Motorcycle-unfriendly legislation fails in NH

[nhmaf]

Last month a bill failed in the New Hampshire state legislature which was originally targeted at trying to lower the allowed noise limit of motorcycles operated in the state.   The "loud pipes save lives" crowd was of course out in protest, as I think the original intent of the bill was to cut back on some of the incredibly loud V-twins that fill the state every June for the big bike races and skin shows around father's day weekend.   But, the drafters of the bill seemed to go too far and really appeared to have an axe to grind with respect to mainly H-D bikes and riders, but also ended up causing alot of grief for any/all motorcyclists.  The bill's text included:
1. Banning any/all aftermarket exhaust systems or use of non-factory stock mufflers on motorcycles.
2. lowered the acceptable dB limit for noise
3. required that all motorcycles have a tachometer !

Fortunately, the bill failed to pass.   But it looks like this June is going to be another noisy month and that may get the ire of the legislature going again!

[montmil]

It's usually the few who create problems for the many.

Encourage your motorcycle friends to vote. If not registered to vote, ask them to do so.

Also, write your elected officials and give them your opinion. A letter carries far more "weight" of voter opinion than does an email. An undergraduate prof in my business law course stated than ONE letter equals the opinion of 600 voters.

I later asked UNT economics prof turned US Congressman Dick Armey if this was a valid statement. He did agree. Man, I write letters now!

Monte

  

[Motu]

We had noise regulations come into effect in New Zealand last year.With the Boi Racers making so much noise with their big cans,they are now enforcing a db limit....for all vehicles.

There was always a noise reg,but it was never enforced....now they have changed the rules to be able to enforce it.We have a 6 monthly Warrant of Fitness test,kind of like the British MOT check.Just a visual safety and compliance check - and that is what I do for a living.The actual wording is that the vehicle can make no more noise than with the original system....but still plenty of ways we can bend that rule (I'm a good guy) But there are db limits,and if I suspect (pretty easy when you see a 200mm pipe on a Civic with 20in wheels,and then start it up) then I take my db meter on my road test,and give it a noise test down by the lake where it is nice and quiet.This is only a pass or fail test - if I fail it,then they have to go to a certified test centre to get their system approved.

I've never actually failed anyone,I just give them a warning for next time.Next time the original exhaust is back on.There is a higher limit for bikes (100db),and 95db for cars.But I'm supposed to fail cars at 92,and bikes at 97.My R65 is possibly over 100db - but it sounds real good to me,so I never test it.

Lots of ill feeling from bike riders for these toe rags causing blanket rules that effect bikes.Once Boi Racers are a thing of the past,this rule will fade away.Death to Boi Racers I say!

[Altritter]

To my regret, I did not make a side trip to New Zealand when I visited Australia decades ago. (Was preoccupied with a friendship there at the time.) Thus, I'm somewhat ill-informed regarding the term "Boi racers."

Here in the Washington, DC, area, we have a surplus of small Honda autos (there are others, but Hondas seem to be the most prevalent) with huge, hollowed-out coffee-can mufflers (silencers). Some, though not all, are lowered, a la the "low rider" concept (though generally lacking the hydraulic "bouncers" of low riders. A common characteristic of their owners is that they appear to spend all their money on exhaust system, wheel rims, and (sometimes) exotic paint jobs, not safety and performance items. A mechanic friend tells me that the suspensions and brakes of many of these cages are totally shot, making them "misguided missiles" on the roads.

[montmil]

Spent all his money on bling. To the engine, he didn't do a thing.

'round here, we call the big cat-back muffler can thingy a "fart pipe". Big rims, low profile tires and a stereo amp that rattles the sheet metal. Where's my gun?  [smiley=rifle.gif]    [smiley=shoot.gif]   [smiley=flamethrowingsmiley.gif]

My wife calls 'em "slot cars".

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Let's not forget the high-performance wing on the back, to keep that monster under control!  

[nhmaf]

Yup, we have them up here in the northeast as well - once the snow and the mud clear away and dry up, in May those little cars with giant tailpipes seem to be driven by half the teenagers around.   I guess they can't afford alot of car, so they get what they think  is semi-reliable car and then spend all their money on those super low profile rims and tires, the giant tail can and the big wing so that they cannot see anything out their rear window.  I guess some kids do pour money into the engine with high performance cams, remapped injection, high flow air filters and headers, but most of them just want to look and sound the part ->  a modern rendition of the "No go showboat" for all you old enough to have listened to the Beach Boys.

Ever see one of those kids drive one of those cars on a new england road full of frost heaves?   It's pretty entertaining as it rips the ground effects plastic and the exhaust system right off.   suddenly, their desire to emulate the Fast and the Furious seems a bit misguided - especially here.

Now, I'm starting to sound like an old fart who just shakes his fist at them crazy young-uns !

[Ed Miller]

So you guys don't think I should swap an Integra motor into my CRX and boost it up to 300 hp?  Doesn't sound like much until you realize that a CRX is a 2000 pound car.  I bet I could break the speed limit record here in Oregon, which is about 162 mph.  

I think boi racers are what we call squids around here, which I seem to remember is derived from squirrly kids.

[Altritter]

so they get what they think  is semi-reliable car and then spend all their money on those super low profile rims and tires, the giant tail can and the big wing so that they cannot see anything out their rear window.

A few decades ago, racing stripes were the thing. Ever see racing stripes on an AMC Gremlin?  [smiley=laugh.gif]

[Bob_Roller]

So you guys don't think I should swap an Integra motor into my CRX and boost it up to 300 hp?  Doesn't sound like much until you realize that a CRX is a 2000 pound car.  I bet I could break the speed limit record here in Oregon, which is about 162 mph.  

I think boi racers are what we call squids around here, which I seem to remember is derived from squirrly kids.

Ed,

I have a co-worker, that's heavily involved in installing larger enigines in CRX's.

He's been trying to talk me into installing a 2.0 liter Acura VTEC engine in my '91 CRX.

Appearantly there are kits available to do the change-over, and it's almost a 'plug-and play' installation.

I can imagine that a 200 hp engine would transform the CRX into a potent 'sleeper' type car !!

[nhmaf]

If you boys start listening to rap music and install 800W stereo systems into your CRXs then I'm really going to start to worry about you....
 

[Ed Miller]

BOOM BOOM...  BOOM BOOM....

Bob, it would be fun (my stock motor is only 92 hp; think I would notice a difference?) but I doubt I would still get up to 40 mpg.  

[nhmaf]

I think that the torque-steer effect of that much output would be prone to pull you off the road in a CRX ?!?

[Melena]

BOOM BOOM...  BOOM BOOM....
Bob, it would be fun (my stock motor is only 92 hp; think I would notice a difference?) but I doubt I would still get up to 40 mpg.  

Ed,  If I see a streak going down Hwy 101 that is bouncing down the road to the BOOM BOOM...  BOOM BOOM..... 800W stereo system with extra bass,  I'll know it's you.  I live right next to Hwy 101 and I hear all the traffic (yeah, I do), so I'll know you've done it and you're on the road.  

[Justin B.]

Ed, I usually refer to the boneheads that run wheelies down the interstate at 80 mph as "squids".  I always thought it meant "squished kids"!  [smiley=mad.gif]