I know all these bikers coming down here are good for tourism and the economy, and I know they are a mostly upscale, responsible demographic, yada yada yada, but...
I'm starting to have doubts about biker tourism being good for the area, with what goes on up in the Smoky Mountains and on US 129.
We should ban motorcycles from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park altogether. Or at least the ones with loud pipes. The park is getting overrun with them and the noise is unacceptable.
Up on US 129 ("The Dragon", damn I am so sick of that branding) every day is a day at the races. And it seems like every few days they're having to scrape some poor guy off a guardrail. Go drive it sometime and count how many times you get passed by some nut screaming by on a crotch rocket, and see how nervous you get going around blind curves expecting to meet one head-on.
Yeah, yeah, I know most of them are responsible, law-abiding citizens just out enjoying the ride yada yada yada. But c'mon. One or two merchants up there bitch about any attempts by law enforcement to crack down on it, and so far they seem to wield more influence than regular folks.
Sorry, I do not see this as a Good Thing for Knox/Blount/Sevier tourism.
Dear Honda Hooters: Please stay downtown in the Knoxville Old City or thereabouts, and let the rest of us enjoy the mountains in peace and quiet. Thank you.
Dear Honda Hooters: Please stay downtown in the Knoxville Old City or thereabouts...
If it's any consolation to you, I was talking with one of my downtown neighbors last night and he said he hated the event.
I was saying how it's actually a pretty good one. It pumps a lot of money into the city. And I'll take the Hooters over Bike Week or the scene at Sturgis, anytime.
But he felt differently. I gather last year after one of the events down here, his apartment sounded like the warm-up at a starting line every time the red light outside cycled.
~m.
Submitted by Brian A. on Wed, 2008/06/18 - 11:04am.
We should ban motorcycles from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park altogether.
Incorrect.
Or at least the ones with loud pipes.
Correct.
I didn't realize the Hoot is this week. I'm doing the bicycle event that goes through the Dragon Saturday morning. I hope the a-holes stay away from there until I get through it.
Submitted by R. Neal on Wed, 2008/06/18 - 11:07am.
Didn't know there was a bicycle event on 129. What is it? I would expect to share the road, so to speak, with the bikers and zoom boys.
(P.S. Yes, you are correct about the loud pipes, but I bet if you start making noise about banning all motorcycles, i.e. lumping them all together, there might be more pressure, peer and political, from the industry and the responsible bikers to quiet down the few bad apples.)
Oh, hell yeah. You know that's a tough fucking ride when the climb up 129 is the easy part. I rode the Challenge once and they somehow controlled the motorcycles.
True happiness is knowing you are a hypocrite. -- Ivor Cutler
Submitted by Factchecker on Wed, 2008/06/18 - 11:39am.
Nice rant I pretty much agree with. On the subject of noise, I used to think some bikes were loud and others weren't, irrespective of model. Now I'm pretty much convinced that 95% of all noisy, obnoxious bikes are Harleys and most Harleys fall in that category.
It's not just tone of the engine, which Harleys have always been distinctive for. I'm not talking about that. It's that in the last 20 years or so, Harleys have apparently had to become so much louder than everything else. I submit their owners suffer from the afflictions to which Steve ascribes above worse than other motorcyclists.
Fortunately this isn't a Harley event, but there still will be more Harleys and Harley-type bikes than normal, as well as just an over abundance of less obnoxious, but still noisy bikes.
(The racers on 129 are loud, I'm sure, but I trust such modified bikes represent a small number of bikes on the road, fortunately.)
With the price of gas at $4.00 a gallon and rising. I would expect the number of motorcycle and scooters on the road to rapidly increase. Any good citizen who really cares about reducing pollution should park the car for a scooter.
The Harleys are the major source of problem, but the crotch rockets also get really loud, and these are the problem on 129. It echoes through the woods and hollers for miles. Totally selfish and unacceptable. Having said that, I think the Hoot is probably a little better, in that Hondas don't usually fall into either class of bikes.
