Okay, I'll weigh in at the expense of being labeled a fascist. One of my fondest moto memories is of hearing a bellowing Guzzi LeMans riding through the streets of San Francisco, the deep sound bouncing off the city walls. It was a deep, rich sound that I don't think I've heard since, and I do appreciate RC51s, 1098s, even our Superhawks with some pumped up sound.

On the other hand I just moved from a busy intersection in a smallish downtown area and the traffic noise was intense and annoying. Even the noise from unaltered motors was ever present and irritable, and when an opened-up bike or car went by I couldn't hear myself think.

None of us want to live in a drab world where everyone's tiptoeing about. On the other hand, is considering the impact of our actions on others too much to ask, whether it's reckless driving or simply loud pipes (yeah, it's relative)? Balance can be found - I can have a bike that is loud when I crank it up, but choose not to when/if I'm riding in an area that wouldn't appreciate it.

 

There are laws on the books for almost every type infraction you could think of. More new laws and regulations can only hurt because it will cast a wider net and indiscriminately ticket. The camera’s in our state are Red light, soon to be speed camera’s and toll violation camera’s. Every time you turn around it could cost you a hundred dollars. A initial study was conducted before the red light camera’s became so invasive and the findings were as follows; if 1 or 2 signs were posted ¼ of a mile and then 100 feet from the red light camera warning the driver that a 100.00 dollars fine (red light camera)was up ahead, they found that people were something like 90% more likely to not to trigger a violation. So in the interest of public safety, they took the signs down not warning people and allowing them to get the violations and thus gaining themselves a fat profit. They put profit before safety, and I remember they first said the need was for public’s safety.

 

BIG +1 on that! Well said.