Why Are Motorcycles So Loud?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Why are motorcycles so loud?

The exposed engine and the exhaust pipe length

are the real reason motorcycles are loud. There is no insulated engine compartment to deaden noise. Plus, the exhaust and muffler aren’t long enough to slow the exhaust and air down, which makes it louder coming out.

Are motorcycles designed to be loud?

Contrary to popular belief,

motorcycles are not manufactured to be loud

. When motorcycles come from the factory, they are reasonably quiet–because they are factory- equipped with effective mufflers.

Can motorcycles be made quieter?

If your bike has a dual exhaust system, we suggest that you

install cross pipes

. These tend to do a great job of suppressing the noise by simply mixing the exhaust plus sound coming from the two systems. You can choose other pipe options such as the y-pipe and h-pipe designs.

Are loud motorcycles actually safer?

Sometimes, it seems there are almost as many myths about motorcycle safety as there is genuine advice. And one that persists is the notion that ‘loud pipes save lives. ‘ I.e., the louder your motorcycle’s exhaust is, the safer you’ll be. But

a new study has thoroughly debunked that

.

How loud is too loud for motorcycle?

Researchers have found that people who are exposed over long periods of time to noise levels at

85 dBA or higher

are at a much greater risk for hearing loss. Sounds at or below 70 dBA are generally considered safe.

Why are Harleys allowed to be so loud?

Why are Harleys so loud? Many Harleys are loud

because the owners want them that way

. New Harleys from the factory don’t exceed the 80db limit stipulated in the U.S. EPA Code. It is Harley owners who make several aftermarket modifications on their bikes to turn up the volume.

What motorcycle is the loudest?

  • 8 – Yamaha MT 09.
  • 7 – Triumph Street Triple RS.
  • 6 – Ducati Panigale 959.
  • 5 – Kawasaki Ninja H2R.
  • 4- MV Agusta F3 800 RC.
  • 3 – Yamaha R1.
  • 2 – Aprilia RSV4 RF.
  • 1 – Ducati Panigale V4.

Are all Harley Davidsons loud?


A Harley out of the factory is 80 decibels

. A Harley with straight pipes (no muffler) gives off 100 decibels, the same as a car horn at three feet according Purdue University. By comparison, an idling car emits 35-to-45 decibels and about 70 decibles at freeway speeds. But remember the decibel stem is logarithmic.

How can I make my motorcycle less noisy?

  1. Consider Changing the Muffler. Image Source. …
  2. Insert a Silencer. Image Source. …
  3. Keep Your Exhaust Clean. Image Source. …
  4. Watch Out for Leaks. …
  5. Check if the Fuel is Burning Completely.

What is the quietest motorcycle?


BMW R1200

– a smaller, lighter version of a boxer powered BMW designed specifically with noise standards in mind. Kawasaki Concourse /ZG1400 – a mid-size cruiser with a 1352 cc inline 4 cylinder engine. Kawasaki answer to Honda’s ST1300.

How do I make my pit bike quieter?

  1. Buy a New Muffler.
  2. Buy a Muffler Silencer.
  3. Clean Your Exhaust Pipes.
  4. Check for Exhaust Leaks.
  5. Ensure Complete Combustion.
  6. Wrap Your Exhaust Pipe.
  7. Get New Pipes.
  8. Get a Spark Arrestor.

Why are mufflers so loud?

A muffler that is suddenly noisy is

often caused by the driver hitting something while on the road, damaging the exhaust system

. Rust can also be a culprit of holes in the muffler, resulting in a noisy muffler which gets progressively worse as the holes get bigger.

Do loud motorcycle pipes save lives?

The conclusion of the study specifically says that

the assumption “loud pipes save lives” is false

. The driver of the car cannot hear a motorcycle if it is more than 33 feet behind the car, and as it gets closer than 33 feet to the car “even if the car driver hears you, it is too late to react safely.

Do loud exhaust pipes save lives?

It will possibly get you defected off the road, so that may prolong your existence – which will be miserable – but it will not save your life, because

loud pipes do not save lives

, and never have.

How loud is a typical motorcycle?

Vehicle Highway Operation, soft site,* 35 mph or less Stationary Operation, hard site Motorcycles

78 dB


80 dB
Passenger Cars, less than 10,000 pounds 72 dB 74 dB Buses 83 dB 85 dB Vehicles more than 10,000 pounds 86 dB 88 dB

Is it illegal to remove baffles on motorcycle?

A downside to removing the baffles from a motorcycle exhaust is that

it may not be street legal

. A problem with taking off or replacing any part of your bike’s exhaust system, like an air filter, for example, is that they’re designed to minimize the engine noise and in some cases are illegal on certain streets.

Is a loud exhaust illegal UK?

What is the exhaust noise limit? In Britain,

the legal limit for noise made by an exhaust is 74 decibels

– roughly as loud as a flushing toilet. Prior to the introduction of noise cameras, police officers were expected to use their own judgement to decide whether the limit was being broken.

Is it illegal to have a loud exhaust?

The current legal noise limit for car meeting type approval is 74 decibels, and it is

it is illegal to modify a car’s exhaust system to make it noisier than the level at which it passed type approval with

.

Is riding a motorcycle Good for Your Health?

Motorcycle riding

enhances a rider’s senses more than driving a car

. A 20-minute motorcycle ride increases the heart rate up to 11 percent and boosts adrenaline up to 27 percent, which is comparable to light exercise. Riding a motorcycle decreases the levels of the stress hormone cortisol up to 28 percent.

Are Harley Davidsons slow?

And so, unlike other motorcycles out there, where cubic capacity tallies along with sheer performance and speed, Harley Davidson motorcycles are

mostly slow

! Not in any bad way, but swiftness is not the cup of tea for these cruisers.

Which bike sound is best?

  • Triumph Street Triple RS (2020) Few bikes sound as good on a stock exhaust system than the new Triumph Street Triple RS. …
  • Yamaha R1 M (2020) …
  • Kawasaki H2 Ninja. …
  • Norton Manx 500. …
  • Honda CRF1100 Africa Twin. …
  • Aprilia RSV 4. …
  • MV Agusta F4. …
  • Honda CBR1000RR-R SP.

Do slip ons make bike louder?

1. Sound Improvement. Aftermarket slip-on exhausts are absolutely great if you want a louder and more aggressive sounding motorcycle. Generally speaking,

the smaller and more hollow the slip-on exhaust is, the louder your motorcycle will become

.

How loud can a motorbike exhaust be?

Exhaust noise from vehicles should not exceed the prescribed exhaust noise levels. These are given in Schedule 1 of the Regulation. Levels are established from a set testing procedure also described in the Regulation. For most cars, the relevant exhaust noise limit is 90 decibels and for motorcycles,

94 decibels

.

Are cruisers loud?


Big touring bikes and cruisers seem to be quieter than small displacement bikes

. That could be due more to length and space to add more sound control. Smaller bikes may seem louder, but they too must meet the regulations. Even Harley Davidson has to meet the noise standards.

Why are Harleys so cool?


Harleys are heavyweight bikes and have greater rake angles and longer wheelbases

. What that means is that Harleys have great stability, and while they may not be as agile as some other makes and models, they’re more reliable on long rides down the highway. Harley Davidsons are also highly customizable.

What does 85 decibels sound like?

85 decibels is a noise or sound level equivalent to that of

a food blender, heavy traffic while you are in the car, a noisy restaurant, or a cinema

. As you can see, there are plenty of situations in everyday life when we are exposed to high noise levels.

David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.