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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
Is it just a matter of time before uppity Seattle follows suit?


http://www.choppersrule.com/edsez/edsez19.htm

"As unbelievable as it may seem, Denver now has one of the harshest noise ordinances in the country. Clearly aimed at bikers, this little piece of government bull was sponsored by the aspiring fascist Rick Garcia.

The law is pretty simple, it only takes up two pages – but what it does is effectively takes away the rights of ANY biker who happens upon the now-biker-unfriendly burg of Denver. Here’s a rough outline of the provisions (now, I’m no lawyer here, so read the thing yourself):

1) Your bike must register under 82 db from 25 feet.
2) The measurement can be taken at ANY condition – idle, rev up, rev down – apparently this is at the officer’s discretion. Yes, they can make you rev the bike until you fail the test.
3) It’s illegal to install any muffler on a motorcycle made after 1982 that doesn’t bear an EPA stamp of approval.
4) It’s illegal to operate a motorcycle made after 1982 with a muffler that doesn’t have an EPA stamp of approval.

Wait! I hear your blood boiling and questions coming out like “Where the hell do I get an EPA approved muffler for a 1986 bike?”, “What about the $700 bucks I just spent on my custom system?”, “Nobody can pass that noise test –my lawnmower is louder than that!”, “Did I fall asleep in Denver and wake up in Nazi Germany?” – well, thanks to your friend Rick Garcia, the answer to the last question is simple – yes, you did.

It’s not about noise folks – it’s about the cops being able to pull over any bike, at any time for suspicion of violating this new noise ordinance. And guess what, if you happen to have the EPA approved horse crap stamped into your muffler – you’ll be requested to rev your engine until you fail the test.

But don’t worry, the fine isn’t that bad: you’ve got two weeks to show up with “the problem” fixed or pay a measly $500 fine.

Look folks, this is the biggest slap in the face Denver bikers have ever had to endure. They’re taking away our right as law abiding citizens to ride a bike through Denver on a sunny day. To which I say “Screw ‘Em!” – that’s the last you’ll see of me (and my money) in the City of Denver. No more Children’s Hospital Toy run, no more benefits for fallen cops and firemen, no more NOTHIN’ …if this is the way we get treated, then the only thing we can do as bikers is to take our cash, our goodwill and our community support and go someplace else.

Actually, this is what what Denver’s new self-appointed guardian of Goodness seems to want, as he is quoted in all the newspapers as saying "Hopefully they will stay out of Denver," Garcia said about the motorcyclists with loud exhaust pipes. I guess Rick will go explain that to the kids at Children’s Hospital when they don’t get any Christmas presents.

I’m not buying gas in Denver, I’m not buying food in Denver, I’m not going to plays or movies in Denver, I’m not staying at hotels in Denver, I’m not going to the People’s Fair, Taste of Denver or ANY of the other events in Denver because Rick Garcia and his crew of mis-informed do-gooders clearly didn’t think this one through. But I have – and I’m calling on all right-thinking bikers who read this to do the same thing. You don’t want us? We’re gone. BIKERS BOYCOTT DENVER!

It starts now, but who knows where it will end?"



 

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Discussion Starter · #2 ·
Just in case your curious as to how loud 82 DB's are




Decibel (Loudness) Comparison Chart
Here are some interesting numbers, collected from a variety of sources, that help one to understand the volume levels of various sources and how they can affect our hearing.

Environmental Noise

Weakest sound heard 0dB
Normal conversation (3-5') 60-70dB
Telephone dial tone 80dB
City Traffic (inside car) 85dB
Train whistle at 500' 90dB
Subway train at 200' 95dB
Level at which sustained exposure may result in hearing loss 90 - 95dB
Power mower 107dB
Power saw 110dB
Pain begins 125dB
Pneumatic riveter at 4' 125dB
Jet engine at 100' 140dB
Death of hearing tissue 180dB
Loudest sound possible 194dB
 

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Seattle Sucks Big Ones.....so yeah, I'm sure they and eventually WA will get on the bandwagon.....It will be Clean Air that will be the excuse, though....Ya need that EPA muffler to protect all the birds and children....Do it for the Children, Dammit :p

Here's another bet for you: Now that Honda has come out with an airbag, it won't be 10 years and WA will require all new scoots to have one!! :shock: :roll:
 

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I am not happy about this law but we have all been watching the "handwriting on the wall". It is just a matter of time. California is pushing the issue and some custom chopper shops have been fined for noise/EPA violations.

