Apr 23
Motorcycle Goons
The Associated Press is reporting that Harley-Davidson will reduce its workforce by 8 percent and cut motorcycle shipments by the thousands. Domestic sales fell nearly 13 percent in the first quarter of 2008.
The Milwaukee-based manufacturer will cut this year’s shipments by between 23,000 and 27,000 units: “That means the company expects to ship between 303,5000 and 307,500 units for the full year, at least 7 percent below last year.”
To this I say: YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!! The fewer motorcycles, the better.
Motorcycle goons are everywhere. Most of them come with standard equipment: a leather jacket, sunglasses, a bandana, gray hair, a beer belly, faded blue jeans, metal chains, a leather jacket, an American flag, and a thunderous exhaust system. (All to express their “individuality,” of course.)
I don’t really care about the leather and the metal (though it does look ridiculous). I do care about the loud exhausts.
Motorcycle goons would have you believe that motorcycles are naturally noisy, and that “loud pipes save lives.” Both assertions are laughable.
Motorcycles are not naturally noisy. Not all motorcycles are noisy. The obnoxious thunder from motorcycles result from the deliberate action of testosterone-driven males who did not get sufficient attention from their mothers. Motorcycle goons either remove the muffler or install a “custom muffler” designed to make the maximum amount of noise. There is no reason why motorcycles should be noisy.
And as for loud pipes saving lives:
First, there is not a shred of evidence to support this preposterous claim.
Second, the obnoxious noise is extremely distracting to motorists. Loud pipes probably cause more accidents than they supposedly prevent.
Third, most motorcycle accidents are head-on collisions. Obviously, motorists ahead of motorcyclists cannot hear the thunderous roar.
Fourth, if motorcyclists were truly concerned about safety, they would wear helmets, drive defensively, stay within the speed limit, not dart between cars, wear orange protective jackets, and install orange flagpoles on their bikes.
Obviously, this does not happen. Motorcycle goons just want to make noise–all in a vain attempt to prove their virility.
Fortunately, several American cities are starting to crack down on these Hell’s Angels. In Anaheim, police have began an aggressive enforcement campaign. In Denver, motorcycles are limited to 82 decibels, and must carry an EPA compliance sticker, proving that the bike’s exhaust has not been tampered with.
It’s about time.
May 6th, 2008 at 9:47 am
WOW what an idiot. All I can say is that this person is clearly clueless!!
The writer realy has no idea about bikes, laws, rights, freedom… Either
they are not from the USA or they are on the payroll of Mary Peters. Either
way to point out one valid comment the writer did have was that most Motorcycle
accidents are infact head on or better yet RIGHT OF WAY violations by Cars “CAGES”
and there makes a good fact also!!!! YES LOUD PIPES DO SAVE LIVES you just said it your self
the accidents are caused from those that cant even hear the pipes… WOW
Thank you for pointing that out and helping all us riders with our fight.
The reason is those that are next to us or merging HEAR OUR PIPES and dont hit us.
So again on behalf of all riders in the USA I that you for pointing out
a good fact to use with the LOUD PIPES SAVE LIVES fight.
May 6th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
This posting should be removed A.S.A.P., as this kind of B.S. makes this site look bad. The “author” (is you can call him that.. more like someone who has no grasp of reality) makes the claim in #1 that “There is not a shred of evidence to support this preposterous claim” Then in # 2 makes an even more ridiculous claim, which is there not a shred of evidence to support HIS claim. There is evidence that loud pipes save lives, just ask someone who has had a close call and it was adverted when the motorist “heard” him. You don’t “see” statistic’s because those people were not injured and therefore it was not reported.
His point # 3 ignores the laws of physics, in which sound travels in ALL DIRECTIONS.. it may not be a loud, but it is still heard. It might even be heard over the motorist how is talking on his cell phone. Then finally his # 4 has NOTHING to do with his topic, but just a “weak” attempt to justify his point, but even those “issues” are a mixture of non-related points that intermix different things in a random order. Most of which are laughable at best.
Who ever runs this site.. do yourself a favor and delete this garbage and ban the idiot who rote it. The WORST piece of writing I have EVER seen.
May 6th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
What a celebration 8% reduction in work force and lesser sales of another American trademark.
I love this thought process and with it the reality that we all can live in absoulte silence as soon as the American machines all stop.
I dirve American cars and if they, by chance, don’t hold up to your import SUV so be it. I ride American Motorcycles and yes, I have modified my exhaust system not as much now that my leather is a little more worn and my hair, what is left of it, is a little more grey. I believe “Loud Pipes Save Lives” the fellow that wrote the article is living proof they work, he heard me or someone like me and didn’t run us over.
I challenge the author of this article to think beyond his own distaste for noise. He makes the argument that if, as bikers we are concerned with safty we would all wear helmets and he may have a very good point. But if he will take just a minute and use his own phrase, “most motorcycle accidents are head-on” and concentrate, what if a large majority of those accidents were avoided? Not just by the motorcycle driver paying attention but everybody in the driving public paying attention. Would helmets even be a discussion? And at that time when everybody is paying attention and those accidents, by some numbers 66%,go away then sir and only then can we really argue that loud pipes have no place on the road.
May 26th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
So I guess those of us reasonable folks - who can confidently stand amongst his peers without all the gay bells and leather… and without the rolling noise makers… should just move away and give up his hometown ’cause the ‘tards need loud pipes? Not in my hometown, you screws. Where does it say those of us who choose not to look like one of the Village People should keep to ourselves and let the ‘tards pollute our town? The only reason it doesn’t bother the ‘tards so much is ’cause they’re already deaf, probably. But three can type, evidently. Odd. To be able to type yet see so little. Ta, ‘tards.