I was surprised to read an opinion piece by the editor-in-chief in a motorcycle magazine regarding new trends among manufacturers concerning the sound of motorcycle exhaust systems.
In this text, he states that manufacturers are once again investing in a more resonant sound with higher, more exciting noise levels and that this can be seen as an added safety factor for motorcyclists. He goes on saying that this allows riders to make themselves better heard in traffic, thereby avoiding certain incidents or accidents.
It is curious that this has never been cited as a reason why some owners choose to replace their motorcycles’ stock exhaust systems with aftermarket ones that offer better engine performance and a more stimulating sound.
As an avid reader of this magazine and recognizing the work and expertise of its director, I could not help being highly admired by this statement. My reaction is based on three fundamental reasons.
One, is the human factor! Human beings are creatures of stimulus and response, adjusting to those external stimuli. For some reason, it is not common to see motorcyclists on stock bikes performing hard acceleration or “stretching” the gears to higher RPMs. I went through this experience myself a few years ago. I owned a BMW, and during a lengthy service visit, the dealership which was shared with Honda only had a Honda CBR600 VR46 available, as courtesy bike. It featured Valentino Rossi’s color scheme, a performance exhaust, and so on. It was fantastic! I can tell you that by the second day of driving, I found myself revving higher in the lower gears and downshifting at higher RPMs. The stimulating sound of the engine was intoxicating! Of course, I soon realized that leaving home for work around 7:00 a.m. was disturbing everyone, showing no consideration, for instance, for those who had been working the night shift. I then became fully aware of the sense of enthusiasm that had taken hold of me, even though I hadn’t consciously noticed the change in my behavior.
For some reason, when motorcycle clubs organize an event, they ask people not to cause backfires or rev the engine until the rev limiter kicks in.
Another one, is the issue of safety! You only have to drive in big-city traffic to realize that a motorcycle’s engine noise does not actually enhance safety. Since loud revving is a common occurrence in all sorts of situations, the average driver, unfortunately, pays no attention to it, the immediate assumption is simply that yet another rider is showing off.
Even more importantly, the greatest dangers and/or dangerous maneuvers occur at intersections, roundabouts, or even on highways. Given this, I fail to see how a motorcyclist could rev the engine to make their presence known at a roundabout or intersection, since these are places where one naturally rides slowly and at low RPMs. Equally and perhaps even more relevant is the scenario on a highway (which I have experienced countless times) where a driver, due to distraction or some other reason, begins to change lanes inadvertently. They will never hear a thing, as they likely have the windows up, the music playing, and so on. As we have surely all experienced, the noise is audible only during or after the passing vehicle goes by. Furthermore, this is a situation where the motorcycle engine is already running at higher RPMs, leaving the rider with no way to accelerate further and generate more noise. This last point leads me to the third reason.
Automatic motorcycles! Noise levels are directly linked to the engine’s RPM at any given moment. An increasing number of brands across all segments and engine sizes are offering this automatic transmission option to riders. It does not allow for a vigorous “rev” to make yourself heard better.
However, I also had the opportunity to read another article in a specialized magazine that offers a very in-depth look at the issue of motorcycle sound and more. It characterizes the sensory experience of different engine types 2, 3, or 4 cylinders and beyond covering everything from their distinct sounds to their vibrations and resonance. It links all these characteristics to what I call the “human factor.”
It reminds me of a situation I experienced with a relative of mine who, at the time, used to ride fast, very fast. His Honda CBR 1100XX practically invited that kind of riding, and he couldn’t resist. One day, I challenged him to try experiencing a motorcycle’s power in a different way, to try appreciating what I called the “throaty power” beneath him, possessing enough force to maintain a faster pace if he chose, or to execute a safe overtake with vigorous acceleration. However, this type of motorcycle didn’t allow him to take the risks he used to take regarding speed and riding style. After a period of adjustment, this shift in behavior and the way he enjoyed riding a bike, became the norm, and it remains so to this day, 14 years later.
For all these reasons and drawing on my own experience, the fact that manufacturers are once again focusing on a more stimulating and exciting exhaust note should not, in my humble opinion, be viewed as a safety feature. That is a flawed assumption that can induce the rider into a false sense of security, leading them to believe they are more audible to others.
Now, a good, loud horn is definitely the way to go. Fortunately, the horn on my motorcycle sounds like a truck’s (it came that way from the factory), and it has protected me in various situations. The ones that stand out most in my memory happened at roundabouts, where I had the priority but the other vehicle didn’t stop, and a quick blast of the horn saved me, and on the highway, with cars starting to change lanes without signaling or any apparent reason. On one such occasion, I was riding with my wife when a car in the right lane suddenly started moving into the left lane, where I was traveling. I gave two or three short blasts, and the driver abruptly swerved back into their original lane. I realized he had fallen asleep at the wheel, and when he looked at us, he apologized. The horn protected both us and him.
Of everything I have presented so far, I consider the human factor to be the most relevant. This new sound profile aims to make the motorcycles more appealing to the senses and emotions, but not to any sense of safety.
Enjoy your ride
