Sociology of Motorcycle Week

[NoBozo]

C'mon people: This is NOT complicated. There is no secret answer that needs to be addressed by some PHD who will never get near a Biker...because they are afraid.

Bikers putting down the boulevard are doing only ONE thing, and that..In their mind is just LOOKING GOOD. No more complicated than that.

They are part of a BIG group..BUT, they still have the need to be individual persons....to stand out in the group. Maybe the babe on the back will take off her shirt..

Custom airbrushed artwork on the tank and fenders...Are BIG. Anyone can do loud pipes and extra chrome.. First..Artwork on a relatively stock bike and then..... if you have a few extra grand..a totally Custom Bike built to order from the ground up. I can speak of this because I have a few miles under my butt. NB

Just to set the record strait..I am not a Biker. I am a Motorcyclist.

[Fishy Cover]

Your comments are even more insightful than I expected when I started this thread and I am enjoying them. It's great to get so many diverse opinions and inputs from different perspectives.

Just so readers will know, I am not anti motorcycle or anti biker. In my 30 years in the Lakes region I have met many wonderful people who are motorcycle afficionados, and I really enjoy the spectacle of the whole bike week scene.

In the early 60's I owned a 150c Lambretta, tame by Harley standards but nevertheless fun and I was able to enjoy the freedom of the open road. What I remember most is the wonderful fragrances when passing lilacs or gardens, and the changes in temperature when going from a sunny area to a shady one or vice versa-- both experiences you do not get in a car.

I have also owned a 750cc Honda touring motorcycle, a 250cc off road Honda and a 250cc Yamaha also off-road.

[lawn psycho]

A lot of bad info is flying...

First, the "Loud pipes saves lives" is and has been proven a myth. The Hurt Study (Hurt was the priniple investigator who recently died by the way) showed that modified cruiser bikes are over-represented in crashes. Those are the same bikes who use the loud and often illegal exhausts.
The same H-D crowd who cry for safety (and use it to claim a need for loud pipes) are the ones who don't where bright clothing and/or helmets. Until they do, cry me a river.
BMW riders are the safest on the road. Last time I checked they don't ride loud
Lie with all the stories you want but that fact is "Loud Pipes Saves Lives" is a myth. Fact.

Most of the riders who put the peg over the line are idiots plain and simple. It's not uncommon to see people veer towards them to brush them back. Its about attention, not safety or lane position. They don't need to be over that far. I also don't cross the center line when towing my boat.

Second, if anyone claims that just an exhaust and tune will net a 30-40% improvement in Hp make sure you ask them for the dyno sheet and precisely what was changed and WITNESS the bike and dyno. Probably a good time to wager some money too. I turn wrenches and have owned several muscle cars with major modifications done to them so if someone wants to spew horsepuckey I am going to call them on it. Straight pipes or pipes without baffles almost always drops the Hp of the bike as the exhaust can not be scavanged from the pipe on the adjecent cylinder(s).

The false claims about a pipe or exhaust magically creating huge Hp gains is just as bad in the car world as it is in the motorcycle world. Most pipes are bolted on simply to make the bike louder. The vast majority of bikes to not get a re-jet kit and/or the computer reflashed (ergo all the popping and cackling you hear from poorly tuned bikes) so the Hp claims are a moot point anyways.

To the OP's question, the majority of H-D bikes run modified exhausts. NH has the highest permitted motorcycle exhaust noise in the USA at 106 dB. From the factory they are 82 dB. It's vanity noise and they don't have to be loud. Te loud bikes got out of hand during the late 90s and early 2000s when everyone jumped on the H-D bandwagon. It used to be a few big rides a year. Now you can have a weekly "Ride for Retards" and still get a big crowd

NHcalm is working on the Seacoast to combat the loud bikes and I suspect it won't be long before the 106 dB is lowered to something realistic. My wife's family lives all along the seacoast and it's gotten bad with the H-D crown. Seriously guys, I am all for having a nice sounding machine but many of these bikes (yes, many) have gone to the point of being obnoxious. Many of those in the H-D rides wear ear plugs it's so loud. After revving a bike a couple hundred times over a couple hours you'd think it would get old but some of these guys are just like little kids. Every stop light, every stop sign, it's excessive revving and/or driving around with the bike two gears to low for what is needed. Give it a freakin rest.

A lot of the "look at me" mentality in the the H-D world has actually created tons of attention for themselves but it's not the attention they want. Rye, New Castle, Hampton, and North Hampton police were just in the paper recently and discussing a start to cracking down on bikes with loud pipes.

Bike week has gone from being about motorcycles to something else..... You decide if you want to participate. I personally just stay away as it's not my thing. Too bad NH can't find something better to replace it.

