Harley Davidson noise

[Mac1337]

I have had aftermarket pipes on my bikes in the past. The snarl on wide open roads feels good and it has nothing to do with manhood. If you don't open it up it won't bother anyone. The feeling is no different than growling pipes on sports cars and trucks. People who look at cars and bikes as transportation appliances don't understand it. Jeep owners have a saying, "It is a Jeep Thing, You Wouldn't Understand".

[Lee3]

Rope between 2 trees.

[RAMd®d]

People who disapprove of SUVs, trucks, motorcycles always trot out that "extension" crap. It's a pinhead generalization.

That notwithstanding, standard HD exhaust is louder than a car and could still be very annoying to a few people, but by and large is fairly innocuous.

My Ducati 750 Sport had some beautiful Conti pipes that were louder than the GT, and had a deep rumble that would resonate all manner of interior glass and Hummels. In the early morning I'd walk it out onto the street, start it up, idle for about 30s, and ride off at just off idle where the offending resonant freqs diminished.

And once on the road, that Duc was one of the finest sounding twins anywhere. Loved it.

OPD is notorious for the loud exhaust. Most of them *know* that the "safety" aspect is BS, particularly at speed.

It is a "look at me" device, but less for individual ego and extensia (new word) and more as a warning.

As far as adding performance, optional pipes (available from HD as OEM police packages) absolutely add HP. Of course there is tuning involved. Just slapping on a set of pipes is not the key.

The HD motors used by the Alameda County Sheriffs Office are good for 85mph out of the box. Optional pipes improve that significantly, along with rejetting/remapping of the fuel system, and increasing the airflow into the bike.

The latter modifications are often invisible, and the general public then assumes that it's all about "extending". If that's the case, does that mean that all women who drive SUVs, trucks, and ride H-Ds are butch? People can jump to some silly-ass conclusions based on bias.

[Racer X]

Rick-o wrote:
Stock HD exhaust is not a problem. It's the aftermarket crap that causes all the trouble. I'm "baffled" as to the riders motivation for disturbing the community with the excessive noise.

Better performance? Doubtful. Letting other drivers know where you are? Maybe, but an experienced rider shouldn't need a crutch like that.

2 words


small penis. honest same with most Hummer owners.

I have a 500 horsepower big block Buick, and aside from the low frequency rumble, it isn't very loud until I crack the throttle. And a 350 horsepower small block Buick that is barely louder than a stock small block with factory dual exhaust. Noise doesn't equate to power.

[JoeBob]

As I have said before, loud pipes = small penis.

Safety my @ss- ever heard loud pipes on a Goldwing or a Beemer? Didn't think so.

[Racer X]

My boss, who has ridden harleys for decades, says he does it because he likes to annoy the kids on the rice rockets with their sewing machines.

[bazookaman]

Racer X wrote:
My boss, who has ridden harleys for decades, says he does it because he likes to annoy the kids on the rice rockets with their sewing machines.

[bazookaman]

RAMd®d wrote:
People who disapprove of SUVs, trucks, motorcycles always trot out that "extension" crap. It's a pinhead generalization.

I agree. Have a buddy who is an absolute mustang nut. He has an 00 GT that he ran straight pipes on for a while. It sounded SO nice but boy was it LOUD. Eventually he added back all the stuff b/c it was just too loud (for him) on the highway. But he's a family man. He feels the need to prove nothing. He's fond of telling me that you don't need a radio if you have a nice exhaust note. And he's serious.

[RAMd®d]

The HD motors used by the Alameda County Sheriffs Office are good for 85mph out of the box.

That is actually 79mph out of the box, from a 103cid motor.

- - -

As I've said before- it's a pinhead generalization.