" I wish there was an "agreement meter" associated with these commentaries. If there was, mine would be off the scale with Will' comments.

Add to that, the booming stereos from young drivers. Enough!

And people were complaining about icre cream trucks a few years back. The Harley's and booming cars make the ice cream truck sounds like elevator music.... not saying that is much more pleasant... but you get the idea. "

" In response to your comment about loud Harley's. 1) They are not all Harleys 2) the reason they are loud is because we intentionally put loud mufflers on them so that we can be heard by cars around us as it seems many motorcycle accidents are caused by cars that say they didn't hear us coming. 3) It is a known fact that Silverado Trail is speeders haven anyway, I wouldn't want to live on the trail.

Thank you. "

" You're getting old Will.

Admit it, there was a time when that sound made your heart beat a little faster! "

" And at the same Harley check point can we also do a stereo volume check for those cars that are thumping down the road rattling my windows, nic-nacs and teeth! "

" I am on your side. I have 5 or more Harley's that live on my street and one of them specifically, feels that the absolute best time to fire it up and "warm" it up( rev, rev, rev) is on A freakin Sunday morning before 8am. "

" You are so right! To add to the problem, they often ride in large groups. I too live on the trail and weekend traffic sounds worse than the daily commute traffic. I know there will be those who simply tell us to move...but, we'll just ignore them for their idiocy. The fact is, this is a law that is not enforced by our wimpy police force. I had neighbors that made so much noise with their vehicles that the police, literally were afraid to confront them. Anyway, I think these motorcycle riders and their groups should be funneled to Soscol where there are less residences. They purposely make their bikes sound like this like it gives them a big...you know what. I wonder if the Ritz is going to be tolerant of it. Anyway, something does need to be done. It is bone jarring noise. "

" The car stereos with the improperly adjusted bass are my issue. Why isn’t there a noise ordinance? Or is there and I just don’t know about it. Can the police do anything? Would the police do anything? By the way, I'm not old and I go to punk shows in SF regularly. "

" I can understand the desire to be heard by fellow motorists as a matter of safety. I can also easily understand the arguement that no one forced you to ride a motorcycle rather than drive a car, and if you aren't happy riding a motorcycle with legal pipes on it, don't ride your bike. Since the only arguement in favor of illegal pipes on a bike is one of safety I'll offer a solution to both the safety concerns and noise concerns -- make lane splitting by motorcycles illegal. Lane splitting is where a bike is allowed to pass a car in it's same lane. The bikes want to be heard as they come up from behind to slip around cars while staying in the same lane. I can see where that would be dangerous. The average car driver is not expecting another vehicle to suddenly appear next to him in the 4 feet of unused space in his same lane. And the biker wants to make the car driver aware of his presence so the driver doesn't inadvetanty veer into him as he slips around. So just eliminate lane sharing. No more need to be heard from behind by cars doing 65 on the highway means no more perceived need for illegal pipes. "

" While they're at the checkpoint there should be a mirror for the riders to see how ridiculous they look - wearing those little kiddy helmets, all dressed up in the same "biker" clothes and riding the exact same bikes making the exact same noise. Quite the rebels! "

" Oversized rear view mirrors work wonders to control lane splitting.... "

" I agree with you Mikeb. Another thing that bothers me is the apparent need by the Harley rider to constantly rev,rev the motor when stopped at a light or stop sign. What is that all about? You like the sound of unnecessarily reving up your motor when your next to me with my window rolled down, while I'm trying to enjoy the fresh air? You think it makes you more of a man to do that? "

" are you people complaining about harley's being to loud the same people who complain about prius's being to quiet? the first thing i did to my harley was change the mufflers. the stock mufflers were just not loud enough to be heard buy other motorists and revving up my bike has kept me out of more than one wreck. i would also point out that harley's are the only american vehicle mass produced in america that get 50 mpg. "

" Wow such stereotyping...moustache macho men riding Harleys. Good grief.

As for noise, I wish I only rev'd mine because I was trying to be cool at a stop light or wake my neighbors before 8am (not). It's to keep it running and/or warm up the enginer! HELLO! Now I know my bike isn't like everyone elses, but some are tinker machines (and still get 30+ mpg).

As for the muffler noise, I will admit the previous owner had it modified to sound like a Harley. No regrets here though as the noise helps people 'see' you on the road even if they are blaring their music, caught up in their text messaging and cell phone conversations. Yikes! "

" This reminds me of an invention my dad told me about a few weeks ago. He wanted to invent something that goes on motorcycles to make them louder. That way you can hear them coming and not hit them. If you can't see them at least you'll hear them. As far as Harley's go they probably wouldn't need this device but a more quiet bike could definetely use one so that it could be as loud as the Harley. "

" Oh my Gosh!! what is this .....footloose??!!

