BELFAST, Maine — Next week, the owner of Rollie’s Bar & Grill on Main Street hopes he can install the new sign he just ordered that says: “Two wheels, four wheels or no wheels, welcome to Belfast.”
Ryan Otis believes the sentiment will help quell the anger of motorcycle riders who feel the city has snubbed them and their bikes. Some of those riders have proposed a boycott of downtown businesses, which has attracted more than 200 supporters so far on a Facebook page about the issue. The page also has generated a lot of comments about the city, most of which are negative.
“We want everybody,” Otis said Wednesday afternoon. “There is no witch hunt for motorcycles. It’s business as usual in Belfast — aside from one boneheaded comment.”
The comment that sparked the fervor was made on June 19 by Councilor Roger Lee during a City Council meeting. After listening to several residents pleading for city officials to do something about what they considered to be distressingly loud motorcycle noise downtown, Lee briefly asked if it might be possible to keep the bikes off some city streets. None of the other councilors took up the issue and the comment did not lead to any direct action, ordinances or even a few minutes’ worth of discussion.
Councilors did decide to purchase about a half-dozen signs that exhort motorcyclists to “Please drive quietly” and have them placed around town.
But Lee’s words have spurred a large amount of pushback and indignation from motorcyclists, some of whom have said that the comment tapped into a sense that motorcyclists and even blue-collar Belfast natives are becoming second-class citizens in their own hometown.
“[Lee] made a comment, not knowing that a lot of people in Belfast grew up hearing bikes rumbling through this town,” Tony Runci of Belfast said Wednesday while waiting for a sandwich at Bowen’s Tavern on Route 137. “The poultry plants closed down, and this town was pretty much crushed.”
The visiting motorcyclists who came to town in the 1980s helped to ease some of the economic pain by spending money in the restaurants and other businesses in town, he said.
Bowen’s is proudly known as the local biker bar, and Runci, who is in his 40s, said he is a proud biker.
“I have a custom Harley. I try to ride respectfully. I try to be considerate,” he said. “In town, I do understand that it can scare kids and old people.”
He thinks the Belfast City Council should not single out motorcycles for noisiness — but one positive result of the conflict is that the issue is provoking a lot of discussion among his motorcycle-riding peers.
“People my age are deciding to get involved in politics. It’s helped wake some people up,” he said.
Efforts to reach Lee on Wednesday were unsuccessful.
Many downtown merchants worked this week to calm the troubled waters, speaking to city councilors and to City Manager Joe Slocum to let them know they were not in support of any anti-motorcycle ordinances.
“The city of Belfast is concerned about loud noise emanating from illegally modified motorcycle exhaust pipes that occasionally operate inside the city,” Slocum wrote in response to a request from the BDN for comment on the issue. “The City hopes that public education and discussion will make working, living and visiting the city a great experience for everyone. The city has NOT issued any bans on any type of vehicle in the city and to the best of my knowledge we have no intention of doing so.”
Matt Weaver, one of the proprietors of Weaver’s Bakery on Main Street, said this week that he believed the whole issue had gotten blown out of proportion and that a boycott would do harm to the businesses.
“I encourage any kind of business, certainly,” he said. “It’s a common sense thing.”
Elaine Tucker lives and works in downtown Belfast. She was one of the people who stood up at last week’s council meeting to ask for relief from motorcycles that are customized to generate very loud exhaust noise.
“I don’t think you sound like that unless you really want to annoy people,” she said. “It’s a terrible thing to listen to. In the summertime, on a Sunday afternoon, I can’t sit on my own deck because of the noise. It’s absolutely terrible. I feel like it lowers our property values. It destroys our peace. I don’t know why anybody would want to do that.”
Buzz Stultz of Belmont, who goes by the moniker of “Biker Buzz,” said that most riders don’t make excessive noise or try to annoy people.
“Most bikers who come in are considerate and quiet,” he said from Bowen’s. “Just because a few people get rowdy, you can’t ban them from the city.”
City Councilor Mike Hurley said he would like to correct any misinformation. There is no proposed motorcycle ban, he said. Just a request that bikers adhere to state laws regarding noise and be considerate of the fact that they’re driving through a populated city.
“Belfast is a bike-friendly town,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean that any level of noise is acceptable.”
I for one am a biker on a Harley touring bike that certainly can be made to operate loud if ridden aggressively or it can be very reasonable if ridden responsibly. The exhaust like many others that may be perceived as “illegal” is actually compliant with the latest Maine sound requirements of 92Dba at idle. The deal is, a small amount of consideration on our part as bikers by being easy on the throttle while in sensitive areas can go a long way. Some of the complaints are reality, as I have been in Bangor walking around and certain evenings it gets old after a while. And I do believe some of the complaints are by whiners that hate bikes period. Go to this site and get a reality check on the sublime organization that has representation all over the country that is very effective in getting laws passed. We as bikers both need to be considerate and aware of the people trying push an agenda.http://www.mecalm.org/
Jay-Compliant to Maine’s sound requirement? As a member of Maine’s Working Group on excessive motorcycle noise, let me inform you that there is no such statute that allows for acts to replace standard sounding exhaust systems with those known to raise volumes, without first being summoned to court. In fact there are no decibel threshold maximum operational limits at all. The exception to the law for raising volumes only comes as a result of being called to court. What is illegal is the act to operate a standard motorcycle that has defective exhaust system equipment, not for riding with a numerical decibel level over a limit. Lt Scott commander of the traffic division says Subsection 1 Muffler Required and 3 Amplification Prohibited are still in place and violations can be written if one is found to operate a standard motorcycle with raised volumes. The static sound measurement is ONLY for the purpose of a defendant to provide court proof that their equipment could pass a static sound measurement J2825 procedure, using the full parameters of the procedure. That procedure may never be volunteered to be performed by a defendant, or may there ever be a certified testing station to gather the data, therefore Maine’s prohibition on raising volumes stands. Maine does not have a 92 dB(A)/J2825 operational standard without a summons. You are in error.
With or without a summons, wouldn’t the “legal” decible limit be the same?
Then wouldn’t adopting a sound measurement procedure be the simplest course to follow? It preserves the right to personalize and improve your motorcycle by setting an objective metric by which to judge non-compliant behaviors.
The sort of laws y’all have in Maine would seem to be very anti-business as well as anti-motorcycle. Do you know what the rarest Harley is? A stock one. Old Harley joke. But a motorcycle is a much more personal vehicle than an auto and the rider/biker relationship is not a relationship that a non-rider can empathize with easily. Your bike is something you fit to your personal style. That process is integral to the motorcycle experience and is the core of thousands of small business across America employing millions of citizens. For the BMW rider, it’s lights and cargo carriers and electronic gadgets galore, for some customizers it is chrome, chrome and more chrome, for some it’s a search for a more rideable and perhaps more efficient motor performance. To kill off the opportunity to customize and personalize one’s bike is the first step toward killing an industry. The American Motorcyclist Association has a legislative template for just the sort of objective standard that answer concerns about noise pollution while not placing unnecessary restrictions on motorcycles.
