Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126421
Guest Editorial
(Continued/rom page 5)
Why is it that we, as such a small
portion of the motoring population,
attract 50 much negative attention?
Because, frankly, we are a nuisance,
Anonymity on the roadway is how we
will survive. The ·bikes today are quiet
enough to assure us a place on the
roadway while still supplying a large
dose of the excitement we demand.
Just hang on to the handlebars of a
hard accelerating XS .Eleven or
GSIOOO and try and tell me that their
performance has been ruined by the
stock exhaust system.
Droves of shirtless, helmetless bikers
storming around American streets
harken back to an image from The
Wild Ones and Easy Rider which we
have just started to live dow·n. Add to
. this a loud, non·stock exhaust system
and the outlaw image is complete. The
problem is, we all suffer because of it.
On Fort Bliss where I work, we have
two residential streets completely off·
limits to motorcycle traffic. But drive
to the parking lots to check out the
Tl1otorcycles On post and you can see
why: pulled baffles and noisy after·
market exhaust systems.
Law
enforce~ent agencies find it easier to
put areas off·limits than to enforce
noise ordinances.
We need to stop fighting causes and
start fighting for our very lives. We
will only succeed by becoming
"socially acceptable" and pushing the
advantages of motorcycles. I feel the
following 'proposals should be
pursued:
I. Strongly encourage helmet use
and stop wasting money and attracting
negative attention fighting existing
helmet laws. I would only be redundant
to repeat all the reasons for wearing
helmets, but I really think it is
moronic not to take this most basic
step in injury protection.
2. Fight for maintaining present
noise requirements. If aU motorcycles
were as quiet as my stock Japanese
multi, tougher noise restrictions would
never have been proposed in the first
place. We need to encourage law
enforcement agencies to vigorously
punue noise violators and to prosecute
them to the maximum. Responsible
motorcycle clubs around the country
should establish noise regulations and
enforce them as a prerequisite to
membership in their clubs. Finally,
and this huTts me the most, we must
realize that no aftermarket exhaust
system can improve your performance
without increasing noise. Even the
syJtems that are fairly quiet soon blow
all their packing out and are rendered
useless as mufflers. Even one decibel
increase in noise level is' unacceptable,
for that one decibel is just one more
nail in our coffin. Aftermarket systems
should be restricted to racing use 'only
and not allowed on the street unless
they can be certified to be as quiet as
stock.
.
S. Make every effort possible to
publicize
the
advantages
of
motorcycles such as increased fuel
economy and decreased traffic and
parking congestion.
4. Encourage participation of all
motorcyclists in politically active, but
not "outlaw" type organizations. The
AMA is a good choice in my opinion.
I love my sport, and want to spend
the rest of my life participating in it.
But the only way we will insure that
future
is
to
be
responsible
motorcyclists ourselves and become
militant against those riders who seem
only content to use the sport to get
their adolescent rocks off and then
leave the sport after a couple of years
without giving a thought to the
irreparable damage they have done in
the process.
•
C. D. Blakeney
CHAMPION SPARK PLUG 200
LAGUNA SECA-RACEWAY "",,