In SC, there are no helmet laws, which means that 1) folks think they also don't need to wear decent shoes or clothes, 2) biking is ridiculously prolific, and 3) they like to ride through downtown Greenville. The noise echoing off the buildings is deafening. It completely ruins any enjoyment of the area by anyone else. Long live helmet laws!
Banning all privately operated motor vehicles from the Smoky Mountains is great idea. I own a Harley but when I go to Cades Cove I don't want to hear vehicles, TVs, or radios. I enjoy peaceful areas as much as anyone else.
I support busing the visitors to selected areas of the Smoky Mountains and limiting the hours other roads are open to motor vehicles.
Submitted by Joe Hultquist on Wed, 2008/06/18 - 10:30pm.
It does seem like many (certainly not all) motorcycle riders subscribe to a double standard when it comes to vehicle noise. The attitude seeming to be that it's ok for bikes to make noise, even if it isn't ok for cars and trucks. It's sort of like some smokers thinking that throwing their butts (cigratte, that is) down isn't littering.
Submitted by Factchecker on Thu, 2008/06/19 - 11:26am.
wow - some of these comments are so elitist
If bikers followed the law and showed the same respect for cars that they would expect for themselves, there would be no problem in sharing the highways.
If you mean that many of them give all a bad name, that's true. Kind of like the GOP.
It's been in The Digit's tool box for a while. I think they're holding it out to see if it plays, but it won't as they'll have to make the case that someone like Bruce Springsteen is an elitist for example. You are going to have a hard time selling Bruce as an Ivy League educated snob to laid-off Ohio auto worker. They'll have to fall back on some sort of Willie Horton/Black Hands thing. My father-in-law told me the other day that Obama has promised cabinet positions to Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. He doesn't make this stuff up, so I imagine he got it off his "E-Mail Action Alerts." Well-organized bastards you have to give them that...
True happiness is knowing you are a hypocrite. -- Ivor Cutler
Randy posted this same complaint last year during the Hoot. I'm required to have my briefcase searched to pass from my office to my parking lot on Thursdays because of Sundown in the City. Parades and downtown festivals close the street(s) around my building.
I can list a lot of other inconveniences. But, I know all these things are good for the city. So, I don't gripe. It's a minor inconvenience to hear a few loud pipes.
As for speeders on 129, shut 'em down.
I ride a good bit. My pipes are a bit louder than stock, but not what most anyone would consider loud. Just a nice rumble. Straight pipes with no muffler are the primary culprits. I don't like riding near them. It gets on my nerves. But, for the good of tourism and the city, I hope all the Hooters have a great time, with a few loud pipes and all.
Submitted by sugarfatpie on Fri, 2008/06/20 - 10:16am.
"It's a minor inconvenience to hear a few loud pipes."
I totally disagree.
Have you ever tried to walk down Gay st. with a two year old when one of those small penis machines farts by? You have to drop whatever you're holding and cover your kids ears while yours get blasted. If it happens more than twice, you just want to leave. Now that doesn't sound like its good for tourism does it?
There should be places where you can go without a muffler, and places you can't go. Our increasingly pedestrian downtown should require a muffler on all vehicles.
Submitted by Factchecker on Fri, 2008/06/20 - 11:56am.
...but not what most anyone would consider loud.
Says you. I was downtown hearing the various machines last night. I challenge anyone to note the annoyingly loud bikes. Near stock Harleys, virtually all. C'mon take the FC challenge!
There was a cool Honda trike that was huge. And quiet. Parked right in front of Krutch Park. I wanted to take a photo but my phone camera is crappy and the rider looked like Hulk Hogan.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 2008/07/02 - 7:15am.
According to federal and most state and local laws, motorcycles using any muffler without the mandatory EPA label on the muffler are illegal. Arguments typically used by motorcyclists that loud mufflers increase their safety are completely refuted by all authoritative sources, what dumbo really thinks that anyway, what is a horn for, a muffler?
