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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:
Original poster
lolaflores · 15/01/2018 11:54

Bin man comes once a week, this bike is warmed up sometimes twice a day. Lots of cars warm up on the street in cold weather and I don't notice them but this particular motorbike is very loud. If he must warm up then fine, but the noise seems excessive.

OP posts:
LakieLady · 15/01/2018 11:54

I'm a huge fan of loud motorbikes. Anything that makes motorists more aware that there's a motorbike nearby can only be a good thing imo. Daylight running lights, hi-vis outer clothing etc doesn't appear to be enough for many drivers, including the one that killed my friend's husband, leaving her with 2 children under 5, and the one that "just didn't see" my colleague, causing him life-changing injuries.

Leaving it to run for 5 minutes is anti-social though. DP has never found that necessary with any of his bikes, they only run for as long as it takes to do his gloves up.

Lethaldrizzle · 15/01/2018 11:56

He has to warm his engine up! What all through the year? I thought engines were designed to work effectively straight away. Yanbu. I can't stand the sound of unnecessarily idling engines. Just switch them off! Think of others.

MrTrebus · 15/01/2018 11:57

It's an everyday person doing an everyday thing at acceptable times, sorry I don't agree with you. At least he's not doing wheelies up and down the road at 3am. Things could be worse!

DonnyAndVladSittingInATree · 15/01/2018 11:58

Why don’t you try and flip your association with the noise from nuisance to therapeutic. If it’s a constant hum for 5 minutes you could use it to do some meditation.

Original poster
lolaflores · 15/01/2018 11:59

So I have realised it does need warming up my question now is whether 5 mins is excessive. And he warms it up whatever the season too "Lethaldrizzle" .
Other neighbours have commented but I doubt very much they have said anything.

OP posts:
GlitterUnicornsAndAllThatJazz · 15/01/2018 11:59

In the nicest possible way - get a job

Littlebitshort · 15/01/2018 11:59

This would annoy they hell out of me too however hes not really doing anything wrong. I often start my car and let it warm up on the driveway for 5 mins in cold weather. Sorry you have to put up with it but i dont think there is anything you can do?

DonnyAndVladSittingInATree · 15/01/2018 12:00

He has to warm his engine up! What all through the year?

OP said it has been for the last 4 months so that falls in with the drop in temperature.

Original poster
lolaflores · 15/01/2018 12:00

DonnyandVladsittingInATree looks like that might be the answer as I don't want to have to speak to him which I am sure won;t have a great outcome as he is unlikely to change any of his bikes attributes. The loudness was probably a reason why he bought it in the first place.

OP posts:
DonnyAndVladSittingInATree · 15/01/2018 12:02

In the nicest possible way - get a job

Don’t be knob. Lots of people who work are in the house during the day.

BinkyandBunty · 15/01/2018 12:02

If he starts doing it at 5.30am again, or other times people are normally sleeping YWNBU to ask him nicely to tone it down a bit.

Original poster
lolaflores · 15/01/2018 12:03

GlitterUnicorns nicesest way possible, that was not very nice now was it as you probably read in the thread I have mobility problems, without which would mean I would be working and not having to listen to his motorbike, now wouldn;t I?

OP posts:
GlitterUnicornsAndAllThatJazz · 15/01/2018 12:05

@lolaflores

Then just relax. Seriously people are allowed to live their lives and this is so minor. I would use his 5 minute warm ups as prompts to do tasks you've been putting off. Aka do your washing up in the time it takes him to mess around with his bike.

Original poster
lolaflores · 15/01/2018 12:07

GlitterUnicornsAndAllThatJazz would your attitude soften if I worked from Home then?

OP posts:
Original poster
lolaflores · 15/01/2018 12:09

glitterUnicornsAndAllThatJazz you're comment upthread has really, really upset me. There was no all for that. I don't work outside the home for physicals reason which curtail what I can do.
Do have a good read of a thread before commenting

OP posts:
KayaG · 15/01/2018 12:15

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

FluffyWuffy100 · 15/01/2018 12:59

I'm in the "just relax" camp.

Yes the noise sounds annoying but at the moment he isn't doing it at antisocial hours.

Sparklingbrook · 15/01/2018 13:21

Blimey, seems some posters on here got out of bed the wrong side this morning...

teaandtoast · 15/01/2018 13:28

I warm my car up on the driveway if the windscreen needs defrosting.

I have an older motorbike and I've never warmed it up. Switch on, get on and go.

Sparklingbrook · 15/01/2018 13:33

This is interesting..

www.express.co.uk/life-style/cars/876493/car-windscreen-defrost-UK-fine-car-insurance

GetShitDone · 15/01/2018 13:37

I sympathise. My neighbour had someone housesitting for a week and he did this - but it was every morning at 5.30am and it was right outside my bedroom.

Its loud and it's annoying. But at that time of day I don't think you really have much you can do.

I was lucky, he was only there for a week.

Original poster
lolaflores · 15/01/2018 13:39

Sparklingvrook...that is very interesting. Thanks for the link.

OP posts:
MsWanaBanana · 15/01/2018 13:41

Tbh I think you should just let it go. My neighbour works shifts and has a bike that needs warming up at 5am some mornings. On the late shift they come home at midnight. It was annoying when I first moved it but tbh I’ve just tuned it out and don’t even notice anymore. Its 5mins twice a day. If it really bothers you then just go to the back of the house or turn your tv or music up for 5 mins. Put some headphones in. Don’t be that person complaining about someone doing something completely legal at a completely reasonable time of day. It’s not his fault you’re at home all day.

Andrewofgg · 15/01/2018 13:49

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.

Noisy is unavoidable because the engine is exposed. Polluting? They are held to the same standards as cars and because they use less fuel are less harmful in any meaningful environmental sense.

If this fellow needs to warm u the engine before he leaves for work, then so be it, and if he goes back to night shifts, well, that's JTB.