I’ve been to Maine twice in my life, once as a kid on a week long stay on the coast, cold and boring for a Southerner and then once on a motorcycle in 1980 riding a BMW that wouldn’t have distressed any body. Nice little motels, couldn’t believe lobster rolls in little shacks. Great place to visit on a bike. You can’t have much of a season that far north though. I would wonder why you wouldn’t want to present a state-wide motorcycle friendly face. Motorcycle tourism has remained strong in the face of downturns among RV travelers and car trips by families effected by gas price increases. Where others have stopped or cut back on travel, the motorcycle traveler has increased. States like Arkansas, West Virginia and Louisiana have specific budgets for the promotion of motorcycle travel to their states as destinations for fine riding opportunities. None of these states have aggressive vehicle legislation like Maine or jurisdictions that seem to harasses riders. Large motorcycle events can be gigantic windfalls for regions. In Austin, Texas a four day motorcycle rally brings in more dollars than their largest 2 week long music by over $10 MILLION DOLLARS. The Republic of Texas Rally brings 36 Million Dollars to Austin area businesses in 4 days. You have never seen a town be more accommodating. Close 50 blocks off for a party and block ten miles of major roads for a 20,000 loud bike parade. Texas has very liberal attitude towards motorcycle modification and allows helmet choice. A small rally can kick a million dollars into local businesses in 3 days. Bikers can up occupancy rates at lodgings and fill seats in restaurants.
How the economy in Maine these days? Could Portland area businesses use a $20 Million weekend?
So maybe there’s a potential opportunity to provide a better legislative model with reasonable limits and present a postive view of your state to travelers.
No, Max. The simplest and most effective procedure is to enforce the laws and regulations already in place that prohibit modifications that increase noise levels of motorcycles and the illicit equipment that unleashes it on the public. There is no substitute for that, and substituting a procedure preferred by the motorcycle lobby is not the way to go for obvious reasons.
“He thinks the Belfast City Council should not single out motorcycles for noisiness”
Put the baffles back in your shiny toys you spoiled brats. More towns should clamp down on this!
Straight pipes can be quiet enough, in the hands of a skilled rider. That level of noise downtown does not have to be tolerated…nor should it.
Come to Calais next week. We have a “Rally in the Valley” biker rally and we want your business…
See ya…Please…GO !!!!!
I don’t have a bike(but have had several in the past), but do drive a big rig internationally, and would have to say I’m a “Pro bike” trucker. Bring on the bikes to the St Croix valley! Looking forward to it! (“Mercy sakes alive, good buddy, looks like we’ll have a convoy,10-4!”)
Percy there is a Maine law that bikes cannot be above a certain decibel. I live in a town and yes we have a few loud bikers, but mostly it is the loud trucks and cars – ALL year long I find annoying
I say boycott the town,let em pay their own taxes.
I’ll tell ya that if i see a large group of Hog Harleys parked in front of a business I will not enter that business. Other than a bar i don’t believe any business downtown would miss the smell of the bikers.
thanks for sharing your ignorance with the forum!
you watch too much TV.
I remember how bad Belfast used to smell when the chicken processing plant was running. I bet it smells worse now with the bikers there.
If you are a disrespectful, “gotta be heard” loud biker??? PLEASE..boycot Belfast….see ya….
It’s usually the the “little guy syndrome” people who need to be loud, obnoxious idiots…need to be heard and seen. There are way more bikers, loud exhaust or not who are easy, peaceful in town…..as for the “need to be heards”???? stay the heck outa town…we don’t want you…boycot, PLEASE..go elsewhere…
I’m with you…
loud pipes saves lives let them roar
… yeah, let’s see some stats on that claim.
http://motorcycle-intelligence.com/do-loud-pipes-save-lives/1119/
THE DEBATE GOES ON. I’ve never struggled so much to write a motorcycle article as I have with this one. A reader challenged me to enter the discussion about loud pipes earlier this year. At the time, I thought it an easy endeavor because I had my own years of experience and opinion on the matter.
However, I made a mistake: I decided to research the matter. And in the process, my opinion has been somewhat modified.
The Search for Evidence: “Loud Pipes Save Lives”
As you, too, might be inclined to do when seeking more info on a subject, I did an Internet search for “Loud Pipes Save Lives” and read through numerous articles at the top of the search results and much lower in the results.
What I came away with was less certainty on the subject than when I started. And more so than any time before, I recognized that truth can be illusive.
Now I don’t know if my personal experience is typical, or atypical, but I did ride for years with high-performance (and loud), exhaust pipes – when I was much younger. To this day, I don’t know how my ears survived. (Well, the fact is, now that I’m considerably more mature, the question of how well they survived is just as murky as my research on the matter of whether loud pipes save lives, or not.)
Although it appears my hearing is not as good as it used to be, how much of that is due to loud pipes or lots and lots of very loud concerts and very loud music blasting through headphones is difficult to discern. I’m sure it’s safe to say that neither supported long-term optimal hearing. (I only started wearing ear plugs while riding several years ago).
Loud Pipes Are Impractical For Long-Distance Touring
My first coast-to-coast motorcycle trip was on a motorbike with a high-performance, non-stock exhaust system that did not endear the neighbors to my notion of a spirited form of transportation. Although I’ve ridden coast-to-coast across North America a number of times since, I recall that first trip as a highlight of my life. And although I could discourse about the virtues of that summer adventure, in the early 80′s, for hours on end, one thing that I realized without any advice, feedback or suggestions from anyone else, was that loud pipes made for uncomfortable long-distance riding (and also that I would be switching from chain-drive to shaft-drive motorbikes for touring).
Personally, I don’t like loud pipes. As much as I love each and every kind of motorcycle, the only ones that diminish my enthusiasm for the brotherhood are those that disrupt the neighborhood harmony by announcing their every breath coming and going.
So, here I am, a long-distance, mature rider, with hundreds of thousands of miles of motorbike experience, who “used” to ride with loud pipes, and who has not liked them for years, and who is philosophically opposed to them due to their inherent and ongoing damage to the motorsport in the way they impinge on the lives of those non-riders whom are adversely effected by the noise pollution of their very existence. Hence, wouldn’t you think I’d be a vociferous opponent of the same?
Which brings me to the point of the first paragraph. I was already aware of the lack of real evidence that supports the concept that “loud pipes save lives.”
But lo and behold, my research did find anecdotal reports that extol the virtues of loud pipes.
The Truth, or Not?
So, what is the truth?
Are those riders who state that loud pipes “have” saved their lives just plain wrong?
What my research did “not” do is change my perspective on whether I, personally, will integrate loud pipes back into my riding: I won’t. In fact, in the future, I will likely include an electric motorcycle (which are practically silent), within a stable of riding choices.
However, what has resulted from my research regarding loud pipes is a softening of my perspective. Even though scientifically unproven, if riders’ lives have been saved because of loud pipes, or if riders believethey are safer with loud pipes, those are some compelling factors – at least for those individuals.