I have saved my original exhaust system so when it comes and if I still have this bike, I will be able to convert back.

.
 

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So, if we want to be sticklers with a similar rule in Washington (if it ever comes up), remember that to "operate" a "motor vehicle" under constitutional law, means that you are doing so for a fee, or to make money somehow. As in "operate" a business. As long as you "drive" or "ride" your bike, you have the right to do so.

For full conveyance of the meaning of both words, check out the last page or two on the subject previously discussed about Driver's Licenses'.
 

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Yeah, I'm seriously thinking about moving just across the border into Idaho. Much more lenient on their state MC laws, both on & off road. This state is going the way of the dodo. :x
 

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knarf said

Is it just a matter of time before uppity Seattle follows suit?

Who's uppity and what does that mean?
I have the VTX conversion that uses the stock mufflers and its only loud when I get on it and I have enough sense not to do it in my neigborhood
or when i'm sitting at a stop light just for fun.
My wife and I were siting at an outside resturant in Victoria and had our dinner ruined by bike after bike reving there engines at the stoplight by the resturant.
 

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Discussion Starter · #9 ·
Well,,, not trying to offend anyone but there is an awful lot of uppity folks in Seattle. Just cause you live there don't mean I'm lumping everyone into it. You gotta admit that there is alot of uppity "I'm better than you" attitudes there.
 

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Budley, I' not familiar with the VTX conversion, I am running stock pipes but sometimes feel like hearing what I' ridin,,, is there a link to the conversion? thanks
 

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knarF said:
Well,,, not trying to offend anyone but there is an awful lot of uppity folks in Seattle. Just cause you live there don't mean I'm lumping everyone into it. You gotta admit that there is alot of uppity "I'm better than you" attitudes there.
+1
Yesterday the wife and I took alittle put down to Orting to see her daughter and on the way back we stopped at Shari's in Renton for dinner. There was a BMW parked upfront probably about 40' or more from the road yet most of the harley's that went by set off the car alarm. I drove right behind it with the X and not even a whisper. Yep i see a big crackdown on noise in our near future especially with denver leading the way as they have.
P.S. i'm still running the stock pipes :D :D
 

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The VTX conversion is a way to make your stock pipes louder by (I think)cutting out a baffel.

Contact Boatbulder on this site as he does it at his home in Shelton.He does excellent work and several of us here have had it done.I don"t know what he charges now but it was a lot lease than sending them out.

Having the really loud pipes is just asking for laws to quiet things down.
I compare it to people who talk in movies.

Freedom of speech doesn't give you the right to ruin other peoples pastimes by creating unnecesary noise.
 

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Discussion Starter · #14 ·
No matter what you do your gonna offend someone. I eat meat I offend PETA, I drink I offend alcholics, I smoke I offend just about everyone. Quite frankly I get tired of everyone complaining about everything.
 

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knarF said:
No matter what you do your gonna offend someone. I eat meat I offend PETA, I drink I offend alcholics, I smoke I offend just about everyone. Quite frankly I get tired of everyone complaining about everything.
Yeah, no doubt. I agree! Everyone is so worried about being PC these days. I've had my dinner interrupted by the group next to me with a crying baby or two-year old throwing a fit. Oh wait, those were my kids! :lol:

Out of respect for other folks I don't take my kids to nice restaurants b/c I don't want them to ruin anyone's dinner. McD's or Red Robin are more the ticket for my whole fam. Do I have the "right" to take them to an upscale restaurant? If they don't dictate that I can't, than yes. Do I? No.

Another example could be the kid with the 2 million watt stereo in his Mustang 5.0. I like loud music & my truck has a pretty good system. I like kicking it up & shakin the ride, but I don't blast my music around houses or in traffic - not everyone shares my enthusiasm for "loud" tunes.

The issue here, I think, is respect. If we, as individuals, do not respect others who share the same place (face it, we're all on this planet together) than we will have a government dictate over us to keep us all in-line. Knarf is right, we will offend someone with what we do or don't do - can't do anything about that tho.

Dave~
 
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