Campaigns
MAG Position - Noise
For many years politicians have stated that motorcycle noise is the subject that they receive the most letters about, despite the fact that in the last noise pollution survey did not even mention motorcycles. Unfortunately, this leads to a continuing push for even lower noise limits, although not necessarily lower noise levels.
The current limits for motorcycles are based on the cc of the machine and are as follows:-
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ITEM |
DATE OF FIRST ISSUE |
MOPEDS |
MOTORCYCLES |
REFERENCE |
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1) |
Pre 1st April 1983 |
No Requirement |
No Requirement |
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2) |
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3) |
3) | |||
NB: These limit values will be tightened from 2003
For an idea of how loud "loud" is the following table gives some idea of the sound levels produced by various sources:- Sound Level (dB)Sound Source 20-30Wilderness area 30-40Whispering, quiet residential area [night] 40-50Quiet residential area [day] 50-60Normal conversation, light traffic at slow speeds 60-70Noisy office, vacuum cleaner close to 70-80Busy street, car at 60 mph, washing machine 80-90Heavy truck at 40 mph, older motorcycle 90-100Car horn, power mower close 100-110Pneumatic drill, high-speed train, jet at 1000ft 110-120Typical rock PA, thunderclap 120-130Jet aircraft take off, threshold of pain
In industry hearing protection is advised above 80dB and mandatory above 90dB. It is also a rule of thumb that 85 dB can be tolerated for 8 hours, and every 3 dB rise halves the exposure time. The effects of this can be seen in the table below:- Sound Level (dB)Exposure Time 85 8 hours 88 4 hours 91 2 hours 94 1 hour 97 30 minutes 100 15 minutes 103 7 min 30 secs 106 3 min 45 secs 109 1 min 50 secs 112 55 seconds
The sound generated by a crash helmet when travelling at 60-70 mph is in the region of 100 -110 dB. This is mainly wind noise generated by the helmet so hearing protection is advisable at these speeds.
Noise and silencers. For motorcycles first used on or after 1 February 1996 the silencer which forms part of the original equipment exhaust system must approved and marked to Directive 78/1015 as amended by Directive 89/235. Replacement silencers must be approved and marked in accordance with the above Directives or British Standards BS AU 193:1983 or BS AU 193a: 1990, depending upon the age of the motor cycle to which they are to be fitted (if fitted to a motor cycle before 1 February 1997, the requirements in respect of noise levels and method of measurement in the Directive/BS must be met but the silencer has to be marked only with the silencer manufacturer's name and part number).
Exhausts bought "after market" for bikes must be stamped with the relevant e, E or BSI mark, and if a dealer sells a bike with a non-approved exhaust system he will be liable to prosecution by the trading standards agency. If you ride with one of these systems you are not only risking prosecution, but also giving the legislators ammunition in their fight to ban bikes.
Remember, as they say in the US - Loud Pipes Cost Rides!
MAG UK© October 2001 All rights reserved.
