Noise Complaint!

Has anyone had a complaint from their neighbor about your bike idling in the driveway being too loud?

Saturday I had to run into work for little bit and it seemed like a great day to ride in with the sunny weather and no traffic. So at 6:30am I got my gear out, rolled the bike out and fired her up. Then finished my coffee, threw my jacket on turned around and there was a strange lady in my driveway...

She said that they work all week and my bike is too loud and to please start it and just leave. I said that I work too and am going there now. Sorry that I woke you, that was not my intention but I'm doing nothing wrong here. She walked away...

She lives across the street, two houses down. My bike was never rev'd and was idling less than 10 min.

flobrandx said:

Has anyone had a complaint from their neighbor about your bike idling in the driveway being too loud?

Saturday I had to run into work for little bit and it seemed like a great day to ride in with the sunny weather and no traffic. So at 6:30am I got my gear out, rolled the bike out and fired her up. Then finished my coffee, threw my jacket on turned around and there was a strange lady in my driveway...

She said that they work all week and my bike is too loud and to please start it and just leave. I said that I work too and am going there now. Sorry that I woke you, that was not my intention but I'm doing nothing wrong here. She walked away...

She lives across the street, two houses down. My bike was never rev'd and was idling less than 10 min.

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Just for me personally, 6:30am and letting it idle is a little much. Strange lady may have a point. For us it's music, for others sleeping it's F-in noise.

Why would you let your bike idle 10 minutes?
And yes, bike is too damn loud at 6:30 AM on a Saturday. Most people in my hood work regular weekday hours. Anything past 10:00 PM or before 7:00 AM is just being rude IMO.
I don't rev or work on my toys between those hours. Weekends, I don't work on anything before 10 AM.

Same goes for cutting the grass if your lawn mower is noisy.

Chris

Shell get over it mate

Valid point. I wouldn't have been up that early myself if it was not for work. I guess I wasn't aware that it was that loud and carried that far. I just want to enjoy the bike as much as I can...

turnone said:

Why would you let your bike idle 10 minutes?
And yes, bike is too damn loud at 6:30 AM on a Saturday. Most people in my hood work regular weekday hours. Anything past 10:00 PM or before 7:00 AM is just being rude IMO.
I don't rev or work on my toys between those hours. Weekends, I don't work on anything before 10 AM.

Same goes for cutting the grass if your lawn mower is noisy.

Chris

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It was a guestimation of less than 10 min. Cold morning. No revving involved. There is no way I'm going to wait till 10am to go ride. I'll admit 6:30am is early on the weekend but 10am to start up a bike to an idle and leave? I don't agree.

Clearly there are no harley's in your hood... woulda been like an idling middle finger in the driveway and your Pani would even had woken them up.

turnone said:

....Weekends, I don't work on anything before 10 AM.

Same goes for cutting the grass if your lawn mower is noisy.

Chris

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You couldn't get away with that here in the valley. It's triple digits by 10am LOL

I ride everyday to work. Fire my Pani up at 6:15am every morning. I don't let it idle hardly at all. When I leave I try to roll through the neighborhood until I get to the main road then all bets are off. But you apologized and she'll get over it.

I could see if this was a common practice for you to get up early and start the bike etc... OR were ripping up and down the street at 110bd. Then I could see someone saying something. But one time and she is down their complaining? I think it is time for someone to start shopping the retirement communities. Did this person ever have children? I mean, mine were up a the crack of dawn every saturday and sunday, earlier on Christmas... for years!

Here's an idea...If she comes down and complains again and a simple polite apology doesn't help you could explain to her how her reaction to the bike confuses you as most women want to go for a ride and then have ... because it is a Ducati. I doubt she'll be back after that. Of course her husband may visit next time. (if she still has one).

Heck, in my neighborhood people are up at 6am on weekends cutting the grass and running leaf blowers. At first it bothered me but I got over it. It's just how things are in AZ. By 9 or 10 am in the summer it is too hot to be doing yard work so people get it done early. So around here you either get used to early weekend noise or move out of the state.

Oh well, I guess this all part of what happens when you are socially irresponsible and ride a motorcycle. LOL.

Smiles per mile man, Smiles per mile.

for us over here cops cant doing anything I think between 7am and 8pm weekdays and 8am to 8pm weekends. If they get called out they only do it because the ..... that called used the emergency number. They come over say hi, have a look and then leave.

Only had one complaint so far; I turned my bike on for 1min so I could check the oil level..530pm in the arvo and on a monday, one of the neighbours opened their window and got upset. Friggen .... could've come down and had a chat and we could of worked something out...but noooo they have be insecure and flame without showing their face. Annoying.

