[1stVictory]

The local police service has had handheld noise meters in use off and on for the past few years. The use of them is spotty because in the beginning, charges were lost in court due to "creating reasonable doubt" in the judge's minds that reflecting sound waves off pavement, ambient noise from passing traffic and so on may have affected the readouts. The use of these 'wastes of money' has virtually stopped.

Enter the next level of enforcement. Pole mounted noise meters complete with cameras so tickets can be mailed out. Several of these over priced items were installed on main thoroughfares as well as in busy roadways through residential areas. They were installed last fall and turned on. A digital board showed the dB level of noise. Then the problems started. Individuals in the middle of the night would pause at them and scream toward the microphone to see how loud they could be measured. Residents complained and they were summarily turned off.

The handheld units were purchased for motorcycle enforcement only and that's not right. They aren't the only noise makers being driven on the roads. The pole mounted ones I assume are to enforce all vehicle traffic. But I can't imagine how courts will believe in the accuracy of them.

This is how Honda measured sound levels of their Goldwing's mufflers years ago and perhaps even today. An anechoic chamber that is dead-quiet inside is accurate. The devices the City bought are nothing less than suspect in accuracy. I assume almost all violators who receive tickets in the mail will pay them online. Because the City knows how reluctant people are to attend traffic court to challenge the charge.

 

[98741]

The local police service has had handheld noise meters in use off and on for the past few years. The use of them is spotty because in the beginning, charges were lost in court due to "creating reasonable doubt" in the judge's minds that reflecting sound waves off pavement, ambient noise from passing traffic and so on may have affected the readouts. The use of these 'wastes of money' has virtually stopped.

View attachment 524747

Enter the next level of enforcement. Pole mounted noise meters complete with cameras so tickets can be mailed out. Several of these over priced items were installed on main thoroughfares as well as in busy roadways through residential areas. They were installed last fall and turned on. A digital board showed the dB level of noise. Then the problems started. Individuals in the middle of the night would pause at them and scream toward the microphone to see how loud they could be measured. Residents complained and they were summarily turned off.

View attachment 524749

The handheld units were purchased for motorcycle enforcement only and that's not right. They aren't the only noise makers being driven on the roads. The pole mounted ones I assume are to enforce all vehicle traffic. But I can't imagine how courts will believe in the accuracy of them.

This is how Honda measured sound levels of their Goldwing's mufflers years ago and perhaps even today. An anechoic chamber that is dead-quiet inside is accurate. The devices the City bought are nothing less than suspect in accuracy. I assume almost all violators who receive tickets in the mail will pay them online. Because the City knows how reluctant people are to attend traffic court to challenge the charge.

View attachment 524751

Just so I never had to deal with this and also I am getting to the point of my life where loud pipes is not my thing, I installed stage 1 level 2 Victory pipes. state legal and says it on the pipe. Just louder than stock and has the chrome finish. Not like the stage 1 you have to swap your heat shields. Sooner or later they will enforce this but probably not in my life time.

I know in Canada they enforce it and I hope to one day do a trip there.

 

[iabob]

The problem of enforcement, and the inevitable over reach that comes with it, won’t go away until the A-holes do. To me the real crux of the problem is that a few idiots will eventually ruin it for the rest of us. We all know the type, we’ve seen them in person, and we’ve seen them post here on the Vog and on other media. “What’s the loudest pipe I can get...” “I want to rattle the neighbors windows...” “ If they don’t like my loud pipes I just rev higher...” Or, we pull up to a light, favorite song playing on the radio or an interesting interview we’re listening to...miss the best part because some A-hole is revving his bike for no reason at a red light. We have real problems in my small-mid sized midwestern city, a lot of population has moved downtown where the A-hole bikers like to go after last call at 2:00 AM revving the sh!t out of their slow-ass bikes making noise bounce back and forth off the tall buildings.

Because of these douchebags that can’t seem to feel a sense of self worth if they aren’t disrupting someone’s day, or sleep, those of us who go aftermarket pipes for performance will have to deal with the enforcement aimed at the A-holes even though we don’t go out of our way to be dicks. As long as there are dicks, society will keep trying new ways to enforce noise ordinances. One of these days they will succeed and we will all be stuck with the choice of stock or stock.

 

[1stVictory]

I should state that I'm no fan of loud anything. Bike pipes, car and truck pipes or thousand watt booming cRAP bass tones. But what does concern me is the singular enforcement of motorcycles. As if they are the sole source of irritation in our world.

