Harley Forum?

looch · Jul 23, 2003

If I can get the lingo down a Poser is a cruiser bike type that just bought leather chaps 

Squeaker: leather is so new that it squeaks when they walk.

TCowner · Jul 24, 2003

Jerry, I thought I would stir the pot a little and will do so by discussing the noise issue with you Harley riders. Many of us who use these forums for discussing our tractor and equipment issues live in the rural areas. Many, not all, Harley riders seem to believe that the country areas are where noise is not an issue and that God has given you the right to run your unmuffled obnoxious motorcyles at full throttle by my house. Now I live 1,000 feet off a busy highway and accept the fact that there will higway noise from cars, trucks,busses, etc. I chose to build there. But I fail to see how so many Harley riders can run unmuffled machines will little fear of the law enforcement folks. I wonder what the average owner of an unmuffled Harley would think if on a pleasant Sunday morning I drove in front of your house with my compact utility tractor and let it run at full throttle for a while. I suspect you would call the police. On any weekend in the smaller towns in our area a group of 10-20 (mostly Harley) riders stop at the Local Kwik Trip and well over half have no mufflers at all. When they leave it is an obnoxious deafening roar and they do it for the most part in front of the local police. I have nothing against motorcycles. I've owned 3 road bikes over my 48 years. But they all had the stock mufflers systems in place. I know as an 18 year old kid, on a 1971 Kawasaki Mach III, I irritated a few neighbors with that high rpm two-stroke scream along with the blue haze from the oil injector pump set too rich. But I also felt the wrath of the local law enforcement officials when I did it. Harley riders seem to get by unscathed. I live in snowmobile world and the issue of excess noise comes up from time to time. There are always a couple of clowns who feel that their machine with a stock exhaust that only does 105 mph could do 110 mph with an abnoxious after-marked exhaust system. But for the most part when the snowmobilers are out and about the rest of the world is huddled next to the fireplace watching TV. WHen the unmuffled Harleys are running the rest of the world might be outside enjoying their property or at least have the windows open. The unmuffled Harleys can be heard coming for a mile and heard going away for a mile. I'm not against Harleys. I'm against excessive noise. When a Honda Goldwing goes by you hardley notice. I've yet to see a Goldwing owner who has taken his stock exhaust and installed straight pipes. If a 16 year old kid's Chevy Camaro sounded like the typical unmuffled Harley law enforcement officials would issue a excessive noise ticket in heartbeat. A 50 year old man with a protruding belly wrapped in leather making the same amount of noise is left alone. It makes no sense. I apoligize if I've offended anyone with this post. I'm not some zealot who moved to the country and wants a noise free world so that I can sing songs around the campfire with my perfect family. I accept the fact it is a noisy world out their. I grew up working around farm equipment. All I ask is that Harley riders be held to the same standard as everyone else. If a Harley rider deliberately modifies his exhaust system to make excessive noise he gets a ticket. That should go for cars, ATVs, snowmobiles, etc.

Gatorboy · Jul 24, 2003

Not sure what's more annoying....loud pipes or reading a long post without paragraphs. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Bob_In_MN · Jul 24, 2003

Terry,

2 points

1. If you're like me, as you get older you tend to either notice things more or at least are bothered by things that never used to bother you. I'm 34 and I notice it at times (although not with motorcycles).

2. If you're in SE Minnesota, you probably get more than your share of cycles. I have a friend in Winona and every chance I get, I take the river road from the cities down to his house. On top of that, the spring and fall "flood" runs bring over 1500 bikes into your area twice a year. I've done this ride many times and while the police are out in full force, I don't think I've seen anyone stopped for loud pipes.

Don't ask me why, but with a Harley (not sport bikes or even older cars) the louder the better. Not sure why I like it, but I do. That being said, I understand the need to respect others.

One more point--when you live in the country, you will find this occurs in some form or another. My neighbor has a mini motocross set up in the back part of his property. He's far enough away so that it doesn't prevent me from enjoying the outdoors, but as you probably know, dirt bikes are loud.

Nothing I could (or even want) to do about my neighbor, but I worry a little less about cutting my lawn at night or in the morning when my schedule doesn't permit otherwise.

Not really agreeing or disagreeing with you--just my $0.02.

Bob

TCowner · Jul 24, 2003

Gatorboy, Sorry about the lack of paragraphs. I shouldn't post when I get excited. My seventh grade english teacher would be upset with me as well.

(new paragraph)
I hope you don't check my posts for spelling. You wouldn't know whether you are more irritated with loud pipes, lack of paragraphs or horrendous spelling.

(new paragraph)
I knew my post would generate some response. I've preached the same sermon at work and the response is about the same. The Harley owners maintain their right to be loud and the non-Harley owners beg for mufflers.

Bird · Jul 24, 2003

( If a 16 year old kid's Chevy Camaro sounded like the typical unmuffled Harley law enforcement officials would issue a excessive noise ticket in heartbeat. )

Brings back interesting memories. I'll never forget writing a rich kid in a new car a loud muffler ticket in 1965 or '66. He came to court with his dad to plead not quilty. Of course I testified first, then the kid, then the dad who told the judge that they had taken the car to a muffler shop, asked for an exhaust that would make more noise, but still be legal. He then said, "Besides, judge, that car's not as loud as these old city busses." The judge said, "We're not comparing your car to city busses, jet airplanes, or atomic explosions; we do the best we can with what we have. That'll be $50." (It would have only been $10 if they'd just paid it to start with.) /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Personally, I like the "idea" of buying American, but I've never been able to imagine any additional reason for buying a Harley-Davidson motorcycle except for braggin' rights and noise. If you want transportation and comfort, I don't think you can beat the Gold Wing, although I've owned Zundapp, Yamaha, Hondas, and BMW, and ridden a Suzuki. The worst think I've ever been on was supposedly an extra clean Harley ElectraGlide with 11,000 miles on it that a cousin owned.

