Road legal bikes banned from certain roads due to noise

[Ho Lee Kau]

Kawasicki said:

black-k1 said:

This is yet another step in a very worrying trend. There is an ever increasing gradual creep of legislation making it more and more difficult to ride an otherwise legal motorcycle. Those that don't think it affects them are, at best, short sighted and naive. If it "works" how long do you think it'll be until it's applied to the Highlands (no more NC500) or the Dales, or North Wales etc.

As a group we must carry a lot of the blame for this. The selfish bds who ride with baffles out or loud pipes are responsible for this. Joe Public does not want to hear your bike yet is being forced to endure it. Joe Public does not know the difference, and couldn't care less about the difference, between a modified exhaust and a standard one so will opt for the easy answer of ban the lot.

Forget the totally unproven cobblers that says "loud pipes save lives" and remember that load pipes will kill motorcycling!

Finally someone who gets it.

If some people ride with exhausts that are illegal, then those people should be prosecuted. If new, road legal, motorbikes are too loud, then surely the law must be changed.

I agree with both these comments.

In Switzerland we had police controls of car posers lately, police really stepped up this now, high-powered cars driven by very young guys, illegally modified without cats, some had exhaust pipes disconnected from mufflers altogether to get more noise. Because of a small number of these retards the state will eventually tighten the screws on the rest of the perfectly legal and considerate drivers as well.

Same goes for bikes, when Harleys pass by the window panes are shaking...

[outnumbered]

Do we actually know which, if any, non modified production bikes would fall foul of this rule?

[IJWS15]

Kawasicki said:

Austrian region Tyrol have decided to ban non-modified motorbikes that have static (as in not being driven) noise level above 95 db from certain popular routes.

Equally loud cars and trucks are not banned.

It’s interesting that banning road legal vehicles is in itself legal.

I’m unhappy about this. You?

I wish they's do it here, why should the rest of us have to put up with all the selfish prats on bikes that want to drive through the town with their noisy machines (they can be a miles away but we still hear them) - I don't hear the cars or trucks so why are the bikes so loud.

[Lemanandbeyond]

Whilst this is new in Austria its happening in other destinations as already pointed out. As Ho Lee said Switzerland is becoming less tolerant of loud vehicles, I have been stopped twice in the last 3 weeks on my bike and the first thing the police looked at on the bike was the exhaust. Mine is completely standard and a 2020 model so there were no problems but it shows they are taking a very strict line on this.

The Harleys are ridiculous, I am not sure if there are more here but some of them are crazy loud & actually annoying even for a petrolhead. There has to be some common ground of enjoyment without nuisance. Don't get me wrong like I say I am a petrolhead and have an AMG merc but didnt go for the sports exhaust as it was too "look at me" pop bang etc.

If others follow like Germany riding at weekends in certain areas will become more restricted, with the heavy policing of speed ,noise will be next and as K1 pointed out could lead to the death of motorcycling.

We are an easy target that's why motorbikes have been put in the bullseye for these controls.

Edited by Lemanandbeyond on Wednesday 3rd June 08:43

[irocfan]

IJWS15 said:

I don't hear the cars or trucks so why are the bikes so loud.

Maybe because they rev higher?

[Kawasicki]

outnumbered said:

Do we actually know which, if any, non modified production bikes would fall foul of this rule?

Here's what I found in 30 seconds...this is NOT the full list. I looks like about 1 in 12 motorcycles either sold or on sale in Austria are banned.

Aprilia V4 Tuono 1100 Factory 96 dB(A)
Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory 105 dB(A)
Aprilia RSV4 1000 RR 96 dB(A)
BMW S 1000 RR 98 dB(A)
Ducati Hypermotard SP 97 dB(A)
Ducati Multistrada 1260 102 dB(A)
Ducati Diavel 102 dB(A)
Ducati SuperSport 98 dB(A)
Harley-Davidson Dyna Street Bob 97 dB(A)
Harley-Davidson FXDR 14 97 dB(A)
Harley-Davidson 1200 Custom 99 dB(A)
Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty Eight 99 dB(A)
Kawasaki Z 900 97 dB(A)
KTM 890 Duke 96 dB(A)

The Tirol police use the Ducati Multistrada 950, It's also banned.

[black-k1]

Lemanandbeyond said:

...

If others follow like Germany riding at weekends in certain areas will become more restricted, with the heavy policing of speed ,noise will be next and as K1 pointed out could lead to the death of motorcycling.

We are an easy target that's why motorbikes have been put in the bullseye for these controls.

Things have moved on from the '80s and 90's when there was a split between the "ban it now" brigade and the "just impose some restrictions" brigade. While the "ban it now" brigade didn't win in the short term, they are slowly but surely winning through use of creeping legislation. Difficult and expensive licensing requirements are restricting the flow of new riders, "allowing" the criminalisation of mopeds in cities through the lack of enforcement and mainstream headlines about speed are increasing the public's negative view of bikes, ever tightening noise regulation and bans on access to certain roads and certain times are removing the "joy" of riding a bike.

