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Post by gato on Nov 29, 2021 7:32:53 GMT -5
It is the ultimate macho image: dozens of "patched" outlaw bikers, roaring down the asphalt astride their powerful thigh-throbbing motorcycles, with staccato, earsplitting exhaust. But a new day is coming.
Try picturing the Sons of Anarchy or the Mayans on electric cycles. Hummmmmmmmmm....
Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda, the iconic "easy riders." Hummmmmmmmmmm
Steve McQueen streaking toward freedom in the Great Escape ... Hummmmmmmm.
Oh, sure ... an electric bike can get you from 0-60 in just a few seconds (2.2 on the Lightning LS-218, top speed 218 mph) .......
But somehow, it's just not the same: cops on the outskirts of a small own look at each other, puzzled.
"Do you hear that?"
"Yeah ... it sounds like a giant sewing machine."
And then the the flying V of outlaw bikers emerges from around the bend.
It's like the difference between the strumming of a ukulele and the thunder of a Dick Dale concert
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Post by LeftyMeister on Nov 29, 2021 11:13:32 GMT -5
I'm not one for super-loud bikes but I am into good-sounding pipes. I don't foresee myself ever owning an electric bike for many reasons, the sound being only one.
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Post by Taildragger on Nov 29, 2021 11:29:46 GMT -5
An army of uncouth outcasts roll into a small, sleepy, California town.
But nobody notices, because: *hmmmmmmmmmmmmm*...
"The Wild One-2022"
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Post by K4 on Nov 29, 2021 11:49:59 GMT -5
Clip a playing card so it hits the spokes....
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Post by Vibroluxer on Nov 29, 2021 11:57:44 GMT -5
I used to have a VRoooom on my bike. It was a plastic motorcycle engine that make a motorcycle sound. I remember thinking that thing *made* my Schwinn Spider.
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Nov 29, 2021 12:06:00 GMT -5
I never understood the "so other motorists know we're there" safety argument. It always seemed like a little-boy rebuttal to criticism of loud bikies.
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Post by Taildragger on Nov 29, 2021 12:19:59 GMT -5
I never understood the "so other motorists know we're there" safety argument. It always seemed like a little-boy rebuttal to criticism of loud bikies. On the other hand, it's sometimes scary how electric vehicles can roll up on you (as a pedestrian) undetected. I know I've done a startled, double take in that situation more than once.
And, as a former motorcyclist, I have say that I'd feel a (relatively) noiseless bike would just add one more increment of risk in today's already insanely-dangerous highways, populated as they are by such a large number of "distracted" drivers.
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Post by Pinetree on Nov 29, 2021 12:25:33 GMT -5
If it's too loud, you're too old.
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Post by Taildragger on Nov 29, 2021 12:41:23 GMT -5
Gotta say that you can't beat those electric motors for instantaneous torque.
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Nov 29, 2021 12:45:21 GMT -5
I never understood the "so other motorists know we're there" safety argument. It always seemed like a little-boy rebuttal to criticism of loud bikies. On the other hand, it's sometimes scary how electric vehicles can roll up on you (as a pedestrian) undetected. I know I've done a startled, double take in that situation more than once.
And, as a former motorcyclist, I have say that I'd feel a (relatively) noiseless bike would just add one more increment of risk in today's already insanely-dangerous highways, populated as they are by such a large number of "distracted" drivers.
That has been an ongoing concern, especially for blind pedestrians. How will they know when an electric vehicle is approaching? Early on, Honda, Toyota and Tesla were considering installing some sort of sound generator that made the presence of an approaching e-vehicle easy to discern by sound alone. A beep-beep-beep? A low-volume buzz? Nobody could come up with an appropriate sound other than the artificial sound of an internal combustion engine...which partially defeats the purpose of a battery-powered conveyance. "John Ford's greatest Triumph," indeed.  |
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Post by Leftee on Nov 29, 2021 12:45:51 GMT -5
Gleaming alloy air cars suck.
