North Conway was packed ....

[Kiki]

Its been a while since i spent any amount of time in New Hampshire, but after just getting home from a one week trip, I realized times have changed. I can count on one hand the number of sportbikes I saw-- and all but one had what sounded like stock exhaust.

The open-piped V-twins were everywhere. And although I love all things 2 wheeled, I think I am getting close to breaking...

How many boneheads can there be who rip down main street at 2am on a wednesday morning. Its bad enough to idle one of these flatulent heaps at that time of the day, but every yahoo feels the need to unleash all 45 horsepower, and then clamp on the binders to keep from rearending his riding partner. I actually saw one "cruiser" wearing full tint RayBans ( a-la Ponch and Jon) in the middle of the night.

I'm not surprised that more and more municipalities are outlawing loud bikes.

 

[FJReady]

I hear ya- there seem to be more open pipe bikes than ever before. It must be the emascualtion of the American male and some limp dick attempt at compensating for lack of manhood. Who knows. Ever since the whole Laconia bike weekend grew into a week long event the loud cruiser crowd has grown and expanded terrain across NH. I used to head up there for the entertainment, now I go elsewhere like Rangley ME or Montreal for that weekend.

I'm heading up your way next weekend to catch the ferry to Digby and spend a week or so riding around Nova Scotia. I hope I don't have to follow too many of those 45 hp VeeTwins. Of course a quick flick of the wrist on an FJR will rectify that problem pretty quickly.

 

[KrustyKola]

I cannot stand all the V-twin noise either. I believe that there is some "safety" rational about "being heard" making for a safer ride but I don't buy that. It is just irritating. One of the worst things is it is spreading to cars, now you got little imports making more noise than headway!

 

[Kiki]

I'm heading up your way next weekend to catch the ferry to Digby and spend a week or so riding around Nova Scotia. I hope I don't have to follow too many of those 45 hp VeeTwins. Of course a quick flick of the wrist on an FJR will rectify that problem pretty quickly.

Enjoy your trip, long range forecast looks good.

There are a lot of v-twins, here now too. Thankfully the majority are driven fast (relatively speaking) and quiet..

 

[rivgar]

I just returned from a tour of northern MI and it was Harley heaven there. 95% of the bikes were HD Road Kings driven by the retirement age crowd. I saw very few sport or sport touring bikes on my trip.

It was kind of funny in way. The guys on the Road Kings all had the Harley garb on trying to find some type of tough guy identity but when they came out of the hotel room in the morning they had to figure out which of the many Road kings parked there was theirs. :blink:

To be honest with you, I just don't get it. All motorcycles are cool in my book, I just do not understand the whole weekend warrior routine.

If you do not have identity by the age of 60 give it up man!!!!

I love my FJR and I don't need to wear all kinds of "flair" to prove it. :yahoo:

 

[Shinden]

I believe that there is some "safety" rational about "being heard" making for a safer ride but I don't buy that.

"Loud pipes save lives"

(Or on an FJR, Loud pipes get passed)

I had occasion a couple weeks ago to "sample" the sound from straight piped V-Twins.

1.) On the FJR; came up behind one on a secondary highway while wearing my Shoei RF900 full face.

The noise from behind was very noticeable. Looked up ahead, the way was clear, did a mirror/shoulder check then demonstrated some "accelleration"

As soon as I drew past the bike, the obnoxious noise was GONE.

2.) Driving my 2004 Camry LE, hot day, windows up, a/c on w/the fan on its lowest setting (very quiet), tunes on but not too loud.

Stopped for a red light. Two V Twins approached the intersection from my left. I saw them but to me, they were silent.

They turned right and passed me, going in the opposite direction, the noise was apparent as they passed and obnoxious after the went by and were behind me.

If the noise is supposed to "wake cagers up", IMHO, it might have some value if it was heard as the bike approaches, rather than merely announce it has gone by.