[AlanHo]

It will be a relief to us if this catches on (which it won't) because every Sunday we have about 100 bikers roar past the end of our road heading out to the countryside from Birmingham. The noise is unbelievable.

BBC News - Harley-Davidson invites public to test electric motorbike

Half the fun of owning Harleys is the looks and sound.

With only a range of 130 miles and a 30 minute to 1 hour recharge I cant see them taking off any time soon, their also a bit behind in the electrics development and need to move into the current with Hydrogen electrics.

[Dazzler]

Half the fun of owning Harleys is the looks and sound.

With only a range of 130 miles and a 30 minute to 1 hour recharge I cant see them taking off any time soon, their also a bit behind in the electrics development and need to move into the current with Hydrogen electrics.

Might be a safety issue too.. Bad enough driving a silent car (some don't hear me coming...) so to speak! 

[rustynutz]

As much as I'm not a fan of Harleys and their owners obsession with making a racket, I do believe the "racket" does help in letting car drivers know they are around which can be a good thing... 

[Doggie 1]

some don't hear me coming...

 

[Just Rick]

As much as I'm not a fan of Harleys and their owners obsession with making a racket, I do believe the "racket" does help in letting car drivers know they are around which can be a good thing... 

That surprises me Rusty,being very bike aware I see them far sooner than I hear them,it is only while their passing me that I hear to ungodly racket and some of the Harley's I hear,you can't tell me that fall within the noise abatement laws,I know over here they have clamped down on performance exhaust for cars,about time they got some of these bikes either off the road or clamping down on the noise they're putting out,absolutely no excuse for it,straight through exhaust is not legal on any car,so why should it be legal on a motor cycle.JMO

[Surferdude]

As much as I'm not a fan of Harleys and their owners obsession with making a racket, I do believe the "racket" does help in letting car drivers know they are around which can be a good thing... 

That surprises me Rusty,being very bike aware I see them far sooner than I hear them,it is only while their passing me that I hear to ungodly racket and some of the Harley's I hear,you can't tell me that fall within the noise abatement laws,I know over here they have clamped down on performance exhaust for cars,about time they got some of these bikes either off the road or clamping down on the noise they're putting out,absolutely no excuse for it,straight through exhaust is not legal on any car,so why should it be legal on a motor cycle.JMO

Agreed Rick.
If you can hear them you've not been watching closely enough.

[Shambles]

Half the fun of owning Harleys is the looks and sound.

I agree. The "electric sound" is certainly fascinating but detracts from the whole Harley experience...

Harley-Davidson Unveils Electric Motorcycle - YouTube

[Aussie Keith]

Sounds great. Much better than the current crop that sound like the muffler fell off the mower.

[The Gonz]

I hate loud bikes (and cars) and don't understand why they are not defected and/or confiscated. I vote an end to noise pollution in all cases.

[Just Rick]

Half the fun of owning Harleys is the looks and sound.

I agree. The "electric sound" is certainly fascinating but detracts from the whole Harley experience...

Harley-Davidson Unveils Electric Motorcycle - YouTube

After seeing that I definitely don't want one,but having said that I definitely don't want a petrol one either

[Just Rick]

I hate loud bikes (and cars) and don't understand why they are not defected and/or confiscated. I vote an end to noise pollution in all cases.

Bit harsh,better not flog my commodore past your place,you might shoot me 

[Doggie 1]

I hate loud bikes (and cars) and don't understand why they are not defected and/or confiscated. I vote an end to noise pollution in all cases.

It's all a matter of balance, time, place and circumstance.
Some are extreme and should be targeted.
I do appreciate a nice V8 exhaust though.

[Dazzler]

Sounds great. Much better than the current crop that sound like the muffler fell off the mower.

 

But I happen to like electric stuff! 

[rustynutz]

As much as I'm not a fan of Harleys and their owners obsession with making a racket, I do believe the "racket" does help in letting car drivers know they are around which can be a good thing... 

That surprises me Rusty,being very bike aware I see them far sooner than I hear them,it is only while their passing me that I hear to ungodly racket and some of the Harley's I hear,you can't tell me that fall within the noise abatement laws,I know over here they have clamped down on performance exhaust for cars,about time they got some of these bikes either off the road or clamping down on the noise they're putting out,absolutely no excuse for it,straight through exhaust is not legal on any car,so why should it be legal on a motor cycle.JMO

That's the thing, Rick, you're bike aware, most drivers aren't so I reckon if that's the only way they become aware of a motorcycle near them, then that has got to be a good thing.
Obviously it would be much much better if the average driver bothered to keep a lookout for motorcycles but seeing as motorcycles have been around since Jesus was a boy and they still don't see them, I won't hold my breath.

Plenty on here have argued for lights on and brightly coloured clothing to make a motorcyclist more "conspicuous", hard to argue that a loud motorcycle doesn't contribute to this...    

[Doggie 1]

Do you a have a genuine photograph of Jesus' motorbike? 
Or did you make that up
I'd like to see that. 

[rustynutz]

Dave, I never said Jesus had a motorcycle.... 

[Dazzler]

Dave, I never said Jesus had a motorcycle.... 

Yeah, but you didn't say he didn't...

[rustynutz]

Okay, I browsed the dead sea scrolls and found this pic of Jesus being a smartarse performing stunts....



Happy now? 

[Dazzler]

Fare lee.. 

Good find BTW

Although he looks older than a boy to me! 

since Jesus was a boy ....

[rustynutz]

C'mon Daz...I said motorcycles have been around since he was a boy.... 

You're as bad as Dave...why you no listen!!!! 
Or read as in this case.....

It's all a matter of balance, time, place and circumstance.
Some are extreme and should be targeted.
I do appreciate a nice V8 exhaust though.

I agree, I used to idle my HSV out of the local streets so I didn't cause any problems though even at idle it still set of all the house and car alarms as I went by with a huge cam - worked heads and a twin 3inch exhaust system the reverberation that was given off was astronomical even though the exhaust was reasonably quiet at low revs ( a different story at high rpm though ) it took my friends 4yo daughter just over a year to come anywhere near my car after scaring the crap out of her one day while doing some tunning in the backyard