Ordinances aim to quiet ear-piercing motorcycle noise

“That fact that Denver has done so is going to give a lot of encouragement to people who love peace and quiet.”

MILWAUKEE Cities from New York to Denver are giving motorcyclists the silent treatment.

And that worries riders rights groups, which fear that a wave of ordinances aimed at muffling Harley-Davidsons, hushing Hondas and stifling Suzukis will create a confusing patchwork of laws that motorcyclists won't be able to navigate. The motorcycle industry is concerned it could turn these frustrated riders away.

'From our perspective, this creates enormous problems for us because people notice the one motorcycle that makes a lot of noise,' said Bill Wood, spokesman for the American Motorcyclist Association. 'They don't notice the 50 that pass that don't. So there's a perception that motorcycles are noisy.' Read more

[JACK]

I'LL BAFFLE MY PIPES WHEN THESE SAME LAWS TURN DOWN THE TEENY BOPPER, FOUR WHEELED BOOM BOXES!

[Sounds of Silence]

JACK wrote:

I'LL BAFFLE MY PIPES WHEN THESE SAME LAWS TURN DOWN THE TEENY BOPPER, FOUR WHEELED BOOM BOXES!

No! You'll baffle your pipes when we get law enforcement to enforce noise ordinances. We have learned from ABATE where to put the pressure on. Your noise making days are numbered.

[Caveman]

When I'm riding my bike with loud pipes, it annoys the cars behind me enough that they keep a safe following distance. If the noise bothers some people....so be it. My safety and my wife's comes first.

[Mike Sr]

Maybe the tickets will bother your wallet. Won't bother mine to see you support our local government with your money.

[Mavrick]

Here we go again,chipping away at personal freedoms!Putting the sorry looking stock pipes on my custom ride will never happen in my life time!But i realize the noise bothers some so to avoid causing someone else to have a bad day I control the noise with the right wrist!Easy on the gas in residential areas goes a long way towards the good will of all.

[BIKER wanna be]

Stick to your bikes. when the toy run comes along everyone has there hands out.

[ABATE of PA]

Sounds of Silence wrote:

<quoted text>No! You'll baffle your pipes when we get law enforcement to enforce noise ordinances. We have learned from ABATE where to put the pressure on. Your noise making days are numbered.

I'm trying to figure out what ABATE you think you heard this stuff from. I am a member of Pennsylvania ABATE, Crawford County chapter, and we believe that if you don't hear us, you will not see us. I personally have had almost 15 close calls this season alone, due to irrisponsible people behind the wheel of a car, truck, or SUV, because of either being on the phone, or they just don't care. We are less affraid of hitting a deer, than we are of another motorist pulling out in front of us, or trying to run us off the road because they think we are "Biker Trash!" The next time you get the chance, ask a motorcyclist what they're profession is, You might be surprised! If you think the loud pipes are what bothers you, try getting off ur ass and help our communities as much as we do. We have runs for Cancer Society, toys for kids, Battered women and children, and Etc. So the next time you decide to make accusations, try getting your facts straight, and look twice, cause you'll be the one who will end up killing one of us who is out supporting one or more of your family members.

[Irover]

Tell me, ABATE OF PA, are you also supporting the
changes in helment laws in PA? If you do, then what are your doing to support the friends & families of those riders killed in fatal
accidents where a helment might have saved their livews? Recent statistics clearly show dramatic increases in deaths in PA (I believe 7 times the death rate prior to the change). I ride
and I will not give you one cent or support any
ABATE causes for an organization that promotes such foolish behavior. How many new riders would
be alive today if they had a helment ?? Just because they can pass credit check for that bike doent mean they know how to ride it. Yet I have not heard of ABATE getting behind motorcycle
rider education? Loud pipes, no helments. What's
next, no lights ????

[ABATE of PA]

We would definately not support no lights, however, we do support FREEDOM OF CHOICE! It is a riders choice to ride without a helmet. We encourage everyone to take the Motorcycle Saftey Coarse. There is a law in PA that states that YOU have to have atleast 2 years experience to ride without a helmet. There are many inexperiented riders out there who are not legal to ride without a helmet, and those are our fellow riders who become a fatality statistic. I will leave you a link, please take the time to look at everything on there. http://www.abatepa.org This will show you everything that we are about. I would encourage you to come to one of our meetings, I'm sure this would give you a new perspective about A.B.A.T.E.(Alliance of Bikers Aimed Toward Education)

[Leg]

Sounds of Silence wrote:

<quoted text>No! You'll baffle your pipes when we get law enforcement to enforce noise ordinances. We have learned from ABATE where to put the pressure on. Your noise making days are numbered.

WELL LOOK AT THE BIG MAN IN TOWN WANTS TO MAKE MY BIKE LESS NOISY . SO INSTEAD OF LOOKING OR LISTEN.jUST RUN ME OVER SO MY KIDS HAVE NO DAD. WHAT SO YOU CAN LISTEN TO YOUR WIFE.

