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I don't like loud bikes at all, but noise is just the easy target here. If it wasn't the noise it would be the dust, the traffic, etc.
Lets be real here. Those stock KTM mufflers sound like pure trash...Made worse by the horrendously lean tune from the factor to pass emissions.
I like the idea of quiet bikes, but you will not convince me that they sound good.
And that's why many tracks have been forced to close. Wasn't so much an issue back in the 2 stroke days.
AAAAHAHAHAHAHA 120 dB generator! Thanks, I needed that! Never change, Vital!
For reference, here's a 2.2 MW generator that's 76 dBA at 7 meters. It can be put on a trailer and fast charge over 300 Vargs simultaneously at maximum charging rate 7 kW, while producing less than 1/4 the loudness of the new 109 dBA standard. (120 dB loudness is off by a factor of 21 times, and to fast charge 300 bikes at once.)
And when a developer comes in and builds homes a mile from the track, sells them all and leaves town with the money, and the taxpayers learn the noise Code and use it to shut down the track.
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Maybe it's because I've been in Ca for almost 68 years and I've had it up to here and beyond with this kind of stuff, but to me the noise has never been the problem. Never. The problem is the over sensitive whining delicate little crybaby snowflakes who've never done one dangerous thing in their whole lives, who are somehow so upset by hearing some motors in the background of their oh so sheltered perfect little boring ass lives that they feel the need to complain and have "Something done about it" Fuck them. Just 100% shut the fuck up. All the problems we have on this planet and they're upset because of some motor noise. Meanwhile there's freeways and sirens and jets flying overhead and noise from 10 million other sources, but they want a bunch of people to stop an activity that 10 times out of 10 was going on before they moved there, because they can hear it. Fuckin whaaaa.....Fuck you, fuck off, go take a long walk on a short pier.
So hear (pun intended) we are again trying to "Save" our race tracks by catering to some straight laced cornflake douchebags. What difference does 3 decibels make ? Oh now they can only hear it from 400 feet away instead of 407 feet ? God I wish there was some common sense in this world and a govt that tells them no, this is not a big problem, sorry thanks for playing. Here's some earplugs now gtfo of here before we charge you for wasting our time. Oversimplified I know but you know what I'm saying. I'm starting to hate people more and more everyday. Who cares. A little noise is the least of our problems. Meanwhile the electric industry has a smug grin and is rubbing it's hands together.... Make em noisier, fine by me.
Seems you lack common sense 🤦
We and most other tracks, have to measure sound levels at nearby houses (for us, it's over 0.5 miles away).
The drop in DB over the last 15 years from 115 to 109 makes a HUGE difference for if we can stay within the limits. If not we need to build expensive sound barriers (needs permits) or reduce opening hours, and even worse spend time dealing with complaining neighbors that may get the track permanently closed.
+/- 3dB is TWICE the energy +/-
115 to 109 is a very noticeable change in output, especially when you have 20 bikes making that sound all at once.
And monster trucks aren't running around outside at local moto tracks, in the national forests, at the beach, in the pastures close to residential areas...
If this gets them to lower the speaker volumes at events then that’s great. If they stay the same then I don’t get it. The announcers blaring through the speakers is the loudest thing at a SX and was the same for the last national I attended. I won’t get this noise issue at the pro level until this is acknowledged since they have the PA systems loud enough to cause permanent damage. When I was at Ironman in 2024 it was so loud they finally turned it down and the place started clapping. Crazy.
The teams dont want different sound levels for different races. Why is that so hard to understand!?
Technology finds a way.
Look at a 777 jet. Two huge engines that make over 90,000lbs of thrust each. It is surprisingly quieter by a very large margin to older jet engines. If you've ever been to an airshow...
My bike has a loud exhaust....old school 650 with a full Big Gun exhaust. On street I ride with earplugs. For forest riding I have made my own stainless steel mesh/screen spark arrestor insert, I can barely tell a power difference at full throttle but my ears notice the reduced sound. Its still loud.
Look at the numbers KTM are pumping out now, lower sound but stronger bikes. As you say, development gets pushed and technology finds a way to make it better
Pit Row
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