Boy, did I get a huge fright last week!

And all because of a motorbike that roared as I jogged past it. And when I say roared, I mean ROARED!

It gave me a such a huge shock that I literally jumped!

It was a black Harley (not surprising) and it's owner had just started it. It was like someone lit a stick of dynamite and it exploded 5 metres away from me! 

Bad, bad, bad, noisy Harley!

So, how does a motorbike this noisy get past the LTA and onto our roads?

Mind you, after I recovered from my shock (and landed back onto terra firma), I walked towards Mr Loud Motorbike Owner and asked him if the exhaust was original. His reply: "I just took delivery of my bike a week ago. Have not changed anything...yet."

I bet you my lifetime's salary that if this Harley was taken to LTA and a sound level probe was shoved up it's quad pipe a**e, the display would read "F-A-I-L".

Yet, this Harley is more the norm than the exception. There are many of these American two-wheeled beasts roaming our streets with their exhausts blaring.

And if you are thinking that I am prejudiced against nosy motorbikes, think again - I also have a huge bone to pick with Ferraris and Lambos who also happen to have stock standard, sure-fail-if-LTA-checked, exhausts.

Equally bad, bad, bad Ferrari and...

bad, bad, very bad Lamborghini!

Don't get me wrong - nothing makes my heart beat faster than one of these beauties at full speed with its exhaust 'singing" but why the double standards?

It is not uncommon to read or hear about Evos and WRXs, even BMWs stopped by LTA officers because of exhausts that exceed the maximum noise level but when was the last time you saw a 'bull' or 'prancing horse' being pulled aside for the same offence?

Come on, what's good for the goose SHOULD be good for the gander also!

• Comment
• Print
•