23 April 2024

The sound of motorcycles

A motorcycle has a particularly distinctive sound. To the point that some are able to recognize a machine (its brand, its model) just by the sound of the engine, at cruising speed or when accelerating. A motorcycle also produces a whole series of sounds other than that of its engine alone: ​​the sound of the clutch that you operate with your foot, the sound of the chain that drives the rear wheel, the sound of the brake handles. and clutch, primary and secondary transmissions, etc. Unlike a car, all mechanical noises on a motorcycle are audible to the driver but also to people nearby. All of these sounds help stimulate our senses and emotions. And make the motorcycle a unique object. The most important noise on a motorcycle is of course the noise released by its engine which is due to the fact that motorcycle engines must be more compact than those of cars and run at higher engine speeds. Furthermore, these engines, unlike cars, are not enclosed under a hood which provides some soundproofing. There is also the particular phenomenon of the frequency of vibrations emitted by a single or twin cylinder giving the impression of a greater noise than the 4-cylinder in-line cars. . .