Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Why the Ferrari F355 sounds so good

roadandtrack.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

91–100 of 106 posts

Re: Why the Ferrari F355 sounds so good

#91

Post by xeonmc »

wkjagt wrote: post #54
js2 wrote: post #2

For context, here's what it sounds like: https://youtu.be/MCCYMys6aDw?t=890 (14:50 in case the time link doesn't work.) And from the video embedded at the end of the article: https://youtu.be/zUU0aW3yyMc?t=32 (32 seconds in.) Meanwhile, here's the Ford GT40: https://youtu.be/KJJ0nIbn_Ts?t=120 This is a replica GT40 with a modern Ford 5.0 Coyote V8: https://youtu.be/6g3Ay83JLJE https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Modul…

Last year, I was driving through the mountains, behind a motorcycle that sounded so good I had constant goosebumps from it. The sound of it echoing between the mountains, slowing down, accelerating for like 30 minutes was such a special experience. When I was behind it, I didn't know what it was, but I had to find out. When we came to a village, we both stopped at the same traffic light, next to each other, so I coul…

It's a flatcrank, right? This simulation should sound similar?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5r7X9L8_pS4

Re: Why the Ferrari F355 sounds so good

#92

Post by roarcher »

startupsfail wrote: post #41
qbasic_forever wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Americans like it because when you sit in a big V8 and smash the accelerator it jolts you forward and pins you in the seat while the engine is roaring like a lion. It's fun, like going down a hill in a rollercoaster. That's really all there is to it. Hearing it makes you think of the fun yourself.

[flagged]

Going to such great lengths to shoehorn a dig at Americans into a random conversation is a very strange hobby. Consider finding a new one.

Re: Why the Ferrari F355 sounds so good

#93

Post by mulmen »

lutorm wrote: post #77
mulmen wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love my 1991 VFR400. The Tyga exhaust takes it to a whole new level. Worth every penny. The extra 3500 RPM on top of the RC30 are nice too. Plus an NC30 can be had for about 1/5 the price of an RC30. https://youtu.be/f-1HwvLLNEI Does a good job capturing the exhaust along with the straight-cut gears in the valvetrain and the intake noise.

I have exactly the same bike as well! :)

Cool! I have had trouble finding Bridgestone Battlax tires for it. I still have a decent pair on the bike but they won't last much longer. There are some tires available domestically that are close but nothing is quite right. I have had great luck getting parts from Rick Oliver and occasionally Aliexpress.

They are from a sweet spot in history. There was adequate technology to make them reliable and high performance but inadequate technology to truly perfect suspension geometry and engine layout. The big-bang four was intended to reduce rear wheel slip by maximizing dwell time between impulses. Modern bikes can make far more power and let computers do the traction control. But the VFR400 is a carbureted fully mechanical bike. The ignition is electronic but no more complex than points. Just more reliable. It's a real joy to own, maintain, and ride. It isn't even fast, but it sure feels like it's doing something!

Re: Why the Ferrari F355 sounds so good

#94

Post by mulmen »

vr46 wrote: post #62
mulmen wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love my 1991 VFR400. The Tyga exhaust takes it to a whole new level. Worth every penny. The extra 3500 RPM on top of the RC30 are nice too. Plus an NC30 can be had for about 1/5 the price of an RC30. https://youtu.be/f-1HwvLLNEI Does a good job capturing the exhaust along with the straight-cut gears in the valvetrain and the intake noise.

The VFR had such a great unique sound, could hear them approaching in the city. I had a 1998 which didn’t last too long but it was fabulous sounding. Only four cylinder bike I owned, it’s been twins all the way for me otherwise and for my ears, nothing beats the V-twin grin :) But older VFRs before they got heavy are wonderful. On the subject of the article, I hooned an F355 around Silverstone and while it sounded go…

The VFR400 ran for three generations (NC21, NC24, NC30) from 1986 to 1992. The successor was the RVF400 (NC35) which had a similar (same? different cams?) engine to the NC30 but a different intake and tank and inverted forks. It only ran as late as 1996. There were complimentary VFR750s for some of those years, including as late as 1998. Was your VFR a 400 or 750? If it was a 750 you had one highly desirable bike. From what I understand the last Soichiro himself developed.

