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| | | It must be primeval. The way it touches us so deeply, we must have some
ancient hardwiring inside us that's a direct feed to our very core. Maybe it's
some leftover evolutionary seventh sense that's triggered when we hit the
ignition and fire brings our V-twins to life. Or maybe the rhythmic rumble
reminds us of some distant thundering herd. The chase is on. And our hearts
automatically race not wanting to be left behind. Or our soul goes
hungry.
Whatever else it is, this authentic part of the Harley-Davidson experience
really is something. And it's something we don't ever want to lose.
Now comes the troubling part. How can the sound that embodies so much of what
we love about Harley-Davidson® motorcycles be so offensive to others? And it's
even more troubling that those negative feelings are spreading throughout the
country and around the world. Some people just don't like motorcycles. Period.
We can accept that. But isn't there something we can do to keep their numbers
from growing?
Negative news stories regarding motorcycle noise have increased 400 percent
over the past 10 years. In the last year, communities across the United States
have upped their efforts to curb motorcycle noise. Some communities have
instituted outright bans on motorcycles. Even traditional motorcycle rally
locations like Laconia, Daytona, and Myrtle Beach have had controversies
regarding noise at their events this past year.
Worldwide, motorcycle noise is becoming more heavily restricted. Europe and
Japan now require lower than U.S. dB(A) levels for new motorcycles right out of
the box. In Australia, for example, a permanent label must be affixed and
remain on to signify legal pipes. Annual inspections are also required.
Looking into the science of sound, the perception of sound varies according to
multiple factors; volume is the single factor that most often sends hearing
from barely noticeable to unbearable. Understandable. That's why many riders
are fitting themselves with earplugs for longer rides. But what's really
interesting is that the sound impulses we generate ourselves seem less of a
nuisance than those generated by others. We're also more indulgent when it
comes to a “friendly” sound or noise - music, for example, if you happen to be
a musician yourself. So, the "friendly" sounds of our Harleys are not
so friendly sounding to those who don't share our passion for riding. We can't
change that. But what can we do?
It seems that we, not just the Motor Company, not just the Harley-Davidson
dealers, not just a handful of riders, we all, every Hog lovin' one of
us, must do everything we can to protect our sport and keep it as strong as it
is today. We must take our turn, as more than a century-worth of Harley riders
has before us, in guarding our sport.
In those very early days, Harley-Davidson was born as a form of basic
transportation. When you added a sidecar or a delivery box to the back, they
became utility vehicles. Then the weekend was invented. Well, you were lucky if
you got one day off. But you made the most of it and discovered the sheer joy
of motorcycling. And you discovered that there were others just like you who
carried that dominant riding gene. You were born with it. And proud of it. You
owned your own kind of freedom. But even then, there were many who didn't
understand. | | | There were literally hundreds of motorcycle manufacturers in the early
days. Far more than there were automakers. As the number of motorized vehicles
grew, so did the issue of noise. The confounded machines were upsetting the
still-main-means-of-transportation horses. Farmers complained about machines
disturbing their livestock. And the general population became very vocal about
their right to a good night's sleep. To achieve social acceptability of their
new modes of transportation, the manufacturers developed … the muffler! The
auto industry had plenty of space to carry all manner of bulky noise
suppression devices. For motorcycles, it was an entirely different challenge.
The Motor Company put its engineering staff to work and came up with the best
mufflers in the motorcycle industry. So successful, in fact, that they built a
motorcycle that became affectionately known as The Silent Gray Fellow. That
moniker stuck, and during those early years the entire Harley-Davidson model
line became known as The Silent Gray Fellows. | | |
| | Today, Harley-Davidson motorcycles have more power and performance than our
predecessors could have ever imagined, but with all due respect, we love to
hear them coming. That doesn't mean louder noise equals even more power,
however. It's an interesting misconception. Testing has proven that straight
pipes do not necessarily outperform pipes with lower noise levels. Pick the
wrong pipes and you can severely reduce your horsepower and/or your torque. And
while you're doing it, you'll awaken the sleeping giant of social concern that
lives next door to all of us.
So what if you've picked the wrong pipes?
Then you have a very important individual decision to make. We all do. No one
expects everyone to change out their straight pipes overnight. But we all must
consider changing out our thinking. We need to think about the consequences our
actions have on others, before others take action against us. As tempting as it
is, maybe we resist cranking up the revs at the next stop signal. Maybe we fall
in love all over again with the unique and mesmerizing sound "quality"
of our own V-twin, not just the volume. Maybe we think about how we can assure
that all those riders coming behind us can enjoy the same level of freedom we
do today. Maybe we just take a time-out to remember that this is really
something. And it's something we never want to lose. | |  | |
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