Dave Koshollek

At the Full Throttle dealer forum during Dealer Expo in February, attendees claimed motorcycle noise regulation was becoming a major challenge. A quarter of the group of high-income motorcycle dealers said their street riders were feeling significant heat for running loud pipes. Everyone recognized that sooner or later, noise enforcement was going to rear its ugly head in their neck of the woods. With that said, the dealerships who weren't experiencing loud pipe enforcement were still doing business the same old way — they were selling and installing just about any exhaust system the customer requested.

Petition to Relocate

Looking nationally we're seeing several areas in what I'd call first-alert status. In Phoenix for example, residents living around the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute's campus don't much care for the hundreds of motorcyclists entering as early as 7 a.m. and exiting as late as 11:30 p.m. Things got so ugly that at one point MMI's neighbors circulated a petition seeking to make the school relocate.

In response, MMI now holds seminars for its students designed to inform them that both their recreation and their future livelihood are affected by their riding habits. The school teaches students to ride respectfully in and around school property. If they don't, they can be suspended or expelled. The school also routinely invites its neighbors to visit, mingle with staff and see how it's addressing the situation. It seems to be working for now, but the threat of community backlash is present.

Interestingly, in areas where bikers show up en masse for major events, city fathers no longer fear outlaw biker activity. But they're getting weary of the noise that comes with thousands of celebrating bikers. In Daytona, for example, signs are posted requesting that riders be respectful of residents by keeping the roar down. Last year in Myrtle Beach, the local Harley dealer experienced more resistance than ever in getting a simple permit to erect a tent during bike week. The tent wasn't the issue — it was motorcycle noise and traffic congestion.

Carefree — No More

Help Them Help Themselves

In a new twist, last year the town of Carefree, Ariz., got national attention when it said it would no longer tolerate loud motorcycles riding through its affluent community. But, unlike other cities that seem hell-bent on fining every rider they can (like Laguna Beach, Calif.), Carefree implemented a three-step program that included rider education.

According to Matt Dingman, ex-motorcycle rider, ex-car racer and co-chair for Carefree's Noise Advisory Committee, the town doesn't want motorcyclists' money, (excessive noise violations run as high as $750); it wants bikers to keep the sound down. The town's two-mile stretch of road connects north Scottsdale to Cave Creek — two popular destinations for bikers.

In December, Dingman and crew tested about 70 volunteer bikers and their bikes. It was an effort to demonstrate just how much sound bikes make, and to teach riders that by shifting up to a higher gear, they can, in most cases, pass the ride-by sound test. Carefree's program now has the support of the AMA, and there are plans to hold more volunteer motorcycle tests during Arizona Bike Week.

Too Loud? Too Old

Not everyone thinks motor cycles should be quieter. Consider the huge number of aftermarket exhaust sales. Some say it's their American right to run whatever exhaust system they want, and argue that a loud exhaust is the best defense when riding alongside preoccupied motorists.