A retired cop friend of mine, who works part time now in the police call centre taking incoming complaint calls, told me the noise bylaw isn't even close to being enforced fairly. A call about a noisy party on the weekend may have the complainant waiting for hours until the call is dispatched because there are other more important things happening. Several hours later, the officers arrive to a party that may be over or still happening and then gives the offender "a warning" that the next time we get called that same evening/early morning will result in a bylaw charge. Whereas a noisy vehicle, any noisy vehicle, is noisy for a few moments then tails off. That the driver/rider should not get warning but hammered immediately yet the swine next door or across the road can disrupt the neighbourhood for hours and still get a first warning? That's just plain wrong! But it is what it is. The Vic Stage 1 set up my bike has on it complies with the SEMA 2825 noise level standard. But I keep the both the SEMA standard narrative and Stage 1 specs from the catalog in the trunk - just in case.

 

[iabob]

Yes, I should state clearly, probably already obvious, I’m completely on the side of a guy should be able to do whatever he wants with his own motorcycle. It’s what one does with it after that that presents a potential problem for the rest of us. Imagine one guy with loud pipes, cruising down a busy street, 2500 rpm 30-35 mph. His after market / modified pipes are louder than surrounding background noise, he MAY get some additional awareness around him because of it, he might be safer. He’s not pissing anyone off though. Second guy, same modifications, goes wide open throttle every time he’s got a few car lengths of space. He can’t leave a red light without revving to 4000 at least three times before letting the clutch out. This happened to me driving home from work the other day, trying to get through downtown in busy traffic, with an interesting interview on th radio. I couldn’t listen to it because of that jerkwad. I think fellow bikers gotta call out the jerkwads. If we don’t “police our own” someone else will and that will probably suck for all of us.

 

[linerider]

I have two Vics. Both have glass packs. Sounds good, in my opinion. Nice rumble and fairly quiet unless the throttle is twisted. WOT on the dyno runs were loud, for sure. When getting ready to pass a car, I usually give a blip or two on the throttle to be heard. I respect the small towns and keep them quiet.

Now for the story about the obnoxious jerk. A few years back was riding around the appalachians. Stayed at the Ridge Top motel and campground in Bryson City, NC. Very biker friendly place. They have a wash station and put rags out on the bikes to clean them up. So I was up fairly early on a sleepy, quiet, Sunday morning. All of a sudden, the quiet is shattered by this guy on some kind of HD with straight pipes. He's warming it up. Not at idle, but a way too fast idle and blipping it over and over. There is a church nearby and a child care. Residential houses all around. This goes on for way too long. Then when he pulls out..not quiet at all. Over revs and makes so much noise, winding it through the gears at all the stop signs. Finally he's out on the main road, straight pipes shattering the quiet sunday morning. What a jerk disrespecting such a biker friendly place to stay and others still sleeping in their rooms. Not to mention all those other residences where people were still trying to sleep at 6 in the morning.

 

[MagVic CCT]

Pretty much the way it is with most laws. Made to deal with a minority of "idiots" who can't or won't restrain themselves from whatever activity we're talking about. I've never dealt with noisy motorcycle issues and mine have all be pretty loud. But, I don't rev them at lights, or run through the neighborhood fast or at high rpm. And I don't over rev on any occasion. Now, when I decide to move out of the way, then I'm making some noise. But it's quickly disseminating down the road.

 

[Bujee1]

The internal combustion engine is going to eventually go away. It’s just too rough on the environment. When that happens noise will be a non issue. I believe they will eventually grand father us out like they do with very old cars not requiring smog checks. Motorcycle sales are dropping the most on the bikes that more likely to be modified. Reasons why are fodder for another thread.

Either way, as the number of bikes on the road decrease, so will the incidence of loud bikes causing problems.

So, my plan is don’t worry about it and don’t be a dick while I’m on the bike.

 

[WHITE_VIC]

The internal combustion engine is going to eventually go away. It's just too rough on the environment.

Correction, people are rough on the environment, especially older people who whine and ***** about emission requirements and want them to go away

 

[Bujee1]

Correction, people are rough on the environment, especially older people who whine and ***** about emission requirements and want them to go away

No correction necessary. As a person with a chronic lung disease and a retired Respiratory Therapist, I can tell you older people are not the problem. It's people who are ignoring the science or are oblivious to it. These people can be any age. Younger people are the majority now. They can either stay at home and do nothing when it is time to make critical decisions regarding who will lead us and what policies will save this planet or step up and take the lead. We'll see.

 

[VicVisionBulldog]

No correction necessary. As a person with a chronic lung disease and a retired Respiratory Therapist, I can tell you older people are not the problem. It's people who are ignoring the science or are oblivious to it. These people can be any age. Younger people are the majority now. They can either stay at home and do nothing when it is time to make critical decisions regarding who will lead us and what policies will save this planet or step up and take the lead. We'll see.

