I hate Harley-Davidson Motor Cycles.

[Boston Whaler]

I hate Harley-Davidson Motor Cycles and I once loved them.

Before you send me a threatening PM, let me explain......

First off I have been an avid motorcyclist for over 35 years, have owned many motorcycles including Harley's, I currently ride a BMW R1100S......so much for my qualifications.

There is no sexier sound on the planet then the rumble of a stock Harley. So why the hell do 90% of Harley riders use open pipes?

Normally I couldn't care less, but this is my beef. I own a 300 year old home (has been in my family for over 100 years) It is right on (10' from the road) a beautiful winding, back road outside the entrance of a National park and on weekends my windows are rattling every 2 or 3 minutes. If it was kids riding these Harley's, I would understand, heck I was a stupid kid once and had a motorcycle with open pipes, but these are gray haired men creating all this racket.

Now this is the kicker.....There is a hospice up the street from me. People are in there dying and they don't need this kind of noise pollution. It's just not right.

I know it's not just me, hardly a month goes by without one of my motorcycle magazines warning riders that loud pipes create bad vibes with Joe public.

I once asked a Harley owner; "why the loud pipes?" His response; "So people can hear me coming.

If bikers with loud pipes are so concerned about their safety, why are they the only ones not wearing helmets?

I just don't get it. Is it wrong for me to be so angry about this? Can I do anything?

[carom]

take it easy man, don't blame the bike, blame the riders!!!!

[Boston Whaler]

take it easy man, don't blame the bike, blame the riders!!!!

Yes, you are right. Stock sounding Harley's are still ok in my book.

[STUGOTS]

I RIDE A ROAD KING WITH LOUD PIPES.I DO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING,BUT IT'S NOT THE BIKE IT IS THE RIDER.THERS NOT MUCH YOU CAN DO.IF YOU POST SIGNS THE PROBLEM MAY GET WORSE.IT'S ALL ABOUT RESPECT.YOUR AREA HAS A HARLEY DEALER NEAR YOU.ALOT OF SPONSORED RIDES PROBABLY LEAVE FROM THERE.

[cape_fisherman]

That is the most overused lie there is in the motorcycle industry.

Truth be told...you really can't hear a bikes pipes, loud or not, unless you're behind it.

A stock Harley is loud enough. My V-Star with the baffles removed isn't near as loud as a stock Harley.

Jay

[budddavid]

I try and support domestic companies whenever possible that said Harley has disappointed me. My father never owned a new vehicle in his life, drove rebuilt wrecks and half used up cars and always kept my mother and his family in a reliable and clean used car. When he retired at 56 he replaced his 86' FLHT with a brand new FLHT Standard. Well long story short after chasing after a noise in the engine for months and the local dealership ignoring the problem it was discovered that the wrist pin retainer was left out of one of the pistons so the wrist pin was riding up and down the cylinder wall. Did the dealership offer a new bike? a new engine, a new cylinder jug? no they offered to install the missing part and send him on his way. F that. In the end it was all sorted out, and it is now a sweet running bike but how do you forget such a basic part and not make good on the repair without being forced to do so?

[Sea Craft]

I hate Harley-Davidson Motor Cycles and I once loved them.

Before you send me a threatening PM, let me explain......

First off I have been an avid motorcyclist for over 35 years, have owned many motorcycles including Harley's, I currently ride a BMW R1100S......so much for my qualifications.

There is no sexier sound on the planet then the rumble of a stock Harley. So why the hell do 90% of Harley riders use open pipes?

Normally I couldn't care less, but this is my beef. I own a 300 year old home (has been in my family for over 100 years) It is right on (10' from the road) a beautiful winding, back road outside the entrance of a National park and on weekends my windows are rattling every 2 or 3 minutes. If it was kids riding these Harley's, I would understand, heck I was a stupid kid once and had a motorcycle with open pipes, but these are gray haired men creating all this racket.

Now this is the kicker.....There is a hospice up the street from me. People are in there dying and they don't need this kind of noise pollution. It's just not right.

I know it's not just me, hardly a month goes by without one of my motorcycle magazines warning riders that loud pipes create bad vibes with Joe public.

I once asked a Harley owner; "why the loud pipes?" His response; "So people can hear me coming.

If bikers with loud pipes are so concerned about their safety, why are they the only ones not wearing helmets?

I just don't get it. Is it wrong for me to be so angry about this? Can I do anything?

YES! you can do something. Go to your township. It is illegal to have a loud exhaust system and in some areas police officers carry sound meters and if your bike fails it is a large fine. I witnessed cops writing tickets for loud pipes in New Hope Pa. several weeks ago.

[hubris 1]

believe it or not, i have stock pipes on my bike. i love the sound of the stock pipes. however, i myself am loud. where do you live in valley forge? that route 23 gets a ton of motorcycles.

[Boston Whaler]

believe it or not, i have stock pipes on my bike. i love the sound of the stock pipes. however, i myself am loud. where do you live in valley forge? that route 23 gets a ton of motorcycles.

I live on route 23 about 2 miles east of the entrance to Valley Forge Park.

[Hatterized]

well....loud pipes.....ever heard of "Rolling Thunder"....yup Thunder" is for the roar of the bikes as they cruise down Constitution Ave in Washington DC passing the Vietnam Vets Memorial..aka the Wall....over 500,000 bikes this past Memorial Day.....bikes from ALL OVER THE USA...and dont get any louder than that day....yup bikes can be as loud as the throttle will let em.....dont blame the sled....blame the sled rider.......varoom....varrrrrromm...varoooooooooom