VERY VERY loud motorbike.

sunama · 16 Jul 2009 at 17:21

So, I was coming back home from work on my little CBR125 - helmet on, which reduces ambient noise substantially.

I then begin to hear a VERY loud noise, in the distance. It was getting louder. I knew it was a motorbike and thought nothing of it.
It then got louder.
And louder.
And louder.
It was an extraordinarily low frequency rumble that began to hurt my ears.
It got louder.
I was thinking what on Earth could be making so much noise and surely something like this should be forbidden on the roads.
It got louder.

Eventually, I stopped filtering through the traffic to allow this noise maker to pass me by and pull away, which it did.

When it went by, I identified it as a Kawasaki, but wasnt sure which one. It looked in fairly good nice, so it wasnt old.

My question: do other motorbike riders like loud bikes and do all Kawasaki bikes sound horrendously loud? Or was the motorbike using a different end can?

I'm sure the rider would've been deaf after a few minutes on that noise maker.

Glaucus · 16 Jul 2009 at 17:24

would have been some custom can.

Nah I wouldn't want anything to loud. As you said being able to hear is nice.

Clarkey · 16 Jul 2009 at 17:25

Never heard a properly loud Japanese bike tbh, do they exist? You should try out a straight-piped Harley for size if you want loudness :eek:

sunama · 16 Jul 2009 at 17:32

The thing about this bike was that it wasnt just loud. The pitch of the noise was EXTREMELY low, which meant that your ears were hearing a pitch they rarely here.

Ive not even heard my subwoofer go to that low a frequency. It was painful.

Sagalout · 16 Jul 2009 at 17:36

Maybe a racefit pipe? They are the loudest I've heard, although mine sounded awesome in the garage with no silencer on - like a motogp bike

Bigsy · 16 Jul 2009 at 17:55

I have a straight through can on my vfr800, its loud but not overly. Surprised it was a Kawasaki you usually need a massive displacement V-twin to create that kind of noise.

sunama · 16 Jul 2009 at 18:08

It was definitely a Kawasaki. I was surprised that it was sports bike making that much noise, as usually I find the cruisers like Harley Davisons make a very low rumble, where the sports bikes have a higher pitch.

I would prefer a quiet bike though. I like the idea of going fast, making very little noise.

Fireskull · 16 Jul 2009 at 19:22

Probably had no can on at all

iaind · 16 Jul 2009 at 19:48

I get these retards driving down my road sometime - some people have no common sense or consideration for those around them

bledd · 16 Jul 2009 at 19:50

which was it?

alexisonfire · 16 Jul 2009 at 21:10

I was at some lights the other day next to a chopper, i kid not, the noise was making my car shake.

Fido McNasty · 16 Jul 2009 at 21:28

Reduces the possibility of plebheads pulling out and errant padestrians from finishing up wearing your bike as a vest. I love loud stuff

paddy · 16 Jul 2009 at 21:35

Victory bikes with the "Stage II" tune set car alarms off as you ride past them down the road

(read it in a magazine)

I get around · 16 Jul 2009 at 22:01

You aint heard loud until you've heard some of the bosuzoku lot.

Sin_Chase · 16 Jul 2009 at 22:22

I've stood in the vicinity of a Ducati that was anything but road legal and it rumbled the ground beneath my feet.

Was awesome

Alex*TLR · 17 Jul 2009 at 14:50

Sounds more like it'd be a twin, not sure what twins kawasaki make though :S

Loud is AMAZING though

On my TLR I have the full Yoshimura race system and yoshimura powerbox, sounds gorgeous (I have to wear ear plugs though or get a headache). And is loud enough to set off car alarms when just above idle at my Gyms car park

sunama · 17 Jul 2009 at 15:20

Alex*TLR said:
Loud is AMAZING though On my TLR I have the full Yoshimura race system and yoshimura powerbox, sounds gorgeous (I have to wear ear plugs though or get a headache). And is loud enough to set off car alarms when just above idle at my Gyms car park

This sounds a lot like the motorbike which I encountered. Either the rider was deaf or he was wearing ear plugs.

I've never heard such loud low frequencies in my entire life...and I'm a home cinema buff.

Rilot · 17 Jul 2009 at 15:40

V-Twins are awesome for loud.
My Ape factory with it's twin, open Akkers would set off car alarms and make small children cry.
Proper bike.

Scuzi · 17 Jul 2009 at 15:43

paddy said:
Victory bikes with the "Stage II" tune set car alarms off as you ride past them down the road

(read it in a magazine)

My bike does this now too. I swear it gets louder by the day.

jaybee · 17 Jul 2009 at 15:45

By the way the OP describes it it does sound like a V twin engine. Otherwise just no end can at all or a racefit pipe.