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Post by LeftyMeister on Nov 29, 2021 13:58:10 GMT -5
I never understood the "so other motorists know we're there" safety argument. It always seemed like a little-boy rebuttal to criticism of loud bikies. On the other hand, it's sometimes scary how electric vehicles can roll up on you (as a pedestrian) undetected. I know I've done a startled, double take in that situation more than once.
And, as a former motorcyclist, I have say that I'd feel a (relatively) noiseless bike would just add one more increment of risk in today's already insanely-dangerous highways, populated as they are by such a large number of "distracted" drivers.
You beat me to it. To add...
Imagine being in a car in the left lane and you're beside another car that decides to abruptly change lanes. If contact is made, there will be some bent sheet metal. However, on a bike, there will be flesh and blood on the pavement.
This scenario actually happened to me while on a Connecticut interstate during my New England ride a few years ago. I was in the flow of traffic in the left lane when a silver Honda beside me abruptly came into my lane without a turn signal. I squeezed over toward the wall (with my handlebar about 6" from the wall), revved my engine, and honked the horn in that order. Since it took a second for my thumb to find the horn, it was revving the engine that startled the other driver. He promptly shot back into his lane with a shocked look on his face. He didn't hear me initially because his stereo was blaring.
There have been numerous times the sound of my bike has alerted another driver, and it's not overly loud.
When riding a bike with only two wheels and minimal protection, every advantage counts.
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Post by tahitijack on Nov 29, 2021 15:06:08 GMT -5
Laguna Beach has been trying for decades to enforce a loud bikes law, which only applies to their town. It is unsuccessful even with signs posted notifying motorists of the no loud bikes law. Every few weeks in summer they pretend to set up "noise traps" but the rest of us laugh.
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Post by FlyonNylon on Nov 29, 2021 15:17:53 GMT -5
Electric motorcycles (and bikes, cars, skateboards etc) are definitely here to stay.
Did 120 miles yesterday on the V-Strom, just a fantastic if slightly cold ride up the river over the plateau, down Sequatchie Valley and back up through the river gorge.
My current bike is quieter than most but I prefer it so I can cruise around later at night and open up the throttle without being inconsiderate. Even as a life-long motorcyclist walking downtown when a cruiser with an aftermarket muffle hits the throttle (and goes nowhere) or a 600cc sport bike blips to 14k rpm I still find it super annoying. It's just annoying that it's about the image and what people think than just riding..
Never got the "loud pipes save lives" deal, just seems like an excuse. It's safer imo riding a quiet modern standard bike with proper suspension, ergonomics, brakes, etc than an 800lb lazy-boy despite the sound difference.
The main reason though I would never own an e-bike at this life-stage is lack of a clutch and gearbox. I'm sure they're fun to ride with the low center of gravity but I'm not ready to give up the feeling of rev-matching into a corner, finding a nice line and rolling on the throttle right before the apex and watching the world get blurry as you grab the next gear. best ever.
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Post by LeftyMeister on Nov 29, 2021 15:59:43 GMT -5
Never got the "loud pipes save lives" deal, just seems like an excuse. It's safer imo riding a quiet modern standard bike with proper suspension, ergonomics, brakes, etc than an 800lb lazy-boy despite the sound difference. My 750 lb muscle cruiser has all of those features and it's got some rumble to boot.
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Post by Ricketi on Nov 29, 2021 16:06:42 GMT -5
If those Dip"Dookies" can be on their phones and not pay attention to what's around them, Then I don't mind having a little louder than stock pipes to wake them out of their cell phone trance.
I do get some of the pipes can be annoying but when I'm driving a car I'd like to know that they are there in my blind spot.
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Post by LeftyMeister on Nov 29, 2021 17:19:12 GMT -5
I find a motorcycle with loud pipes to be less annoying than a Prius with an oversized muffler. They sound like model airplanes.
