What non-riders really think about loud pipes...

[alanmcorcoran]

Editorial today on bikes and noise.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la- ... 3457.story

For the record, I'm not a big fan of loud pipes in residential neighborhoods, small town main streets etc. I'm not really a fan of loud anything (boom cars, gas powered leaf blowers, the guy in the gym that has to grunt and slam the weights around so everyone notices he's benching 400) except maybe outdoor rock music, and, even then, I usually go with ear plugs. I understand the appeal, but to me, loud stuff is an infringement on other people's rights to peace and quiet. I know some noise is necessary and my Strat isn't exactly whisper quiet - but I'm careful to start it in the street and leave immediately, quietly at low speed, low revs and stock pipes.

If you are riding out in the desert or farm towns and so on where there aren't 12 million people living on top of one another, I say have at it, make all the noise you want, you probably aren't bothering anyone anyway.