Even so, such does not address the rights of others to “not” be subjected to the noise of loud motorcycle exhaust systems.
In conclusion, although I am not an advocate for loud pipes, and even though I disagree with the use of the most obnoxious ones, and even though there is no hard evidence in support of their use as a safety catalyst, and even though the loudest pipes do damage to the overall public perception of motorcycling, I respect that there have been “some” quantity of riders (however large or small), who are still riding, purportedly as a result of loud pipes. Which has caused me to re-evaluate their application.
…and if it weren’t for those pesky black flies,there’d be a lot more obesity from picnicking with potato salad and fried chicken………….
Talking about going around Jacob’s Barn to say nothing… That was just plain painful.
A real nice written comment but your choice of words and your explanation as to why you modified your thoughts about loud exhaust went right over the heads of most of the hard core,”I’ll do as i please” bikers. You have to get down to their level and speak their language. Of course you would get your arse kicked off here if you did. Nice try though.
Just for clarification, I didn’t write the piece, only put it here for informational purposes.
yes, please show us how loud pipes save lives!
If that were the case we wouldn’t have as many crashes involving motorcycles.
No amount of noise will prevent frontal type crashes, or bikers getting hit head on.
many accidents are due to speed, drivers turning into m/c’s way (the “I didn’t see them” defense) and serious injuries or death caused by lack of protective clothing and helmets. Also, inexperienced riders…all this middle aged men going out to buy a big bike to reclaim their youthful manhood! and young men who think they are invincible.
I have to add one more problem- Texting bikers! Had a group of 6 bikes pass me (all doing the legal limit,all with helmets and protective clothing) the other day, and onr of them was actually texting-while passing a big rig!! He made it past, but when they got about 200yds down the road, I saw him swerving, almost taking out a fellow biker. Luckily, the other on took defensive action in time and survived the almost accident. Sure hope he punched out his “friend” when they took their next break.
Dosen’t it take two hands to text ? I can’t imagine a biker getting away with that for to long !
you really only need one thumb to text, but I don’t think anyone should drive anything while texting…
I’ll go one better. I saw one reading a newspaper while riding! No helmet either.
While I’m sure there are many people driving cars that cut out in front of motorcycles I really am getting sick of hearing how people driving cars are out to kill motorcyclists. I’ve had 3 motorcycles pull out in front of me when I was almost on top of them in the last week. Maybe they should take there own advice and watch where theyre going. I guess they could use the excuse they didn’t see my big 3/4 ton Chevy pickup but Im sure they would just try to blame the non motorcycle driver.
It is obvious you know nothing about the doppler effect.
That is such a pathetic excuse……”small man complex” at it’ best…
no they don’t, they just annoy, wake up napping babies and the elderly, and generally disturb the quiet, can be heard miles away, think the big noise may be an attempt to cover up a smaller part riding on the bike. Been a biker for over 40 years and this has gotten way out of hand. Wish something would be done about it, loud pipes are not legal.
I hope you get busted next ride
Forgive my ignorance but exactly how are loud pipes supposed to be a safety feature? Non-snark question: I honestly don’t know what the argument is supposed to be.
Because it is easy for a motorcycle to not be seen in your blind spot in your mirrors. If they have loud pipes, you can hear them coming up next to you.
So would requiring bikers to wear safety green jumpsuits and (get this!) helmets.
NO they dont.You cant really hear them when you are in a car.Only if you are on a bicycle or walking,and I doubt that bicyclists and pedestrians are major threats to bikers.
No they don’t! As a biker, it is the drivers that save lived- look twice for bikes, and bikes look for people not looking for you. It is all drivers responsibilities to watch for each other- it is not the pipes.
thats ignorant. a radio playing at a mediocre 50db with windows rolled up and AC/fan on combined with road/tire noise, engingee hum and maybe another person talking to you is more then enough to drown out the noise of a motorcycle behind you.
I know from experience. I was driving my 02 ford taraus SES in dover foxcroft 7 years ago and heading south on rt 15 (main street) going across the bridge and had my blinker on to turn into the mobil on the right. A guy on a road king with screamin eagle pipes crept up behind me to close to my right rear to see the turn signal and tried to pass me on the right about 50 feet before the right hand turning lane starts ( where you turn right to go to newport/dexter on rt 7).
I couldnt see him as he was in my blind spot and do to the aforementioned conditions never heard him until he hit me.
He bounced down my passenger side high sided and dumped it into the mobil parking lot.
He was driving too close and too aggressive and had been drinking.
Had this sort of thing occurred on the highway he would have been dead instead he only suffered some road rash to his shoulder and temple which would have been prevented had he been wearing a leather jacket and a dot approved helmet.
Loud pipes save lives?
Not according to the American
Motorcyclist Association, or any traffic safety study that has ever been
conducted.
According to both, visibility and
safety are increased by halogen lights, bright helmets and jackets, reflective
clothing, and horns. Loud pipes actually mask the effectiveness of horns, making
the biker less safe.
Riders with loud pipes are also
disproportionately over-represented in accidents and fatalities. The same
riders with loud pipes who are “so concerned” about their own safety, are also
far less likely to be wearing helmets when accidents occur than riders with
legal pipes.
All bikes, including Harley Davidson Screaming Eagles, come out of the factory with legal pipes that are not overly noisy. A service manager at an HD dealership told me that 90% are changed out for louder pipes. But even these aftermarket pipes, if they have their baffles and are not super-revved and are not for racing use, are not the real offenders. It is the straight pipes without the baffles, the racing pipes, and the over-revved bikes that are causing most of the serious problems.
I’m a biker, and I live in Belfast. And I’m proud of both. And to some degree, ashamed that so many of my fellow riders think that (what I would call) an obnoxiously loud bike is such a great thing. Personally, I find it to be pure foolishness. I’m all for doin’ your own thing, but, I think there is a certain point that it crosses a line and hinders others enjoying a nice day.
I keep my pipes legal, and always will.
I’m secure enough to enjoy my ride, without disturbing the peace of others who want to enjoy their days, as I want to enjoy mine.
Thank you for stating it eloquently.
I rode motorcycles for years and leave near Rt 15. There are times I feel the shingles are going to rattle loose from my roof because a bunch of ignorant motorcyclists want to crank up the noise, disregarding the fact its late in the evening.
The same goes to the truckers who ignore the “Engine brakes are prohibited” signs and do so anyway. Those morons give the GOOD, Certified drivers a bad rep.
The matter boils down to common courtesy, which seems to have gone out the window over the past few years, replaced by the pouty “I can do WHATEVER I want”attitude.
