As motorbikes go, it has a lot to boast about. It can reach 50mph in 12 seconds, produces no polluting emissions, and is as quiet as the low hum of a laptop computer.
But therein lies the problem. British engineers who yesterday unveiled the prototype of the world's first hydrogen-powered motorbike confessed they were considering adding an artificial "vroom" to the machine as they were worried its silence might be dangerous.
Known as ENV (Emissions Neutral Vehicle), the "fuel cell" bike is almost entirely silent. Anti-noise campaigners welcomed the prospect of a motorbike without the usual earth-shattering roar. But Harry Bradbury, chief executive of the bike's manufacturer, Intelligent Energy, said: "There has never been a silent bike produced, so no one is used to it. As it goes forward towards production, we're going to give thought to some light noise modulation."
He is planning to introduce an artificial engine noise which could be used in an urban setting to alert other road users but switched off in the countryside to allow for a peaceful ride.
The bike is powered by a briefcase-sized cell filled with high-pressure hydrogen, which is slotted in front of the seat and which needs to be topped up every 100 miles. Intelligent Energy is hoping to attract the interest of big motor manufacturers. BMW, Mazda and Toyota are already working on fuel cell cars.
Bikers reacted warily. Jeff Stone, of the British Motorcyclists Federation, said that noise was part of the attraction for many enthusiasts. "A lot of motorcyclists will say bikes these days are already far too quiet. They want to say 'look at me, I'm a rufty, tufty racer."
Fuel cells are seen as a promising alternative to the internal combustion engine, although a single cell presently costs £15,000.
Peter Wakeham, director of the Noise Abatement Society, said motorcycles were among the greatest causes of noise distress. He welcomed the prospect of a noise-free bike but added: "It kind of defeats the point to have a silent motorbike and then put an artificial noise on to it."

Having been a victim of myopic car drivers I'd like a noise like a heavy metal concert

Curious dillemma. I have mixed feelings about cycle noise- On the open highway, I don't mind hearing them at all, but right under my window at home there's a very busy stretch of road that hosts a seemingly endless stream of recklessly-operated, screechy "crotch rockets"- it gets ridiculous after awhile.
Every one of these "outlaws" just has to rev the damn thing till it howls while stopped at the stop sign or nearby traffic light, and they simply can't take off again without totally cobbing it. These guys are even more of a nuisance when they hold up traffic while the police and EMTs scrape what's left of them off the road after another routine wipeout (very, very common around here when the weather's warm). They give biking a bad name.
On the other hand, every year there's a massive Harley group ride out of New York that passes by here... that's like a symphony to me; over a hundred hogs in parade. But even that lovely sound gets old after awhile, especially a short-piped 1200 launching from a dead stop under my window late at night.

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i know the feeling. motorcycles are hard to ride in LA, and for someone my size they are hard to ride period. i wish everyone who bought a Prius or EV-1 would by a motorcycle instead. They have great fuel milage, are fast, cheap (in most cases), fun, timesavers, and did i mention fast

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ahh


but what about all that CO₂ pollution?