SAE Announces Motorcycle Sound Test

Last month the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) announced a new sound level test for street motorcycles. The test, touted as simple and economical, is based on a procedure that originated for off-road motorcycles.

Over the last few years it's become increasingly evident the motorcycling community will not police itself. Replacement or removal of stock mufflers has become the norm for retro bikes and cruisers. The practice is further perpetuated by the myth that "loud pipes save lives." A simple and consistent method to measure tailpipe noise has been sorely needed.

The American Motorcyclist Association hailed the news:

"The AMA maintains that few factors contribute more to misunderstanding and prejudice against street riders than excessively noisy motorcycles," Ed Moreland stated. "With the new SAE J2825 standard, street motorcyclists can now determine how quiet, or loud, their bikes really are."

Recently we've seen cumbersome regulations enacted as communities across the country seek to curb excessively loud bikes. Several states and municipalities have considered or enacted regulations to nix any aftermarket muffler or pipe. But these outright bans on any modification to an OEM exhaust system are hard to enforce and virtually impossible for many owners to comply with. Hopefully this test will offer a viable option to such ordinances.

The standard is identified by SAE as J2825, "Measurement of Exhaust Sound Pressure Levels of Stationary On-Highway Motorcycles." This new test requires holding a calibrated sound meter 20 inches from the bike's exhaust tip, then taking readings at various RPM ranges. A magic number of 92 decibels at idle and 96 dBA or 100 dBA at higher RPM, depending on the number of cylinders, is recommended by SAE.

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