Motorcycles for sale are growing in popularity, especially as the cost of gas increases. But with the growing use of motorcycles comes the growing concern of their noise.

Not all motorcycles are noisy and most new motorcycles are built with federally mandated noise control standards. When a motorcycle is noisy it is due to the rider’s modification to the muffler tailpipe or an aftermarket exhaust system that is not street legal. Such modified exhaust systems can be heard and felt over a wide distance, rattling windows and traveling through walls. In the end, millions of people are adversely affected by this noise.

So if the motorcycles are so noisy, why do riders modify them? Mostly it is due to the fact that riders feel their sound will make them more heard by other motorists, which in turn will keep them safer. But this may be more a myth than truth. The American Motorcycle Association discourages cyclists in modifying their exhaust systems and have gone so far to create a creed that reads:

• All motorcyclists should be sensitive to community standards and respect the rights of fellow citizens to enjoy a peaceful environment.

• Motorcyclists should not modify exhaust systems in a way that will increase sound to an offensive level.

• Organizers of motorcycle events should take steps through advertising, peer pressure and enforcement to make excessively loud motorcycles unwelcome.

• Motorcycle dealers should discourage the installation and use of excessively loud replacement exhaust systems.

• The motorcycle industry, including aftermarket suppliers of replacement exhaust systems, should adopt responsible product design and marketing policies aimed at limiting the cumulative impact of excessive motorcycle noise.

• Motorcycle Manufacturers producing motorcycles to appropriate federal standards should continue to educate their dealers and customers that louder exhaust systems do not necessarily improve the performance of a motorcycle.

• Law enforcement agencies should fairly and consistently enforce appropriate laws and ordinances against excessive vehicle noise.

• The motorcycle industry and the safety community should educate customers that excessive noise may be fatiguing to riders, making them less able to enjoy riding and less able to exercise good riding skills.

To help combat noise problems, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets noise emissions standards for motorcycles. The standard for street-legal exhaust noise emissions is 80 dB(a). All motorcycles are required to display an EPA label on the chassis and exhaust pipe. The “label match-up” program was designed as regulatory measure for states and municipalities to control motorcycle noise.