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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbours daily motorbike ritual

163 replies

lolaflores · 15/01/2018 10:46

Every morning. At 10.30, give or take, our neighbour 4 doors down, starts the engine of his quite loud motorbike (I dont know the make), then leaves it to run for about 5 minutes before roaring off down the road.
He (it is a He I have checked), roars back later in the afternoon, about 4. He then does the same turning on, leaving to idle outside the house for 5 mins, then roars off.
He does this every, bloody day. The engine on the bike is loud and vibrating and it creates a heady thrum in the house. The delibrate polluting is getting on my nerves too.
Other neighbours have commented but as yet I haven't gone and said anything as I think I might be being a cranky old cow.Are there grounds for me to approach and ask politely for them to stop doing this" It has been going on for about 4 months now. Bored of it.
Added to which, there is the risk of the thing being knicked as it is left running unattended outside the house.
It is obviously his pride and joy but the shine has defintely gone off it for me.

OP posts:
araiwa · 15/01/2018 10:51

Its his pride and joy and he is taking care of it as he should- letting it warm up and cool down properly.

Hes not doing it at 3am either

dingdongdigeridoo · 15/01/2018 10:54

It does sound annoying, but 10.30am isn't early, and it's only 5 minutes of noise.

I do sympathise. I used to live in a flat that overlooked garages and some guy was always tinkering with his motorbike. They're loud and they stink.

Original poster
lolaflores · 15/01/2018 10:56

it is every day though. I am at home and most people are probably out so it most likely isn't annoying anyone else but me. The windows vibrate.

OP posts:
MumGoneMild · 15/01/2018 10:58

It's during ok hours and for 5 mins. Stay away from your net curtains and leave him to it.
You could have worse neighbours

Original poster
lolaflores · 15/01/2018 11:00

Mumgonewild I don;t have nets.

OP posts:
gamerchick · 15/01/2018 11:01

You could pull him and just let him know that his motorbike ritual has resulted in thoughts of some pretty graphic ways of hurting someone with a mad glint. It might scare him.

Or alternatively get some ear defenders for those 5 minutes. I feel for you, it would fray my nerves. I can’t even handle the tree surgeons round here once a year.

52isjustanumber · 15/01/2018 11:01

I feel your pain, next door's daughter's boyfriend does this with his car. His friends who visit also do this when they come to visit. They woke me up at 11.30pm while they sat and talked, fiddled with their phones etc before driving off at a rate of knots. Make the whole house vibrate. Yes its only for 5-10 mins , but can be longer but its bloody annoying. Get in, turn on, drive off....simple.

Original poster
lolaflores · 15/01/2018 11:13

I think it should be just get in or on and drive away. It looks like mindless polluting too just letting it chug away for 5 minutes.

OP posts:
MrTrebus · 15/01/2018 11:14

10.30 am then 4pm for a bit? You need to either go out or get over it. This is not in the least bit anti social and yes you'll sound ridiculous if you go and tell him not to do it.

Sparklingbrook · 15/01/2018 11:15

Urgh that would really annoy me too. Hopefully someone will steal it if he carries on.

MrTrebus · 15/01/2018 11:15

Oh and older bikes and cars do need time to warm up so he probably can't help it.

DingDongDenny · 15/01/2018 11:19

I hate motorbikes and I can't understand how they get away with being so noisy and polluting when cars are held to much higher standards.

There is someone near us who commutes by motorbike - leaves early and arrives back 7ish and the roar always wakes us up as he goes past, we aren't even right next to the road. I would estimate that he passes a couple of hundred homes on his route, all of whom will be woken up by the noise

How is that ok? and how is it bikes always seem to have crap, exceptionally loud exhausts and go far faster than the speed limit?

MrTrebus · 15/01/2018 11:20

@DingDongDenny

Oh yes because allll bikers do this and have that type if bike and nooooo car drivers do this and have that type of car Hmm generalisation much.

user1493413286 · 15/01/2018 11:26

Sounds annoying but I’d just be glad that he does it during those times and not at night or early in the morning. If you say anything I doubt he’d stop and it’d just create an issue with him. My DP used to have a car with a very noisy exhaust (didn’t realise until after we’d travelled 4 hours to collect) and a neighbour complained to us and it just created negativity as we weren’t prepared to spend hundreds of pounds to change it just for the neighbours wishes

DingDongDenny · 15/01/2018 11:34

MrTrebus No cars are as noisy as really noisy bikes That's my point.

If bikes are quiet then I have no issue

Original poster
lolaflores · 15/01/2018 11:34

Mr. Trebus I have mobility problems which means I am at home a lot and would go out to avoid this noise if possible. And the bike isnt old at all.

User1493413286 he was doing it at 5,30am until about a month ago so I presume he works shifts and it might return to that at some point

OP posts:
Original poster
lolaflores · 15/01/2018 11:36

Dingdong there are a couple of other motorbikes on the street which seem to be able to go about their business without creating as much revving and warming up.

OP posts:
Original poster
lolaflores · 15/01/2018 11:37

So if he is letting the bike warm up at 5.30am it then I am on firmer ground to speak to them about it? Politely ask if they might not do the warm up in the early hours but if they msut do it then later in the morning?

OP posts:
nocake · 15/01/2018 11:39

Modifying the exhaust in a way that makes it louder is illegal. In most cases the police aren't interested because generally it isn't a problem. But if it's causing a persistent nuisance then they might drop in for a chat with him.

CabbagesOnFire · 15/01/2018 11:39

Put a polite anonymous note through his door? He might not realise it's really annoying anyone.

Yes some bikes are loud, and loud exhausts are illegal. I don't know how they get away with it. Some cars on the road are illegal too. I am a biker but my bike is quiet, legal, and I don't speed.

DuggeeHugs · 15/01/2018 11:43

I have a motorbike, it requires running for a few minutes before riding in order to warm up. I don't run it to annoy people and ride off as soon as it is ready. YABU to assume your neighbour is doing this to be difficult and I doubt there is much he can do about it - I'm afraid if a vehicle needs warming before use then talking to him won't change that

Original poster
lolaflores · 15/01/2018 11:47

DuggeeHugs I don't think they are doing it to be a delibarate pain. I just wondered if it was entirely necessary as none of the other motorbike owners on the street do the same thing. Is 5 minutes the usual amount needed too?

OP posts:
MrTrebus · 15/01/2018 11:50

Massive dripfeeds. Anyway I think you might need to move if it bothers you that much at those times of the day.

Original poster
lolaflores · 15/01/2018 11:50

Mr.Trebus you have been most helpful and a joy. Thank you for your input and insights.

OP posts:
DonnyAndVladSittingInATree · 15/01/2018 11:52

He has to warm his bike up. I have to start my car about ten minutes before we leave in the mornings to get the windscreen defrosted and the car above freezing temperature! He’s just doing the same except his is noisier. It’s only 5 minutes. Think of it like when the bin lorry is picking up. It’s only a few minutes .