Bottom line, it's a loud bike. And you can pretty much assume at least 90% of the population that doesn't own one is going to be annoyed by it. And a good percentage of the rest of the population as well if it's fired up and left running outside their bedroom window at 6:30AM.

Someone comes out with some slipons that sound good, but lose about 5-6db and no power, sign me up. Don't need to impress anyone with my loud pipes; I already do that with my dashing good looks!

I retired three years ago and moved into a very small hamlet (only 18 houses) in the middle of nowhere. Most of the other are residents retired too but also young. They are very considerate to those that do work and will only cut grass, hedges, trees etc during the week. At weekends this place is silent so the workers can enjoy some real countryside peace. No planes, streetlights or constant traffic noise either.

Having been made an offer I could not turn down to go back to work, I think it is only fair I do not piss off my neighbours by leaving the engine running on my Panni (when I get it) whilst on the drive early in the morning or late evenings.

flobrandx said:

It was a guestimation of less than 10 min. Cold morning. No revving involved. There is no way I'm going to wait till 10am to go ride. I'll admit 6:30am is early on the weekend but 10am to start up a bike to an idle and leave? I don't agree.

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Let me clarify, I don't mean you can't or shouldn't use your bike before 10 AM.

Just get all your stuff ready, start the bike, wait about 15 seconds for the oil to flow and then idle off. Bike doesn't need to be warmed up to ride. This isn't 1980. Bike isn't a 2 stroke.

My relationship with my neighbors is VERY important. These are the same people who help look after my kids, my house, and my life. I try hard to be a good neighbor. Even if it isn't what I want to do sometimes. The end result is worth it.

turnone said:

Let me clarify, I don't mean you can't or shouldn't use your bike before 10 AM.

Just get all your stuff ready, start the bike, wait about 15 seconds for the oil to flow and then idle off. Bike doesn't need to be warmed up to ride. This isn't 1980. Bike isn't a 2 stroke.

My relationship with my neighbors is VERY important. These are the same people who help look after my kids, my house, and my life. I try hard to be a good neighbor. Even if it isn't what I want to do sometimes. The end result is worth it.

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+1

I regularly ride my bike to work, leaving at 7:15am. But when I start it, I'm right there, usually putting on gloves, helmet, etc. No more than 1-2 minutes and I'm ready to ride. Never any complaints.

However there are probably 6-7 Harley owners on our street, plus a SV1000 with loud pipes. Our neighbors next door are both police officers and both ride Harleys. So the majority are "bike friendly." We like our neighbors!

All good points. I'm not trying to start a war with the neighbors either. That was the first time I ever started it on the weekend at 6:30am. Now I know and will try and be more conscious about it but I'm not going to quit riding to work because some one else doesn't like it. I'm not some punk kid out to give motorcycle riders a bad name.

When I leave that early, I roll the bike into the street, put all my gear on, and when I fire up I move out immediately. Seems like the polite thing to do.

Marcbc said:

I retired three years ago and moved into a very small hamlet (only 18 houses) in the middle of nowhere. Most of the other are residents retired too but also young. They are very considerate to those that do work and will only cut grass, hedges, trees etc during the week. At weekends this place is silent so the workers can enjoy some real countryside peace. No planes, streetlights or constant traffic noise either.

Having been made an offer I could not turn down to go back to work, I think it is only fair I do not piss off my neighbours by leaving the engine running on my Panni (when I get it) whilst on the drive early in the morning or late evenings.

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I want to move to your village, peace and quiet and you could say 'not me making all the noise, it's that other bloke'

I realise it must be annoying so I roll the bike off the drive start and ride off gently through the town, there is a guy down the road with a cruiser that always idles and blips before riding off doesn't worry me it sounds nice but as said to most it's annoying I'm sure.

I go into work at 0300 Mon thru Thurs. I actually coast the bike down the driveway and crank it in the street, as the garage/retaining wall would trap and magnify the sound. And the bike is on stock pipes,

Bikes are designed to perform correctly when hot. Two mins. is plenty of time to get up to proper temp. So , crank it up , idle for two mins , ease out the clutch and roll over to her witch's shack , then put down a ten foot long " Welcome to my world ! " burnout , right in front of her mailbox.

I'm with most of you guys.
I'd like to be able to idle for 2-3 mins, just till the "LOW" temp goes off on the dash, but I like my neighbours, and they have kids.
I point my bike out the drive, and start it as I roll out. Luckily I have 30 seconds or so where I can roll down hill at idle to get at least some little heat into the oil before selecting a gear..

Not ideal, but it's worth it to keep the peace..

j.