Piping up about noisy motorcycles

THE CONVERSATION-canceling cacophony came welling up from Beacon Street, a rolling, rumbling thunder that soon grew to sound like the father of all freight trains barrelling by.

The source of the racket? Scores of motorcycles, coming two abreast, carrying riders bound for the State House to lobby for repeal of the state's helmet law.

As someone who used to have a motorcycle, I'm convinced it's possible to enjoy riding without subjecting bystanders to an acoustic assault. So when I saw the bikers making the State House rounds, I approached a group of them to have an, um, frank and honest talk about noise.

And I'm pleased to report that as direct decibel-disturbance discussions go, this one was a delight.

True, things started on a strained note when I asked what they would say to people who saw no need for the sort of drive-by din we'd just endured. Betsy Murphy of Salem, who rides a Harley Sportster with dealer installed after-market (that is, non stock) pipes, said that if an equal number of people came pushing lawn mowers up the street, it would be even louder. No doubt, though it's hard to imagine what would occasion that sort of macadam-mowing madness.

``I have a problem in Salem with the kids who have boom boxes and subwoofers in their cars," Murphy added. ``When they come by, I can hear the windows rattle."

Aha! Common ground. That's a problem too, I would -- and did -- say. But how, exactly, does it serve as a justification for ear-splitting motorcycle exhaust systems?

Murphy, who claimed what constitutes an annoying level of noise is ``completely subjective," judged her own exhaust pipes ``loud but not obnoxious" -- before noting that they have sometimes set off car alarms.

I don't mean to be rude, Betsy, but I think most people would say pipes that can set off car alarms have crossed an objective border into the land of nuisance.

As our discussion continued, however, an unexpected thing happened. Several of her fellow bikers jumped in to say they saw no need for loud pipes.

``It is not necessary," said Jimi Ricci, past chairman of the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association's board of directors. Ricci said his own motorcycle, a Yahama touring bike, has quiet factory-issue pipes, and that he has even persuaded his girlfriend, a transplant from rural Illinois, to switch her loud pipes for a quieter set. (Bravo, Jimi, bravo!)

``I believe the motorcycle community is its own worst enemy when it comes to noise," Ricci said in a later telephone interview. ``We are working to educate the riders about how much of a problem it has become."

Make no mistake, riders, Ricci is right: Noise has become a big issue.

``I get a significant number of calls from constituents asking, can't we do something about motorcycle noise?" reports Senator Richard Moore, Democrat of Uxbridge, who hopes to establish a slightly lower all-speeds decibel limit and to give the registrar of motor vehicles the power to reduce the level still further.

That ``loud pipes are creating a problem" is something the cycling community increasingly recognizes, said Joe ``Sarge" Komola, vice chair and director of safety and education for the motorcycle association.

Although the contention used to be that ``loud pipes save lives" by making drivers aurally aware a motorcycle is nearby, Komola said that in an era of air-conditioned cars driving with closed windows, motorcycles won't be heard anyway.

Komola, who at 67 rides a Honda Gold Wing with stock pipes, offers a counter coinage: ``Loud pipes lose rights." Because excessive noise upsets the general public, police are increasingly cracking down on offenders, he said, adding that some condo associations are now trying to ban motorcycles.

When he rides home in the evening, Komola said, he even makes it a point to turn off the radio on his bike so as not to bother others. And what message does he have for his fellow bikers?

``Ride responsibly, and have some respect for your neighbors," he said.

Why, it pleased me so much to hear one of motorcycling's senior statesmen impart that advice for me to pass along that I agreed on the spot to buy a $20 ticket for a chance on the 2006 Harley Road King Classic the association is raffling off in July.

And if I win? Well, I pledge to take my cue from Komola and to ride quietly into the night.

Scot Lehigh's e-mail address is lehigh@globe.com.