NOISY MOTOR-CYCLES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19858, 31 January 1928, Page 12

NOISY MOTOR-CYCLES.

Sir—The modern motor-cycle is a highly efficient and economical form of transport, is reasonably silent and is not a nuisance, as "Invalid" would have us believe. The average motor-cyclist has as much respect for by-laws—and his life and purse—Ml any other road user. There are, nowever, a small minority of riders of ate "heflapper" class who are responsible for most of the animosity felt toward motor cyclists. Like savages they think tho more noise a thing makes the better it ls i( hence the machine-gun noises one hears at times. Thoi cause of ihiß noise usually is, either racing the engine in starting up or too fast a speed in low gear, especially in hill climbing; faults a good driveir does not permit.. Some riders use open exhausts or cut-outs. Certainly an engine runs better with a free exhaust, but whild this may be permitted on tho open country road it should be barred in closelypopulated areas. As for spejd, every motorist Jias broken this by-law not onca but many times and, as with noise, it is hard to defino just what is "reasonable" under various, conditions and by various people. This question has caused much discussion in England and elsewhere.. One writer suggests making forthcoming municipal candidates give a pledge to suppress the "evil," but have not the councils got enough to worry about with serious problems such as bus transport and water ? I am a motor-cyclist, but I have no time for the rider who continually and wilfully brings his fellow riders into disrepute. He should be made to suffer for his transgressions and through his pocket is the surest way. H.F.