Harley owners groups even distribute guides as to which areas are 'unfriendly' towards them (eg, actually care about excessive noise).

As a rider, I can't want until Harley crashes and burns. Ungodly loud and ungodly TERRIBLE sounding machines. I only wish I could afford a Ducati but at least a Duc with Termis sounds GOOD in addition to pissing everyone off. I don't know why anybody would want to ride what sounds like a flatulent cow.

And their riders' need to go wide open throttle at low revs any time they see someone within earshot they think they might be able to 'impress' just murders any desire I have to ever ride one.

I can't say for sure I won't find myself being drawn to a 'cruiser' style motorcycle at some point in life. But I can say for sure that I will never, ever want to associate myself with that particular brand.

From a non-rider's perspective, the difference between a loud Harley and a loud Ducati is the same- both obnoxious. Only riders would be able to tell the difference.

Harley has made racebikes in the past, both flat track as well as track bikes. Although yes, they are known for their cruisers.

One sounds like a fart.

Agreed, though, of course many people find any loud vehicle annoying. I've seen the occasional ricer banging their R6 off the rev limiter at the gas station. The difference is, the loud sportbike is gone in the blink of an eye. The loud Harley rider feels the need to 'show off' in every 30mph pedestrian zone they can find.

Harley motors are designed to be loud. They are called "thumpers" because both pistons are at top dead center at the same time, therefore they both fire at the same time. This also causes massive vibration. Very inefficient and lame IMO.

They don't. It's a 45 degree vee with a common crank pin. The front cylinder fires, the crank rotates 315 degrees before the rear cylinder fires, then the crank rotates 405 degrees before the first cylinder fires again.

The 90 degree difference between firing pulses is what makes the engine shake and sound the way it does.

I wish the supes would push some quality of life ordinances, kind of like the ones Mirakami passed for the panhandle to deal with the druggies on Haight, but most supes don't seem to care.