In-Use Motorcycle Sound Levels

Among the surface transportation noise control policies under consideration by governmental bodies are the methods of noise control, the magnitude of noise standards, and the priority each vehicle type will receive during the legislative and regulatory processes. A factor in the determination of these policies ought to be the relative contributions of each vehicle type to overall surface transportation noise. To help develop the substantial data base necessary for objective determinations, an investigation crew conducted two days of motor vehicle traffic sound level monitoring. The results indicate significant differences in noise levels and sound energies between motorcycles with stock exhaust systems and motorcycles with modified exhaust systems, and also between garbage trucks, other truck types, automobiles, and motorcycles.