Why all the noise?
#1
Why all the noise?
I recently bought an immaculate 1997 FLHTCUI with 18K, thousands in chrome and a good service record.
I love this bike, except for one thing: the exhaust system would raise the dead. It is some aftermarket brand and not a straight-through, baffleless design but still makes - for me - an outrageous amount of noise. I need to wear earplugs whenever I ride it. As I write this, my dealer is swapping those pipes out for stock.
My question is, it appears to be a regular practice of H-D owners to swap out stock pipes for even louder aftermarket, or Screamin' Eagle pipes. My '04 Sprortster was the same way.
My question is "why?" I don't think the answer is a simple "different strokes" or "individuality." Not even getting into the "loud pipes save lives" (for which no evidence exists), these noisemakers alienate non-riding neighbors of mine and yours and seem to do nothing for performance.
I bought my Ultra-Classic for comfort and touring. I ride 25,000 miles a year. I also own 3 late-model BMWs. I am accustomed to power, speed and nimble handling. An FLHTCUI, no matter what year, has none of these. It is what it is, and I like it for what it is, but nothing I'm going to do is going to make an 800 pound bike fast. My R1200S is a 1200cc opposed twin (I love twins, hence the Harley) and it has more torque and hp than an FLHTCUI in a 450 pound body - with 1/3 the noise!
Getting back to my question: why the noise? The power doesn't come close to justifying the racket.
Thanks,
Curt
I love this bike, except for one thing: the exhaust system would raise the dead. It is some aftermarket brand and not a straight-through, baffleless design but still makes - for me - an outrageous amount of noise. I need to wear earplugs whenever I ride it. As I write this, my dealer is swapping those pipes out for stock.
My question is, it appears to be a regular practice of H-D owners to swap out stock pipes for even louder aftermarket, or Screamin' Eagle pipes. My '04 Sprortster was the same way.
My question is "why?" I don't think the answer is a simple "different strokes" or "individuality." Not even getting into the "loud pipes save lives" (for which no evidence exists), these noisemakers alienate non-riding neighbors of mine and yours and seem to do nothing for performance.
I bought my Ultra-Classic for comfort and touring. I ride 25,000 miles a year. I also own 3 late-model BMWs. I am accustomed to power, speed and nimble handling. An FLHTCUI, no matter what year, has none of these. It is what it is, and I like it for what it is, but nothing I'm going to do is going to make an 800 pound bike fast. My R1200S is a 1200cc opposed twin (I love twins, hence the Harley) and it has more torque and hp than an FLHTCUI in a 450 pound body - with 1/3 the noise!
Getting back to my question: why the noise? The power doesn't come close to justifying the racket.
Thanks,
Curt
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