One big difference engine brakes are safety equipment and when used on a LEGAL exhaust are not loud. Motorcycle riders get a obscene pleasure of riding through town with loud pipes revving there engine on purpose to create noise. What Maine needs is all LE’s to be taught to tell the difference between factory and modified bike exhaust and start a aggressive impound program. IF one of my trucks where running hollowed out exhaust they would be put out of service ( to you non drivers this means they put a sticker on the windshield and the vehicle can not move under it’s own power until the violation is fixed) until the exhaust was legal.
your gun hurts my ears and you have no idea what you bullet will hit before it stops
FYI I shoot most everything suppressed ( Silencers ) so thee is very little noise. Also the closest neighbor to me is about a mile away. Also I shoot behind my home where there is a 125 foot 15 foot tall berm of dirt. That berm in Downhill from the firing line so even a errant round that may miss the berm never leaves my land as I own about 80 acres in that direction.
So if my firearms hurt your ears your trespassing. If you get hit by a round from my firearms you where likely tresspassing behind the berm area.
Unlike the motorcycles who are on PUBLIC roads going through residential and downtown area. The exact areas they like to rev there engines to show off how load they are. See the difference?
You’re welcome. :-)
You a loser.
Well said.I dont think that anyone is anti-bike.They are anti-excessive noise. if cars cant have loud exhausts,than why should bikes? And its true,that a few ‘bad apples’ spoil it for everyone..
I know a few people who are anti-bike (including my wife!) :-) But, generally, I agree with you!!!
well said. My dad has had straight pipes on his sporster for years and where we lived out in the country you could here him coming 3 or 4 miles away if he really opened it up but he seldom did and especially after dark he would creep up the driveway in 2nd and we wouldnt hear him until he was in the garage.
Even a lot of stock/legal pipes can be quite loud on sport bikes revving up to 10000+rpm. Its like the firearms argument its not the equipment its the intent of the user with the equipment.
Here in bangor I see guys (my young neighbor being one) gun it in 1st all the way down a narrow side street doing 30mph and making a lot of unneeded noise to either look cool or be a nuisance.
If you want complete silence on your porch on a Sunday afternoon, I would suggest you move from a bustling downtown to a remote wooded area with no roads or neighbors nearby.
At the same time, the ones with illegal, modified bikes or the ones just being stupid, should also stop acting like they are kids trying to be cool.
That is not how things work, You can’t just say if you don’t like it move. This is their down and they have every right to try to fix what problems they think need fixing. To move is un-American.
Actually, it’s EXACTLY how things work. I once lived on a busy highway and did not like the loud trucks at all hours of the night. So, I moved. I did not try to stop the trucks from working. Moving is an option that the few who complain about noise could exercise. It’s either that or put up with the noise of a bustling down town.
Nope, Last time I checked you stand up for what you love and what you feel is right. It is your home, you stand up for your home and what you think is best for you and your town. Running from your problems doesn’t solve anything. You may never make it anywhere but at least you tried instead of throwing your hands up in defeat.
It’s a little different scenario when you live on a main road and trucks are going by and you chose to move. Living on a small intown street that is only loud when people who can’t control themselves with their toys in order to be “the man” is not reason for someone to have to move…it’s time for the police to stop those that are altering their bikes to have attention paid to them…leaving would mean that the bikers control and take over the areas. The police in Belfast don’t stop these guys because most of them ride kinda hard to stop a friend for doing something illegal…it all doesnt matter anyway there was no discussion about action on this issue…the bro’s at bowen’s started all this.
I live on a remote country road and some bikers act like it’s open season on our ear drums.
Belfast used to be a nice working class town. Now it’s become a liberal trustafarian mecca full of NIMBY’s and m00nbats.
The Moonbats like me are what make it a working-class town. Otherwise, it’d be an uptight, conservative crap-hole, more like Cape Elizabeth.
Sounds like someone is a little jealous?
I believe this is another situation of just blowing up over a simple comment that was probably more or less just an off the cuff response to a concern of the public. That being said, come on up the coast to Calais next week all you bikers, for the Rally in the Valley!
yes, please go so we can have a peaceful weekend for a change!
I have several very secluded properties that you could purchase where you would be so out in the boonies you would NEVER hear another motorcycle again! It will only cost you a couple million!
Let’s face it. There’s 10% of any chosen population that will act like a-holes any chance they get. Whether it’s loud pipes, texting while driving, those who ruin private property with 4-wheelers, people that think snowmobile trails are racetracks, truck drivers who don’t know how to turn off the jake brake, loud pickups, turning every discussion on the internet to politics, etc. The only thing these people have in common is a narcissistic disregard for any other person in the world. I wish we lived in a place where we didn’t have to legislate common courtesy, but there were probably 10% of the kids you went to the third grade with that had to stay inside during recess, too. Now you know where they all ended up. On the roads, being obnoxious, because they can.
Of course you you can bang drums, pots, and pans downtown anytime of the night if you call it a “Drum and Rabble Band”… But NO bike noises! Doesn’t really seem fair?
that is a ridiculous example, Jeremy. disturbing the peace is what loud bikes are doing.
Having lived downtown for years I’ll say that a passing bike doesn’t bother me, but a group of people with little musical talent standing under the stoplight making as much noise as they can for 30-45 minutes AT MIDNIGHT or any other time they rally, gets under my skin. I’d take bikes driving by all day and night.
Both are examples of ignorant behavior by ignorant people
“The city of Belfast is concerned about loud noise emanating from
illegally modified motorcycle exhaust pipes that occasionally operate
inside the city,” Slocum wrote …..
So it’s just an issue of some bikers violating state law. That’s why cops carry a ticket book. I see no need for signs or special local laws.
As pointed out by others, the law gives maximum SPL of 92 dB at idle. Then that same bike, car, pickup … has a driver that just has to see how obnoxious they can be opens up the engine and rattles windows for a block or more.
But the law as written will only stop a fraction of the offenders.
The SAE J2825 motorcycle noise test Maine has made available as a affirmative defense does not specify that motorcycles be tested only at idle. That will not screen out loud and illegally modified motorcycles adequately by any stretch of the imagination, but neither will any non-optimum noise test that does not heavily load the engines. SAE J2825 requires the engines to be revved to 2000 RPM. The motorcycle lobby has been promoting these idle only noise tests. Just another example of why they promote these non-optimum noise emission tests over the tampering prohibitions and equipment standards, and illustrative of why it is unwise to take their advice on dealing with this issue.
unfortunately, the police don’t enforce the law in this case.
That’s just another reason why adding a local ordinance is a non-solution. Get them to enforce the state law that already exists.
I’d like to see them enforce the speed limits……………you’re all guilty !
A few more officers walking the beat would probably resolve a lot of noise issues in the downtown. Its not always enforcong the law, some times its just being seen!
It would be hard for them to do this as most ride right beside them.
if a car’s exhaust has a pinhole in it you get stopped for it.
but a motorcycle can “roar” around disturbing the peace and annoying citizens and it’s just fine.
go elsewhere obnoxious bikers, civilized society doesn’t like you.
