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I'm a new Overland Park resident. In today's mail, I received my first "Overview For Overland Park Residents" Fall 2008 newsletter. It's actually very good with plenty of information I'm glad I read. I found this article interesting, but not surprising.

Overview wrote: Warm weather and being outdoors can bring solitude and comfort that may be easily disrupted by loud motorcycles and cars.

Overland Park police officers are enforcing the city's ordinance prohibiting excessive or unusual noise produced by cars and motorcycles.

The enforcement is an effort to reduce the noise coming from vehicles with exhaust systems that are inadequate and in violation.

Overland Park has received complaints about motorcycles with extremely loud exhaust noise. Some loud exhaust noise occurs because the muffling mechanisms have been removed or altered. Other loud exhaust noise occurs because vehicle owners equip it with an exhaust system designed to be loud. All vehicles are required to be equipped so as to prevent excessive or unusual noise. Muffler cutouts, bypasses, or similar devices are prohibited.

Avoid a $90 fine and court cost and bring your vehicle into compliance.

I agree with this ordinance and enforcement. Problem is, what EXACTLY is "excessive" and are individual officers equipped to measure the noise? The problem will be if you get stopped by an officer who happens to have a bad attitude regarding motorcycles, he/she could decide to fine you for "excessive noise". I'd like a measurable standard and for officers to have standard equipment to measure the noise.

I personally wish both my bikes were quieter. My Husky TE450 is simply a monster and with the "race" kit on it (includes an Arrow muffler), it's really stinkin' loud. The original pipe has a huge catalytic converter in it, is very heavy, and chokes the bike so bad, it runs poorly. When in town, I'm careful to accelerate very slowly so as not to rap the rpms causing excessive noise.

My V-Strom is normally a very quiet machine. However, the previous owner modified the exhaust specifically to make it louder. "I don't like quiet bikes" he told me. I do understand the safety of a loud motorcycle, but I'm actually annoyed by how loud my V-Strom is. Maybe my brother, KC, will sell me his stock V-Strom muffler.

Not to pick on the Harley guys, but if those guys wouldn't rap their damn bikes at the intersection 3 feet from my open truck window or decide they need to accelerate from 0 to 50 in a 2 block 35 MPH zone, the noise wouldn't be a big deal to me. Most motorcycle riders suffer from the affliction of thinking their bike will not stay running unless they continually twist the throttle while sitting at intersections. My bikes idle just fine for minutes on end.

The first time I get pulled over, I'll be sure to ask the officer how many cruisers he's pulled over. The noise out of a dual sport bike is nothing compared to a 1000cc plus bike with open pipes.
On a recent trip to Colorado a perfect serene moment was ruined by the sound from bikes several miles away. Always thought it was odd how dirt bike mufflers make a point to list their db level for noise level conformance....and any number of cruiser exhaust companies sell open pipes legally.

I used to live on the approach path to McConnell AFB in Wichita. That was extremely loud. B1s rattled the entire house. No one complained.

Construction trucks and 18 wheelers around Lawrence are extremely loud. No one complains.

Teens with cars with loud radios are complained about but not ticketed.

Some Harleys are loud (not as much as the two categories at the top) and everyone complains. I do not know if they are ticketed.

This makes me wonder if the person's exhibited style of life (a brazen teen or a biker with colors VS truckers with ball caps or AF pilots) is part of the desire to register complaints. (There were lots of complaints about Con-Ed in NYC spewing out pollutants from three large smokestacks some time ago. Con-Ed painted them red, white and blue. End of complaints.)

My 525 EXC with its Akrapovic is pretty quiet but it can be heard if I crank it on. I don't know whether people complain or not. I have not been pulled over for noise (hedging my words here). However I do not make a nuisance of myself by exhibiting its upper RPM music. Like Troy, I ride around town a small throttle openings. That noted, I would add that we have other motives for this: our bikes absolutely destroy rear tires when spun up on asphalt. Right, Troy?

Stu