Muffle those pipes
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‘LOUD PIPES save lives’’ is a deeply held belief of many motorcycle buffs. But it is a claim without scientific merit. Unmuffled pipes serve mostly to enlarge the egos of motorcyclists, and the sound effects serve mainly to aggravate or intimidate the so-called cagers in cars and trucks.
Many motorcyclists opt to remove effective sound-control systems and install loud, aftermarket exhaust systems. Municipalities, therefore, are right to counter these noise attacks with tough ordinances, like the recent one in Boston imposing a $300 fine on riders who lack EPA-approved exhaust labels. Motorcycle advocates have filed suit in Suffolk Superior Court to block the ordinance, saying that state laws and fines already regulate noise levels for motorcycles.
Motorcyclists who shun EPA-approved mufflers have only themselves to blame for the crackdown. They deserve no sympathy from the public. And they receive no quarter from responsible riding enthusiasts like the American Motorcyclist Association, which maintains a strong policy against modifying exhaust systems in ways that disturb the peace. The association dismisses outright the “loud pipes save lives’’ claims of obstreperous riders, warning that that noisy pipes could actually impair good riding skills and judgment. The organization also points out accurately that the failure of some motorcyclists to adhere voluntarily to noise-pollution concerns is leading inevitably to stricter regulations by local officials.
Some motorcyclists shift blame as often as they shift their bikes. They point their fingers at loud car stereos and leaf blowers. But while loud pipes are not the sole source of noise pollution, they are unrelenting, geographically widespread, and rooted in a zealous belief system. Motorcyclists should put a muffler on it.