Mainer’s suffer billions of noise events in the soundscape from illegally operated motorcycles each year. 85% plus of ME’s 40,000 registered motorcycles have raised volumes in violation of Title 29a 1912 3 Amplification Prohibited (34000) that ride an average of 1000 miles per yr (34000000), past 41 people per square mile harming citizens 1,394,000,000 times. A billion-three illegal, criminal environmental acts through blatant, unenforced traffic code violations per year, and bikers are shocked that one or two people are pushing back. How dare they!
Maybe it’s time to Dare-2-Compare, and have Maine institutionally place the burden of proof on a defendant to provide court evidence that their acts to remove the standard noise controls has not taken place. Let’s Dare to Compare 2 exhaust systems on the same standard motorcycle at any same engine speed to determine the questionable equipment performs muffler duties as well. With this after-the-fact fool proof sound measurement procedure available to defendants, any well informed “noise feel” in-field determinations may be Constitutionally used as part of the enforcement method. The will to enforce will be raised, not motorcycle sound levels.
Interesting “Facts” you present. I suppose you can take the time to tell us where you got these ‘FACTS’? Or are these “raised volume” bikes in you own pea brain, with the sound echoing around in the extra room in your head?
I just drive by Belfast on the highway anyways.
But the loud bikers should be fined bigtime.
My neighbor has a beautiful Harley that is so quiet it makes no noise coming or going.
The fact of the matter is that loud pipes serve absolutely no useful purpose – there is no reason to have them other than to call attention to the bike. I have nothing against lawful bikers and wish the loud “look at me” bikers would stop giving the law-abiding quiet ones a bad name.
That’s not quite correct , a finely built and properly tuned exhaust can and does enhance a motorcycles performance contributing to better fuel economy which is good for the environment !
No, it is you who are not correct. It is a violation of the law to tamper with emission control devices, including exhaust systems, no matter what your reason or excuse for doing so is. I suppose I could get a couple of MPG increase for my vehicle by removing the catalytic converter and/or muffler but that is not a legally recognized way to do it, and is in fact, illegal to do so. You’re only trying to make excuses for violating the law and riding loud. Your excuses and beliefs are not the law.
Didn’t say it was legal just stating facts about finely tuned exhausts.
Legal exhaust systemsa re not user tunable. They are designed to operate properly with the motorcycle they are used with. You can’t “tune” them without tampering with them, and that is illegal whether you believe it or not.
“The fact of the matter is that loud pipes serve absolutely no useful purpose – there is no reason to have them other than to call attention to the bike.” Precisely the point, call attention to the bike so when the i*iot who is texting and doesn’t see you, will notice you and not side swipe you. (p.s. this is from personal experience.)
Idiots are everywhere on the road. Motorcycle operators are not excluded.
I will agree with you on that. I was in a left lane traveling the speed limit when a car started to drift into my lane while I was next to it. I revved my engine to get his attention and as he was looking up from his phone, his eyes were about as big as golf balls. I do not drive through downtown areas blasting the throttle “just so people will look at me.” It’s annoying and I don’t condone it. My point is that my loud pipes have kept me safer in certain situations while having enough respect for people to not be obnoxious. Don’t punish everyone for a few bad apples. If someone is being an annoyance, pull them over and ticket them for being so.
loud bikes distract drivers from paying attention to the road/where they’re going.
think of it like this: you’re driving along, and suddenly large fireworks start going off near your car, so you stop paying attention to the road while you try to find the source of the shenanigans.
Loud pipes cause accidents.
That’s what the horn if for, Todd. Loud pipes are illegal.
Than they need to make the horns louder, because when you can hear the radio in said car, doubtful they can hear the horn.
Then get a louder horn,Todd. Not a louder exhaust, which is illegal.
Shouldn’t the stock one be loud enough?
Yep, you are right, the usual motorcycle horn is whimpy but you can get a louder one for a lot less than a set of loud exhaust pipes.
The exhaust system I have on my bike is not for off road use only (street legal), has baffles, and came with the bike. :-)
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Loud noise is all these people generate. All we hear from the motorcycle types is “We are doctors and lawyers and all kinds.” OK I have news for you the closest these people get to being a doctor is when they are taken to the emergency room. And lawyers? Yea when they are arraigned before a judge.
Are you for real? I am highly educated, hold a white collar job and I ride a 2006 Honda VTX 1300 bike. I’ve NEVER been in an ER due to the bike and NEVER EVER been arraigned before a judge for ANY crime nor have I ever committed a crime of ANY kind. I’ve ridden for 45 years with respect for and to others on the roads. I am an excellent rider with impeccable character. By the way, I am a 55 year old woman. Should I also let you know I am tattooed? I am and visibly at that.
I find your comment rude and derogatory, as well as narrow minded. Get a clue.
50 something tattooed lady riding a harley…
That pretty much completes the stereotype.
but seriously. is there any reason on this earth to be riding around with your loud pipes?
aside from being a needy, attention seeking, immature person?
I do not ride a Harley. I ride a Honda. I am not a stereotype. I am purely myself with no concern for others opinion of that fact. I am far from attention seeking, needy nor immature. You speak from your own inner landscape. My pipes are stock and not loud. I can, however, rev loudly if I choose, I do not. I simply choose to be respectful unlike you in your commenting.
I think the next time I go through Belfast I’ll try to be as loud as possible just because of closethborers comments Total dbag
tell me where you live, i’ll cut the exhaust off of my car and roar by at all hours of the night. then I’ll blast my loud bass music from my car.
that would annoy you right?
that’s what the rest of us think about loud bikes, an annoyance.
Oh, that would be showing them…real mature.-
It’s fellow bikers with that exact attitude that give the rest of us such a bad name. You’re not helping the cause at all.
According to this comment, the way it is
presented…the uproar is about THIS? You
got to be kidding.
” Lee briefly asked if it might be possible to keep the bikes off some city streets. None of the other councilors took up the issue and the comment did not lead to any direct action, ordinances or even a few minutes’ worth of discussion.”
This picture is in front of a bar not in downtown Belfast. Not the bar in the story. Bad photo choice.
I live in Belfast and have been keeping updated via FB, locals and the newspaper. This whole situation is being TOTALLY blow out or proportion by Bowen’s Tavern/Bar and their daily fixture of about 30 patrons spreading rumors, and they are not even located downtown. Please do not “punish” downtown businesses for this, they ALL love to see people walk through the doors of their businesses regardless of how they got there.
” distressingly loud motorcycle noise downtown,”
What do they want? Bookstores where the out of state owners don’t even look up at you when you walk in–unless you’re a rich person?
It used to be in small towns you ignored annoyances because it was a community–good and bad. It was a balance. Now it’s about yourself.
I can’t believe that this is not about class prejudice to a degree. People from away have their pet causes–and there’s a lot of prejudice against rural blue collar people.
Don’t you think there might be middle ground somewhere between window rattling motorcycles and snobby out of staters. I ride and my bike still has the stock muffler and it’s no noisier than a car. There’s absolutely no valid reason why the 100hp engine of a mc should be allowed to make 2 or 3 times the noise of 300hp cars. Just overgrown children desperate for attention. Southpark pretty well summed it up and a clip of this episode can be found on UTube by typing Southpark Harley into the search box.
