Vehicles of all sizes are monitored for legal noise emission levels. This includes compact cars, S.U.V.'s, big 18 wheelers and all motor homes and R.V.'s.

Did you know if you put a sporty muffler such as 'glass packs' on your vehicle to give it a sporty growl, you can get a ticket from law enforcement for violating the noise emission level designed for that type of vehicle. It's true. You can also get a ticket if your vehicle makes to much noise due to it's original tailpipe being broken or worn out.

Most area's can also ticket you for motoring with your car stereo to loud.

I have no problem with these laws and practices, so long as they apply to everybody.

I've taken it upon myself to perform a little project at a major Wisconsin intersection. Sitting off to the side just past the sidewalk (about 15 feet from the roadway) I sat on a chair holding a noise meter. I watched the readings of the different types of vehicles. I wasn't surprised by my findings. Most late model cars barely moved the needle. A really good reading for such quiet vehicles.

Most 18 wheelers pulling away at the green light moved the needle about a quarter way across the dial. Not bad at all considering the size of the vehicle and it's massive motor.

Honda Goldwing Motorcycles were about half the reading of the semi's. Then there were observations of a vehicle I can't stand.

Harley Davidson Motorcycles not only were louder, but in fact they actually buried the needle on the noise meter. Even after they left the intersection and were still accelerating a block away, they were still registering a quarter scale on the gauge.

These vehicles with motors 40 or 50 times smaller than that of a 18 wheeler were catastrophically louder than the big rigs.

I'm not just comparing the sizes of the motors, but the entire size of a tractor trailer.

It would take a excess of 50 Harleys to equal the size of a 70 or 75 foot tractor trailer combination.

That would be parking the Harleys sideways next to the 18 wheeler from its front bumper to it's back bumper 3 tears high to equal the size of one of these rigs.

Not only that, the sound of these Harleys actually give headaches, rattle windows and wake up people that are sleeping.

Okay. This isn't cool. It isn't funny. It isn't awesome. It isn't legal. IT IS A CRIME!

These bikes violate vehicle noise emission laws, they are noise pollution and they disturb the peace.

They don't get ticketed for their violations. This is yet another crime.

I'm among a growing number of people that hate these motorcycles because of this.

We need the noise laws to apply to everyone.


Below I've cut and pasted a email sent to me a while back regarding this topic, please read it.


Hi Joe

I noticed you don't like loud bikes. I've owned several Harley Davidson's over the last twenty years. None of them were loud. I gave up biking and Harley Davidson activity because it is turning for the bad. People now days are buying the bikes just to see who can be the loudest. They buy the bikes to rattle windows and piss people off. I don't think this is right. You could have a great looking bike with a $2000.00 paint job and all kinds of accessories but if your pissing people off it ain't the beautiful bike you think it is. These Harley gatherings are bad news too. You get these things stopping cross traffic to let the rest of their group run stop signs and red lights without breaking up their group and without the assistance of law enforcement. I also don't think its fair that people in cars can get a ticket for not wearing seat belts but bikers don't get tickets for not wearing helmets. The saying loud pipes save lives is a bunch of crap. There are lots of quiet bikes on the road. Also bikes, mopeds, joggers. These things don't make the racket of a Harley Davidson. Harley's ain't turning into symbols of broken laws. They are symbols of broken laws. I didn't want any part of this picture so I gave up biking and sold all my Harley leather some time ago.

Marty P.

Reporter Joseph Toth
Washington Micro Bank BBS

About the Author:

I was raised in Wisconsin as a hard working individual. As a teenager I worked on a farm until I became a adult. I have never worked less than two jobs at a time until I turned 44.

I don't, ' (and never have) smoke, drink, drug or gamble. In 2005 I successfully gave up caffeine entirely and haven't had any since.

My hobbies are automobiles, electronics, driving and photography.

I have many friends, and I am well known in the tri-village area I live in.

My adult careers that stayed with me long term are 'commercial driver' and 'loss prevention agent'.

Author: Joseph Toth