Quiet Motorcycles?
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Junior User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
From: Western PA
Quiet Motorcycles?
I'm not a biker dude type at all, but I see a lot of practicality in a motorcycle for fuel efficiency while commuting. Hence I'd want a motorcycle that was as respectable looking and sounding as possible, particularly a touring bike. Thing is I don't hear many quiet motorcycles out there. It seems ironic that a smaller powerplant would make so much more noise, though a course in thermodynamics helped me to understand why. Nonetheless, are there any ways people actually try to make their motorcycles quieter?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,562
Likes: 2
From: Southern MD
Good question.
I've ridden for more than 30 years. People used to remove the baffles from their mufflers/tailpipes to make more noise, so that cars could hear the cycles coming. (Sort of a 'safety noise,' for the lack of a better term.)
Never got into that. I liked my quiet bike. (Relatively speaking.)
Nowadays. . . . can't stand it. Gettin' old, I guess.
4 in to 1 headers. Last bike was a Honda 750-F Super Sport.
I like quiet. Quiet is good.
I've ridden for more than 30 years. People used to remove the baffles from their mufflers/tailpipes to make more noise, so that cars could hear the cycles coming. (Sort of a 'safety noise,' for the lack of a better term.)
Never got into that. I liked my quiet bike. (Relatively speaking.)
Nowadays. . . . can't stand it. Gettin' old, I guess.
4 in to 1 headers. Last bike was a Honda 750-F Super Sport.
I like quiet. Quiet is good.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Most new motorcycles run very quietly if they haven't been modified. Best way to keep the noise down is to operate it at low rpms. Avoid revving the engine and shift early. This will maximize the fuel economy as well.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,292
Likes: 5
From: NJ where fun comes to die
I ride a Harley. I have a muffler but it is still loud. Not as loud as straight pipes, but still makes a good bit of noise. I would rather it be a little more quiet, but I like living too. When people pay attention on the road, and drive their cars with a little safety in mind, and stop cutting us off because they "didn't see us", then I will quiet my bike down. I have a big bike, painter with bright colors, and a 3' x 5' American flag on the back, and people still cut me off. But then again there are stupid drivers that cut tractor trailers off too. Sorry for the rant.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,021
Likes: 0
From: Brandon Mb
Quiet motorcycle, thats like the tooth fairy and santa claus right?
Seriously, most bikes with stock exhaust are fairly quiet. Any touring bike will be especially quiet. You couldn't hear the radio otherwise.
Trevor
Seriously, most bikes with stock exhaust are fairly quiet. Any touring bike will be especially quiet. You couldn't hear the radio otherwise.Trevor
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 11,496
Likes: 6
From: Kansas
It is a myth that loud pipes save lives. The people saying that will also swear their front bake is dangerous and should never be used. Your driving skill is a better investment then trashing your baffles or installing an aftermarket muffler.
With that said, it will depend on what kinda of bike you want. Many stock bikes are very quiet when driven with a modest hand on the throttle.
With that said, it will depend on what kinda of bike you want. Many stock bikes are very quiet when driven with a modest hand on the throttle.
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 552
Likes: 0
From: Northern, Va
Honda, makes various bikes that are very Quiet ! Check out a Local Dealer if not to buy but to hear & ride if you have a Motorcycle Lic. you could always buy used !
My self I would Buy a Harley -Davidson Special Ed. one & save it back to re-sell I do mis my 79 Low-Rider. It was completly stock Blk w/ red pin stripes, I dont miss my FLT 1982 . 79 Low-Rider sold for $ 600. more than I paid for it in 1979 . 1982 FLT sold it $750. more than I paid for it sold it in 1987 & no Chrome or goddies were added to them just TLC.
Don
My self I would Buy a Harley -Davidson Special Ed. one & save it back to re-sell I do mis my 79 Low-Rider. It was completly stock Blk w/ red pin stripes, I dont miss my FLT 1982 . 79 Low-Rider sold for $ 600. more than I paid for it in 1979 . 1982 FLT sold it $750. more than I paid for it sold it in 1987 & no Chrome or goddies were added to them just TLC.
Don
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Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,420
Likes: 3
From: Langhorne, PA
I like the way a Honda Goldwing swooshes by, it runs nice and quiet, and is a good-looking bike. I ride a Harley, with loud loud screaming Eagle pipes, basically that is a pipe with one metal baffle, and those things are loud at full throttle. I want a new bike someday and the Honda might be the next one, cause I'll be riding in stealth mode. I 'll be able to ride off at 5AM and not worry about disturbing my entire neighborhood out of bed. As far as noise=safety that is not happening, I know plenty of bikers on loud bikes that got cut off and had to dump it or got hit. Anybody driving a bike has to be ready at every second for careless morons on the cell phone, distracted mothers, or just plain careless half-blind dopes. The only safety measure a biker truly has are their own two eyes and good judgement.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
I hate loud motorcycles myself too, i live in an area where lots of bikers like to ride because of the nice streets and land scenery. Lots of straight piped harley riders and it's really annoying to hear 10 of them fly by...my truck is a little loud but I feel it's considered acceptable by the vast majority, motorcycles like those are a little absurd. I wouldn't be running open headers in my truck...
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 25,090
Likes: 1,112
From: Rio Rico, AZ.
What I can't believe is how many of the straight pipe Harleys get away with running like that. How come they are not pulled over by every highway patrolman/woman for noise violations? I know that I would be if I had that job.
!["Beemer Nut"'s Avatar](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 50 50'><circle class='avatar-circle-default' fill='%23bc5285' cx='25px' cy='25px' r='20px'></circle><text class='avatar-text-default' x='49%' y='53%' fill='white' text-anchor='middle' alignment-baseline='middle'>"</text></svg>)
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,658
Likes: 4
From: "Islander"
Loud is good to a point
As I own 9 bikes, BMW's (75-76) they are so damn quiet that cars will run you over. On the Norton's (2 are show stock) and the beater has mufflers loud like early Triumph "shorties" the "cagers" can hear me and stay in their lane. On the 500 and 600 cc thumper Matchless scoots you can crank the mag back and go "bang", works better than a **** *** horn. True some bikes are way over the top with loud exhaust but loud pipes save lives. Yes you have to ride like everyone is out to get you. It's the lane splitting road racers that give us bikers bad names. My day died in 2002, he road bike until 80 years old (1939 to 2002 on scooters), Hollister in 47 and 97, the cagers don't see us and don't give a damn. We should be allowed to carry and use guns, they have deadly weapon SUV's that want to kill us, get them! Sorry if I got some tree huggers ****ed, I can **** farther! Thanks for starting this great topic.
Carl....=o&o>....
Carl....=o&o>....
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
Likes: 22
From: The Big, Oregon
I have a 75 Honda CB400F, it's fairly quiet until you really get on it. About 5-6k, it really starts getting whiney, but if I keep it below about 4,500 it is a reasonable noise level. I would trade it for a same year BMW in a heartbeat, though-
