Topic ID 4666
Following on from comments made on another thread, since earlier this year there seems to have been an outbreak of very noisy motorcycles. Whilst the numbers are probably very small they are however also very noticeable. I know that there is a legal limit of 80db for motorcycles and I wonder if a few individuals have taken to illegally modifying their machines. They appear to be younger riders with small bikes.
quote:
Originally posted by mikol
On a related note to noise, is anyone else getting increasingly frustrated by those two young lads going round on their scooters/mopeds at all hours? Not only are they noisy but they have a habit of driving about an inch from the cars bumpers in front goading them...
Reply ID 66924
quote:Our group did much the same when we were young. Comical really, because on most smaller machines it often impairs performance. On larger capacity bikes the opposite is true. The problem is that car eco rules have been applied to motorcycles with little thought. In the space available, a catalytic converter and very restrictive exhaust is hugely inefficient and requires the fuelling and timing to be suppressed to compensate. The result is high consumption and lower power. Hence many are re-tuned after sale. If done well, there is little increase in noise and huge gains in efficiency. The ones you notice tend to be small machines done badly (the frequency is more uncomfortable to the ear and maximum revs are needed just to reach 30mph) or machines which are simply being ridden too hard in the wrong place (supersport bikes in urban areas). Unfortunately, though not on the scale that exists among car drivers, there are idiots amongst motorcyclsts too. You are right that there are noise rules for motorcycles and even a requirement for every part of the exhaust to be EU marked, but not for cars. Hence kids with a pointless dustbin sized exhaust on a Saxo are legal and motorcyclists who replace parts for genuine advantage are not.
Originally posted by Steve
Following on from comments made on another thread, since earlier this year there seems to have been an outbreak of very noisy motorcycles. Whilst the numbers are probably very small they are however also very noticeable. I know that there is a legal limit of 80db for motorcycles and I wonder if a few individuals have taken to illegally modifying their machines. They appear to be younger riders with small bikes. [quote]Originally posted by mikol
On a related note to noise, is anyone else getting increasingly frustrated by those two young lads going round on their scooters/mopeds at all hours? Not only are they noisy but they have a habit of driving about an inch from the cars bumpers in front goading them...
Reply ID 66925
I have noticed the annual crop of 16(?) year olds on their new scooters trying to kill themselves. I always put it down to youth and the fact that it stops when they have a near death experience. There are however some far more powerful bikes that seem to tear up and down the A414 at all hours. Perhaps a well placed police radar is called for.
Reply ID 66927
quote:They pulled quite a few in the 40mph section of North Road by Goldings this year. I'm a motorcyclist myself, but if I want to ride on the limit, a public road isn't the place to do it. Though the risk to others is very small, the risk to self is huge. A modern engine at 12,000 rpm sounds great in the right setting. A built up area is not it.
Originally posted by carlos fandango
I have noticed the annual crop of 16(?) year olds on their new scooters trying to kill themselves. I always put it down to youth and the fact that it stops when they have a near death experience. There are however some far more powerful bikes that seem to tear up and down the A414 at all hours. Perhaps a well placed police radar is called for.
Reply ID 66942
Hi Steve I think you are correct and the teens on the scooters ect. can remove the baffles from the silencer box on some models of bikes and the bigger bikers can buy illegal silencer box,s over the counter and I think they call them Tin Can,s as they look like a tin can and thus more noise, some tin cans are legal while others are not so unless a policeman knows what he is looking at then not a lot can be done.
Reply ID 66943
quote:The EU noise limit on cars is 74dB, significantly less than that of bikes due to the lack of places to put cladding.
Originally posted by shunt
You are right that there are noise rules for motorcycles and even a requirement for every part of the exhaust to be EU marked, but not for cars. Hence kids with a pointless dustbin sized exhaust on a Saxo are legal and motorcyclists who replace parts for genuine advantage are not.
Reply ID 66944
quote:Race cans, as opposed to tin cans, on larer bikes normally. Designed to return the bike to the original efficiency before emmission modifications, in conjunction with other fuelling mods. You are right that some are legal and some are not. In reality, police tend to take a view, as long as there is not "excessive noise". Since they should carry an EU number, it's easy to check if they choose to. Steve's small capacity bikes are so annoying for a number of reasons. Without getting too technical, fewer cylinders = more distinct pulses, smaller bore exhausts = higher exhaust velocity. Such engines need more silencing than most larger bikes and produce a more unpleasant frequency when they are not. Also most just have the silencer removed which will significantly reduce performance and shorten the life of the engine.
Originally posted by night owl
Hi Steve I think you are correct and the teens on the scooters ect. can remove the baffles from the silencer box on some models of bikes and the bigger bikers can buy illegal silencer box,s over the counter and I think they call them Tin Can,s as they look like a tin can and thus more noise, some tin cans are legal while others are not so unless a policeman knows what he is looking at then not a lot can be done.
Reply ID 66945
quote:Only for type approval on new vehicles from the manufacturer and in countries where TUV is operative (eg. Germany). Modifications are unregulated in the UK except for the requirements of MOT testing. EU approval on motorcycle exhausts are a requirement for replacement parts too. Just to make it extra confusing, it also depends on the date of first registration.
Originally posted by stevenquote:The EU noise limit on cars is 74dB, significantly less than that of bikes due to the lack of places to put cladding.
Originally posted by shunt
You are right that there are noise rules for motorcycles and even a requirement for every part of the exhaust to be EU marked, but not for cars. Hence kids with a pointless dustbin sized exhaust on a Saxo are legal and motorcyclists who replace parts for genuine advantage are not.
Reply ID 66946
quote:Yes I'm aware, but your assertion that your Saxo owner can do what he likes with no comeback, and your motorcyclist can't, isn't correct.