Motorcycles also generate 10X the amount of air pollution compared to cars, on average.
Dear Honda Hooters: Please stay downtown in the Knoxville Old City or thereabouts...
If it's any consolation to you, I was talking with one of my downtown neighbors last night and he said he hated the event.
I was saying how it's actually a pretty good one. It pumps a lot of money into the city. And I'll take the Hooters over Bike Week or the scene at Sturgis, anytime.
But he felt differently. I gather last year after one of the events down here, his apartment sounded like the warm-up at a starting line every time the red light outside cycled.
~m.
I wonder what a psychologist would say about the need to dress up in leather and use a machine to make very loud noises?
Small penis? Latent Village People complex? Small penis latent village people complex?
Then there's the possibility that they are simply assholes.
Just as long as they stay off my lawn. I'm okay with it.
Incorrect.
Correct.
I didn't realize the Hoot is this week. I'm doing the bicycle event that goes through the Dragon Saturday morning. I hope the a-holes stay away from there until I get through it.
Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.
Didn't know there was a bicycle event on 129. What is it? I would expect to share the road, so to speak, with the bikers and zoom boys.
(P.S. Yes, you are correct about the loud pipes, but I bet if you start making noise about banning all motorcycles, i.e. lumping them all together, there might be more pressure, peer and political, from the industry and the responsible bikers to quiet down the few bad apples.)
Bikers claim that "loud pipes save lives." Defensive driving saves lives.
True happiness is knowing you are a hypocrite. -- Ivor Cutler
The Cherohala Challenge is Saturday.
Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.
Oh, hell yeah. You know that's a tough fucking ride when the climb up 129 is the easy part. I rode the Challenge once and they somehow controlled the motorcycles.
True happiness is knowing you are a hypocrite. -- Ivor Cutler
Nice rant I pretty much agree with. On the subject of noise, I used to think some bikes were loud and others weren't, irrespective of model. Now I'm pretty much convinced that 95% of all noisy, obnoxious bikes are Harleys and most Harleys fall in that category.
It's not just tone of the engine, which Harleys have always been distinctive for. I'm not talking about that. It's that in the last 20 years or so, Harleys have apparently had to become so much louder than everything else. I submit their owners suffer from the afflictions to which Steve ascribes above worse than other motorcyclists.
Fortunately this isn't a Harley event, but there still will be more Harleys and Harley-type bikes than normal, as well as just an over abundance of less obnoxious, but still noisy bikes.
(The racers on 129 are loud, I'm sure, but I trust such modified bikes represent a small number of bikes on the road, fortunately.)
With the price of gas at $4.00 a gallon and rising. I would expect the number of motorcycle and scooters on the road to rapidly increase. Any good citizen who really cares about reducing pollution should park the car for a scooter.
"Any good citizen who really cares about reducing pollution should park the car for a scooter."
If you care about fuel conservation, true. It is hard to say that my two-stroke Yamaha scooter reduces pollution....
True happiness is knowing you are a hypocrite. -- Ivor Cutler
The Harleys are the major source of problem, but the crotch rockets also get really loud, and these are the problem on 129. It echoes through the woods and hollers for miles. Totally selfish and unacceptable. Having said that, I think the Hoot is probably a little better, in that Hondas don't usually fall into either class of bikes.
In SC, there are no helmet laws, which means that 1) folks think they also don't need to wear decent shoes or clothes, 2) biking is ridiculously prolific, and 3) they like to ride through downtown Greenville. The noise echoing off the buildings is deafening. It completely ruins any enjoyment of the area by anyone else. Long live helmet laws!
wow - some of these comments are so elitist
"stay out of MY area and we'll all be happy"
Maybe the bikers are wishing the cars would stay of of the Smokies and Hwy 129
Here's to bikers AND cars being banned from the Smokies!
