Myrtle Beach Bike Week®

 Bike Week Noise

       The #1 complaint about Bike Week is Noise.   The #2 complaint is traffic.  

I know NOISE has been beaten up or endorsed by many and now I will add my thoughts.

I believe some elected officials are on a mission to satisfy a small group of voters and force changes onto the Month of May and year round.   I am sure Bike Week Noise and skin showing Memorial Day Weekend absolutely offend some.   But by my guess, it is the same small percentage of people who have absolutely nothing to do but complain about something in city and county meetings.   If you complain long enough, eventually they get someone to listen. Then the personal desires of those people get accepted into a position to formulate the changes.

I have heard the cries by some locals about being put out by the noise and being inconvenienced by the bikers.  I also believe some of the loudest whiners are the ones who invested and live in property extremely close to major highways.   They wanted to make quick repairs flip the property, to turn a quick profit but have been bitten by the recession. 

               Yes there are some motorcycles on the road that are just too loud. 
                                            It's time to pipe down.

Yes you are on vacation but ride with some common sense.   If you have loud pipes use caution entering the city of mb, you know before you enter the city of mb, the cops are waiting.   You can use Hwy 31 and totally miss the city of mb.   Have a Great time Bike Week but be careful.  

Sonny /  MBBW LLC

                        AMA Article on -- Excessive Motorcycle Sound
Since its inception in 1924, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has maintained a position of strong opposition to excessive motorcycle sound. The AMA has funded information and public relations campaigns in support of quieter motorcycle use, and was the world's first motorsports sanctioning body to regulate and reduce the sound level of racing vehicles.
The AMA 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. Efforts by regulators to rein in excessive motorcycle sound often miss the mark by singling out motorcyclists with ordinances and laws that are unfair, impractical and unenforceable.

No single segment of the motorcycling community--riders, event organizers, retailers and distributors, original equipment and aftermarket manufacturers, law enforcement and the safety community--can single-handedly solve this problem. Although there are other sources of excessive sound such as loud cars and trucks, booming car stereos, poorly maintained generators, and whining leaf blowers, motorcyclists have a responsibility to be part of the solution. Shifting blame and failing to adopt responsible, voluntary practices will only result in greater prejudice and discrimination against all motorcyclists, including excessively rigorous state and federal standards, more expensive and less attractive motorcycles, the reduction of choices in aftermarket products, abusive enforcement of current laws, and other measures that will negatively impact both riders and the motorcycle industry.

Based on its opposition to excessive motorcycle sound, the AMA recommends the following:
 All motorcyclists should be sensitive to community standards and respect the right of fellow citizens to enjoy a peaceful environment.
 Motorcyclists should not modify exhaust systems in a way that will increase sound to a level that is offensive. This includes the installation of unmuffled exhaust systems.
 Organizers of motorcycle events should take steps--through advertising, peer pressure and enforcement--to make excessively loud motorcycles unwelcome.
 Motorcycle retailers should discourage the installation and use of excessively loud replacement exhaust systems, including unmuffled "straight pipes."
 The motorcycle industry, including aftermarket suppliers of replacement exhaust systems, should adopt responsible product design and marketing policies aimed at limiting the cumulative impact of excessive motorcycle sound.
 Manufacturers producing motorcycles that meet the appropriate federal standards should continue to educate their dealers and customers that louder exhaust systems can decrease the performance of motorcycles.
 Law enforcement agencies should fairly and consistently enforce appropriate laws against excessive vehicle sound and other sources of undesirable sound.
 The motorcycle industry and the safety community should educate customers and riders that excessive sound can be fatiguing, thus impairing good riding skills and judgment, making riding less enjoyable.

The AMA and its Board of Directors wholeheartedly endorse these recommendations and the Association will continue to advocate for responsible behavior on the part of its members and all motorcyclists.
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