Engine Sound

[JustPassinThru_imp]

If mufflers restrict flow then is that also restricting power output; possibly even more so than noise? I found an interesting article about engine exhaust here: http://www.cycleworld.com/2015/02/13/ask...gp-racing/
Very detailed oriented and I learned something new about how exhaust sound waves
The trumpet player analogy of how just a little pressure generated can make so much noise was interesting.

Again: An engine is operating at optimal efficiency when it is operating in its design parameters.

If you eliminate backpressure on an engine that is designed to work against backpressure...you don't have more power. You run the risk of burning valves, as hot exhaust rushes out against less restriction than is designed.

There seems to be some desire here to twist arms to get the response: Yes, taking the muffler off REALLY DOES make MORE POWER. Sorry, in a closed-loop EFI world, what that does is muddle the signals and send the FI into a default mode - thus DROPPING power as well as fuel economy.

Like losing your vacuum spark advance in the old days.

I am wholly opposed to those persons who seem bent on making noisy nuisances of themselves and their motorcycles. It makes us all look bad; it gets lawmakers more involved. It annoys ME - I do NOT want to hear that noise, except in rare circumstances, such as a dragstrip show.

What it is, again IMHO, is childish misbehavior to get noticed - even if that notice is negative and hostile and even inviting retaliation.

Out of curiosity, what qualifies as noisy by your standard and what passes as acceptable? Is there a decibel number associated with too loud?

Like one learned Supreme Court jurist said about obscenity. It's hard to define; but I know it when I hear it.

I have my own test. I like to listen to podcasts when I'm on long rides; and I use earbuds under my helmet. If the engine noise drowns out the wind noise, my machine is too loud.

If I'm standing by the side of the road, or at home minding my business etc. - and the sound of the machine interrupts what I'm doing...it's too loud.

Not objective? Sure. Since LE isn't writing tickets anyway, what it comes down to is how loud is loud enough to torque me off and make me curse the misbegotten son-of-a-dog's parents for not making a trip to the drugstore....