Please tell me exactly what model Harley is refined to look like a metric?
Roundeyes, the Harley V-rod comes to my mind first as a more refined Harley.
Don't get me wrong, all bikes are cool, and I am not knocking what anybody rides and if you got that from my prior posts, then please accept my apology.
I am knocking the double standard of "I have a _______ (fill in the blank, Harley, Jap bike, etc) and my bike sounds cool without the muffler", meanwhile, other parts of the motorcycle community are getting hammered for noise pollution. Many an off road rider has recieved tickets ($150.00 and up)for going out into the middle of nowhere and being 1.5db over a sound limit with our bikes, while the rest of the motorcycle community can run down the street in front of our houses at 110+ db, and within the motorcycle community, that is acceptable.
So, if you want say I am disgruntelled, then I would have to agree, but I am not mad at the bike, but the thoughtlessness of the motorcycle community in general. I unfairley placed the blame on the Harley community as the biggest offender and as I write this, I realize that was wrong of me, for that, I apologize to the Harley community. I just get confused when we all fight together to try and stop helmet laws, but since the land closures don't effect the road guys (accept the ones that ride off road as well), they don't seem to give a sh#t and our trails get closed. Unfortunatly, the people who are signing these petitions only hear "motorcycle" they don't know the difference between a dirtbike or a Harley, or a BMW, just a motorcycle and the last one that passed them had no muffler and they came out of there skin it was so loud.
As many of you know we all are facing closure of public lands for OHV use, whether that be a dirt bike, snow mobile, atv, or truck (4x4). We (the off road comminity) are loosing riding areas. One of the biggest tools being used by the enviromentalists against us, is the complaints of "Noise pollution". Now while I have never seen a Harley out on a trail (somebody somewhere has done it lol), and I am 100% positive that they are not to blame. But the little ol'lady signing the petition to close the trails, knows how loud the un-muffled street machine ( RE:not just Harleys) is, and she wants to see them quited down, so she signs the petition. The next thing we know the off road guys don't get to enjoy there ride.
I too enjoy the song only a motorcycle can sing, all I ask, is to think of your community before you pull that muffler off.
There was a mention of lane splitting earlier, and I have no opinion on that, as the peoples republic of Oregon will not let us do that (makes too much sense), but the "loud pipes saves lives" theory has been debunked many times. The biggest threat to the motorcyclst is:cell phones, stereos, tvs, computers, illegal left turns, drunks, etc, so unless you turn your pipes around and blast the noise forward, there is no need to remove your muffler, as you are past the problem by the time that they here you (remember, these people don't hear trains, sirens, car horns etc either)
My feelings and opinions are just that, feelings and opinions, I respect yours, and you can do with mine what you feel is right. With that, let the flaming begin, but thanks for letting me get that out, it has been bothering me for awhile.