No Warm Welcome For Motorcycles In National Parks

[Scorch]

http://www.npr.org/2012/06/25/155727...national-parks

Loud pipes, do they belong in places where people want to relax? Do riders with open exhausts really think their bikes are "quiet" if they putt along slowly?

[Gravel Guy]

Originally Posted by Scorch

http://www.npr.org/2012/06/25/155727...national-parks

Loud pipes, do they belong in places where people want to relax? Do riders with open exhausts really think their bikes are "quiet" if they putt along slowly?

How many riders patrol parks with "open exhaust".....I call
BS...it's a FEW disrespectful bikes with uncaring owners making the rest of us (sound) bad...

[kurt]

Originally Posted by Gravel Guy

How many riders patrol parks with "open exhaust".....I call
BS...it's a FEW disrespectful bikes with uncaring owners making the rest of us (sound) bad...

They said as much.

TREVINO: Oh, actually, that's great. You know, and I'm glad you told me that. It actually gives me an opportunity to make a very important point, which is the largest problem comes from a very small number of motorcycles and those are the very large bikes that have modified pipes.

[Gravel Guy]

Originally Posted by kurt

They said as much.

Yes, sir, I was debating Scorch's statement......

[DFW_Warrior]

Originally Posted by Gravel Guy

How many riders patrol parks with "open exhaust".....I call
BS...it's a FEW disrespectful bikes with uncaring owners making the rest of us (sound) bad...

Just an FYI, but last time I was in BBNP I encountered not one, not two, but three separate groups of Harley's larger than 20 bikes, and I would venture a guess that probably 70% of each group was sporting aftermarket exhaust.

Personally while I think there shouldn't be a law against it, I won't be surprised when it happens. People want to be inconsiderate, then new laws generally get put into place to force the issue. This isn't anything new.

[gixxerjasen]

Hey lookie, another law that was put into place and rarely enforced. Once again, so much easier to make money off of speeding tickets.

[The Bruce]

Probably a bigger issue when the rallies invade an area. When the herd comes through with the rolling thunder mode activated in the cool morning air I can see it being annoying.

We don't like loud pipes...that seems to be the consensus on TWTEX.

RB

[Scorch]

Originally Posted by Red Brown

We don't like loud pipes...that seems to be the consensus on TWTEX.

RB

Loud pipes are ok with me, as long as I don't have to hear them

it's a FEW disrespectful bikes with uncaring owners making the rest of us (sound) bad

That pretty much is my point.

[tshelfer]

Amen, amen, amen. Whether it's loud bike pipes, a Chevy truck with glass packs, a boom box radio in a camp site or a generator that somebody runs from dawn to dusk in their camp site -- if it's noisy, please don't bring it with you to a national park.

[pottie]

Cant judge from louder pipe...
I think is all bout the rider then just the louder pipe....IMO

[kurt]

Originally Posted by pottie

Cant judge from louder pipe...
I think is all bout the rider then just the louder pipe....IMO

How so?

[pottie]

Loud is perspective
My across neighbor have Mustang GT500 that loud enough when he start the engine but he never make trouble by pressing hard or showing off

Originally Posted by kurt

How so?

[Desert Skies]

Refused entry... This, one day will be enforced if these riders think they are the only one on the planet that matters.

Some Wing riders have posted about refusal in some gated communities in CA simply because they were on a motorcycle even though they were riding a Whisper Glide.

My neighbor's FXDSE sets off car alarms, he thinks it's funny.

[STScott]

Originally Posted by tshelfer

Amen, amen, amen. Whether it's loud bike pipes, a Chevy truck with glass packs, a boom box radio in a camp site or a generator that somebody runs from dawn to dusk in their camp site -- if it's noisy, please don't bring it with you to a national park.

Or any park at all.

[The Bruce]

Originally Posted by tshelfer

Amen, amen, amen. Whether it's loud bike pipes, a Chevy truck with glass packs, a boom box radio in a camp site or a generator that somebody runs from dawn to dusk in their camp site -- if it's noisy, please don't bring it with you to a national park.

Yep. My ears tell me when it's loud. And setting off car alarms as you ride by would be an indicator of too loud.

[ulric]

Originally Posted by The Bruce

Yep. My ears tell me when it's loud. And setting off car alarms as you ride by would be an indicator of too loud.

That could also depend on the alarm... seem some set so stupidly sensitive that a squirrel passing gas will trigger the alarm.

I'm not fond of overly loud bikes myself...but there needs to be a standardized measure....

