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8758
Joined
3/21/2007
Location
HAIKU, HI, USA
The Rock
At the moment there is the US model that meets 94 db for AMA Amateur and CA OHV parks and a rest of the world model that meets the 2 M Max sound test specs.
These differences show up in not only exhausts but also in air box designs. This is why some of the factory teams went to Euro air boxes in order to pass sound for AMA SX.
Could be wrong but in 2017 (for all intents and purposes) it doesn't make sense that the industry hasn't connected the dots yet. It definitely would not increase the prices and hopefully decrease slightly due to economy of scale that comes with consolidating two models into one.
I have to believe one model can be built for both markets regardless of difference in sound specs. I say this largely due to all the bikes are fuel injected now with more advanced electronics.
One industry insider asked me for sound ideas for the AMA congress last fall and the global unit was my suggestion. To date not sure what of any traction this one global unit concept has gotten.
What do y'all think? Am I splitting hairs so should just fuggitabudit or do the OEMs need help to keep their unit costs in check?
I'm not sure so welcome the input. Thanks in advance.
Footnote/Prediction: Believe it is 2020 when sound level is lowered an additional 3 db. If that happens my prediction is the bikes will look differently appearance wise and even more attention will be paid to induction noise sources.
These differences show up in not only exhausts but also in air box designs. This is why some of the factory teams went to Euro air boxes in order to pass sound for AMA SX.
Could be wrong but in 2017 (for all intents and purposes) it doesn't make sense that the industry hasn't connected the dots yet. It definitely would not increase the prices and hopefully decrease slightly due to economy of scale that comes with consolidating two models into one.
I have to believe one model can be built for both markets regardless of difference in sound specs. I say this largely due to all the bikes are fuel injected now with more advanced electronics.
One industry insider asked me for sound ideas for the AMA congress last fall and the global unit was my suggestion. To date not sure what of any traction this one global unit concept has gotten.
What do y'all think? Am I splitting hairs so should just fuggitabudit or do the OEMs need help to keep their unit costs in check?
I'm not sure so welcome the input. Thanks in advance.
Footnote/Prediction: Believe it is 2020 when sound level is lowered an additional 3 db. If that happens my prediction is the bikes will look differently appearance wise and even more attention will be paid to induction noise sources.
Shots taken on Maui by Greg Hoxsie
The Shop
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
On a side note, I went and rode a motocross track Friday evening. They didn't water the track for the last hour and a half, and it got super dusty. As I was leaving, the dust had carried for a mile. I rolled down my window on the way out and couldn't hear anything from the track within a city block, but could see a haze of dust for as far as I could see.
I somewhat agree with Scott. Sound concerns are only relevant in the professional ranks. Local tracks and riders around here haven't given any concern with the noise as far as I've seen.
What about suspension? My next guess is that we probably weigh a good 10lbs on average more than most people from other countries. Our life style/country is just not conducive to public transport and walking the last mile to get where you are going. Do you really think a change in the base price of $50 would make a blip on the graph of sales?
Me, not so much. So what exactly is it you think they benefit by your plan?
TM
We talk to the CofC and he says the bike is fine, he measured my team mates bike the week before and its fine, and has no reason to think mine is any different.
So testing , which is my thing , HAS to be carried out in a controlled environment , not a ride by, as it needs to be witnessed to be enforceable, IMO, and as such all manufacturers should set a single standard and work to it.
We have a US spec YZF250, and that thing is ear splittingly loud on the stock can, should be to FIM limits, which makes it quieter and useable everywhere.
I have watched noise testing at GP's and MxoN and until this year it was a farce, mechanics standing with their hands over the pip ends and all sorts.
Now they seem to have it sorted, GP bikes are quiet compared to AMA.. I don't understand why for the life of me.
My guess is that you don't see a stock ex on most bikes anyway.
This topic is about stock OEM motorcycle units.
So what exactly is it you think they benefit by your plan?
Excellent question. My response is twofold:
1) There are positions dedicated to lowering unit costs. Don't me so quick to dismiss the importance of saving money to an OEM.
2) Honestly I'm not sure of all the benefits or if the $ savings makes sense so needed input from others to help kick this around.
Please keep the feedback coming!
My point was not that saving money was not important but that there is a balance.
You try to give the customer the best possible product for the least amount of money.
IF you only marginally decrease the cost but have to vastly take away from what the
customer wants. Did you increase the "value"?
The example of the stock exhaust came from your lead bringing up exhaust, maybe
you should have rethought your example before hitting send?
TM
Sometimes different is just different not better or worse.
normally it is just exhaust system and getting differences, but sometimes they have different airboxes, with less cut outs in them,
The CoC sounds like a solid dude. Ditto for the AMA sound testing officials I've gotten to know the last two years while EA Labs was developing Race Patrol. Bottom line these oficials aren't there to keep racers from competing. They go out of their way to help people pass.
Good to hear you are more impressed with the sound testing this year. That's good feedback especially since the FIM has been using Race Patrol since the third or fourth round. EA Lab also suggested a change to the weighting utilized for sound testing. The new weighting does a much better job of not being affected by additional noise sources like the air box and mechanical noise off motor.
To your last point it is a true statement National machines are louder than AMA SX and MXGP machines.
Pit Row
What are the db readings of the American bikes vs. the Euro bikes? And what are the power differences?
You can save me the "nobody can ride a 450 to it's full potential" spiel.
Post a reply to: When will the OEMs go to one model for all markets?