The Future of Harley-Davidson

[Jim Wynne]

Which would be highly illegal where I came from.

Stijloor.

There's a decal on every bike that says that messing with the emissions system is a violation of federal law. Dealers install straight pipes with impunity, however, and it's difficult for local law enforcement to do anything about the noise because in general the noise level has to be quantified.

 

[Wes Bucey]

I once heard the sound was "trademarked" or patented. It is certainly distinctive. When I rode (and wiped out) 43 years ago, it was a Harley, the only REAL motorcycles I ever drove or rode. I do admit I also drove/rode Cushman Super Eagles inside the giant steel service center I worked in while going to college. (Clerks used them to carry orders to the various departments where I worked - we goofed around a lot on the night shift.)

 

[Jim Wynne]

I once heard the sound was "trademarked" or patented. It is certainly distinctive. When I rode (and wiped out) 43 years ago, it was a Harley, the only REAL motorcycles I ever drove or rode. I do admit I also drove/rode Cushman Super Eagles inside the giant steel service center I worked in while going to college. (Clerks used them to carry orders to the various departments where I worked - we goofed around a lot on the night shift.)

There was a movement afoot while I was working there to somehow patent or protect the sound, but it proved impossible to do and they gave up. Too many variables.

 

[bobdoering]

I was at Harley in Milwaukee for eight years while they were just about printing money, and the thing that struck me--almost from day one--was the apparent lack of concern about its aging customer base. It was clear they need to do something to lure younger customers, but they were afraid that making bikes that young people wanted to buy would somehow tarnish the brand and alienate their core customers.

I agree, they would be in a more opportunistic position if they did what the auto companies did, and that is make alternative brands, (such as Scion, Saturn, etc.) to prevent tarnishing the hard core bike image, yet position for upcoming federal increases in gas taxes to socially engineer towards smaller engines for general transportation. They would not likely benefit from trying to compete in the saturated "crotch rocket" category. There may be a more open market competing with the likes of the Bombardier Spyder motorcycles, that take a bit less finesse to ride.

And yes, loud motorcycle exhaust is noise pollution, and yes, it does help one know there is one nearby. It keeps them from being blind spot fodder. But, exhaling is CO2 pollution and we still do it, too.

 

[Randy]

The throaty sound of a nice Harley was always much nicer than the "ring-a-ding-ding" of those old riceburners...........And I ain't even a biker.

 

[Stijloor]

There's a decal on every bike that says that messing with the emissions system is a violation of federal law. Dealers install straight pipes with impunity, however, and it's difficult for local law enforcement to do anything about the noise because in general the noise level has to be quantified.

Our law-enforcement officers are equipped with calibrated dB meters. Cars, motorcycles, mopeds, cars with severely hearing-impaired drivers that want other automobilists to enjoy their "music" are all subject to noise pollution laws.

Stijloor.

 

[Jim Wynne]

Our law-enforcement officers are equipped with calibrated dB meters. Cars, motorcycles, mopeds, cars with severely hearing-impaired drivers that want other automobilists to enjoy their "music" are all subject to noise pollution laws.

Stijloor.

That's a good thing, but the population of The Netherlands is ~16.5 million, and the population of the NYC metro area is ~19 million. That's a lot of noise to try and control while the population is busy shooting at one another.

 

[Stijloor]

That's a good thing, but the population of The Netherlands is ~16.5 million, and the population of the NYC metro area is ~19 million. That's a lot of noise to try and control while the population is busy shooting at one another.

Good points. My view is that if you have federal noise regulations, and not planning to enforce them, why even bother with stickers on motor cycles....

Stijloor.

 

[Randy]

That's a good thing, but the population of The Netherlands is ~16.5 million, and the population of the NYC metro area is ~19 million. That's a lot of noise to try and control while the population is busy shooting at one another.

As long as they're only shootin' at each other it's no big deal....it's when they start hitting something that makes it all exciting...from a former "to whom it may concern shootee"

 

[Big Jim]

The Harley exhaust note is mostly a product of the configuration of the engine. The V twin engine is indexed from one cylinder to the other in an awkward position. Most engine designs try to have one cylinder firing while it's "twin" cylinder is starting the exhaust cycle to maintain some semblance of balance. The degrees of separation Harley chose creates the loved/hated Harley imbalance/vibration, and also gives that unique (no one else is dumb enough to intentionally build an imbalanced engine) P-O-T-A-T-E-O, P-O-T-A-T-E-O exhaust note. It is almost like a heart-beat (lub-dub-space-lub-dub-space). The V Rod is the exception.