ASK THE MXPERTS:

I Know That Motocross has a 94 dB Sound Limit, But What Is It In Road Racing?

Dear MXA,
    I know that motocross has a 94 dBb sound limit, but what is it in MotoGP?

    Under current rules, which are constantly in flux (which is one reason why production motorcycles can never meet any existing standard), the AMA requires motocross bikes to be 94 dB at 20 inches (4500 rpm for 450s and 5000 rpm for 250s).

    Starting this season in Europe there will be a new standard called the “Two Meter Max” test. It is called the Two Meter Max rule because the sound level will be tested with a sound meter at maximum rpm at two meters from the end of the pipe. For motocross the maximum noise level permitted at a distance of 100 meters will be of 81 dB, and in Enduro the maximum noise level admitted at a distance of 100 meters will be 78 dB. There is no mention of how loud the bike will be at two meters.

    Road race rules are much more lax. MotoGP has a limit of 130 dB at 5500 rpm and AMA Pro Racing allows 105 dB at 20 inches.

IN ADDITIONAL NEWS

For 2012, the maximum MotoGP road race engine capacity will increase to 1000cc (with a limit of four cylinders and a maximum of an 81mm cylinder bore). This follows the 2002 rule change that originally introduced the 990cc four-stroke MotoGP motorcycles—which replaced the original 500cc two-stroke machines. In 2007, the maximum MotoGP engine capacity was reduced from 990cc to 800cc to help reduce lap times. The 800cc four-stroke rule continued in 2008 and 2009, but it turned out that the 800cc bikes were faster than the previous 990cc motorcycles. For 2010 and 2011 the 800cc bikes will persist, but in 2012 the engine size will go back up.

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