Track noise limits
Discussion
Gearing myself to get off my arse and start doing track days this year. Did an IAM track skills day at Thruxton last year which was superb and want to do more.
I'm looking for a single bike trailer so I can hitch to my camper so I can go to some further afield tracks that do weekend track days and camp the night before rather than set of at 5. Currently looking at Snetterton, Bedford and Mallory to start with as they are within a couple of hours of home, Newbury.
I have no idea how loud my bike is though. It's a 2007 fireblade with a micron exhaust that comes with a baffle. I wouldn't call it loud in any respect compared to some stuff I hear out and about. How unlucky would I be not to pass a 101db static, 87db drive by test? I have no idea what these levels are and am never able to predict what my track cars will come out as on any given day. With the baffle in, ie road legal, is that likely to simply get in anywhere?
I'm looking for a single bike trailer so I can hitch to my camper so I can go to some further afield tracks that do weekend track days and camp the night before rather than set of at 5. Currently looking at Snetterton, Bedford and Mallory to start with as they are within a couple of hours of home, Newbury.
I have no idea how loud my bike is though. It's a 2007 fireblade with a micron exhaust that comes with a baffle. I wouldn't call it loud in any respect compared to some stuff I hear out and about. How unlucky would I be not to pass a 101db static, 87db drive by test? I have no idea what these levels are and am never able to predict what my track cars will come out as on any given day. With the baffle in, ie road legal, is that likely to simply get in anywhere?
You can usually download a noise meter app for a smartphone which will give you an idea for the static - they're not as absolutely accurate as the official meters, but they're very close (modern phones having an array of expensive microphones in them and all that).
I believe the static noise tests are usually 5500RPM, at a 45° angle and 1m away from the exhaust.
I believe the static noise tests are usually 5500RPM, at a 45° angle and 1m away from the exhaust.
dern said:
I've got a noise meter but they're pretty much pointless in my experience. I read 100db off my car before a weekend at combe a week ago and they measured it at 89db. It's only useful to point out how much noise the kids are making compared to an acceptable limit.
But like any piece of measuring equipment is it calibrated? Where did you use it? For example if you did it with the bike in a garage then you will get "false" readings.Drumroll said:
dern said:
I've got a noise meter but they're pretty much pointless in my experience. I read 100db off my car before a weekend at combe a week ago and they measured it at 89db. It's only useful to point out how much noise the kids are making compared to an acceptable limit.
But like any piece of measuring equipment is it calibrated? Where did you use it? For example if you did it with the bike in a garage then you will get "false" readings.2007 Fireblade has quite a long exhaust so works well on noise tests.
Bedford has the worst reputation of being overly strict from those you list and the circuit isn't all that great tbh.
Strange list of tracks - don't you like going up and down hills? Donington is only a few miles extra compared to Mallory. Brands is closer than both.
Bedford has the worst reputation of being overly strict from those you list and the circuit isn't all that great tbh.
Strange list of tracks - don't you like going up and down hills? Donington is only a few miles extra compared to Mallory. Brands is closer than both.
moto_traxport said:
2007 Fireblade has quite a long exhaust so works well on noise tests.
Bedford has the worst reputation of being overly strict from those you list and the circuit isn't all that great tbh.
Strange list of tracks - don't you like going up and down hills? Donington is only a few miles extra compared to Mallory. Brands is closer than both.
Ha, hadn't thought of the list like that. It was purely a list of tracks doing weekend days that weren't at the other end of the country while I got to grips with being on track.Bedford has the worst reputation of being overly strict from those you list and the circuit isn't all that great tbh.
Strange list of tracks - don't you like going up and down hills? Donington is only a few miles extra compared to Mallory. Brands is closer than both.
Krikkit said:
Drumroll said:
dern said:
I've got a noise meter but they're pretty much pointless in my experience. I read 100db off my car before a weekend at combe a week ago and they measured it at 89db. It's only useful to point out how much noise the kids are making compared to an acceptable limit.
But like any piece of measuring equipment is it calibrated? Where did you use it? For example if you did it with the bike in a garage then you will get "false" readings.Doubt if any would be calibrated to UKAS Standards.
I didn't say it was calibrated to exacting standards, but they're made to extremely tight specs and tolerances, then balanced by extremely sophisticated software.
Compared to a piece of Chinese crap you buy for a fiver they're leagues ahead. The app reads the values taken from the hardware layer within the phone.
In my experience they're within a few dB of decent, calibrated equipment.
Compared to a piece of Chinese crap you buy for a fiver they're leagues ahead. The app reads the values taken from the hardware layer within the phone.
In my experience they're within a few dB of decent, calibrated equipment.
Krikkit said:
I didn't say it was calibrated to exacting standards, but they're made to extremely tight specs and tolerances, then balanced by extremely sophisticated software.
Compared to a piece of Chinese crap you buy for a fiver they're leagues ahead. The app reads the values taken from the hardware layer within the phone.
In my experience they're within a few dB of decent, calibrated equipment.
You do know sound is measurement on a logarithmic scale, so a few dB difference is not the same as turning the volume on a amplifier from 5 to 7.Compared to a piece of Chinese crap you buy for a fiver they're leagues ahead. The app reads the values taken from the hardware layer within the phone.
In my experience they're within a few dB of decent, calibrated equipment.
Something is either calibrated to a recognised standard or it is not calibrated. Same as police radar detectors they can't just call them calibrated, they have to be able prove they are. (to a specified standard)
Yes, I am aware of how logarithmic scales work. You do realise they're both measuring the same thing, right? 3dB of difference is only significant if you're worried about actual sound pressure, and not just the values.
I didn't say they were calibrated to a specific standard, but they are, by design, both repeatable and reasonably accurate.
A normal car speedo isn't calibrated, but it will tell you if you're doing 30-35mph rather than 50, which is exactly what we're looking for here. The copper will be using a calibrated radar gun which tells him you're doing 32, but if you're close enough it will give you an idea.
I didn't say they were calibrated to a specific standard, but they are, by design, both repeatable and reasonably accurate.
A normal car speedo isn't calibrated, but it will tell you if you're doing 30-35mph rather than 50, which is exactly what we're looking for here. The copper will be using a calibrated radar gun which tells him you're doing 32, but if you're close enough it will give you an idea.
Edited by Krikkit on Wednesday 6th March 23:21
I'm having the same dilemma, I have a trackday booked in July at Cadwell and my bike runs a relatively loud pipe. I downloaded an app and measured it in the garage to give a worst case scenario effect. With the phone under 1m from the pipe at 8K it was reading 98, so the 105 limit with a warm engine outdoors should be fine....but then extra reassurance would be nice as I'd hate to go to all the bother of putting the bike in a van, tenting it the night before, getting all hyped up to find I'm 1db over the limit on the day.
The problem is that in the garage the sound will be bouncing all over the place, you'd be better off getting in to a space and do it again. Are you close to the circuit or any other circuit so you could get someone to give it a reading? I was thinking about doing the same but I'll probably just take the baffle and the original pipe given that I'm in the van.
dern said:
Hi guys, can you argue somewhere else? Ta.
Krikkit's just likes an argument.I've noticed a lot of posts across multiple forums, the posts are usually inflammatory and looking to start an argument or get attention. Ignore.
Some people do say that phone mic's become compromised at over 100db.
Anyhow, the best way is to pop down to your local track and ask the noise guys to help out. They've done my car and bikes and also give you a good idea of whether you trip the drive by.
Depending on what track you are at, it's usually 105db or 102db. I would say that with a baffle in, you should be fine for most tracks, unless you have a tiny pipe.
Edited by Wildfire on Friday 8th March 15:05
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