Originally posted by shunt Only for type approval on new vehicles from the manufacturer and in countries where TUV is operative (eg. Germany). Modifications are unregulated in the UK except for the requirements of MOT testing. EU approval on motorcycle exhausts are a requirement for replacement parts too. Just to make it extra confusing, it also depends on the date of first registration.
Reply ID 66948
quote:It's not quite as simple as that, granted, but the Saxo owner's modification would have to make "excessive noise" or fail on emmissions, whereas the motorcycle just has to be missing the number stamp, regardless of noise level. The bikes Steve referred to are, ironically, exempt on grounds of low cylinder capacity though. Bloody odd that, considering that they produce the most intrusive frequency of sound, until you realise levels are measured electronically and at a set percentage of the maximum revs. A 50cc bike is at maximum revs most of the time, so exceeds the level often (many can't even make progress at the revs at which they are tested), whereas a large engine does so less often, unless purposly driven in a low gear. An electronic test takes no account of the peak sensitivity of the human ear. Almost unsilenced Harleys don't seem as raucous, simply because at 30/40mph the engine is turning much slower and the frequency is in the, more comfortable, bass range.
Originally posted by stevenquote:Yes I'm aware, but your assertion that your Saxo owner can do what he likes with no comeback, and your motorcyclist can't, isn't correct.
Originally posted by shunt Only for type approval on new vehicles from the manufacturer and in countries where TUV is operative (eg. Germany). Modifications are unregulated in the UK except for the requirements of MOT testing. EU approval on motorcycle exhausts are a requirement for replacement parts too. Just to make it extra confusing, it also depends on the date of first registration.
Reply ID 66950
quote:Couldn't agree more, those mopeds are massively anti-social. Shame there aren't many police on the roads now ...
Originally posted by shunt
The bikes Steve referred to are, ironically, exempt on grounds of low cylinder capacity though. Bloody odd that, considering that they produce the most intrusive frequency of sound
Reply ID 66951
As riveting as all this technical stuff is, it is of little comfort to those on the route that these scooters take. I am setting up checkpoints at various town centre locations kitted out with wires strung at chest height to unseat said riders. [B)]Marshals needed to volunteer.[}:)]
Reply ID 66952
quote:Count me in [8D]
Originally posted by sloopjohnb
I am setting up checkpoints at various town centre locations kitted out with wires strung at chest height to unseat said riders. [B)]Marshals needed to volunteer.[}:)]
Reply ID 66954
quote:Decapitate, rather than "unseat", would be the likely result. Relax. It's raining. Their life expectancy is already severely reduced.[;)]
Originally posted by sloopjohnb
As riveting as all this technical stuff is, it is of little comfort to those on the route that these scooters take. I am setting up checkpoints at various town centre locations kitted out with wires strung at chest height to unseat said riders. [B)]Marshals needed to volunteer.[}:)]
Reply ID 66955
I was thinking more along the lines of, it's a good supply of organs for those in need [;)]
Reply ID 66960
Ah, my annoyance didn't go un noticed. Glad to see it's not just me who gets unreasonably wound up by it. The scooters themselves are fine, I had a motorbike myself at that age, it's just the irresponsible riding and noise but it seems that's been explained above. Still, it's wet today, so no sign of them. Joy! I suppose I should really be blaming phase4 for not fitting this house with reasonably sound proofed windows!
Reply ID 72483
Dear all.. It seems the mopeds have come out of their hibernation and have returned to the town centre. Our office is based on The Wash and subsequently we have prime seats for these guttersnipes ruining most afternoons. Last year, during the more clement months, we telephoned the police on numerous occasions (and visited the station once) regarding the anti-social behaviour of these petrol-guzzling, purveyors of NOISE, but to no avail as the mopeds continued their revving revelry. No follow up / response to our complaints has ever been received. Lovely. It appears they enjoy doing circuits around the town; stopping/starting at Bull Plain for a meeting, heading out of town and back in via Parliament Square, this is where the revving starts, (I have no idea - seemingly this is good for ones status?) and then a pit stop at Maidenhead Yard.. Here they can impress other, less fortunate kids (or not as the case may be), and probably girls with their mopeds and the ability to rev said mopeds - again, I have no idea. I'm at a loss as to what can be done.. It seems the only way to get the police/council interested in these issues is to get something published in the paper - only then, once a public stink about their service and ability to provide a safe, socially acceptable community is aired, do they deem it worthy of their time. Any Mercury journo's feel like taking this one on? The office is resolute that this summer wont be blighted by the menace of the moped.. The odds, I fear, are looking long. Notepads at the ready. [:(!]
Reply ID 72486
Try some high power super soaker water pistols just for a bit of fun [:D] I used to spend many an hour watching them weaving in and out of traffic in Parliament Square, and joy of joys, one day one of them finally fell off, right in front of a bus - fortunately, he wasn't badly hurt, but it did stop them for a while
Reply ID 72494
they probably think it's cool, just as I did when I was a kid, bending the rear mudguard of my Raleigh Grifter on to the tyre so it sounded like a motorbike (until it melted).
Reply ID 72501
Nice bike - I may well have had a yellow one myself.. The thing is, bending ones mudguard is so much more innocent and self-serving than anything these guys get up to. For them It seems to be either a form of peacocking (albeit a poor form) or a rather purposeful two fingers up at anyone in earshot.. The loudest my bikes ever got was when they had spokey dokeys fitted. Re. super soaker suggestion... oh how we can but dream of these tactics.
Reply ID 72507
spokey dokeys - you must have been posh - we had lolly sticks or playing cards [:D] I can lend you an air rifle or a Daisy BB gun - or you could construct your own police style 'stinger' out of a bit of old rubber tubing and some 6 inch nails - call me and I'll come and help