I do agree with you 100%. My bike also has everything from stock. No louder than most pick-up trucks.
so, if that’s your opinion, can i install some serious audio equipment in my car and blast it as loud as i can at any time of the day or night?
ride through neighborhoods with rap blaring on the speakers waking everyone up?
it’s the same thing that people with loud bikes do, and it’s annoying, unnecessary, and immature.
Does it have to be LOUD bikes or NO bikes — what a wierd comment to make. So if someone says, just keep it down, it means that we only want bookstores and libraries?
I had an exhaust problem in my car and I did everything possible to drive it quietly until I got it fixed. Loud vehicles are obnoxous and unneccessary. If loud bikes are alright maybe I could put some loud speaker on my car that just make noise for no reason.
I’ve just added Belfast to my list of towns to detour around . The list includes Waterville and Portland which both have strong public sentiment about this issue. Also , if you’re in the Cape Elezibeth area go out of your way to drive past Senate candidate Cynthia Dill’s house and rev them up since she was instrumental in getting the new laws passed !
Good, eventually you’ll have nowhere left to go, because no one likes loud bikes.
Smart Idea — the reving of the motors is what gives all bikers a bad name — encourage all this childish behavior — it’ll get you a long way. Pretty soon you’ll only have back roads to drive on as your limiting where you can go based on someone saying “quiet it down a bit” .
I have ridden all kinds of bikes, with quiet and loud pipes. Even a lowed pipe can be controlled by a biker with knowledge.
If you want to tak about noise levels, let’s include the kids with the stereo so loud it rumbles the car, or the truckers that just seem to love their jake brake. How about those that have the cellphones that work as a walkie-talkie so you can hear both sides of the conversation?
Where does it end?
A lot of towns already have anti-jake brake ordinances with signs posted in the no jake brake zones.
Wonder if all the truckers are going to boycott all the towns that have anti-jake brake ordinances — so childish of the bikers only makes them look bad — stand up for yourself at the City Counsel meetings instead of hiding behind your “biker” brohood and boycotting a whole city because they don’t want OVERLY loud bikers making it unenjoyable for others trying to have a good time in the downtown area. Whole thing is just stupid!!!
see, the funny thing is that people that are driving around big rigs with jake brakes are doing something productive that benefits everyone.
not just being attention seeking losers.
Have you ever looked into some of these biking organizations? Before you sound entirely ignorant, you might want to consider doing so. There are so many charity rides every year that us nasty and mean and hateful attention-seeking losers do to raise money for so many things, including cancer, children’s causes, etc.
Cool story and all, but are you saying that I can be as annoying as possible, but as long as i do some charity work it’s okay?
So can I get a bunch of guys together that have obnoxiously loud stereo systems in their cars, blast some annoying rap music at all hours of the day and night, and be awesome because i do some toy drives? maybe even a food drive while i’ve got the volume at 50 and the bass rattling the windows?
makes perfect sense.
People should be able to ride and enjoy their motorcycles whenever and where ever they choose. However, if you have obscenely loud exhaust, you should have the common decency to not crack the throttle wide open in a downtown area, where people are trying to enjoy open air eateries and scenery.
Wow, first sight of Kristi Brown in ages, she looks terrible, what happened to her?
First time I have seen Kristi in years also and think she looks just fine. I have no idea why you would make such a comment other than to hurt Kristi’s feelings.
Ignor-anus!!! All you bike haters can kiss off!! I have been riding long enough to know that loud pipes used in proper situations will alert other motorist on a moments notice.. One time coming in down the hill in Winslow by McDonalds a jeep was trying to pull out of Rite-Aid and turn left. He looked both ways and proceeded to pull out. I WAS 20YDS AWAY.. I knew full well he never saw me.. I pulled in my clutch and cracked the throttle!!! He FN saw me then. He punched the brakes and yelled “Im so sorry” as I went by!!! When I got to the next light two motorist “in cars” gave me the thumbs up!!! I would venture to say he has made sure of his surroundings since that. And he wasnt even texting.. Magine that!!! Not to mention countless times on the interstate with motorists merging on from the ramps.. I almost knocked on some womans Subaru Forester window who just kept coming off the ramp.. She was quite supprised when I cracked it again.. I saw her headed to the breakdown lane after that… Hopefully one more who will pay more attention.. And yet again she wasnt texting either..
yeah, motorists notice, which means they’re not paying attention to where they’re going if they’re trying to find out the source of the annoying ahole biker.
I’m a biker and prefer to use the horn when that happens. That’s what its there for.
Your belief is not the law. Loud pipes are illegal. You should have used your horn, the only acoustical signaling device approved of and required by law.
The motorcycle exhaust acoustical output issue is a conundrum of mixed jurisdictions. Yes there are the 1972 and 1882 laws from the feds and EPA. But various states laws allow for modifications and states are the only law enforcement connection to vehicle equipment laws. Some states allow up to 102db. The American Motorcyclist Association has a very well reasoned piece of suggested legislation that sets a measurable standard for sound at reasonable throttle and distance settings.
Motorcycle owners modify their motorcycles in a much higher percentage than auto owners. It is a much more personal relationship. The common modification of a Harley big twin with exhaust, intake and engine control unit upgrades will consistently give them another 10 to 15 rear wheel horsepower and significantly improve throttle response and fuel mileage. When you use quality parts the noise levels are compliant at most state mandated levels, usually under 96db at above half throttle under load. Yes there are 105db bikes out there with true open exhaust, but most bikes even modified are not that loud.
I have been in the motorcycle industry for many years, I know that aftermarket parts are a giant part of our industry. To kill the ability to build your own bike, to make your bike into what you want is to kill motorcycling in America. Yes there should be limits, but not bans on modification. And to those who would have Officer Friendly in Watteau, Wisconsin look for the EPA exhaust stamp on pipes, good luck. Because pipes come in many different configurations there is no possible single location and in some cases would require a roadside tech to disassemble the bike to even view. At best Officer Friendly would be laying on his back with a flashlight and magnifying glass. In New Hampshire recently a township set up a road block and tested 135 motorcycles with a decibel meter one afternoon, only 18 were above the state legal limit. The motorcycle noise problem is dramatically overstated and if a reasonable standard were applied equally the compliance levels would be high and the violators easily and clearly identified while preserving the right to build yourself a better bike.
Larry if you don’t ride you won’t understand the difference a pipe with a bit of presence to it does in traffic versus a quite pipe. That is why so many US Police departments add aftermarket exhausts to their units. Especially in the distracted driver environment of today urban traffic mix. Yes there should be a reasonable limit but not a ban on modifications or absurdly low thresholds.
OK, Max. Please make your LPSL argument before Maine’s Transportation Committee next year. They should be very impressed with it. The motorcycle noise battered public could use somebody like you and those of your mindset on their side to help them convince Maine to take those loud pipes away from you as it should have been doing all along.
