Benicia backs bill to inspect motorcycle pipes in California

Most bikers cherish the freedom to replace factory-installed mufflers with louder pipes.

[Stephe Venneman]

The article raises a valid point: Many cars with after-market exhaust systems are just as loud as the loudest motorcycles. Why not write legislation to curb noise on all vehicles instead of targeting motorcycles, which typically get better gas mileage (ad lower emissions when fuel-injected) than even the most efficient cars? This would affect all vehicles rather than singling out motorcycles and potentially raise much-needed revenue for the state.

[noise]

Motorcycles that exceed 80 decibles? What about the people who insist on the "boom box thumping can't hear the music only the noise" sound systems kids have in cars? That stuff is painful to the ears and impossible to enjoy because all you can get is the noise, no music. Besides, no one parks their motorcycles in the drive way unattended with jarring ear splitting noise emitting from it. I would trade having a motorcycle owner as my neighbor over the obnoxious boombox owner ANY DAY>

[more legislation]

Wow, seems like every day in the paper there is something politicians are working on to control our lives. As for the pipes on motorycles.... what about passing and enforcing legislation for cars with loud music? That is irritating too. As for the motorcycles, personally I don't mind it. I have been on the freeway, or city street and honestly been startled sometimes when a bike seems to come out of 'nowhere'. When I heard the pipes I know there is one somewhere and look for it. I do think that the noise helps save lives.
When are the politicians going to quit trying to control every aspect of our lives!

[Dennis]

The "I'll be as loud as I want, get used to it" people are heading for a brick wall. While it may make them feel all rough and tough on the road (I've been riding for ten years, by the way) after-market pipes serve no practical purpose. The "Loud Pipes Saves Lives" mantra is horse hockey - get used to that. They have electric bikes in the works that are just as torquey as the fastest crotch rocket and it makes NO NOISE. Riding one is like riding in a glass tube, you disturb no one and you can HEAR the road.

I bike, but I believe we need to crack down on after-market noisemakers and then start on the boom boom cars and rice rockets. Quieter neighborhood and roads is a good thing.

[Taxpayer]

more legislation wrote:

Wow, seems like every day in the paper there is something politicians are working on to control our lives. As for the pipes on motorycles.... what about passing and enforcing legislation for cars with loud music? That is irritating too. As for the motorcycles, personally I don't mind it. I have been on the freeway, or city street and honestly been startled sometimes when a bike seems to come out of 'nowhere'. When I heard the pipes I know there is one somewhere and look for it. I do think that the noise helps save lives.
When are the politicians going to quit trying to control every aspect of our lives!

Controlling the masses is the Democrats trademark. When will they stop, once they have total control and all of your money.

[john]

stay concerned about your schools and the future of State Parks Benicia, after all motorbike noise may be the only thing left in that town.

[dark vision]

Hmmmm, they should pass a law against the boom box cars and loud pipes???? There are already several laws about both. They simply aren't enforced, like so many laws. Just another excuse to harass motorcyclists. I've been riding for 41 years and think this is just another way for the politicians to make a few bucks off the public. BTW the after market exhaust I use gave me a 22 horsepower increase, by the dyno, over the stock system.

[resident]

all the cop harleys have modified exhaust. This state has enough prolblems . We dont need a bunch of mad bikers mad .

[soulsurfin]

Loud pipes are on the bikes for one main reason - the riders' inner narcissist saying "look at me, I'm tough and daring, get out the way, and get used to it."

[Iben Hakkenluggis]

What a joke..... "louder pipes save lives." What they do is irritate neighbors and others subject to the nauseating noise coming from a technologically neanderthal HD motorcycle. Rude, Crude and socially unacceptable.

PS.... I ride but don;t irritate my neighbors!

[Benician]

Does this mean the car alarms going off as my biker neighbors go down the street might stop? At least I know they are home safe when I hear them coming home.

