I am a truck driver. I've been driving trucks for 45 years, with more than a million miles of experience.
I am writing to say the claims that noise makes motorcycles safe is bogus and ridiculous (July 19).
First of all, the annoying noise is behind the bike. The faster the bike is moving, the farther behind the noise is. At any speed above 40 mph, a person can't hear the bike until after he sees it.
Most cars on the road have air conditioning. With the air conditioning on and the windows up, a driver can't hear the noise, anyway.
Safety hazards that motorcycles encounter are the fault of the rider most of the time. That includes acceleration from a stop that is far too fast; quickly changing lanes, leaving little or no reaction time; riding down the breakdown lane or between two lanes of cars to avoid backed-up traffic; and exceeding the speed limit.
Bikers have loud machines for one reason and one reason only, and that is to be annoying.
Mission accomplished.
Michael A. Mills, Otisfield
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LAW IS LAW ABIDE OR GO ELSEWHERE!!!!!
The point is being missed by many... Its not just how the loud pipes effects the motorists , its how it effects the residents.. If a rider would coast his/her bike into their driveway to be courteous to their neighbors, How do they not see that they are disturbing every residence they ride by? Especially during the night... How about every motorist go out and buy the loudest air horn sold and everytime they drive by a home with a motorcycle in the driveway they blare it at the home disturbing the occupants.... Im sure there would be a problem with this practice but essentially this is what loud pipes do to the residents they ride by.. The riders would be pissed if they were woken in the night by the horn or theyre dog barking at the horn or they're kids being woken by the horn, night after night, but they do it every night they ride.
For those who feel it is theyre right to ride with modified pipes and that no one else should be able to tell them otherwise because its they're choice, or they raise money for charity..Reality check....Its ILLEGAL.. IF IT WERE YOUR CHOICE, THEY'RE WOULDNT BE A LAW BANNING IT....And comparing the pipes to sirens for law enforcement or ambulance or fire is absurd... Your pipes are NOT a civil service provided by the municipality.. Your riding is not essential to the well being of the public. Riders need to get over themselves and understand that they are not better than or entitled to more than anyone else. They cannot continue to ignore the law and expect to get away with it because they dont agree with it....
I may want to shoot my loud firearms in my back yard on MY many acres of property where I know that none of my neighbors are at any risk. May have had 30+ years experience shooting and always practice safety first... BUT if I live within the firearms restricted district then i legally cannot shoot there, and if I do and the police show up I AM in violation of the law and should expect to be fined/charged.. Just because I dont agree with the restriction does NOT mean I am exempt. This would appear to be the mentality of riders on this issue.....I have the experience to know that my way is better is theyre mindset. But they are wrong..And the law does not agree with them.....
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There is no need for loud pipes for safety. This is proven every day when thousands of bikers ride quietly and safely.
For those riders who believe that noise increases safety, there are very loud air horns available for motorcycles that cost less than $50.
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Just so I can understand, in order to avoid an accident and get the attention of an inattentive driver, a biker pulls in the clutch and revs the noisemaker. By pulling in the clutch aren't you giving up the biggest control over your bike? You are now just coasting, you cannot apply evasive action by powering around something, you are simply trying to scare the other driver. What happens when you scare that driver and they react the wrong way and turn left instead of right etc???
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Loud pipes are the same as big spoilers on little Hondas, big handguns, etc... it all equals a bitty member and a lot of compensation.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.I agree with the writer..for
I agree with the writer..for those who pretend that the noise makes drivers aware of them, please don't be that simplistic - when we drive we hear noises all around, including motorcycles, trucks and even helicopters but that does not have an affect on driving. This is about ego and who has the largest, or noisiest or most expensive..you get the drift...
