23 replies to this topic

[Greystone]

From the discussions that we have been having in the “How did it happen” thread I have realised that one of the things that I am least looking forward to about the new Moto2 class is the noise.

In my view the modern high revving in-line four stroke four makes the worst noise of any race engine.

For me almost any two stroke is ok, even a single but I particularly like parallel and v-twins, threes and fours.

Regarding four strokes, any engine with cylinders in multiples of three are a joy to listen to, such as BSA/Triumph and MV threes, but not Laverda Jotas (I believe that they are one up two down with a 180 degree crank), plus the five and six cylinder exotica that Honda produced back in the 1960s.

Traditional in line fours such as MVs, Gileras and 1960s Hondas seem to have a totally different noise to a modern four. I put this down to the lower rpm limits in the case of the MVs and Gileras and the four separate pipes, compared to the four into one systems used on the modern fours. Even the Yamaha R1 with its cross plane crankshaft seems to me to be a better sound than a conventional modern in-line four. I find the best sounding fours to be vee engines such as Honda NCs and RCs.

Twins have their own distinctive set of sounds. Compare a traditional British twin with a Honda CR93, a BMW Rennsport and v-twins such as Ducatis and Vincents, all totally different sounds. Also, has anyone else noticed how different Triumph and Norton vertical twins sound.

I admit I find singles difficult to distinguish between, but a Manx or G50 on full song is still a joy to listen to, especially in the Island.

What constitutes a good sounding bike is obviously very subjective. You may get as many different opinions as you have contributors on this site. Does anyone else have any favourite sounds?

Andrew

[ex Rhodie racer]

Well, for me it´s the wailing Honda 6. I never heard the 250 live, but I did get a close up of the 296 version. Absolutely mindboggling. particularly when it hit a few bumps in the road and the revs would soar as the rear wheel, unaided by todays modern suspensions, would leave the road for an instant. I would have loved to have heard Jim or Mike travelling along Cronky Voddy or Sulby straight in the old days. I´m sure it would have given one goose bumps.

Edited by ex Rhodie racer, 14 July 2009 - 12:41.

[fil2.8]

Well, for me it´s the wailing Honda 6. I never heard the 250 live, but I did get a close up of the 296 version. Absolutely mindboggling. particularly when it hit a few bumps in the road and the revs would soar as the rear wheel, unaided by todays modern suspensions, would leave the road for an instant. I would have loved to have heard Jim or Mike travelling along Cronky Voddy or Sulby straight in the old days. I´m sure it would have given one goose bumps.

Hi Rhodie I for one , was lucky enough to witness the 250/6 and it's bigger brother on numerous occassions , the '67 TT amongst them .
But at Brands Hatch you could hear it ALL round the long circuit .
I enjoyed like many others , the sound of all the works multis , 2 and 4 stroke , in the '60's and remember the crowds grow around the bikes as soon as these wonderful pieces of engineering were fired up -------------- no ear defenders in those days , thankfully

[exclubracer]

Any RG500, YZR 500 or Honda-3 down Bray Hill, fantastic!

[Coupe Kawasaki]

I had a link to a brilliant site on my old computer which had loads of classic sounds at The Island which I'm trying to find It has to be somewhere!Anybody know of it? It's got the Haiwood and Ago pit stop 67 on it.

I was at Siverstone a few years ago and I'm sure they had the Guzzi V8 there amongst the Gileras and MVs- bloody loud! Honda Six and MV three at Silverstone, '70 GP, Hailwood and Ago aboard, bliss.

They made the Jota in 180 and 120 configurations Andrew. I actually saw the design drawings for the original 3c which were owned by an ex-RAF Group Captain who ran a pub where I lived in Stockton, Warks. He got them out to show my friend and I since we were on Jotas (180) They aren't inspiring unless you are riding one through the St Gothard Tunnel or a village at 3am. then they sound and feel outrageous. Pure hooligan element! 500 Monty is better.

