Why Are Tuk-tuks So Noisy?

[altman]

they are basically just a moto-bike on three wheels so they shouldn't sound significantly different.

but everyone of them is loud. it may just be that they don't have a muffler, but if that is the case why not?

if they are trying to be noticed by being noisy they somewhat lose the point when they are all loud, don't they?

[Rasseru]

they are basically just a moto-bike on three wheels so they shouldn't sound significantly different.

but everyone of them is loud.

I haven't checked, but they sound like two-strokes to me. Two-stroke engines are noisier and qualitatively different in sound from four-stroke engines.

[tigerbeer]

they are basically just a moto-bike on three wheels so they shouldn't sound significantly different.

but everyone of them is loud.

I haven't checked, but they sound like two-strokes to me. Two-stroke engines are noisier and qualitatively different in sound from four-stroke engines.

Running on LPG, one would think that the engine exhausts less pollution that regular bikes, doesn't seem like the case. 4 stroke engine using NGV would be the ideal choice. but like the OP stated, it wouldn't sound like a "Tuk Tuk" anymore.

[Greenside]

Loud Tuk-Tuks.....How can you even ask?

It's because the guys enjoy it along with the shouting salespeople in supermarkets, the all night Karaoke, the "entertainment" on buses, the performers in your local moo-ka-ta (sp?), the village Head Man who reaches for the mike at 6.30, the dogs (but only after midnight), the announcements at the airport, the monk with the loudhailer, the monk with the mike, the purgatory that's the waiting area for the movies at Airport Plaza, the Boys with the Bikes and I could go on....

The only time when I'm surprised is when I ask my girlfriend, happily watching the subtitles of an English movie on TV, to turn the volume up above a whisper and she says "What's the matter? Are you going deaf?"

Gere lau...

Edited March 24, 2008 by Greenside

[kelvinj]

They are two strokes, but this doesn't mean they have to be noisier, it's just a bad silencing system. This is compounded by the higher frequency of the 2-stroke exhaust note, an equally loud 4-stroke does not bother me much at all, tuk-tuks drive me insane, I hate them with a vengance.

On the polution front, 2-strokes have a total loss lubrication system, all the oil put into them is burned and comes out of the exhaust, hence the cloud of blue smoke behind old or badly adjusted engines. The idea that tuk-tuks are " clean " because they use LPG is a nonsense.

[gpdjohn]

Loud Tuk-Tuks.....How can you even ask?

It's because the guys enjoy it along with the shouting salespeople in supermarkets, the all night Karaoke, the "entertainment" on buses, the performers in your local moo-ka-ta (sp?), the village Head Man who reaches for the mike at 6.30, the dogs (but only after midnight), the announcements at the airport, the monk with the loudhailer, the monk with the mike, the purgatory that's the waiting area for the movies at Airport Plaza, the Boys with the Bikes and I could go on....

The only time when I'm surprised is when I ask my girlfriend, happily watching the subtitles of an English movie on TV, to turn the volume up above a whisper and she says "What's the matter? Are you going deaf?"

Gere lau...

Yep!

[al warner]

Maybe they are air cooled engines too. I don't know.

[StefanH]

There are 2 stroke Tuks, but also 4 stroke Tuks, even some running on LPG....

But almost all are very loud...... drivers love it this way.....

btw., ever encountered a Harley which is not loud as hel_l ?

[gpdjohn]

I alwas complain when I'm directly behind 'em..

But then I'm riding a mighty 2 stroke- blue smoke, sounds like rocks 'n a tin can, hand made Italian vehicle.

Dolce Vita...

[Rasseru]

btw., ever encountered a Harley which is not loud as hel_l ?

You betcha. Over the years I've come across any number of the critters consigned to silent rustdom by poor workmanship.

[ataloss]

It's because the guys enjoy it along with the shouting salespeople in supermarkets, the all night Karaoke, the "entertainment" on buses, the performers in your local moo-ka-ta (sp?), the village Head Man who reaches for the mike at 6.30, the dogs (but only after midnight), the announcements at the airport, the monk with the loudhailer, the monk with the mike, the purgatory that's the waiting area for the movies at Airport Plaza, the Boys with the Bikes and I could go on....

The only time when I'm surprised is when I ask my girlfriend, happily watching the subtitles of an English movie on TV, to turn the volume up above a whisper and she says "What's the matter? Are you going deaf?"

Gere lau...

Greenside, you have just about got them all. Funny if it were not so true!

