Triumphrat

MassiveAttack · 11-25-2009, 02:54 AM

Most of us have an aftermarket pipe. Worse, those of us who don't ride cruisers are somewhat accustomed to living higher in the tach. It's music to us. A cacophony of irritation for everyone else. But you can't ride a Speed Triple or (insert aggressive bike, here) at 3000 rpms. It's just not happening unless you want the road to feel like wading through oatmeal. My bike won't even ease into the street without a healthy blip of the throttle.

My neighbors hate me. I've tried to keep it down, but I simply can't. When I lived in the French Quarter, it was easier. Far too many catcalls from drunk transvestites and conventioneers to blame noise pollution on. Like any dense area, you understand that noise is a part of your apartment/condo, and no one complained.

Those were the days.

How do you folks manage to ride your bike without inspiring an angry mob of neighbors? Difficulty: I often work strange hours.

MassiveAttack · 11-25-2009, 03:36 AM

I worded this entire post poorly. First of all, 3k is just a number I pulled from my butt. It's more like 2k. Secondly, I failed to mention that my specific bike ('03 Speed Triple) is ridiculously fussy at low revs and requires some noise to get her going. In contrast, most cruiser riders can likely let out the clutch and just coast on the stump-pulling torque they were designed to have at such a rev. Third - my French Quarter Years were with an assortment of BMWs...even they had pipes despite the appliance-like nature. My R90/6 was loud as all hell.

I just rode to the corner store. Yes, I was drinking beer earlier but I quit and took a nap (I'm legal, promise). The whole time I was watching my tach and trying to marry my neighbors' sanity vs. my bike's function.

MrsNickwiz · 11-25-2009, 05:48 AM

Bugger the neighbours! Enjoy your pipes

Sal Paradise · 11-25-2009, 06:55 AM

Good for you -worrying about the neighbors. I will bet they don't hate you.They might envy you with that motorcycle. But you sound like a vanishing breed of person- those concious of their actions and trying to respect others. I read it in your posts all the time . Just do the best you can.

dogtired · 11-25-2009, 07:02 AM

I also respect my neighbourhood, my Bonnie is a tad loud.
But I do not rev it while waiting for the lights to change, and the noise is there for my enjoyment, and not as a "look at me" statement. I dont ride it hard in town, it is a small town, and the last thing I need is the local coppers paying an interest in me because I am being moronic hoon.

Soon as I get out of town though, I wring its neck.

drharveys · 11-25-2009, 07:18 AM

I rode behind a Harley with straight pipes on a club ride a few weeks ago. I had earplugs, Mrs Doc, riding pillion, didn't. It was annoying enough for me, and it totally spoiled the ride for her.

That's only the third complaint she's ever made to me in 30+ years of pillioning:

Complaint 1: (Which was more of a comment) "Please put a backrest on the bike for me."

Complaint 2: "Don't take me out of the neighborhood on the back of the Suzuki -- use the Triumph." (It bottoms out when we're 2-up -- quite uncomfortable.)

Complaint 3 was making me promise to never ride behind such a loud machine again!

spank86 · 11-25-2009, 08:13 AM

my s4 is fine, although I live in a very small village so only have to ride it slow for a few hundred yards.

I just keep it at idle revs till I get out of the close, I find 3grand is a little lumpy but by being in a ridiculously high gear i can coast along.

It helps that the guys i live with have a gixer and an sv650 which both make a worse noise than I do.

BigAl8295 · 11-25-2009, 08:20 AM

I think there was more to the South Park episode than just loud pipes. It was a commentary on the whole "Harley Culture".

welshrob · 11-25-2009, 08:22 AM

I own a Speed Triple and a Bonneville, both with open pipes, I live in a 'high density living' area but never get complaints. I try to be a really good and helpful neighbour in as many ways as I can, I keep an eye on neighbours homes while they are away and feed their pets etc, I always say hello and chat to the other residents and help the older ones out. As a result nobody ever minds about the bikes. It`s not hard.

MassiveAttack · 11-25-2009, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sal Paradise

Good for you -worrying about the neighbors. I will bet they don't hate you.They might envy you with that motorcycle. But you sound like a vanishing breed of person- those concious of their actions and trying to respect others. I read it in your posts all the time . Just do the best you can.

I appreciate the compliment.

Fact: Our machines can be loud. Yet we must also be stewards of our community. I have the same "off road" disclaimer on my pipe as many of you. That doesn't give me a license to be a douche.