A few weeks ago I mentioned Harley Davidson wants Harley riders to tone it down a bit. Straight pipes can lead straight to anti noise ordinances that affect everyone and once you get someone on city council playing to the voters, those restrictions can be pretty harsh for all bikers.
In this morning's mail, I received my regular newsletter from our local Harley dealer which mentioned something I missed. As of May 31st, 2006, Screamin' Eagle "Race Use" exhausts that fit street legal motorcycles will no longer be available. Harley Davidson said more customers want performance "Street Compliant" products and the company wants to directly address the motorcycle noise issue. You'll be able to order those pipes up until May 31st and the orders will be filled as long as supplies last, after which the product becomes obsolete. Final shipping date under any circumstances will be July 31st.
These types of "race only" exhausts are available for all brands of motorcycles and many guys just bolt them on without a care. Harley is taking a real step to address the issue and that's a good thing. I like the sound of performance as much as anyone but being considerate of others is one of the hallmarks of civilized society. If you act like an inconsiderate fool, people react, and often their reactions are bad for a lot of others far beyond the guy that got their attention.
Harley Davidson is not the only loud pipe market, race pipes are everywhere and they are out of place on the street. Loud does not equal performance, it's just loud. Let's all work together on this. My hat is off to Harley Davidson for doing the right thing.
The Kneeslider: Harley Davidson Says Quiet Please
todd says
Most people buy aftermarket pipes for Harley. The real reason H-D discontinued the pipes was because they couldn’t compete with the aftermarket guys. Doing it in the name of “quiet” just makes good PR. Everything has financial underpinnings.
-todd
mark says
It’s interesting that Triumph’s “offroad use only” pipes (available for most if not all of their bikes) are actually considerably quieter than any of the aftermarket pipes I know about. And compared to the average Harley, they sound downright polite and neighbor-friendly.
JoeKing says
I don’t like Harleys. I like how they sound even less. BUT, I don’t like HD or anyone (inc. gov’t) telling me what my bike should sound like. However, I believe other people have just as much right as I do, to pursue a life of peaceful tranquility.
This problem can be directly laid at the feet of gov’t agencies’ requirement for new m/c’s to have the same sound level as cars (80dba). Part of the “experience” of motorcycling includes the sound. In that m/c traffic represents
coho says
There are few things cooler than wicked, scary fast and all but silent in the same package. Listen to a Mercedes AMG V12.
I’d love that in a bike.
JD says
That is sad to see them go. They sounded great. And more four wheelers would agree if they got they treatment they dished out on the road….
ANDY M. says
IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE EVERYONE IS GETTING A LITTLE SOFT THESE DAYS!! I RIDE MY BIKE FAST AND I RIDE IT LOUD!!! 90% OF THE POPULATION IN THIS COUNTRY SHOULDN’T BE ALLOWED ON THE RODE WALKING LET ALONE LEFT BEHIND THE CONTROLS OF A FOUR-WHEELED BIKER SMASHER! I PASS EVERYONE FAST AND LOUD. YOU DON’T LIKE IT? WHY,THEN I’LL BE READY AND WAITING FOR U AT THE NEXT BAR. FREEDOM????? JUST A LOST WAY OF LIFE!
DJ in TX says
I just bought a pair of these pipes and they sound great on the bike, if I ride conservatively in the neighborhoods, they are not that loud, not much louder than my stock pipes but if I get on it, then yes they are pretty loud but then again, I don’t drive like a bat out of hell but now I know my bike will be heard when the need arises to alarm others that I am near. Just my two cents worth.
DJ
John says
I just bought a set of SEII’s and I love them. I love the sound and I can tell the difference in my bikes performance. I want to keep my bike ALL HD and that includes my pipes.