:: Loud Motorcycles in Yosemite ::

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phoolish

Boulder climber

Athens, Ga.

Jul 23, 2006 - 03:28pm PT

Genius, Ouch!

Doesn't look a thing like me, though.

Ouch!

climber

Jul 23, 2006 - 03:39pm PT

"Doesn't look a thing like me, though."

Phoolish, since I don't have a picture of you, I must use my psychic powers to paint the image you project. If you look in the mirror long enough, you will recognize what is reflected there. Or not.

Mighty Hiker

Social climber

Vancouver, B.C.

Jul 23, 2006 - 03:46pm PT

I'm still interested in whether there is any objective evidence that un-muffled motorcycles are safer to ride, or more likely to be heard by other drivers. I suspect other factors may be more important, including defensive driving, safe motorcycle driving courses, and avoidance of marginal conditions. Many motorcycle drivers seem unaware of the limitations of their machines, blissful as to their vulnerability, and drive aggressively.

The NHTSA has a lot of useful information on its website about highway and vehicle safety, but I'm not sure if it extends to this. It might be difficult to measure. General road noise, and motorists who themselves are creating noise, are also factors.

There must be parallels with cycling. As an enthusiastic cyclist - commuting, some racing, triathlons - I was always somewhat paranoid. I learned about safety enhancing techniques. Apart from general prudence, and awareness of the instability and vulnerability of bicycles, the key lesson is that in any accident, the cyclist is always the loser. Whether self-inflicted or otherwise. The other thing is to assume that motorists NEVER see bicycles. (Vancouver has a high rate of bicycle use, too.) As cyclists as a group are unfortunately prone to somewhat erratic riding behaviour, that doesn't help - motorcycles pretty much have to stick to the road, even if they can wiggle about more than cars.

Of course, it's not open to cyclists to create offensive noise, in the hope that it will draw attention, for better or worse.

Anders

Chaz

Trad climber

So. Cal.

Jul 23, 2006 - 03:50pm PT

"Of course, it's not open to cyclists to create offensive noise, in the hope that it will draw attention, for better or worse."

I was blessed with a loud, un-muffled mouth, sometimes it works to wake up motorists who won't/don't pay attention to what they're doing.

But in California it's legal for deaf people to drive.

Ouch!

climber

Jul 23, 2006 - 03:57pm PT

Seems to me the deteriorating highway surfaces could be a big threat to biker safety.

Bart Fay

Social climber

Redlands, CA

Jul 23, 2006 - 04:16pm PT

>>>But in California it's legal for deaf people to drive.

!! IIRC its illegal to play one's stereo so loudly to be unable to hear emergency sirens (?) !! WTF, Over ?

Toker Villain

Big Wall climber

Toquerville, Utah

Jul 23, 2006 - 04:25pm PT

I think vehicles are a bigger threat than poor road surfaces.
But when did we go from cursing loud bikes to sympathizing with cyclists. I have no qualms about cycling through Zion, now that they've (sort of) banned cars.

Ouch, I think your psychic powers reign in lieu of Phoolish failing to provide photographic evidence to the contrary.
Who was it who said, "Anyone understands english if you speak it loud enough."? Well most people can be made to look like Deadeye Dick if you bulge out their eyes enough. (Just give them the ol' braunsqueeze.)

Chaz

Trad climber

So. Cal.

Jul 23, 2006 - 04:29pm PT

"All loud vehicles are for is for a "Look at me, I'm a tough guy" attitude...IMHO."

They also say "They don't sell normal sized dicks, so I bought one of these"

pud

climber

Sportbikeville

Jul 23, 2006 - 08:33pm PT

Over the last 30+ years of lane splitting on motorcyles in Los Angeles i have seen people eat, drink, talk on the phone, bong, attack thier radio, scream, read, watch TV, have sex, cry, fistfight with passangers, play boardgames, throw coffee into their drivers side window thinking it was down, put out a fire inside thier car, drink from a keg, throw a bottle at another car, show me a handgun, show me thier tits, pee in a bottle, passout, switch drivers in motion, hit a dog and keep driving, bump the car in front of them in anger,get out of thier car and dance on the median wall in standstill traffic on the 405(one of my faves) hit thier children/wife/husband/pets, open the driver door attempting to hit me, throw-up, have siezures, masturbate, play video games and pound thier head on the steering wheel.
All while driving thier cars.

It doesn't matter what you wear, who you are, how loud your pipes are or what color you helmet is.

If you want to have a long and safe riding career, ride like you are invisible.

Chaz

Trad climber

So. Cal.

Jul 23, 2006 - 08:45pm PT

Coming home from Riverside last week in nightmare traffic, I got a nice, friendly wave from a Hell's Angel.

I always keep my eyes moving while I'm driving, and if I see a motorcycle coming up behind me splitting traffic, I'll move over as far as I can in my lane to make it easier/safer for them to get by.

I didn't know this one guy was H.A. until he passed me, but he waved at me as he rode by.

Toker Villain

Big Wall climber

Toquerville, Utah

Jul 23, 2006 - 08:56pm PT

Man! LA really IS the entertainment capital of the world.

JuanDeFuca

Big Wall climber

Stoney Point

Jul 24, 2006 - 01:14am PT

The classic I saw was at the corner of venice and sepulvida.

It was like 1am, and the guy in front of me waiting to make a left hand turn gets out of his jeep.

Pulls out his wang and take about a one minute piss.

Gets back in the jeep and drives off.

Love Los Angeles.

Juan

TradIsGood

Trad climber

Gunks end of country

Jul 24, 2006 - 07:16am PT

Loud is good. If you are blind it is hard to see a motorcycle no matter what color leather the rider is wearing.

I know you probably think that it is not legal to drive blind. But why do you think manufacturers are making cars that turn the windshield wipers on automatically when it is raining?

Answer. Because the driver can hear the wipers going back and forth and knows to slow down.

Turn right, in 100 feet.

tradmanclimbs

Ice climber

Pomfert VT

Jul 24, 2006 - 08:23am PT

loud bikes SUCK!!!! the safty thing is total BS. If they wanted to be safe they could start by wearing a freakin helmet........

Anastasia

Trad climber

Near a mountain, CA

Jul 24, 2006 - 09:37am PT

Out here we do wear helmets... It is not my fault Vermont is backwards.

Gary

climber

Desolation Basin, Calif.

Jul 24, 2006 - 09:53am PT

There is one sure fire way to be seen by the typical clueless dolt driving a car:

ride a police bike.

tradmanclimbs

Ice climber

Pomfert VT

Jul 24, 2006 - 11:04am PT

VT we wear helmets but just accross the border in NH all the morons don't. lost ten of em in one week back in june. Allmost all from crossing the center line. failuer to learn how to drive. the Tools with the loud bikes are also the same morons who wear those tiny skid plates or even lids that are not dot tested just to keep from getting a ticket. loud bikes do suck. You impose your noise on everyone. It also scares the heck out of you when you get buzzed by a motor head that is so loud you think you are being run over by a Truck. Bottom line is the louder your bike the smaller you weenie and less considerate you are...