The news just gets worse and worse for riders who enjoy a fruity exhaust note as the noise crackdown intensifies across Europe.
We recently reported on Germany’s crackdown with special noise cameras, no-go areas and an 80dB limit on motorcycle exhausts that could make all BMW motorcycles quieter.
Now Austria will ban specific motorcycles with exhaust noise over 95dB on a popular 100km motorcycle route through the Tyrol mountains after receiving complaints from residents.
Tyrol mountains are popular among riders (Image: www.touring-italy.net)
Bikes that will be barred from this road include the Aprilia Tuono, Aprilia RSV4, BMW S 1000 RR, Ducati Hypermotard, Ducati Multistrada 1260, Ducati Diavel, Kawasaki Z900 and KTM 890 Duke.
Police will do spot checks on motorcycles and can hand out €220 (about $A350) on-the-spot fines.
Crackdown intensifies
We could appreciate a crackdown on exceedingly loud aftermarket exhausts, but these bikes are all legally allowed to have more than 95dB under European regulations.
Somehow Austria thinks this area is exempt from European laws.
And what is worse is that the ban only applies to motorcycles, not cars or trucks or buses! That’s discrimination, pure and simple.
Like the German example, this is a sobering precedent that could be picked up by safety and noise pollution Nazis across the world.
It follows moves by several other European countries to close roads to motorcycles because of noise and banning them from certain areas over weekends and public holidays.
Quieter roads
Police conduct roadside noise test at Mt Tamborine
While Australia is yet to introduce Draconian laws like the road bans in Europe, police and transport officers do occasionally operate noise monitoring checks on popular motorcycle routes.
It may seem heavy handed, discriminatory and ignoring the perceived safety benefits of “loud pipes save lives”, but it’s nothing compared with Indian police methods.
In India, police make a subjective assessment followed by smashing the offending exhaust pipe on the roadside.
They have also made an example of their crackdown by steam rolling confiscated pipes.
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com