True happiness is knowing you are a hypocrite. -- Ivor Cutler
Banning all privately operated motor vehicles from the Smoky Mountains is great idea. I own a Harley but when I go to Cades Cove I don't want to hear vehicles, TVs, or radios. I enjoy peaceful areas as much as anyone else.
I support busing the visitors to selected areas of the Smoky Mountains and limiting the hours other roads are open to motor vehicles.
I'm not sure what's so "elitist" about wanting to spend time in the woods without having to listen to roaring motors.
Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.
Only a latte-sipping elitist who doesn't work like a real man would say that.
True happiness is knowing you are a hypocrite. -- Ivor Cutler
It does seem like many (certainly not all) motorcycle riders subscribe to a double standard when it comes to vehicle noise. The attitude seeming to be that it's ok for bikes to make noise, even if it isn't ok for cars and trucks. It's sort of like some smokers thinking that throwing their butts (cigratte, that is) down isn't littering.
If bikers followed the law and showed the same respect for cars that they would expect for themselves, there would be no problem in sharing the highways.
If you mean that many of them give all a bad name, that's true. Kind of like the GOP.
Watch the news buzz and talking points. "Elitist" is the new "liberal."
Duncan said it in his press conference re. gas prices the other day. The GOP is trying to tag Obama as an "elitist."
Expect to see it a lot between now and November. I was going to do a blog post about it, but I'm busy right now.
It's been in The Digit's tool box for a while. I think they're holding it out to see if it plays, but it won't as they'll have to make the case that someone like Bruce Springsteen is an elitist for example. You are going to have a hard time selling Bruce as an Ivy League educated snob to laid-off Ohio auto worker. They'll have to fall back on some sort of Willie Horton/Black Hands thing. My father-in-law told me the other day that Obama has promised cabinet positions to Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. He doesn't make this stuff up, so I imagine he got it off his "E-Mail Action Alerts." Well-organized bastards you have to give them that...
True happiness is knowing you are a hypocrite. -- Ivor Cutler
Randy posted this same complaint last year during the Hoot. I'm required to have my briefcase searched to pass from my office to my parking lot on Thursdays because of Sundown in the City. Parades and downtown festivals close the street(s) around my building.
I can list a lot of other inconveniences. But, I know all these things are good for the city. So, I don't gripe. It's a minor inconvenience to hear a few loud pipes.
As for speeders on 129, shut 'em down.
I ride a good bit. My pipes are a bit louder than stock, but not what most anyone would consider loud. Just a nice rumble. Straight pipes with no muffler are the primary culprits. I don't like riding near them. It gets on my nerves. But, for the good of tourism and the city, I hope all the Hooters have a great time, with a few loud pipes and all.
"It's a minor inconvenience to hear a few loud pipes."
I totally disagree.
Have you ever tried to walk down Gay st. with a two year old when one of those small penis machines farts by? You have to drop whatever you're holding and cover your kids ears while yours get blasted. If it happens more than twice, you just want to leave. Now that doesn't sound like its good for tourism does it?
There should be places where you can go without a muffler, and places you can't go. Our increasingly pedestrian downtown should require a muffler on all vehicles.
"X-Rays are a hoax."-Lord Kelvin
Says you. I was downtown hearing the various machines last night. I challenge anyone to note the annoyingly loud bikes. Near stock Harleys, virtually all. C'mon take the FC challenge!
There was a cool Honda trike that was huge. And quiet. Parked right in front of Krutch Park. I wanted to take a photo but my phone camera is crappy and the rider looked like Hulk Hogan.
According to federal and most state and local laws, motorcycles using any muffler without the mandatory EPA label on the muffler are illegal. Arguments typically used by motorcyclists that loud mufflers increase their safety are completely refuted by all authoritative sources, what dumbo really thinks that anyway, what is a horn for, a muffler?
Motorcycles also generate 10X the amount of air pollution compared to cars, on average.
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