Of course I can vaguely understand the desire for the noise. I put twin glass packs on my '56 Mercury convertible when I was 18 /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif, but outgrew any desire for that racket before I was 21. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif I was never stopped by the police when I had the loud mufflers, but in just visiting with the police chief one day when I met him on the street, he told me I'd been making too much noise and needed to hold it down - and I did. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Gary_in_Indiana · Jul 24, 2003

The noise issue is a major one. While I enjoy the "throaty" sound of some mufflers on trucks, I still want their volume at a reasonable level. Admittedly, "reasonable" is in the ear of the beholder. Fortunately, we don't have to rely on terms such as "reasonable" anymore since we have laws that specify the allowable volume.

I would very much like to see enforcement of these noise ordinances on riders of $20,000 motorcycles instead of just on drivers of $200 cars. I've actually had Harleys go by my business that were so loud I experienced physical pain from the noise. That's ridiculous.

The stock Harleys (I believe) are within the allowable limits. I have no problem with those at all. It's the overly loud ones that I want stopped. Something like that shows a total lack of consideration for others and I, for one, would like to see enforcement of the existing laws. Ticket them, fine them and give them a reasonable time (thirty days?) to correct the situation and bring evidence of such to the police department. If the same vehicle is stopped again with different (loud) pipes on it within a normal lifespan of the stock muffler and pipes (a year? three years??), impound it.

I would imagine something like that would eliminate of lot of this rather quickly. I'd like to see that happen. I'm not asking for new laws. I just want enforcement of those already in place.

knucklehead · Jul 24, 2003

Jeeeeeez!

Looks like a topic got missed when politics, "religion", and joke lists were discouraged! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Here's a sample of what woulda run Harley out of town if they could have run their affairs better - a '46 Indian Chief.

A couple of you guys have mentioned it being a personal choice - I guess I echo that. I used to be "All American", but no more. I'll pick what I think performs best - hopefully American but I'm not helping someone stay in business who can't or won't do their job. Since Wal Mart, Sam's and Home Dumpo invaded Maine, all I've heard is bitching from some businesses - but not all businesses. Wal Mart quietly states in town meetings that it is their experience that those businesses that are run well benefit from increased traffic, and those that are not close when the local customer base is provided with a better alternative. I have observed that in several towns. After the intitial buzz and wonder of a huge orange box filled with tools wore off, it was back to the lumberyards for most of us. But a couple of them closed - the ones we didn't like and didn't help people very much.

I was pretty impressed with the York, PA Harley factory when we took the tour a couple years ago - seems like they are being pretty progressive, trying robotics in some phases, doing hand work when it's better, and running two assembly lines - a job specific line and another one where one crew goes down the line assembling one bike, kinda like the Swedes bragged about doing with the Volvos.

I still think buying a Harley is like buying a JD - the name sells it. One guy I work with bought a beautiful Heritage, and had problems and recalls with it from the start. He tried to get the fuel system straightened out, but several dealers just wanted him to buy aftermarket carbs and stuff.....seemed like everyone does so much custom work on their bikes that there may be no incentive to get the stock system right. He was pretty stubborn, thought an 18-grand bike should run good from the factory, so after a year he sold it at no loss and built a lobster boat. Told everyone he couldn't get a hauler on his Harley.

For me any new bike is too expensive. Another friend picked up a +/- 1980 Yamaha 1100 XS Special with 6000 original garage kept miles on it for something like $1500 a month ago. That's my speed. Someday I'd like to build an old Indian, or maybe a Knucklead or early Pan. They wouldn't be for touring; if I was going to ride a thousand miles in one direction I'd want a Goldwing or a Valkyrie - or a FI Electra Glide - carbs are old tech, but still fun to play with, just like drum brakes. I don't see why the crotch rocket guys have to slam the cruisers, and so forth. I'd like to see the same kind of enthusiasm shared here that is shared when we talk about top-n-tilt or forks.

In the words of that glittering example of moral excellence and brotherly good will, Rodney King:

Can't we all jes' get along?

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

If we want to get into a serious fight, help me buy the best framing gun!

Bird · Jul 24, 2003

( If we want to get into a serious fight, help me buy the best framing gun! )

Paslode. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Actually, I know very little about framing guns, but several construction crew members told my brother the Paslode was best, so that's what he bought and we liked it while building his house, then he sold it a neighbor who also liked it. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

TresCrows · Jul 24, 2003

If we want to get into a serious fight, help me buy the best framing gun! ----------- Bosh?

Noise, Harleys make way to much, additionally as I said once before if the engine is as big as a car engine it should have a catalytic converter as well. I am also for a 100ish horsepower limit on bikes. I think any thing over 1000cc should have a catalytic converter.
When I first started riding in the late 60s everyone on a bike gave a passing bike the peace symbol wave, two fingers. I gave a group of Harley bikers the peace symbol wave and they all gave me the middle finger wave /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif. Over the years though I have had several good encounters with REAL HARLEY people. Like the big Harley tatooed guy that picked me up out of the dirt while at my first motocross and sat me back on my bike and told me to "go get em" and the ones that me and Glen played with one day who chased us for hours and latter became our friends and would make our little practice track one of their regular stops to say hello. All in all I have had good experiences with motorcycle people regardless of what type bike they owned or ride or whathaveya. This noise thing is irratating, I agree, my little bike just goes -- purr--purr /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif and if I get a pipe on it it will go gently vrrroom--vrrroom /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif but not BLAT-BLA, BLA-BLAT-BLAT /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif like miniture atomic explosions, what is that all about anyway. Quiet is a good thing. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. J