Science? Science doesn't seem to mean anything anymore. Not since we can change our gender to anything we want. The youths just are not growing up and they are stuck playing make believe. I can't wait until life punches them in the face!

 

[1stVictory]

Not since we can change our gender to anything we want.

Gender change. Does custom work on a motorcycle, changing its original appearance drastically, qualify as gender change? From normal, call it male, to pretty or sweet or awesome in appearance to female. I'm guessing it does because you wouldn't leave a female out in the rain while you're enjoying a cold one in a bar. Food for thought.

 

[Bujee1]

You can’t change the gender of a motorcycle. They are all female. How else can you ride them all day and get up the next day and do it all over again?

 

[VicVisionBulldog]

I'm guessing it does because you wouldn't leave a female out in the rain while you're enjoying a cold one in a bar.

No, but I can certainly leave a dude that cut his d!ck off out there even if he calls himself a female.

 

[Flyboy]

Gender change. Does custom work on a motorcycle, changing its original appearance drastically, qualify as gender change? From normal, call it male, to pretty or sweet or awesome in appearance to female. I'm guessing it does because you wouldn't leave a female out in the rain while you're enjoying a cold one in a bar. Food for thought.

Just as long as it doesn't identify as a Harley...

As for the Shim in the rain, whatever blows up their skirt and not my concern. His Mommy already told them not to play in the rain. Who am I to reinforce either way...

But my Victory identifying as a anything else, I do have a say.

 

[slimjim44]

Younger people are the majority now. They can either stay at home and do nothing when it is time to make critical decisions regarding who will lead us and what policies will save this planet or step up and take the lead. We'll see.

Any time the younger generation tries to make a change, all the old farts complain about the "Damn Millennials ruining everything" with avocado toast. Millennials are sooo entitled thinking they deserve nature and clean water and air and stuff.

 

[Flyboy]

Any time the younger generation tries to make a change, all the old farts complain about the "Damn Millennials ruining everything" with avocado toast. Millennials are sooo entitled thinking they deserve nature and clean water and air and stuff.

That is the way of the World, Grasshopper. Been that way since Cain killed a Able...

Don't they have an app for that.

 

[Ghostrider25]

All of this... Hogwash. It's like everything else, there has to be a balance. We all know that superloud pipes are stupid and serve no other purpose other than to annoy and prop up sensitive egos. This applies to bikes, cars, airplanes, all of it. narrowing it down strictly to bikes, why can't there be a sensible balance of performance, noise and respect for the rest of society? I suppose an outlandish notion such as this is just makes too much sense. And there is no accounting for the dicks who just want to be dicks.

To the point abut the ICE... the internal combustion engine will NEVER go away. Modern civilization will fall hard if they even attempt it. And all of you green new dealio's know damn well that is true. But inevitably, the applications for the ICE will shrink, and the power sports industry could be dealt a death blow if/when that happens. Thing is, are we really ready to just kill whole industries to promote an agenda? Because this will not solve the air pollution problem. Or the environmental problem. But that is an entirely different conversation.

So, if we want to keep the man from crashing our party... Just don't be a dick. Use common sense. This does not seem so hard to me.

 

[Ghostrider25]

My thoughts on Avocado toast...

 

[Bujee1]

All of this... Hogwash. It's like everything else, there has to be a balance. We all know that superloud pipes are stupid and serve no other purpose other than to annoy and prop up sensitive egos. This applies to bikes, cars, airplanes, all of it. narrowing it down strictly to bikes, why can't there be a sensible balance of performance, noise and respect for the rest of society? I suppose an outlandish notion such as this is just makes too much sense. And there is no accounting for the dicks who just want to be dicks.

To the point abut the ICE... the internal combustion engine will NEVER go away. Modern civilization will fall hard if they even attempt it. And all of you green new dealio's know damn well that is true. But inevitably, the applications for the ICE will shrink, and the power sports industry could be dealt a death blow if/when that happens. Thing is, are we really ready to just kill whole industries to promote an agenda? Because this will not solve the air pollution problem. Or the environmental problem. But that is an entirely different conversation.

So, if we want to keep the man from crashing our party... Just don't be a dick. Use common sense. This does not seem so hard to me.

The old Agenda is killing us. All the arguments about ICE going away killing our economy sound familiar. I'm pretty sure the horse and buggy set said the same thing for the same reasons. It's always about the money. Not the cost of one strategy vs. another as it relates to the common good, but who will suffer if they don't get on board with the change. That is who ever is making money from the old way that is afraid or unwilling to change.
When ICE came out, it was the horse and buggy folks who made the most noise about the change. Now it is the industries supporting ICE who are worried about more efficient strategies for harnessing and using energy. Same arguments, different time, same motive.
I do agree however that not being a dick is a good thing.