My name says it all.....once I have my honda shadow ace in my possesion complete with COBRA pipes, I'll be sure to make a nice little visit around every dang neighborhood in town!! "

" I can't say that I've ever been alerted to a Harley by it's sound while I'm driving. Usually they suddenly appear in my rear mirror after darting around the car behind me. The safety issue sounds like an excuse to me. "

" I can't believe you people that are complaining about this. Is your life so much more important that about 10 seconds of a loud noice from a motorcycle or stereo system completly ruins your day. Give me a break. You know what would be more incovienent, when a motorcylicst gets killed on silverado trail because a car couldn't hear them coming, then they have to shut down the whole road to do an investigation, and now you have to find an alternate route to use and someone else is laying in a morgue. GET REAL PEOPLE, stop Complaining about petty stuff. WAH WAH a little noice for 10 seconds. You all sound like crying 7 year olds, GROW UP "

" I have to agree with Mr Stevens on this matter. Everyone should have the right to enjoy the peace and quiet of their homes without some rip roaring motorcycle tearing up their street. The same way that muscle cars and import race cars are fined for being above 90 db should also and if i'm not mistaken does apply to motorcycles. Your arguments about safety are irrelevant, the factory mufflers are there for a reason, because of the law. You shouldn't be trying to lane split on Silverado Trail anyways, that's dangerous.
RUBs! "

" In my late teens, early twenties, I really wanted a Harley. But not so much anymore. Mainly because of all the geeks and clods who have become "wild things" and "rebels" over the past couple decades. They make it almost cliche to own a Harley.

Although the noise can just be plain stupid sometimes, I still have a little bit of a tough time coming down too hard on the bikers. But I wouldn't mind if they got a little quieter.

It's a fake assertion that the noise of these bikes helps prevent accidents. That's baloney and they know it. But it is true that there are several other makes of bike that make pretty similar, loud noises as Harleys.

There's just too many Harleys out there these days, which is why folks are a bit fed up. Too many nerds have infiltrated the cycling community and have sort of spoiled what used to be a pretty o.k. part of our society. "

" My concern is the large groups of them, sometimes at least 50 to 100 at a time.
I'm not kidding! "

" Groups of 50-100 might seem cool, but if one goes down...somewhat like bicyclists groups with a lot more weight and a whole lot messier.

I don't dart in and out of traffic. Too freaking scary! And for all those naysayers of the noise helping us out, then perhaps you haven't ridden before and don't know the facts. In motorcycle safety they recommend making noise, hand movements (not gestures), wearing bright colors - construction vest orange, and flashing your lights to get other drivers attention. Why? So other drivers (cars/trucks generally) are alerted to when you are slowing, turning, approaching an intersection, etc.

I recommend motorcycle safety school to all riders and drivers. It just alerts you to the dangers in general on the road.

Even when I'm not riding, I'm thinking as if I were on a motorcycle. It's a scary place out on the road. Now if bicyclists would think similarly and not as if they were a 20 ton truck we'd be in business. :) "

" I've ridden bikes for over 40 years. The loud exhaust "safety" issue is one of the lamest excuses and typically from people who like loud motorcycles. Every Harley that comes from the factory meets federal noise requirements. Inevitably, the owners like to replace the standard exhaust with loud pipes because that is how they get attention. Somewhat like seeing which kid in the school cafeteria can belch he loudest - impressive!

If I'm not mistaken there were/are (?) CA laws that make it illegal to modify the exhaust system of a vehicle. And certainly you aren't allowed to do this to increase noise levels over federal standards.

The problem is one of enforcement. When you don't ticket for unsafe modifications or excessively loud exhaust systems, people assume they can get away with it and not be held accountable. So today motorcycles have become louder as have cars with modified exhaust systems. So where are the police on this? What is their excuse for not enforcing the law?

Perhaps I should just remove the mufflers on my car so the loud biker boys can hear me coming over their own loud mufflers. Of course I would only do this as an issue of safety. Any bets about who would get a ticket first? "

" Oh my gosh,
How about those pesky Life helicopters going to the queen?
Or those hot air balloons?
Or those loud band practices at the high schools?
Maybe we should limit the db on police and fire vehicles?
And stop airplane fly overs?
What about the noise from the stadium on Friday games?
Cmon,
It's not like these bikes are constantly bothering you day in and day out like an airport.
And how many times in your life have you seen 50+ bikes in one pack?
I'll bet you could only count them on one hand? "

" cellsitegod you must not get out much. I see large groups of bikers every weekend during the summer months. I do not mind those going by...and I do not mind the bikers that live in my area, but it is the friends that come over and have to announce to the entire neighborhood that they are there. To me that falls in the same catagory as the car that thumps into a neighborhood vibrating every ones windows and dishes. If it drowns out my tv or stereo behind my dual pane windows and solid front door then it is invading my privacy. "

" Gee cellsitegod, your comparisons to these other things are ridiculous. Bikes are made and driven to intentionally make this noise for other people to hear. And, you don't seem to have experienced much in your life if you can honestly say that you rarely see these groups. Maybe you should just then refrain from commenting if you don't have any point of reference on the issue. "

" Thanks for the personal attack misfit.
I see the register censors are more interested in only allowing comments that agree with "their views" printed, rather than following the rules they set forth.
My comment was to show how rediculous I thought peoples comments on loud bikes were.
I am currently own a Harley and have had 3 previously and have rode in large groups several times ( Is that experience enough sharon, misfit?)
My point was: people hear sirens, helicopters and balloons alot more than they see a group of 50+ bikes going down the road.
Unless maybe you live right next to interstate 80? "

" Cellsitegod: I agree, there are lots of annoying noises we can't help but hear and have to deal with. However, a police siren is loud so that you can hear it and get out of the way. A helicopter is loud because we haven't invented quiet ones yet. Your Harley is loud because you replaced the factory installed (relitively quiet) muffler with one that is purposely loud. I find that a bit obnoxious. "

" Yea, cool huh? "