If things continue as they are (ignoring the carbon emissions related changes, do you really think there will be motorcycling in 35 years time?

[rodericb]

The thing with the measurement of noise and their application into laws is that they're measured at half of maximum revs or whatever and there's the scope to have a lot more noise higher up in the revs. So picture young Kurt getting into the spirit on a Panigale versus old Helmut dawdling along in his BMW 2020 520. That Panigale is going to rile the rileable much easier than the BMW. Flip the scenario and it's gentle old Helmut pottering about on his Multi 950 and young Kurt ragging it in to the rev limiter in his 1.2 litre Opel Corsa. Old Helmut is the lawbreaker....

I can't believe some of the responses in this thread so far. Harleys loud from the factory? A Tuono which was so loud it had to be sold to stem the auditory assault? Granted those two examples with standard exhausts aren't as whisper quiet as a modern petrol car but they're hardly raucous. There are some recent diesel cars which sound far more offensive than a standard HD or Tuono....!

[thatdude]

Kawasicki said:

Austrian region Tyrol have decided to ban non-modified motorbikes that have static (as in not being driven) noise level above 95 db from certain popular routes.

Equally loud cars and trucks are not banned.

It’s interesting that banning road legal vehicles is in itself legal.

I’m unhappy about this. You?

I can hear loud bikes on the local dual carrigeway when they open up, even some standard ones

I cant hear lorries or unmodified cars.

[Kawasicki]

black-k1 said:

Lemanandbeyond said:

...

If others follow like Germany riding at weekends in certain areas will become more restricted, with the heavy policing of speed ,noise will be next and as K1 pointed out could lead to the death of motorcycling.

We are an easy target that's why motorbikes have been put in the bullseye for these controls.

Things have moved on from the '80s and 90's when there was a split between the "ban it now" brigade and the "just impose some restrictions" brigade. While the "ban it now" brigade didn't win in the short term, they are slowly but surely winning through use of creeping legislation. Difficult and expensive licensing requirements are restricting the flow of new riders, "allowing" the criminalisation of mopeds in cities through the lack of enforcement and mainstream headlines about speed are increasing the public's negative view of bikes, ever tightening noise regulation and bans on access to certain roads and certain times are removing the "joy" of riding a bike.

If things continue as they are (ignoring the carbon emissions related changes, do you really think there will be motorcycling in 35 years time?

There seems to be a lobby with the ear of a policy maker for pretty much everything to do with more restrictions and no lobby putting a case forward for more freedoms. There is an ever growing number of people who only want a comfortable life, with minimum risk and minimum disturbance.

BORING!

[black-k1]

Kawasicki said:

black-k1 said:

Lemanandbeyond said:

...

If others follow like Germany riding at weekends in certain areas will become more restricted, with the heavy policing of speed ,noise will be next and as K1 pointed out could lead to the death of motorcycling.

We are an easy target that's why motorbikes have been put in the bullseye for these controls.

Things have moved on from the '80s and 90's when there was a split between the "ban it now" brigade and the "just impose some restrictions" brigade. While the "ban it now" brigade didn't win in the short term, they are slowly but surely winning through use of creeping legislation. Difficult and expensive licensing requirements are restricting the flow of new riders, "allowing" the criminalisation of mopeds in cities through the lack of enforcement and mainstream headlines about speed are increasing the public's negative view of bikes, ever tightening noise regulation and bans on access to certain roads and certain times are removing the "joy" of riding a bike.

If things continue as they are (ignoring the carbon emissions related changes, do you really think there will be motorcycling in 35 years time?

There seems to be a lobby with the ear of a policy maker for pretty much everything to do with more restrictions and no lobby putting a case forward for more freedoms. There is an ever growing number of people who only want a comfortable life, with minimum risk and minimum disturbance.

BORING!

I agree but I think it's MUCH worse than that. That ever growing number of people want EVERYONE to have their version of a comfortable life.

[Pravus1]

People who say they can never hear a standard car have obviously never lived near anyone who own a farting golf r, bmw m4 or merc any amg's with a v8

[V8RX7]

bearman68 said:

I'm one of the (presumably) majority that would be very happy to ban noisy bikes here. And just for the record, noisy cars too.

Bloody hateful things.

But where does it stop ?

I hate the noise of children crying - should we gag them all in public or just ban them from public areas until they are 18 ?

I don't like looking at ugly people - anyone who isn't pretty isn't allowed out until after dark

Last year the Police wanted to end a local pub bike night and they forced owners of nearby pubs to put up signs "No Bikers" I never saw a complaint about it

How is that different to a sign saying "No Blacks" or "No Irish"

Bikers need to get better at representing themselves

[irocfan]

black-k1 said:

I agree but I think it's MUCH worse than that. That ever growing number of people want EVERYONE to have their version of a comfortable life.

this sooo much this ^^^

where does it stop? Noisy children? I hate the little buggers - ban 'em! Petrol mowers/chainsaws? Ban 'em. Had some twunt drive past our house yesterday base so loud it rattled our windows. So what now, ensure that stereos can only go to a predetermined limit?

