Swarms of Harleys and other noisy things (Concord, Laconia: house, purchasing)

[Zod]

In my quest for photos depicting daily life in New Hampshire, I've noticed an obscene number of bikers on Harleys. My intention here isn't to offend Harley Davidson afficionados (most of you are probably good people when not on your motorcycles) but simply to receive an answer to a question. Is New Hamphire infested with bikers?

You see, I'm trying to escape the noisy "yee-haw, look at me and the hell with you" crowd that plagues the city I currently reside in: ATVs, Dirt bikes, pimped rides for drag racing, car stereos, and yes, Harleys.

New Hampshire with its small population and largely rural situation seemed ideally suited as quiet place to reflect upon nature's beauty. But wait, what's this? Laconia hosts one of the largest biker rallies in the U.S. every June? And uh-oh, is that a NASCAR speedway north of Concord? And ... retch ... a dragway in Epping?

Are these anomalies or is New Hampshire a hill-billy noise factory?

[JViello]

Yes some of us "lice" "infest" the area with use of motor/power sports. There is even one you didn't list - SNOW MACHINES! The horror!




Maybe we should just ban anything not powered by an electric mixer motor and solar panels?

I don't think a geographical change is going to help, you can't out run you. Just sayin...

P.S. Live free means just that. Live free. You dont' want to race a car, ride a motorcycle through the backroads or enjoy a day on the trails in a ATV or snowmachine...DON'T. But don't label those of us who do as some kind of earth hating vermin.

[GregW]

New Hampshire does not require wearing helmets when riding. This attracts a large number of motorcycle riders that love the “freedom” of riding without one. There is also the factor of people wanting really loud motorcycles and a propensity to ride in close formation. I do not understand either of these desires.

JViello - I do not think the OP was complaining about the riding but the disturbance created by the noise. There is a fine point between wanting a motorcycle to be loud enough to be heard on the highway but loud enough to rattle store windows is too loud. Riding for entertainment is one thing but riding to annoy is another. The latter is just plain unwanted aggressiveness and makes all motorcycles seem undesirable.

I prefer to wear a helmet because even my thick skull is softer than trees and guardrails and I keep my bike well muffled even though I like the sound of a screaming four cylinder engine at 10,000 RPM. Just not on a quiet summer evening.

[JViello]

Originally Posted by GregW

JViello - I do not think the OP was complaining about the riding but the disturbance created by the noise. There is a fine point between wanting a motorcycle to be loud enough to be heard on the highway but loud enough to rattle store windows is too loud. Riding for entertainment is one thing but riding to annoy is another. The latter is just plain unwanted aggressiveness and makes all motorcycles seem undesirable.

I disagree Greg. Terms like "infested with" and "hill billy" and "ye haw" shows the OP disdain and how he views those of us who enjoy power/motorsports.

I too ride a bike with a medium aftermarket pipe and don't agree with the open piped bikes. I too ride with a helmet MOST times and leather etc. CT doesn't have a helmet law either...it's no big draw for folks here, I don't see why it would be there. If anything I think it's the spirit of "live and let live" and the great roads of NH to ride on that attracts the lot.

All of that has nothing to do with the OP's "take" on what we enjoy. If said person moves to NH, the first time they hear a snowmachine in the woods while on a "quiet hike", or gets passed by a loud dually diesel pickup hauling a car to the track I can see the letters to the politicians and activism toward eliminating it starting.

I live in CT but spend PLENTY of time in NH and will most likely end up moving there in a couple years. I would hate to see what makes the state great get watered down by folks who want to be left alone yet won't leave others alone. I don't hunt anymore, but when I see picks of a dead bear (Fishinfool, Tinknocker etc) or whatever they shoot I do kind of cringe...but I would never, NEVER infringe on their right to said freedom or try and put them down for it.

I would suggest the OP look into a place on the Cape or perhaps Marxist Vineyard. It may fit him better. Or perhaps here in CT along the coast! They closed down the drag strip, our road race track has been regulated into being useless and most national events bypass it now, ATV's are banned outright, and they are working on imposing a helmet law. Perfect!

[SFT]

It probably depends on the area and the time of year. I only see large groups of bikers on the roads at a time during certain times of the year. Other than that, it's usually just one or two and that is pretty much limited to nice weather.

That being said, they have never bothered me besides the few that are excessively loud.

[buck naked]

even during bike week in Laconia when thousands of bikees are riding throughout the state, they are well behaved and are no more trouble than the influx of leaf peepers in the autumn.

I love the drag races in Epping. They have street night during the week when you race your own car against your friends. It's a good time for everyone.

There are towns such as Hampton where there are noise limits on the bikes and you will be stopped if the pipes are too loud.
Most bikers would agree that there’s a tremendous prejudice against bikers out there. Bikers are looked at as kind of crazy, overly agressive outlaws. What attracts a rider to motorcycling also repels the rest of the population. Most people have somebody in their family now who enjoys motorcycling. With the economy being the way it is, it's an economical way to go in the warmer months.
That being said, be aware NH is absolutely a "HILL BILLY NOISE FACTORY". You will probably be better off choosing another state where people are restricted in their outdoor activities.

[fishnfool]

I personally have nothing against motorcycles but I live off one of the main roads coming from the beach (and no where near the Hampton Beach strip).

Honestly I cannot stand the amount of motorcycles that drive down my road. I would have no problem if they didn't feel the need to rev their engines every 10 seconds and do 50-60 mph down the street very late into the night. I live in a residential area and there is absolutely no consideration for the people that live there. Nobody cares how loud your bike is!


I know it's not all and I hate to stereotype, but the people who drive quietly down my street are far and away the exception. In the summer I have to close my windows at night just to hear the television.

[nicolem]

NASCAR, motorcycles, ATV's, snowmobiles are a huge way of life in NH so if it really will bother you, perhaps you should look elsewhere.

I live right where Bike Week takes place, I am within walking distance to all the festivities. Neither my husband nor I own a bike and we don't want to but we always walk down, check out the scene, the food, the people etc. The bikers are not hill-billys-they are from all walks of life and we meet great people every year. As Buck said, the bikers that come here and pump tons of money into are economy are extremely well behaved. They are from all walks of life-doctor, lawyer, retired, blue-collar, white collar, you name it. There are also a lot of people like my husband and me-who don't bike-but who love to check out the stands, food, people-all along the backdrop of beautful Lake Winni.

We used to go to both NASCAR races every year but recently sold our September season tickets back, we go to July still. Again, a mix of all types of people. We have made some great friends from Canada who we meet up with each July.

We owned snowmobiles before we lived here. When we build our house in a few years and have more room, we will be purchasing snowmobiles once again. We have a snowmobile trail that goes right behind our current home and the whirring of the machines does not bother us at all. Again, because of the area we live in, we run into snowmobilers from all over the country when we are around town and they are from all walks of life.

If you move to real rural areas-you will see a lot of snowmobiles. We have friends in the winter who pretty much use their snowmobiles and not their car to get around up north. My friend, Bob is a retired doctor not a hill-billy by the way. People here in NH-from all walks of life-enjoy these activities.

[Verseau]

Aside from Bike Week, I never hear an excessive amount of motorcycles or other noisy things. New Hampshire is the quietest place I've ever lived. It's pretty easy to find a property away from a main road where you won't hear anything but the sound of birds chirping.

[buck naked]

"most of you are probably good people when not on your motorcycles"


the above statement from the OP pretty much says it all - in my experience, most bikees are good people even when ON the motorcycle - prejudice exists everywhere.