[Samuel]

Freedom of choice, yeah, right. In a perfect world there would be no need to restrain freedom with laws, because everyone would be polite and consider other's well being.

But we do not live in a perfect world, our world is plagued with obnoxious people craving other's attention (it doesn't matter wether it's negative or positive attention). That's why laws are needed to restrain the freedom of inconsiderate assholes.

Remember: Your freedom stops where other's freedom begins. Being free from useless noise wins over being free to make useless noise.

So, all of you bikers who claims to need those noisy exhaust for safety reasons, you must understand that this new law will be applied to protect the freedom of those who doesn't like to hear this noise in residential areas, because, let's face it, some of you (if not most of you) are overbearing and arrogant, some of you are not being noisy just on highways...

Before you blame the government for this, you should blame the bikers among you who are lacking common sense. Yes, all bikers must pay for the bad behaviour of the stupid bikers, but that's how a society of law and order works.

[Irover]

Give me a brake, ABATE. 2 Years of experience ???
And just how does one enforce such foolishness??
Did the rider who was doing tricks in the Vet Parking lot, wearing full leathers and no helmet and was killed when he fell off on his head have at least 2 years experience? Will the car that makes that left turn in front of you know who does or does not have 2 years experience? If you have ever been down, as I have, and escaped serious injury because you where wearing a DOT (not a plastic shell) you know what ABATE esposes is CRAP..... And by the way, I have taken both BR AND ER classes and they constantly STRESS WEARING APPROVED HELMETS! So change you stand or change you name for your organization's policies are getting riders KILLED.....

[Just A Party Girl]

Well I Love The Rumble Of A Harley -

[American]

It's about time and needs to be done Nation wide! There nothing but a damnable peace disturbance!

[ABATE of PA]

You seriously must have issues, and apparently have not looked at the state website. You are as ignorant as the young kids doing tricks on them sport bikes. I will stand and fight for my rights as a citizen of the United States for my freedom of choice. If you are that wooried about the noise, maybe you should concentrate on the loud steroes that are in cars, or move to the country. I bet you want cigarettes and guns banned too.

I bet you are part of the reason why our children can't pray or say the Pledge of allegiance in our schools anymore, and the reason why "IN GOD WE TRUST" is no longer a part of our society.

It's kind of odd, you only bitch and moan about something don't pertain to you, the motorist who don't pay attention, who's on the phone while behind the wheel, and pulls out in front of a motorcycle because you don't care for other peoples safety. I bet most of you have never been in a situation like that. You act like us on motorcycles are bothering you, it was said once on here by Biker wanna be, and i'm gonna say it again; "when the toy run comes along everyone has there hands out." We have freedom rides, we line up along funeral parade routes for our fallen soldiers, we donate to many charities, we have toy runs for kids, and yet we are still bad news to people who think that riding a motorcycle with loud pipes and no helmet will get us killed. Maybe you are right, but just remember that the next time you pull out in front of and kill some kids parent because you are the one not paying attention to the other motorists around you.

IT IS MY RIGHT TO NOT WEAR A HELMET AND TO HAVE LOUD PIPES IF I CHOOSE...

DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND LOOK AT THE LINK I POSTED!

[ABATE of PA]

http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms/stats/Pe...

If you really want some facts, take a look at this...

[Leg]

American wrote:

It's about time and needs to be done Nation wide! There nothing but a damnable peace disturbance!

You need to see the big picture. Its already bad enough I have to watch for you cause your not watching for us

[Irover]

Abate, what nonsense! I must have really hit home!
Dont you think it wrong to push safety on your web site, and then lobby for laws that contradict what
is taught in such courses? As to your "rights" you
have none on the public highways. Use of the public highways is a privilege granted to you by the Statewho represents all of the people who funded its construction and upkeep. But the fact is that due to your organizations efforts bikers are getting killed. And when they do, or are seriously injured for life, all of us end up paying for their medical care, long-term disability, and on, and on. So its not just you that is effected. The bottome line is on this link
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtri...
Facts you cant deny

[bob]

the majority of motorcyclists (including myself)are just like the rest of us -- trying to live in harmony with one another, and respectful of others rights. then, of course, there are the abate types, and those using the lame excuse that loud noise will somehow keep them safer..! what a lame reason to justify your selfish and inconsiderate behavior..!

IT'S NOT YOUR RIGHT TO HAVE LOUD PIPES YOU ARROGANT, SELF-CENTERED JERK..! AND QUIT HIDING BEHIND THE FLAG AND PRETENDING THAT YOU ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO CO-EXIST WITH OTHER HUMAN BEING..!

[Fred]

Caveman wrote:

When I'm riding my bike with loud pipes, it annoys the cars behind me enough that they keep a safe following distance. If the noise bothers some people....so be it. My safety and my wife's comes first.

No, it does not -- as the laws being discussed show. All of society should not have to suffer just because you've decided that you and your wife are more important than everyone else alive. If you're that scared for your safety and that of your wife, then maybe motorcycling is not the activity for you.