[WALL-E]

Benicia does have Noise Regulations in Benicia Municipal Code. I have seen Benicia cops pull over and ticket people for loud car stereos. However now, car stereos come with this button you push which will immediately quiet your stereo, so it has become harder for the cops to pinpoint exactly where the noise is coming from. Personally, I can't stand the loud, obnoxious noise from car pipes, trucks, motorcycles or car stereos. I always pay attention to where the motorcycles are on the road, and not because they have loud pipes, because that is what you are taught in driving school. However, most don't pay attention so that I can also understand. I don't think the motorcycles have to be as loud as some are though. I hate having to roll my window up every time I pass through a tunnel, or just driving down the road to save my ears from a loud motorcycle,car or truck. So conclusion is include all in the bill, or through it out.

[resident]

Dennis wrote:

The "I'll be as loud as I want, get used to it" people are heading for a brick wall. While it may make them feel all rough and tough on the road (I've been riding for ten years, by the way) after-market pipes serve no practical purpose. The "Loud Pipes Saves Lives" mantra is horse hockey - get used to that. They have electric bikes in the works that are just as torquey as the fastest crotch rocket and it makes NO NOISE. Riding one is like riding in a glass tube, you disturb no one and you can HEAR the road.
I bike, but I believe we need to crack down on after-market noisemakers and then start on the boom boom cars and rice rockets. Quieter neighborhood and roads is a good thing.

Yup go out and buy a electric motorcycle after the battery go dead in 100 miles your gonna have to pull over and charge it for 6-8 hours or just push it home . lol

[Gotham]

All these noises are very annoying, whether its loud bass or loud pipes. The vehicle code is very specific when it comes to these laws. Loud music falls under 27002 of the vehicle code. Which states if your music is audible from more than 50' from your car it is too loud and you could get a ticket. The fine is roughly $175. Motorcycles are bound by law, 21751, to be under 80 decibles and cars have to be under 90 decibles or they could get a ticket. The problem is with enforcement. Since these violations effect us all because we have to live with it and hear it, we want it enforced immediately. But if someone if speeding, like we ALL do, it is more acceptable to people because it doesn't effect their peace of mind, in a sense. I wish all loud pipes and music would stop!

more legislation wrote:

Wow, seems like every day in the paper there is something politicians are working on to control our lives. As for the pipes on motorycles.... what about passing and enforcing legislation for cars with loud music? That is irritating too. As for the motorcycles, personally I don't mind it. I have been on the freeway, or city street and honestly been startled sometimes when a bike seems to come out of 'nowhere'. When I heard the pipes I know there is one somewhere and look for it. I do think that the noise helps save lives.
When are the politicians going to quit trying to control every aspect of our lives!

[Donna]

Another damn Democrat regulating the hell out of everything under the sun! Tire of it all?

[Gotham]

oops loud music is 27007cvc, should've of proof read

[Gotham]

I like how the Vallejo Harley shop supports the Hells Angels by sponsoring a bbq and poker run for the "red and White". People need to stay away from Vallejo HD!

[Stephanie]

I do think that some motorcycles are obnoxiously loud BUT there are some modified cars that are just as bad...and it's ridiculous just to single out motorcycles!!

[tramky]

Let's see--the California state government is bankrupt and dysfunctional, local governments around here ARE officially bankrupt and considering whether to dissolve themselves and go away, and we have state legislators working up bills about motorcycle exhaust pipes!!!! And the City of Benicia apparently has nothing better to do, either.

Big Brother is gaining force, this time in the person of idiots named Patterson & Pavley.

Patterson herself referred to this bill as having an 'angle'. Perhaps politicians like Elizabeth Patterson think the notion of legislators working angles against the citizens & voters of California is cute & wonderful, but they will learn the opposite on election day.

When politicians repeal laws & regulations that have all public transit & construction vehicles have those very noisy & annoying backup beepers on them, when the repeal laws that require buses to stop at all railroad tracks, even those that are officially inactive (like those in Vallejo where the City government foolishly declared railways dead in that town and had all the crossing gates removed & presumably stored at great expense while bankrupt) and haven't seen a railway car in many years.

A totally quiet town is one where nothing can be heard except the ruffling of papers are arrogant politicians devise more 'angles' to work against the people. Take out the trash, folks.

[tramky]

I'd like to know who in these wingnuts' families are in the smog testing business.