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Loud motorcycle riders with loud pipes equates to a simple 3 letter word : EGO.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.How about outfitting bikes
How about outfitting bikes with adequate horns. It's not reasonable or logical to assume that motorcyclists have no other safety option but to operate at ear-splitting levels of noise. If that were true, every car and truck should be just as loud. The "elephant in the room" is that there are far too many bikers who simply enjoy blowing out their own and everyone else's eardrums. No person should be allowed to constantly operate a vehicle in a decibel range harmful to other people's hearing. You need to warn another driver? Use the horn. That's what it's for.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.SSDD...opinions are @#!
SSDD...opinions are @#! holes...everyone has them and no one wants to hear yours. That being said, what makes you think you have the definitive one answer fits all when it comes to this subject. I've avoided many accidents because I could hear what was happening ahead of me. I'm not saying it will always be the case but as the saying goes, let those who ride...decide. Why do you and others so willingly give up the freedom to decide your own fate. You see I take responsibility for my actions, i don't want yet another government entity to decide for me. Its seems many have forgotten the basic principles this country was founded on. Freedom! not government control.
So SSDD do you ride? i think I know the answer. So what makes you so think you know the only reason to not wear a helmet? ....you don't.
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Why should I sacrifice my freedom sitting on my deck, porch or else for your noise riding by??? The shoe fits also on the other foot.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.I ride a restored Harley
and I wear a helmet.
That whole "those who ride should decide" argument is bullshit. Here is why: head trauma accidents cost a fortune, to hospitals, insurance companies and federal health care programs. Bikers who want to ride sans helmet should be forced to put $100,000 into an escrow account in case they crash. It is simply unfair to burden the rest of the population with a small number of stupid motorcyclists decisions.
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frnchmn your argument that you would not be able to hear vehicles because of a helmet is a good one. Until you notice that there are several different types helmets that don't cover your ears (I don't ride and I assume a helmet over the ears is what effect your hearing). That said I still think it should be your chose.
I direct this comment to SSDD. A seatbelt keeps you in the vehicle. So at 50 mph (idealy) you stay in the vehicle and don't go rocketing out the vehicle. A biker crashing at 50 mph is going air born and a helmet isn't going to save them any better then a hat. So if a helmet ain't going to save them what is the point.
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Motorcyclists are idiots as can be seen by their lack of helmet usage. Only reason to not wear a helmet? You've got nothing worth protecting.
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Mike is right and wrong in my opinion. Any vehicle can out run their noise but I do believe the speed is alot higher than 40 mph. I submit (if the real need for the noise is safety) a fair compromise. Let pass a bill mandating bikers have extremely loud bikes but they have to wear hot pink or bright orange leather gear. If the issue is motorist can't see a biker and they need loud pipes to be heard(then seen) I say lets make bikers as safe as can be.
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And helmets with flashing lights.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Nancy and northwoods...I'm
Nancy and northwoods...I'm glad that you can see humor with this subject. When it comes to my life...it's not a laughing matter to me.
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Do you know what I find loud, obnoxious, and annoying? Jake breaking. It's funny you don't see signs saying no loud motorcycles around town but you do see no jake breaking signs. I really could care less about the loud pipes. How about we fix the jerks causing the issue instead of condeming the whole lot (and that goes with everything in life). Also, one million miles in 45 years of driving is 22k per year. I've done more miles than you in a car and I'm only 42. Since you started off your LTTE with your driving experience as your basis for being right than I am more right since I have more miles logged than you.
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Scott, no he didn't use his driving experience as a basis for "being right", he merely stated how much he was on the road. I think you twisted that around because you don't like what he had to say.
Loud pipes really are just for status, and saying that it's safer is a bunch of bull. This all reminds me of growing up with my four brothers - whichever of them could pass gas the loudest, or burp, or make other obnoxious noises the loudest and longest, was the coolest. My brothers all grew up; some people do but some don't and they continue to think being the loudest makes them the coolest.
