Being a pedestrian I get the raging tic for loud vehicles easily without any metal cage assistance. And sure I try to not get annoyed by their insane noise pollution and disruption of pleasant conversations or enjoyment of sound in a large radius. But fundamentally I believe that as the driver of an unnecessarily loud vehicle you* are an arsehole.

*you as in the driver, I am aware that the parent poster is not necessarily driving a loud vehicle.

I completely agree road rage is a terrible thing; I agree we are all responsible for our own behaviour; and as drivers we should not allow such things get to us.

But a needlessly loud motorcycle, particularly the kinds that "detonate/explode" on shifts/off-gas, will make me jump and annoy no matter what I'm doing - reading a book, having a coffee, mowing the lawn, going for a walk, playing with my kid, whatever... especially since unlike some similarly annoying sounds (Snoring, anyone :P), it is 100% purely intentional. This rider went out of their way to make it such, knowingly and willingly they spent money time & effort.

This is wrong. Many bikes have pops and cracks like this stock, straight from the factory floor. So do not assume the owner went out of his way to make it so.