[Donnyboy]

i actually like the noise of them, at least during wake hours, at least you know they around when you need one, or the fact you better watch out yr not in his path

[realthaideal]

Actually Greenside, you missed my favorite, the girls at the Tesco and Big C aggressively pushing 10 varieties of awful tasting hot dogs n sausages over the loudspeakers while you try n shop the meat n produce sections. Overall, the noise adds up to bringing a place to life and making it 'sanuk.' Is it any wonder that in a place waking up to the idea of pollution and preventability that noise pollution is not yet on the table ?

And actually, almost a pleasure to ride behind an LPG tukkie compared to those running diesel. No fumes. Still noisy as hel_l, but I can breathe. Very nice. Been noticing this difference since prices for gas went crazy last year.

Btw, Tuk-tuks take their name as an onomatopoeia for the sound the exhaust pipes make 'tuk-tuk-tuk-tuk.' Can't go losing their namesake now can they ?

[khunphil]

Btw, Tuk-tuks take their name as an onomatopoeia for the sound the exhaust pipes make 'tuk-tuk-tuk-tuk.' Can't go losing their namesake now can they ?

Hi,

Really ? I thought it was because of using their horn twice 'tuk-tuk' when they need to attract your attention ...

Anyway, if I am not wrong, I noticed that when I am in Bangkok, their is not so much smoke on the back of the tuk-tuks ... maybe better engines ...

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Also, why is the food so hot? Mouth-shatteringly so.

Also, ...

[Daffy D]

It's a sad fact that Thailand, amongst others, is a nation of noise polluters. It's a shame for tourists who come to what they think is a quiet peaceful tropical paradise only to subjected to a noise level greater than their home environment that they thought to escape.

Read an article some time ago about a island resort that had bungalows right on the beach front. Trouble was the local longtail boat owners would line up along the waters edge at the crack of dawn each morning to tout for business. As non of the longtail boats had any sort of silencer system the racket as they jostled for position was horrendous and brought complaints from guests in the bungalows.

The owners of the bungalows offered the boat owners to pay for fitting silencers to their boat engines but the all refused as they obviously liked to make such a racket.

[papajohn]

Loud Tuk-Tuks.....How can you even ask?

It's because the guys enjoy it along with the shouting salespeople in supermarkets, the all night Karaoke, the "entertainment" on buses, the performers in your local moo-ka-ta (sp?), the village Head Man who reaches for the mike at 6.30, the dogs (but only after midnight), the announcements at the airport, the monk with the loudhailer, the monk with the mike, the purgatory that's the waiting area for the movies at Airport Plaza, the Boys with the Bikes and I could go on....

The only time when I'm surprised is when I ask my girlfriend, happily watching the subtitles of an English movie on TV, to turn the volume up above a whisper and she says "What's the matter? Are you going deaf?"

Gere lau...

Yep!

Excellent observations, ya gotta laff or you'd cry, it is AMAZING !! Leave the tuk-tuks alone. They are a landmark in CM.

[adjan jb]

If they're weren't that noisy, it wouldn't be Thailand

The" sound of a tuk-tuk"® should be registered trademark

Have a good night's sleep

Edited December 21, 2008 by adjan jb

[Ricardo]

It's not the tuk-tuks, it's the old farts sitting on the back-seat, screaming at the way the drivers weave in-and-out of the traffic, who make all the noise !

The som-tam lady assures me, tuk-tuk drivers are recruited from RTAF fighter-pilot rejects, they're the ones who are too reckless to fly combat !

[adjan jb]

The som-tam lady assures me, tuk-tuk drivers are recruited from RTAF fighter-pilot rejects, they're the ones who are too reckless to fly combat !

I love the smell of a tuk-tuk in the morning.

Edited December 21, 2008 by adjan jb

[endure]

Loud Tuk-Tuks.....How can you even ask?

It's because the guys enjoy it

Gere lau...

Most of 'the guys' have no say in the matter. They rent tuktuks at 180bt a day from a garage which takes care of the maintenance.

[jaideeguy]

endure.....can I, as a resident falang [with Thai driver's license] just go in and rent a tuk tuk for a day @180THB??? sounds like a fun thing to do!!

Or do you need a special tuk tuk driver's lisence??

[WinnieTheKhwai]

You could try.. Legally thought it's be more sound if you drive a tuk tuk that's NOT registered as a taxi. (i.e. doesn't have the green on yellow plates, but red on white plates). Those are rare.