourist spective on Harley's

690 Views 9 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  DeDubya, 
cldryder
imported post

went to yellowstone last week (same as sturgis week).

whitewater rafting was me plus 2 daughters plus family of 4 from the U.K in a raft.

after the Brits learned we were motorcyclists they immediately asked why harleys were allowed to be so LOUD! they commented it was very annoying and made spotting wildlife a lot less likely.

unfortunately I wasn't able to explain why law enforcement fails to ticket those machines which are so obviously in violation of noise ordinances. (anybody out there know?)

regarding wildlife, this is my 5th trip out west but the 1st during sturgis week. I saw far far less wildlife then ever before. I didn't even consider the harleys as the cause until the Brits suggested it.

On other trips wildlife was common, bears, elk, goats, and many many antelope. this trip no bears (even in the park), only a couple elk, and no antelope or goats at all.
Save
Like
Status
Not open for further replies.
1 - 10 of 10 Posts
L
imported post

Been riding a HD since 1980 and before that a pretty loud 850 Norton. I've never had a close encounter with a deer till I bought the GL1800 (June 2008)

On one hand the quietness of the 1800 is a positive... on the other hand the quietness of the 1800 leads to a ton more deer motorcycle encounters.

Deer do have good hearing.

The low rumble of most HD's is probably akin to a subwoofer. For many animals they hear the noise like thunder but can't always place the direction the noise is coming from. I'd bet they hunker down where they think they are safe.
Save
Like
fenry
imported post

Lived 40 miles north of the Mammoth entrance to Yellowstone in MT. Had a wonderful house on the river, great trout fishing out the door. Paradise Valley where we lived is bounded on the east by the Gallatin Range, on the west by the Absarokee. US89 runss N/S from Livingston down to the park and is a favorite for packs of motorcycles to run. Can't tell you the number of times I've been knee deep fishing and a pack of MC go thru. The &*%&#(#&# noise reverberates from mountain to mountain for 20 minutes after their passage. Quality of life went immediately down the tubes for us locals.

After retiring from law enforcement, moved to Michigan's Upper Peninsula; bought a house 6 miles south of Lake Superior, immediately adjacent to the Porcupine Mountain Wilderness Area. Bought a boat and would put in on the Big Iron River and go trolling 3 or 4 miles offshore from the Wilderness. Often as not I'd just kill the motor and let the boat drift, listening to the waves against the hull and the loons calling. And then... a pack of unmuffled bikes would drive along Union Bay on the way to the park, and even 3 miles offshore on a quiet day the noise carried so intensely that the loons would take flight. Once again, quality of life trashed by the few. And note that I haven't attributed this to any particular make of bike...

How do I feel about loud bikes/cars/trucks/personal watercraft? :X:X:X:X:X
See less See more
Save
Like
papabee49
imported post

I have nothing against any type vehicle that produces a nice low volume rumble, however when you get a group together or they are straight piped that is beyond acceptable.
Save
Like
ding dong
imported post

There are other reasons for the decline in the population wildlife population in Yellow stone and surrounding areas. It's not all loud cycles.

Wolves were introduced into Yellowstone for just that reason. The elk population was expanding beyond controlable means so this was supposed tohave a twofold outcome. Lower herd populations and as well as a just re-introducing a new wolf population in the lower 48.Wolves don't just eat elk therefore lower populations of all of the above mentioned animals with the exception of bears. Bears have been moved to other areas because of ignorant people feeding them and then getting hurt or their campsites raided. Bye Bye bears!!! A very heated controversy is going on now about this within Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. A lot of the locals are blaming the decrease in elk populations solely on the wolves. I have a brother who lives in Idaho and he feels just this way.

Not expressing any opinion what so ever. Just thought you might like to hear another side. My wife and I were there last month and we, also, saw very few critters.
See less See more
Save
Like
Cousin Jack
imported post

I don't want to stoke the debate; however, loud pipes are the reason that community after communityare closing their streets to motorcycles.... not just loud motorcycles, but all motorcycles..... and it p***** me off that some yokels in wife-beater t-shirts, silly beanie helmets, and their dumb a** straight pipes are limiting my freedom so they can look, at least to themselves, wild and free and tough......

which they ain't........
Save
Like
Jeff M
imported post

Cousin Jack wrote:
I don't want to stoke the debate; however, loud pipes are the reason that community after communityare closing their streets to motorcycles.... not just loud motorcycles, but all motorcycles..... and it p***** me off that some yokels in wife-beater t-shirts, silly beanie helmets, and their dumb a** straight pipes are limiting my freedom so they can look, at least to themselves, wild and free and tough......

which they ain't........
Click to expand...
Amen.



:bowing:
Save
Like
cldryder
imported post

It's frustrating because it seems so simple. Even if the laws (and cops) allowed for a large "gray" area and olny ticketed the fools with the REALLY loud pipes the problem would largely be solved.

I have aftermarket exhausts on several of my bikes but they're all only slightly louder than stock unless you're really in the throttle so I'm not a prude on this subject. However, the lack of enforcement on existing laws is creating a situation where we'll get more restrictive laws that affect everybody.

anyone thats ever driven a really loud car (like one with open headers) knows you can't make one pass thru town without getting stopped and probably ticketed.

how about this: every time a responsible motorcyclist gets the opportunity to do so he asks an LEO why they don't ticket loud bikes? if we all do it eventually they might start asking themselves the same question......
Save
Like
H
imported post

No debate. Obnoxiously loud pipes are for children just SCREAMING for attention.

Children. Look at me !!! Look at me !!! Look at me !!! Look what a jerk I am. I'll bet almost all of us here ( this site ) are thinking pretty much the same thing. The obnoxiously loud pipes are for MORONS.

Totally ridiculous. As someone else mentioned, these A**H***S give all of us a bad name. Children.

Want the attention ?? Go visit Mom. Idiots.



I'll also bet that most of us here appreciate a nice rumble.



Dennis
See less See more
Save
Like
DeDubya
imported post

I like the sound of a soft, low rumble whether it be from a motorcycle or a car. That other stuff just plain 'ole hurts my ears. Wouldn't have it coming from any of my vehicles.

DeDub :18white:
Save
Like
1 - 10 of 10 Posts
Status
Not open for further replies.
Steve Saunders Goldwing Forums
A forum community dedicated to Honda Gold Wing owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about reviews, performance, modifications, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Goldwing Technical Forum General Motorcycle Discussion Forum New Members Introduction Forum For Sale/Wanted Forum Events
Top