[Kawasicki]

irocfan said:

black-k1 said:

I agree but I think it's MUCH worse than that. That ever growing number of people want EVERYONE to have their version of a comfortable life.

this sooo much this ^^^

where does it stop? Noisy children? I hate the little buggers - ban 'em! Petrol mowers/chainsaws? Ban 'em. Had some twunt drive past our house yesterday base so loud it rattled our windows. So what now, ensure that stereos can only go to a predetermined limit?

All great ideas. Ban´m. Ban´m all.

[BobSaunders]

Let's introduce some facts please... It's a pilot project for a limited set of noisy motorcyles. The driving ban is valid from June 10th to October 31st 2020.

The temporary ban was introduced due to 70% of traffic being motorcycles - 3,300 motorcycles in one given day on one road, that basically looks like a mix of a UK A/B road based on the photos.. That's a lot.

The ban is for motorcycles with a stationary noise (near field level) > 95 dB (A).

It's limited to the following roads;

- B 198 Lechtalstraße from Steeg (Vorarlberg border) to Weißenbach am Lech

- B 199 Tannheimerstrasse from Weißenbach am Lech to Schattwald (German border)

- L 21 Berwang-Namloser Straße from Bichlbach to Stanzach

- L 72 Hahntennjochstraße 2nd part from Pfafflar to Imst (pass summit)

- L 246 Hahntennjochstraße 1st part from Imst (pass summit) to Imst crossing Vogelhändlerweg

- L 266 Bschlaber road from Elmen to Pfafflar

It should be noted however, that 44% of respondents didnt like the noise - the pilot ban was introduced on a minority rule. Which is worrying.

https://www.tirol.gv.at/verkehr/verkehrsrecht/moto...

https://www.tirol.gv.at/verkehr/verkehrsrecht/moto...

Edited by BobSaunders on Wednesday 3rd June 10:22

[Kawasicki]

BobSaunders said:

Let's introduce some facts please... It's a pilot project for a limited set of noisy motorcyles. The driving ban is valid from June 10th to October 31st 2020.

The temporary ban was introduced due to 70% of traffic being motorcycles - 3,300 motorcycles in one given day on one road. That's a lot.

The ban is for motorcycles with a stationary noise (near field level) > 95 dB (A).

It's limited to the following roads;

- B 198 Lechtalstraße from Steeg (Vorarlberg border) to Weißenbach am Lech

- B 199 Tannheimerstrasse from Weißenbach am Lech to Schattwald (German border)

- L 21 Berwang-Namloser Straße from Bichlbach to Stanzach

- L 72 Hahntennjochstraße 2nd part from Pfafflar to Imst (pass summit)

- L 246 Hahntennjochstraße 1st part from Imst (pass summit) to Imst crossing Vogelhändlerweg

- L 266 Bschlaber road from Elmen to Pfafflar

It should be noted however, that 44% of respondents didnt like the noise - the pilot ban was introduced on a minority rule. Which is worrying.

https://www.tirol.gv.at/verkehr/verkehrsrecht/moto...

https://www.tirol.gv.at/verkehr/verkehrsrecht/moto...

Thanks for your facts. They don't change the discussion one jot.

[popeyewhite]

Pravus1 said:

People who say they can never hear a standard car have obviously never lived near anyone who own a farting golf r, bmw m4 or merc any amg's with a v8

I've owned a few AMGs and a couple of M cars, none were anywhere near as ridiculously noisy at full thrust as my Aprilia.

[Evanivitch]

thatdude said:

I can hear loud bikes on the local dual carrigeway when they open up, even some standard ones

I cant hear lorries or unmodified cars.

I live about 500m from a 30 to NSL transition. Except as it's outside the village lots of motorcycles are accelerating before they've even seen the NSL sign (it's about 100m past a corner). There are modified cars (Corsas) and unmodified cars (A45, RS3 etc) guilty of it as well, but they're nowhere near as common a sound as the motorcycles on a weekend.

[popeyewhite]

Evanivitch said:

thatdude said:

I can hear loud bikes on the local dual carrigeway when they open up, even some standard ones

I cant hear lorries or unmodified cars.

I live about 500m from a 30 to NSL transition. Except as it's outside the village lots of motorcycles are accelerating before they've even seen the NSL sign (it's about 100m past a corner). There are modified cars (Corsas) and unmodified cars (A45, RS3 etc) guilty of it as well, but they're nowhere near as common a sound as the motorcycles on a weekend.

Exactly this. There's a local 'mad mile' which bikers fly down, and you can hear the noise from over a mile away - not so any barryed cars.