And for the record, I am a car and motorcycle enthusiast. I've had my motorcycle endorsement since I was 16 yo. I have owned many bikes but no longer do. Never owned a H-D as I think they're crap but that's my opinion. Heavy, poor handling, loud, slow, air-cooled fart machines

Whenever I see someone riding a H-D I deduct 20 pts from their IQ. A cigarette in the mouth and I deduct another 20 pts. Stereotypes exist for a reason

[VitaBene]

Originally Posted by lawn psycho

Whenever I see someone riding a H-D I deduct 20 pts from their IQ. A cigarette in the mouth and I deduct another 20 pts. Stereotypes exist for a reason

Luckily I quit smoking 17 years ago or I would be looking at a 40 point deduction!

[Winnisquamguy]

Originally Posted by lawn psycho

Bike week has gone from being about motorcycles to something else..... You decide if you want to participate. I personally just stay away as it's not my thing. Too bad NH can't find something better to replace it.

And for the record, I am a car and motorcycle enthusiast. I've had my motorcycle endorsement since I was 16 yo. I have owned many bikes but no longer do. Never owned a H-D as I think they're crap but that's my opinion. Heavy, poor handling, loud, slow, air-cooled fart machines

Whenever I see someone riding a H-D I deduct 20 pts from their IQ. A cigarette in the mouth and I deduct another 20 pts. Stereotypes exist for a reason

Your name really lived up to this rant!!

[MarkinNH]

Originally Posted by Winnisquamguy

Your name really lived up to this rant!!

I am going to guess that you ride an HD and smoke ?

In fact his post made alot of sense, carried alot of truth and came no where near being a rant. I have lived in the area for 45 years and bike week as it is now called has changed ALOT over the years and not all in a good way.

[jrc]

I bought my first bike in 1975 when I was 14, I washed dishes all summer and saved $285 for a used Honda trail bike. I love bikes. I'm bored with bike week, nothing really to do but get drunk.

The noise is frustrating, the cops have given up on it. The old days was fun, tweaking noise for performance and to see how far you could go. Now, just throw on some straight pipes, and deafen everyone, cops don't care.

Have a great time this week, count me out.

[Winnisquamguy]

Originally Posted by MarkinNH

I am going to guess that you ride an HD and smoke ?

In fact his post made alot of sense, carried alot of truth and came no where near being a rant. I have lived in the area for 45 years and bike week as it is now called has changed ALOT over the years and not all in a good way.

Yes I ride a harley and NO I don't smoke. Ride for retards makes sense to you? His opinion on loud pipes being fact and myth? I can go on and on.

[joann721]

Originally Posted by lawn psycho

A lot of bad info is flying...

First, the "Loud pipes saves lives" is and has been proven a myth. The Hurt Study (Hurt was the priniple investigator who recently died by the way) showed that modified cruiser bikes are over-represented in crashes. Those are the same bikes who use the loud and often illegal exhausts.
The same H-D crowd who cry for safety (and use it to claim a need for loud pipes) are the ones who don't where bright clothing and/or helmets. Until they do, cry me a river.
BMW riders are the safest on the road. Last time I checked they don't ride loud
Lie with all the stories you want but that fact is "Loud Pipes Saves Lives" is a myth. Fact.

And for the record, I am a car and motorcycle enthusiast. I've had my motorcycle endorsement since I was 16 yo. I have owned many bikes but no longer do. Never owned a H-D as I think they're crap but that's my opinion. Heavy, poor handling, loud, slow, air-cooled fart machines

Whenever I see someone riding a H-D I deduct 20 pts from their IQ. A cigarette in the mouth and I deduct another 20 pts. Stereotypes exist for a reason

I have to respond to this... you have typecast an entire group of people into a very convenient argument for yourself. I dont even know where to start- First of all- I wear my helmet - I do wear a leather jacket (guess that makes me a derelict - oh no - its black to... ) guess I could get one of those bright pink nylon jackets with a full face helmet with the light strips on them but I doubt that would make you happy because then my brightness would probably offend your eyes. How about I stick a glow stick to my helmet would that help... and for the record we have belonged to numerous "motorcycle clubs" and have a large group of friends who ride and never once in all the 100's of rides we have been on with our "GANG" have we revved our engines just to hear them make noise...are the people who peel out of bars and blast up and down the boulevard at 2 am idiots yes they are, no argument from me on that one. There is a difference between loud pipes and illegally pipes. Our bike is loud you know it is a Harley but it isnt going to rattle your windows or scare your poor dog. Ear plugs "really" - I cant hear my gangsta rap music if I wear them so I prefer to go commando - the people you are talking about are such a small group of people that it is a pointless argument.

As far as deducting IQ points... I will allow you to deduct 20 for my bike - sorry dont smoke cigarettes -only if you add 100 for my masters degree

PS your screen name is perfect - do you cut it with nail clippers or use a loud lawn mower

[Gatto Nero]

Hey ITD, how's that popcorn tasting?

[ThePlut]

These types of threads never create any useful dialog, just more us vs. them mentality. You can't paint an entire group of people, who happen to enjoy a similar mode of transportation, using the same brush.

But for the record, I've read very, very little in this thread that could be confused with "facts" about motorcycles or the people that ride them. That someone else agrees with it, still doesn't make it a fact.