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Post by Ricketi on Nov 29, 2021 18:25:07 GMT -5
I find a motorcycle with loud pipes to be less annoying than a Prius with an oversized muffler. They sound like model airplanes. Fart cans |
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Post by LVF on Nov 29, 2021 19:03:57 GMT -5
Ok, I've seen no solution to the 'noiseless' bike so, may I remind you or inform you, whatever camp you happen to be in that. Some newer vehicles, gas and electric, offer a feature that adds artificial sound of engines like the noise a V12 Ferrari makes to warn people of their presence. For motorcycles, they could do the same thing if they are electric. However, I would like to add some other sounds that are...not necessarily...the sound of and engine. I will suggest a few that I have in mind and maybe, you all could add some suggestions: Instead of a Fart can, how about the really and continuous sound of a fart? Another might be, a person laughing manically and continuously. Imagine hearing these as they pass you by! What other kind of sounds would you come up with? So many different sounds could be incorporated into a program like the old car horn selections. The sound of a Stuka dive bombing!!  |
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Post by HeavyDuty on Nov 29, 2021 19:10:09 GMT -5
They need a Jetson’s car noise module.
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Post by LeftyMeister on Nov 29, 2021 21:02:27 GMT -5
I would go for the galloping of many horses.
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Post by dogspart2 on Jan 26, 2022 12:56:24 GMT -5
Sadly, gave it up a few years ago. To many idiots on cell phones trying to kill me. Sold my bikes and pissed away the proceeds on audio stuff and geetars. Past loves   |
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Jan 26, 2022 13:32:47 GMT -5
Same here. I quit riding in the 80s because it just got too stupid on the roads. I'm the same way with cars when it comes to quiet. Even in high school, when I had a '72 Malibu with a hopped-up 350 V8, I liked it quiet. All my pals were installing glasspacks and cams that made their cars go blappity-blappity-blap at idle. I wanted to be able to hear my music when tooling down the road--not the engine. And it allowed me to sneak in and out of the neighborhood without anyone knowing I was there, like my girlfriend's dad  etc. |
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Post by rickyguitar on Jan 26, 2022 13:52:57 GMT -5
Fog horn? Fog horn Leghorn?
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Post by Laker on Jan 26, 2022 14:04:35 GMT -5
I’ve always enjoyed go-fast stuff and part of making a gas engined machine go fast is to efficiently get fuel and oxygen into it, and to get spent fuel exhausted from the combustion chamber. With my current 117 cu in Harley running Harley’s stage IV ported heads with larger throttle body and free-flowing Screamin’ Eagle exhaust, the intake of air is definitely louder as I roll the throttle on and, the exhaust is louder but you lose some of the performance if you add restriction to flow to quiet it.  |
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Post by Laker on Jan 26, 2022 14:37:11 GMT -5
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Post by FlyonNylon on Jan 26, 2022 15:11:02 GMT -5
Sick bike Laker!
I buttoned in the liner on my jacket and rode about an hour yesterday. Love a good crisp winter ride; visibility is much better riding in the winter here and with the right gear the cold air feels amazing. Might go for a ride again this afternoon but I'm charging the battery in my fun car so will probably go for a drive instead.
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Post by Laker on Jan 26, 2022 16:01:08 GMT -5
Sick bike Laker! I buttoned in the liner on my jacket and rode about an hour yesterday. Love a good crisp winter ride; visibility is much better riding in the winter here and with the right gear the cold air feels amazing. Might go for a ride again this afternoon but I'm charging the battery in my fun car so will probably go for a drive instead. Thanks! I’ve added a bit to it since that photo with lower fairing, Klockwerks windscreen, and Stage 2 Rockford Fosgate stereo in bags and fairing. I would love to go for a cruise today, but our roads are snow covered and the temps started out at -8°F this morning. I used to make it a point to ride every month of the year with my coldest ride at -14°F. Here’s one of my winter rides a few years ago.  |
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Post by LeftyMeister on Jan 26, 2022 17:00:20 GMT -5
I don't ride after they start salting the roads. It's tough on the bike and tough on my body if I go down from the salt or brine.
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Post by FlyonNylon on Jan 26, 2022 17:21:24 GMT -5
I've only spent one winter relying on a bike for primary transport, and it's a bit warmer here with typical lows in the 20s and highs in the 40s. I got used to suiting up to go anywhere but riding to work at 0600 after a cold night always had me concerned for black ice.
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etc.
