Where do all these reckless loud motorcyclists come from, and why is nothing done?
99% would vote to ban loud motorcycles, yet modified 125cc bikes with aftermarket exhausts roam freely. Why is there no regulation?
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Noise, impunity and the neighbors' war against reckless riders
They are increasingly visible on roads and in towns: riders of 125cc motorcycles with modified exhausts that thunder through the neighborhood. The phenomenon has sparked a public outcry that no government seems willing to address. Fed-up residents, imaginary polls where 99% would vote to ban any bike louder than a car, and a feeling of absolute impunity.
The typical profile is a young rider on a cheap bike — often a 125 — fitted with a sports exhaust to make more noise. The result is not just annoying but dangerous: revving in second gear through the city center, redlining at junctions, and an attitude that those affected call reckless exhibitionism.
Motorcyclists' advocates argue that not all riders are the same and that the hobby should not be incivil. But the debate reveals a widespread exasperation: most people consider the current rules a dead letter, and fines, if they exist, are no deterrent.
Why, if there is social consensus against the noise, do modified bikes still roam free? The answer may lie in the lack of technical checks at the ITV (Spain's mandatory vehicle inspection), in the leniency of local authorities, or in simple political indifference. Meanwhile, residents keep hearing that metallic sound nobody asked for.
They are increasingly visible on roads and in towns: riders of 125cc motorcycles with modified exhausts that thunder through the neighborhood. The phenomenon has sparked a public outcry that no government seems willing to address. Fed-up residents, imaginary polls where 99% would vote to ban any bike louder than a car, and a feeling of absolute impunity.
The typical profile is a young rider on a cheap bike — often a 125 — fitted with a sports exhaust to make more noise. The result is not just annoying but dangerous: revving in second gear through the city center, redlining at junctions, and an attitude that those affected call reckless exhibitionism.
Motorcyclists' advocates argue that not all riders are the same and that the hobby should not be incivil. But the debate reveals a widespread exasperation: most people consider the current rules a dead letter, and fines, if they exist, are no deterrent.
Why, if there is social consensus against the noise, do modified bikes still roam free? The answer may lie in the lack of technical checks at the ITV (Spain's mandatory vehicle inspection), in the leniency of local authorities, or in simple political indifference. Meanwhile, residents keep hearing that metallic sound nobody asked for.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (13 replies).
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