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Ways to make motorcycle QUIETER?
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Hi, all.
I am a new rider, and am still learning about this fun and exhilarating
hobby. For my outings, I have purchased a 1971 Honda CB350K3 Super
Sport. The vehicle is in excellent condition, but I find that it is a
bit too loud for my sensitive ears. I'm sure that the problem can be
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At what speed does the noise become bothersome? If less that 35-40 mph,
something's amiss with the bike. Past about 50, wind noise will dominate
and as others have pointed out, the only remedy is earplugs.
What helmet you have matters some, but the difference isn't huge.
I have two helmets, a Shoei RF800 and an Arai SignetGT. The first is
considered _very_ quiet, the second noisy but well-ventilated. The
wind noise in either is exhausting at freeway speeds. Over time it's
deafening, too.
Windshield/fairing height and shape make some difference; oddly enough,
short of riding something the size of a Goldwing fairings and windshields
don't help much. In fact, a Givi (tall) touring windscreen on my vfr
made the noise worse.
hope this helps,
bob prohaska
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resolved (I had a lane-splitting motorcycle policeman whiz by me the
other day and his machine made almost no noise at all), but all of the
information I have found about motorcycle mufflers seems intended to
make the bike louder. Can somebody please tell me what I can do to
make my motorcycle quieter?
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Congrats on your buy.
IMHO, the older motorcycles were inherently noisier, although a previous
owner could have put a less restrictive and noisier muffler. My stock 1971
CB100 muffler with original baffle is noisy enough to require ear plugs.
If muffler has a removable baffle, it may have provision to repack with
fiberglass for mufflers. However, you may have to have the carbs rejetted,
since more restriction will require jetting change to get the fuel mixture
back to optimal for power and smooth running, if it is already there.
IMHO, if exhaust is OEM, you might want to get a good pair of ear plugs to
wear. Parts are getting harder to find for these collectables, and a
modified exhaust would degrade the value of the motorcycle.
Or you might want to sell it to a "loud mufflers saves lives" cruiser
rider. Chances are he wouldn't mind as he's got no hearing left for it to
bother him. ;-)
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Thank you in advance for your help.
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Earplugs. Riding is a noisy enterprise. Wind noise is usually a
bigger deal then exhaust noise. Some info here:
Check the helmet reviews. The author usually mentions that he wears
earplugs. He also usually comments on the noise level of the helmet
being reviewed.
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You've already gotten good advice about packing the muffler.
If you're not already doing so, you ought to start wearing
earplugs when you're riding. Even with the quietest muffler,
you stand a good chance of doing some damage to your
hearing from wind noise.
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When I don't wear earplugs, the voices in my head start complaining
about the noise.
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