“Loud pipes saves lives” is simply adolescent!
Loud pipes only make the vast majority of our neighbors sorry to us bikers drive into town… and ecstatic when we leave.
Many camping facilities won’t allow those of us with legal pipes camp with them since they lose too much business from certain riders with obnoxious exhaust sound levels. Simply easier to keep all of us away, rather than attempt any system keeping illegal DB output away from their quiet-enjoying customers.
Fellow bikers; grow up, don’t allow it to be “all about me”, and engage a modicum of empathy for the many who feel we should all comply with the law… and that includes illegal pipes.
I am a biker as well and could not agree with you more. I have never felt the need for illegal pipes. They are annoying and they do scare people. However, sometimes it does feel like they pick more on the bikers for loudness. I live on a street where some of the youngster’s trucks are FAR louder than the bikes, not to mention their bass stereo systems that you can hear coming from miles away.
I think if the bikers feel that the store owners dont deserve their money. they shouldnt give it to them. with that being said, i dont like loud bikes either,in fact i dont like bikes at all. But thats because so many innocent, good people die on them……
but then i wonder, do you in belfast suffer with the same “snobby, better then” crowd all summer like we do? If THATS the case……..then annoy them till they go home, and in the mean time, shop elsewhere!
Crapola
you should all watch the south park episode “the f word”
it pretty much sums up everything that everyone feels about loud bikes.
http://www.southparkstudios.com/full-episodes/s13e12-the-f-word
It’s seems too bad to create a knee-jerk reaction because you’re unhappy with another knee-jerk reaction? Like so many topics the actions of a few causes issues for the masses.
Hey WT…. So am I correct in assuming you ride/drive the posted speed limit too?? Hey the law is the law right. Or can “YOU” pick and choose what law “YOU” want to abide by.. I suppose no ROLLING STOPS for you either????
Moosetipper do you smoke??
……?
only on holidays…. but i dont understand the questions relevance to be honest.
I live on busy Route 1 and think the obnoxious thumping of kids’ overpowered stereos is much more annoying than any bike I have ever heard drive by my home.
Full disclosure- I’m a Belfast city councilor and a former biker and member of the United Bikers of Maine.
The city council never approved closing off a street to bikers or even
considered it briefly. One councilor suggested it. No other councilors
were in agreement. The conversation lasted about a minute.
For those who want to villify Roger Lee, all I have to say is that I wish I had a dollar (or could roll back the tape) for every not so smart comment that has come out of my mouth during a City Council meeting that I wished I could take back the moment it came out. Perhaps there are others who have had the same experience. Roger in no way pursued the conversation. The signs that I suggested would have read “Welcome bikers.! Please ride quietly.” Just asking for some cooperation. There was no intention to make bikers feel unwelcome or discriminated against, although I can understand how riders might feel singled out unfairly, and perhaps the council should reconsider whether the signs would actually be helpful.
I did speak to the police chiefs in Kennebunkport and York who put up signs like these. They told me thaat the signs were helpful, and resulted in a decreased need for enforcement. That’s our aim, and were I still a biker, I’d prefer a reminder to a ticket.
All the council asked for was for the police to enforce the law against overly loud bikes (and cars and trucks). And I mean the REALLY loud offenders. The
chief and several officers ride bikes, and our police department is known for being fair and reasonable. Bikers have a right to ride legally. Residents have a
right to a reasonable amount of noise. A few of the bikes are so loud
that children cry and older people are shaken up. I have a neurological condition that causes me to startle at a sudden loud noise that almost makes me jump out of my skin. I have also almost had accidents on my bicycle from the sudden loud noise of a motorcycle with loud pipes, or an overly loud car, going by. There was never any intention to ticket bikes that are a little louder than cars or trucks, just the ones that are really loud. Here’s what Harley Davidson put out: Harley-Davidson Chief Calls for Bikers to Throttle Back
It’s noteworthy that even the President & Chief Operating of
Harley-Davidson has warned that bikers need to show some restrain when
it comes to noise. Jim McCaslin says, “We need to think about the
consequences our actions have on others, before others take action
against us. As tempting as it is, maybe we resist cranking up the revs
at the next stop signal. Maybe we fall in love all over again with the
unique and mesmerizing sound “quality” of our own V-twin, not just the
volume. Maybe we think about how we can assure that all those riders
coming behind us can enjoy the same level of freedom we do today. Maybe
we just take a time-out to remember that this is really something. And
it’s something we never want to lose. ‘ American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Opposes Loud Pipes
Even the top motorcycle riders group in the nation agrees that loud
pipes are offensive. On its website, the American Motorcyclist
Association (AMA) says it “believes that few other factors contribute
more to misunderstanding and prejudice against the motorcycling
community than excessively loud motorcycles. All motorcycles are
manufactured to meet federally mandated sound control standards.
Unfortunately, a small number of riders who install unmuffled
aftermarket exhaust systems perpetuate a public myth that all
motorcycles are loud.”
Nicely said and very informative…however, it seems that the mighty bikers are on a path to prove how childish they can be. Instead of working with the city they are going to take their toys and go home.
The problem is those illegal loud pipes, not the way riders operate them. Harley Davidson equips their motorcycles with legal and quiet exhaust systems. They should recommend that their customers keep them that way. The laws and regulations that require legal and quiet exhaust systems on motorcycles should be enforced. Otherwise, this problem will continue unabated into the foreseeable future with no end in sight.
You’d think it’d be pretty simple. Mandate an audio test during the inspection. Now that inspection stickers are required to be displayed, if it can’t pass inspection, that’s a pretty quick flag right there.
Perhaps Belfast may be a little quieter. a boycott by motorcyclists may not be bad after all.
In all the press it looked like the boycott was getting diffused, but in these comments it looks like it’s ON LIKE DONKEY KONG! Way to stand up bikers!
Gear up in town , and there should be no problem. Low gear revving gets no friends.
I always love how bikers claim they need loud pipes for safety so people will hear them and cant be seen easily…so why do most bikers wear black? shouldnt they wear blaze friggen orange? LOL
Why? Because to them, quiet pipes and bright colors are not cool. They prefer to wear black, no helmets, and have loud pipes, and believe they, and others who ride, should be allowed to decide to do as they please and be exempt from the law. It appears they are being granted that exemption.
So the City of Belfast is the first city to put up a stink over Bikers who direspect other humans and make noise. Belfast has worked to create a nice city for people to relax and enjoy.. I’m sure getting heart palpatations from loud bikes while enjoying a lunch outdoors or walking the streets from shop to shop is something most people don’t want.
Since when are Bikers such whining pu ss ys.
LOUD VEHICLES ARE ILLEGAL, WHAT’S THE CONTROVERSY ABOUT?
i say let the cyclists boycott. they are arrogant and roar around our town too. i’m sick of people who think what they want and want to do should be the center of the universe. let them go south to some other state with their bikes.
