If you are an avid ATV rider, you have probably heard that the there have become some new laws against having your ATV decibel levels too loud. Most people who are ATV riders realize that just because your ATV is loud, it does not mean that you have more "power" coming from the engine of your ATV. It is true that a higher horsepower ATV will emit somewhat more noise, however. This does not mean, though, that your ATV needs to be obnoxious to others in the area who are not ATV riders.
The approximate decibel law hovers somewhere around 96 in most states. Recently researchers and development specialists in the field of ATV production have configured newer ATVs with four stroke engines which produce a somewhat deeper and "throatier" sound, which has helped somewhat eliminate a bit of the extra noise. Still, the issue of noise exists.
Many manufacturers of exhaust systems are currently working on pipes to help reduce noise, but systems are not currently available... yet.
So, for the time being, it is up to the consumer, the ATV rider, to know how many decibels their own ATV emits. Although, as previously mentioned, most areas prefer a decibel level of 96, many prefer lower than 96 on their ATV riding trails.
For comparison of how loud 96 decibels really is, 80 decibels is about the same amount of sound as running a garbage disposal. 110 decibels is like pushing a running lawn mower. So, each ATV rider should always make sure that their own ATV be somewhere between those two sounds.