The Norton Rotary was fantastic but for me it's probably a Rocket Three or Trident which I'm going to try to get hold of over here if I can at the right price of course. I was born near the Triumph factory and Percy Tait was their tester, frequently out on the roads with a trade plate on a race bike. he'd sit on the wall outside the factory and when the cops turned up he denied it was him doing 140 past the now Peugot factory at Ryton. The ticking as it cooled down raised the cops eyebrow!

No MOT in Illinolis and cops don't bother with noisy bikes in our town

David

[ex Rhodie racer]

I had a link to a brilliant site on my old computer which had loads of classic sounds at The Island which I'm trying to find It has to be somewhere!Anybody know of it? It's got the Haiwood and Ago pit stop 67 on it.

Did you mean this one.
http://www.vintagebi...o.uk/Sounds.htm

[Coupe Kawasaki]

Thanks Rhodie!

I can have a good hour on it and then get on with the bikes, very inspiring Ta Wife is sleeping still after a hard night scrapbooking so I'll have to keep the sound fairly low!


David

[picblanc]

Duke do CD's of the TT races in the 50's & 60's, I have them on LP's remember them? great sounds and the stories of the races done by Manx radio I think?
http://www.dukevideo...-Audio-CDs.aspx

[Russell Burrows]

Anything with valves and things.....

[exclubracer]

Anything with valves and things.....

But only in the tyres, Russell....

[fil2.8]

But only in the tyres, Russell....

Now , now , now you 2 , powder puffs at 20 paces I suggest

[Bjorn Kjer]

I was at the Ulster TT in 1967 when there were still many different noises from bikes , 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 cyl. 4 strokes and 1 ,2 and 4 cyl. 2 strokes.

My favorite : Hondas 6 cyl. with 6 megaphones , fantastic , better than ... ? I shall never forget it !

[Russell Burrows]

Have you ever noticed that when a bike is used in a film/tele production, it's invariably making four stroke noises, regardless of what it actually is ? Is it cos it's a proper motorbike sound....

[fil2.8]

Thats 'cause they don't think we know any better anyway , looks and sounds odd with a NSU Quickly

[Coupe Kawasaki]

Fred Merkels Race of the Year 'winning' VFR (was it pre=360 degree RC30?). Shame he crashed, the race was stopped and he was presented with the trophy for winning! Never got the money though as far as I know. Those of us at the hairpin had some choice comments and someone shouted 'eff off you w**k*er' in a really loud Yorkshire accent. Reg was deemed winner later I think on that 1260 or whatever, green diesel Crash and win?

David.

[exclubracer]

Have you ever noticed that when a bike is used in a film/tele production, it's invariably making four stroke noises, regardless of what it actually is ? Is it cos it's a proper motorbike sound....

And they all seem to have 20 speed gearboxes.................

[Rennmax]

Anything with valves and things.....

... and no holes in the cylinder barrel

Edited by Rennmax, 15 July 2009 - 06:44.

[Bjorn Kjer]

And the tyres are screaming like on cars regardless where they drive (?)

[GD66]

Attention all geographically-advantaged noise victims ! I see Ago will be out on the MV 500-3 and an OW31 at the Brands Hatch BSB round next month, along with Lutonboy, Mick Grant on his 750 Kawasaki, and a variety of four and six cylinder Hondas...an opportunity not to be overlooked. And the racing's top calibre as well, fingers out, lads !

[fil2.8]

Could be more interesting for us ' old timers ' than the racing..

[Coupe Kawasaki]

And the tyres are screaming like on cars regardless where they drive (?)

The missus and I always laugh at this one Bjorn!


David

[Coupe Kawasaki]

I'm going to Mid-Ohio next weekend so if anyone wants any pics or video of anything in particular or Don Emde's autograph I'll see what I can do. Anyone else going? It's my first visit so I'm going over Thursday to make sure I don't miss anything!


David

[Ivan Astikoff]

The sound of the 1929 Spagforth Lightning takes some beating, in my opinion.

[fil2.8]

The sound of the 1929 Spagforth Lightning takes some beating, in my opinion.

I would have thought standing at the bottom of Bray Hill at this years TT when the TTXGP bikes came past would have been memorable