I guess what I’m wondering is this. Has any one of you ever seen these biker’s do anything good ? Have you ever been anywhere in this town and seen the bikes head to Augusta for the toy run ? Have you ever seen these bikes go by when they have taken their Saturday to go on a run for a sick child ? They will be doing another run this coming August for another cancer patient. Hope you can all deal with the noise of these bikes as they once again hit the road to help someone that is in need. I for one don’t mind hearing those bikes go by, knowing that they are on a run to help some Mom and Dad with a trip to Boston with a sick kid. Hit the road guys, your doing good stuff.
so, if i got a bunch of guys together with huge stereo systems in their cars, and blasted the bass at all hours of the day and night with bad rap music, that we’d be fine as long as we did some charity work?
even though every other time we go out blasting our rap music we’re an annoyance?
doesn’t make sense.
I love motorcycles, but find the insanely loud ones to be obnoxious. They are loud just to fufill the ego of the driver and to compensate for something he/she is lacking in. *applause*
I feel episode 12 season 13 of south park sums this problem up.
No regulating authority anywhere on earth recognizes loud pipes as a
legitimate acoustical warning safety device. Only horns are, and motor
vehicles are required to have signalling horns, not loud pipes. Loud
exhaust systems and the noise they produce are illegal, and for good
reason. It doesn’t matter what the beliefs of riders of illegally modified motorcycle are, loud pipes are illegal.
Laws and regulations are not rendered neutralized or not applicable to
those they apply to based on their beliefs. Asking the operators of
loud motorcycles to “please” operate their illegally modified and loud
motorcycles quietly is no way to control the problem. The laws
prohibiting loud pipes must be enforced. The city does not have to ban
all motorcycles, just the ones illegally modified with illegal after
market “performance” exhaust systems or with illegally tampered with
factory exhaust systems. The police don’t have to measure the obvious
noise those illegally modified pipes produce, they just have ticket
motorcycle that are obviously louder than legally equipped ones. They
can also ticket motorcycles equipped with straight pipes just by sight
since straight pipes, baffled or not, do not constitute a muffler and
are illegal. The city should not bargain and plead with loud bikers, it
must enforce the law and ban loud pipe equipped motorcycles.
It’s unfortunate that a few people’s complaints have created such an uproar & might lead to a boycot of Belfast by motorcyclists. My wive ride, I don’t. SI also have many friends that ride. Yes, there are some riders who like to rev their engines & make a lot of noise. They seem to be in the minority. They are no different then some drivers, who have hot cars with big engines, who also like to rev their engines & see how much noise they can make. I have personally seen some of this type as they leave the car rally & cruise up & down Main Street. Does this mean we need an ordinance to stop the cars from driving in Belfast as well? Both of these types are a nuisance & can be found anywhere. They have small egos & are trying to compensate for it by making people notice them any way they can. What needs to be done is for their friends to let them know that they are only being a nuisance, looking stupid & should stop that kind of behavior. There is no need to pass ordinances that will keep people from coming into Belfast.
I’ve been riding bikes for 35 years, Harley riders with straight pipes have their heads up their asses. This is the group that is causing the problems and I’m certainly not going to boycott Belfast to support their idiocy.
I’ve been riding for 12, and have 70,000+ miles ride time in. I’m with you.
The reason Belfast and other towns and cites in Maine are still plagued with loud motorcycles is due to the fact the state continues to allow motorcyclists to tamper with their motorcycles and have loud pipes, even though loud pipes are supposed to be illegal. It’s law enforcement officials are also allowing loud and illegally equipped motorcycles to roam freely throughout the state by not enforcing the laws available to them.
Debating with the loud segment of the motorcycling community as to the efficacy of loud pipes as a safety measure is a waste of time and deflects attention away from the fact that loud pipes are illegal. The laws prohibiting loud pipes must be enforced. Banning all motorcycles from Belfast or asking the riders of loud motorcycles to ride them quietly while in town is not the way to control the problem. It’s the lazy way that some town officials and police departments try to employ when they don’t want to enforce the law. That approach has never worked and will not work no matter how much it is tried. The citizens of Belfast must not let this lazy approach to it’s motorcycle noise problem stand. Don’t debate with loud bikers. Pressure your town officials and police department to get the lead out and put some elbow grease into enforcing the law. Demand that the police shower those loud motorcycles with tickets and don’t worry what the bikers think about it. And don’t worry whether or not the tickets will hold up in court. Just issue those tickets to those loud bikers and let them challenge them in court if they want to. Keep them going to court and issue as many tickets as it takes to drum some sense into their heads. If they don’t want those tickets, and get tired of going to court, then they can get rid of those loud pipes that are getting them in trouble. That’s the enforcement model the state has chosen. It’s going to take a lot of tickets to give it any chance at being effective. Of course, it would be much more effective if the state didn’t let motorcyclists tamper with their motorcycles in the first place and took those loud pipes away from them, but it didn’t choose to do that due to the objections of the motorcycle lobby. This is why the loud motorcycle problem continues, not only in Belfast, but in all the towns and cities in Maine.
I don’t think the motorcycle lobby’s preferred approach to motorcycle noise control, or the lazy approach some towns and police departments are taking, is working, and that should not be of any surprise to you. And certainly, the motorcycle lobby does not have your interests at heart. I think Maine citizens need to go back to the state legislature and take another whack at getting the right motorcycle noise control policy implemented that has your interests at heart and pressure the state and your police departments to enforce it.
I used to love loud bikes and cars when you had to customize them yourself and they where a novelty. Now that every jerk who can rub two pennies together can by a loaded set of wheels it’s not cool any more.
I think Bowen’s Tavern is run by some pretty smart people…get all the biker’s riled up over a non issue, something that wasn’t even proposed — nowhere did I read that the city counsel proposed a no bike policy. One four or five word statement thrown out there by a counselor in discussion was embellished and feed at Bowen’s. Well pretty nice for them — if you elimanate all the downtown bars and eateries then Bowen’s gains a lot. Man people that ride bikes — educate yourself and get the real story — you’d think your all still in middle school following your buddies down a path they don’t even know why they’re going down themselves. No one whether they ride a bike a car or a skateboard (which by the way is banned from the downtown area — except at the skatepark) should be allowed to break the law…so if the muffler isn’t right they should be stopped — if a car muffler is making excessive noise they are certainly stopped by police — why should biker’s be any different.
I was born and raised here in Belfast but lately I feel like an out cast, the folks from away are taking over our town. They did not like our Broiler festival,or the bay festival either. They have replaced it with Arts in the park and a Celtic festival. I personally do not know a single person of local Celtic Heritage who has been asked to participate in any of these Celtic Games. I used to get invited to a festival like this in New Brunswick every year just because of my Celtic Heritage. I guess the Belfast of old is gone and now we will become a city not full of high lander heritage citizens but flat lander heritage folks instead.
Go downeast to Washington County to ride folks, people and business love bikers and it’s a great place to ride. Calais and Eastport both have great restaurants and great places to ride and not alot of traffic.