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Nice try Nancy et.al. First...I have over 30 years of motorcycle riding experience and what Trucker Mills has purported is false AND helps make the riders case. First off vehicles do hear motorcycles behind them because earlier this week I was on Rte. 295 when a car with Massachusetts (think tourist) began drifting over the center line into my path without a blinker. when I hit the horn...no response...when I revved my motor...WOW what a surprise, the driver corrected his path and went back into his lane. If you've never ridden before you won't understand. Yesterday I was in Brunswick at the Cook's Corner intersection when an elderly woman to my right turned left from the lane which is suppose to drive straight cut me off within inches of my front tire and a few hundred yards I was almost hit on my right by another out of stater (NY). Now what Trucker Mills said here: "Most cars on the road have air conditioning. With the air conditioning on and the windows up, a driver can't hear the noise, anyway." so what does he mean...cars and their passengers can't hear the sound? If so what is the problem...if you can't hear it what are you complaining about? I don't rev my motorcycle just for fun...when I'm riding on back roads and see a pedestrian I actually pull in my clutch and coast by...when I ride home, I shut off my bike and coast in to the garage out of coutesy to my neighbors who may not like it. You see I don't want more government control of my life and it seems the vocal intolerent minority likes to hand over freedoms. Most law enforcement officers I've spoken to do not have an understanding of the law nor the intent of the law so they will continue to use their judgement. If they observe someone who is purposefully making unnecessary sound (similar to a car spinning their wheels at a stop light) they will pull them over. yes there are offenders and I agree...give them a ticket. I don't go down a main street in first gear revving my motor because there are others who don't like it. I also believe the idea some are saying that...there is only one reason to have loud bike is to be cool. That is such a myopic rediculously infentile view. let me spell it out for you...I COULD CARE LESS WHAT OTHERS BELIEVE OF ME I BOUGHT MY BIKE FOR ME...NOT WHAT PEOPLE WOULD THINK! The diversity of riders is AMAZING. We are riders have raised more money for various charity organizations which is now being hindered by intolerant whiners...yes whiners. You see, I can't stand you screaming/crying children, or your barking dogs (especially the little designer cat style dogs...you know the breeds) BUT I don't go crying to the legislature because I believe since its your right to do so and NOT ALL parents and pet owners conduct themselves the same so I just get over it...I don't use rediculous baseless arguments nor pester my legislators. Just because my bike CAN make loud sounds doesn't mean I conduct myself in that mannor. Just like car drivers, not all obey the speed limit and not all drivers use their phone while driving. The same goes for riders...If the police in a town began pulling EVERY car over due to a new law...how many here would be complaining of police harassment? Well that is what happened in Waterville and Arundel. The Arundel one is aimed at shutting down a business that has 50 employees all because a person, who doesn't live near the business, complained. What about the rights of the riders? We pay our fees to the state and are allowed to traverse the network of roads. One last thing, police, fire trucks and ambulance sirens are much louder than my bike and you hear them for a much longer period of time than a bike. Yet you don't complain about them...people sound is sound. You are a car/truck driver own vehicles with horns that are far louder than bikes which mean your vehicle has the "capability" of making far louder sounds than me but you don't go riding all over town blasting your horn right? Think of my exhaust as a horn. When appropriate i.e. a threat to my safety, I will use my bike to protect myself just like you would your horn.
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Riders kill riders.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Bravo frnchmn.
I have also ridden motorcycles for over 30 years and I agree with everything you're saying. I have also seen it all when out on the road.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Must be you're a FoxSnooze watcher or flunked English...
"More than" could mean 2, 3, 4 or more million miles, you know. Of course I don't expect you to acknowledge that you are WRONG, ROFL.
Oh yeah by the way congrats on getting the math right, someone must be helping tutor you, I hope next semester you take English Comprehension.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.What a sanctimonious snide
What a sanctimonious snide little person you are. Your demonstration of tolerance speaks volumes of the kind of person you are. Instead of paying attention to content you take the "I'm intellectually superior than you" elitest approach. I have so many things I could say about you but quite frankly I will limit myself because I do not wish to waste any more time nor energy on such a feable minded person who harbors such vitriolic prejudice. How does someone like you get this close minded anyways?
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Please stop the personal attacks.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Bravo Michael...
Well said, and accurate.
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