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TL;DR - I stand by my comment, loud bikes helps people hear you but that doesn't mean you have to be EXTRA LOUD to be cool. I understand the point you are tryi

TL;DR - I stand by my comment, loud bikes helps people hear you but that doesn't mean you have to be EXTRA LOUD to be cool. I understand the point you are trying to make, and perhaps I wasn't very clear in my off-hand comment. I agree that overly loud bikes are annoying, however, as I stated before, sound is a necessary evil[0]. Do I believe that motorcycles should use straight pipes and increase their sound output? NO, in fact its quite annoying. However, louder bikes will get your attention. In fact, in reference to [0], there is a standard that some vehicles had to INCREASE their decibel output because of less risk to pedestrians. This isn't an apples-to-apples comparison as this study was mainly geared towards electric vehicles, but it did state that vehicles should have an output of ~ 55dB for pedestrian safety (page 102). Secondly, I couldn't find good stats on motorcycle decibel output, but I did find a study of some motorcycles and their average output[1]. What I learned is that most bikes are fairly equal with regard to output and all are at, or above the, legal limit[2]. I took a single bike you pointed out `Honda CBR250R` and was curious how the noise output performed to a Harley: `Honda CBR250R`: [3] - With dB-Killer fitted: 86 dB @ 4,250 rpm - Without dB-Killer fitted: 94 dB @ 4,250rpm 2006 Softail Standard 1,400 cc: [4] - 97 decibels at idle - 102 decibels at cruising speed - 111 decibels revved So what it appears to me is that most motorcycles are `roughly` the same decibel output and that having a vehicle that outputs sound to make yourself known to other riders is beneficial. Should you be increasing the sound trying to be cool? No, I don't think so. In fact its annoying when the 5 Harleys are sitting outside my window on Friday night revving their engines to be "cool". [0] - http://www.motorcycledaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Quiet_Vehicles_NPRM.pdf http://www.motorcycledaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Qu... [1] - http://audiologyworld.net/img/rnhposter.pdf http://audiologyworld.net/img/rnhposter.pdf [2] - http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/XXI/266/266-59-a.htm http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/XXI/266/266-59-a.ht... [3] - http://www.autoevolution.com/news/honda-cbr250r-gets-street-sport-exhausts-from-yoshimura-36558.html http://www.autoevolution.com/news/honda-cbr250r-gets-street-... [4] - http://lic.abateflorida.com/Library/Library/cycle_news__noise_study.htm http://lic.abateflorida.com/Library/Library/cycle_news__nois...

jboggan 11y ago
One, decibels are a logarithmic unit. Two, you are comparing factory exhausts on the Harley meant to comply with noise regulations with top of the line aftermarket race exhausts for the Honda (which is probably as loud as you could make the Honda without removing the pipes entirely). They are not anywhere near each other - and the data in [1] really makes that point, I'm not sure how you concluded that most motorcycles are anywhere near each other in sound output.
- bardworx 11y ago
  > One, decibels are a logarithmic unit. That's not a good statement. Just because a number is logarithmic does not make sound logarithmic...Here is a video that shows two different exhaust with similar dB output: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax6W-V9bsmg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax6W-V9bsmg As a side note, opening a can of coke will record 101.5 dB from one meter away: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAd2BUB6XqQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAd2BUB6XqQ > Two, you are comparing factory exhausts on the Harley meant to comply with noise regulations with top of the line aftermarket race exhausts for the Honda (which is probably as loud as you could make the Honda without removing the pipes entirely). They are not anywhere near each other - and the data in [1] really makes that point, Honda are subject 1 and 3, Harley are 5 and 6. Subject 1 - 105 dB A, Subject 3 - 99 dB A. Subject 5 - 101.8 dB A, Subject 6 - 106.7 dB A. The two Hondas are not the same one you mentioned in your original post, However, stock exhaust is 72dB at idle and 86dB at half throttle on Honda CBR250R. http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/2013/03/article/2013-honda-crf250l-comparison/ http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/2013/03/article/2013-honda-crf...
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dsmith1959 11y ago
My parents live in the country approx 1/2 mile from a fairly busy 2 lane highway and the location of their house would be perfect if not for the fact that Harley-Davidson makes motorcycles. In the evening the sound of all the other traffic on that roadway pales in comparison to that of Harleys. To be fair, some of that distinction is probably due to the fact that a big twin seems to produce a noise signature that [regardless of the reported same DB output claims] carries much further than other types of engine configurations. But also I suspect that a large number of HD riders, because of 'safety' logic or ego or whatever, spent their first extra $400 after purchase on a new set of louder aftermarket pipes. The net effect is that they henceforth serve as 'ambassadors of alienation' for most people. Ducati and Buell riders don't seem to have the same fears or need for special recognition.

jboggan 11y ago

One, decibels are a logarithmic unit. Two, you are comparing factory exhausts on the Harley meant to comply with noise regulations with top of the line aftermarket race exhausts for the Honda (which is probably as loud as you could make the Honda without removing the pipes entirely). They are not anywhere near each other - and the data in [1] really makes that point, I'm not sure how you concluded that most motorcycles are anywhere near each other in sound output.

bardworx 11y ago
> One, decibels are a logarithmic unit. That's not a good statement. Just because a number is logarithmic does not make sound logarithmic...Here is a video that shows two different exhaust with similar dB output: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax6W-V9bsmg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax6W-V9bsmg As a side note, opening a can of coke will record 101.5 dB from one meter away: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAd2BUB6XqQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAd2BUB6XqQ > Two, you are comparing factory exhausts on the Harley meant to comply with noise regulations with top of the line aftermarket race exhausts for the Honda (which is probably as loud as you could make the Honda without removing the pipes entirely). They are not anywhere near each other - and the data in [1] really makes that point, Honda are subject 1 and 3, Harley are 5 and 6. Subject 1 - 105 dB A, Subject 3 - 99 dB A. Subject 5 - 101.8 dB A, Subject 6 - 106.7 dB A. The two Hondas are not the same one you mentioned in your original post, However, stock exhaust is 72dB at idle and 86dB at half throttle on Honda CBR250R. http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/2013/03/article/2013-honda-crf250l-comparison/ http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/2013/03/article/2013-honda-crf...

deleted 11y ago

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dsmith1959 11y ago

My parents live in the country approx 1/2 mile from a fairly busy 2 lane highway and the location of their house would be perfect if not for the fact that Harley-Davidson makes motorcycles. In the evening the sound of all the other traffic on that roadway pales in comparison to that of Harleys. To be fair, some of that distinction is probably due to the fact that a big twin seems to produce a noise signature that [regardless of the reported same DB output claims] carries much further than other types of engine configurations. But also I suspect that a large number of HD riders, because of 'safety' logic or ego or whatever, spent their first extra $400 after purchase on a new set of louder aftermarket pipes. The net effect is that they henceforth serve as 'ambassadors of alienation' for most people. Ducati and Buell riders don't seem to have the same fears or need for special recognition.