Rickey Holtsclaw (RickeyD) wrote:

Thank you NPR. I have ridden motorcycles, off and on, for some 40 years. I ultimately gave up my 31 year career with the Houston Police Department in a futile attempt to bring the out-of-control "loud motorcycle" problem in Houston under control. Houston's Mayor Parker and Chief of Police McClelland cowed to the pathetic cries of area and state motorcyclist organizations and have failed to protect the citizens of Houston from the exponential increase of illegally loud, illegally equipped motor vehicles on our roadways even though clearly articulated Federal, State and local statutes exist that prohibit such dangerous and intrusive conduct. The loud biker community will NOT police itself; therefore, it is necessary that Federal, State and Local authorities intercede on behalf of ALL citizens and stop the madness. Far too many of our legislators, judges, police officers participate in the operation of illegally loud motor vehicles on public roadways. Our legislators are ethically and morally swayed by the tremendous amounts of money available to lobbyists via contributions from the aftermarket exhaust industry and well funded motorcycle organizations. This is clearly organized criminal activity.
Rick Holtsclaw

Anyone remember ^ (and he may be a member/poster on this forum)...
claimed problems with him where that he too was using an 'ear' meter and targeted/ticket some 'legal'/OEM exhausts, along with other possibly less then ehtical actions. He made 'loud exhausts' a personal Jihad.

[Reactor]

This whole thread is funny to me. First you choose to go to a National Park camp ground, which most of the tourist season is going to be packed with people. Most of these people are from large cities, where respect for their neighbors is unknown to most if not all, they live in their own little worlds where they can do no wrong. Did you really think going to a National Park and staying in a sold out camp ground was going to be peaceful/quiet and relaxing. Don't know about you but when I want peace and quiet I go where there are NO PEOPLE!

Apparently none of you holier than thou folks have ever heard 20 or so sport bikes with their modified exhaust slowly rumble their way through a park or parking lot for that matter, and under hard acceleration wrapped out to 10K on the tach. What about you adventure tourer guys with your large displacement singles thumpin through with some after market exhaust. I've heard a herd of those roll through and it wasn't whisper quiet, that's for sure. I've even heard a FJR in full tour dress with after market exhaust take off and it sounded more like an R1 than a sport tourer. But whenever someone says something about loud exhaust, instantly it's those V-Twin guys again. All I read was Harley, Harley, Harley. No body raised any sort of voice over the bad apples that ride the same style bike they do. Face it you can make any bike loud if you want to.

[Meriden]

Originally Posted by Reactor

This whole thread is funny to me. First you choose to go to a National Park camp ground, which most of the tourist season is going to be packed with people. Most of these people are from large cities, where respect for their neighbors is unknown to most if not all, they live in their own little worlds where they can do no wrong. Did you really think going to a National Park and staying in a sold out camp ground was going to be peaceful/quiet and relaxing. Don't know about you but when I want peace and quiet I go where there are NO PEOPLE!

Apparently none of you holier than thou folks have ever heard 20 or so sport bikes with their modified exhaust slowly rumble their way through a park or parking lot for that matter, and under hard acceleration wrapped out to 10K on the tach. What about you adventure tourer guys with your large displacement singles thumpin through with some after market exhaust. I've heard a herd of those roll through and it wasn't whisper quiet, that's for sure. I've even heard a FJR in full tour dress with after market exhaust take off and it sounded more like an R1 than a sport tourer. But whenever someone says something about loud exhaust, instantly it's those V-Twin guys again. All I read was Harley, Harley, Harley. No body raised any sort of voice over the bad apples that ride the same style bike they do. Face it you can make any bike loud if you want to.

Here you go:
http://www.twtex.com/forums/showpost...&postcount=518

As an ironic sidenote, two of the TWT bretheren and myself are going to California to ride in the Barstow to Las Vegas event. Sadly I may have to change mufflers because my quiet stock eshaust does not have a US Forest Service approved spark arrestor.

[MsSuzieQ]

Originally Posted by tshelfer

Amen, amen, amen. Whether it's loud bike pipes, a Chevy truck with glass packs, a boom box radio in a camp site or a generator that somebody runs from dawn to dusk in their camp site -- if it's noisy, please don't bring it with you to a national park.

And for those of you that insist on putting stereos on your motorcycles? TURN THEM OFF when you roll into parks.. We come there for peace/quiet/relaxation.. Not to listen to YOUR junk.. and that includes the Blue Ridge.. talk about ruining the ambiance AND you have the gall to complain that you haven't seen any wildlife? One can only wonder why...