[Kamper]

Are you guys sure two abreast isn't illegal for motorcycles? The term is called lane-splitting when cars are involved and I remember reading an article that is citable pretty much everywhere. I do admit though, when I rode with friend we frequently were side-by-side or only slightly staggered.

As for trailers... If you have never seen one NOT over the line, please open your eyes when driving. My experience is that a trailer over the line, only happens a small percentage of the time.

[Gatto Nero]

Originally Posted by Kamper

Are you guys sure two abreast isn't illegal for motorcycles? The term is called lane-splitting when cars are involved and I remember reading an article that is citable pretty much everywhere. I do admit though, when I rode with friend we frequently were side-by-side or only slightly staggered.

I am now.


TITLE XXI
MOTOR VEHICLES
CHAPTER 265
RULES OF THE ROAD
Special Rules for Motorcycles
Section 265:121
265:121 Driving Motorcycles on Roadways Laned for Traffic. –
I. All motorcycles are entitled to the full use of a lane and no motor vehicle shall be driven in such a manner as to deprive any motorcycle of the full use of a lane; provided, however, that 2 motorcycles may ride abreast in a single lane.
II. The driver of a motorcycle shall not overtake and pass in the same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken.
III. No person shall drive a motorcycle on a roadway between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles.
IV. Motorcycles shall not be driven more than 2 abreast in a single lane.
V. Paragraphs II and III shall not apply to police officers in the performance of their official duties.
VI. No person riding upon a motorcycle shall attach himself or the motorcycle to any other vehicle, except a sidecar, on the roadway.

Source. RSA 263:29-e. 1967, 443:1. 1981, 146:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1982; 479:49, eff. Jan. 1, 1982, at 12:01 a.m.

[MarkinNH]

Originally Posted by joann721

"[B] have we revved our engines just to hear them make noise[/B

Then please give us a reasonable and justifiable explanation as to Why many bike riders (not all) sit at stop sign's and stop lights and rev their engines. As a person who many times has had to close my windows in an attempt to somewhat block out the obnoxious racket being made by the moron on his bike sitting there going VROOM VROOM VROOM VROOM I would really like to hear an answer.
Despite showing a blatent lack of respect and a total disregard for the people around them is there a necessary reason for this ?

[Gatto Nero]

Originally Posted by MarkinNH

Then please give us a reasonable and justifiable explanation as to Why many bike riders (not all) sit at stop sign's and stop lights and rev their engines. As a person who many times has had to close my windows in an attempt to somewhat block out the obnoxious racket being made by the moron on his bike sitting there going VROOM VROOM VROOM VROOM I would really like to hear an answer.
Despite showing a blatent lack of respect and a total disregard for the people around them is there a necessary reason for this ?

I think you answered your own question.

Originally Posted by MarkinNH

...obnoxious racket being made by the moron on his bike sitting there going VROOM VROOM VROOM VROOM

[MarkinNH]

Originally Posted by Gatto Nero

I think you answered your own question.

LOL I am afraid your right.
I know my posts make it look like I dislike All bikes and their riders when in reality I don't. Unfortunatly it is always the bad apples that stick in your mind and it again unfortunatly, taints your vision of the hobby and group as a whole. I think some bike riders have the same or similar mentality as those people who ride around in their cars with the stereo going BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM, thinking that everybody will hear me and see me and think I'm cool.
I also suspect that age and maturity or lack of, play a large role in how a rider acts and conducts themselves.

[tricia1218]

I was about 18 and decided to visit my parents who have a camp on Paugus Bay on the Saturday of Motor Cycle weekend, this was about 20 years ago before there were state troopers every 10 feet. A big scary biker approached my car and asked if I had a light, I happened to and I said keep it, he took the lighter and walked a little further up to another group of bikers. A guy about my age and some of his friends approached my car, clean cut, no leather and started yelling stuff at me in the car, I think we all remember the days of “show em?” they would not leave and continued to yell, well here comes my friend the big scary biker with his friends, “is there a problem here fellas?” he asks. The younger guys mouths hit the ground and they all but ran away. So anyway long story, but try not to judge a book by its cover.

[joann721]

Originally Posted by MarkinNH

Then please give us a reasonable and justifiable explanation as to Why many bike riders (not all) sit at stop sign's and stop lights and rev their engines. As a person who many times has had to close my windows in an attempt to somewhat block out the obnoxious racket being made by the moron on his bike sitting there going VROOM VROOM VROOM VROOM I would really like to hear an answer.
Despite showing a blatent lack of respect and a total disregard for the people around them is there a necessary reason for this ?

Hi Markin - I asked my husband your question and he thought about it for a minute and he said that when he had his previous bike it had a carburator that took quite awhile to warm up & get the idle to smooth out - and so he would rev it a few times while he was stopped at a light until it was warmed up. Now he has purchased a Meredith Police Bike - and that is no longer the case. He said his honest opinion is that most people who do this as you described - do it to get attention or to get a pretty girl to look at them.. if the bike is tuned and running properly, in his opinion, there isnt a reason to do it..