Regarding the heavy weight in the later 1990s the VFR name was applied to sport touring bikes that had V4s but not big-bang 360 cranks. My NC30 weighs less than 400lb wet and is definitely not a touring bike.

Agreed on the V-twins. I would still love to have a RVT1000 but those command too high a price when Ducati Superbikes can be had for half the price.

Re: Why the Ferrari F355 sounds so good

#95

Post by maartenh »

tdehnel wrote: post #84
Faaak wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The sound of it echoing between the mountains And sadly, annoying thousands of people during its trip

Waking babies, causing anxiety attacks, generally disturbing the peace for many many people all so a single person can go vroom. I almost entirely always say we should err on the side of more personal freedom, but loud motorcycles need to be completely banned.

As a motorcycle drivers myself, I think that the obsession of my fellow drivers with producing loud noises is childish.

I really enjoy the acceleration though (when it's safe to e.g. accelerate away from a traffic light or when getting on the freeway).

The feeling of way faster responding control, and being exposed to wind, smells, sounds makes it a very relaxing immersive experience for me.

Re: Why the Ferrari F355 sounds so good

#96

Post by ofrzeta »

maartenh wrote: post #95
tdehnel wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Waking babies, causing anxiety attacks, generally disturbing the peace for many many people all so a single person can go vroom. I almost entirely always say we should err on the side of more personal freedom, but loud motorcycles need to be completely banned.

As a motorcycle drivers myself, I think that the obsession of my fellow drivers with producing loud noises is childish. I really enjoy the acceleration though (when it's safe to e.g. accelerate away from a traffic light or when getting on the freeway). The feeling of way faster responding control, and being exposed to wind, smells, sounds makes it a very relaxing immersive experience for me.

> I really enjoy the acceleration though

I dream of an electric motocycle that can accelerate like hell and emit almost no noise. Just like Tron or something.

Re: Why the Ferrari F355 sounds so good

#97

Post by doublerebel »

ofrzeta wrote: post #96
maartenh wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a motorcycle drivers myself, I think that the obsession of my fellow drivers with producing loud noises is childish. I really enjoy the acceleration though (when it's safe to e.g. accelerate away from a traffic light or when getting on the freeway). The feeling of way faster responding control, and being exposed to wind, smells, sounds makes it a very relaxing immersive experience for me.

> I really enjoy the acceleration though I dream of an electric motocycle that can accelerate like hell and emit almost no noise. Just like Tron or something.

Check out Damon Motorcycles.

Re: Why the Ferrari F355 sounds so good

#98

Post by markatto »

nimbius wrote: post #12

hi, im a professional diesel engine mechanic and can easily explain what youre hearing. Most italian/european sports cars (with the exception of Mercedes in the past 3 years because American customers) have machined their crankshafts as "flatplane" cranks. Flat-plane cranks, no matter what firing order they have, will always alternate from bank to bank. This yields optimum exhaust scavenging and thus doesn't require…

I think that you should mention that this is specific to 90 degree v8 engines - other engine designs can have similar crankshaft / firing order trade offs but would not be described as “flat plane” or “cross plane”.

Re: Why the Ferrari F355 sounds so good

#99

Post by dylan604 »

voldacar wrote: post #86
dylan604 wrote: post #5

This reminds me of a fun little experience on a production shoot. The producer had hired a company that specializes in recording the sound of a car. This wasn't just the sounds of the engine running or driving, but the sounds of the car handle from outside and inside, the sound of the door opening/closing again inside/outside. Apply this to every aspect of the car. Pedals, shifters, ignition switches/buttons, trunks,…

Is the final recording available online anywhere?

not that i know of. this was 10ish years ago, and i was only on the camera department. i only saw it because one of my buddies worked the sound mix so i got to see/hear it at his place.

Re: Why the Ferrari F355 sounds so good

#100

Post by handedness »

nimbius wrote: post #32
qbasic_forever wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Americans like it because when you sit in a big V8 and smash the accelerator it jolts you forward and pins you in the seat while the engine is roaring like a lion. It's fun, like going down a hill in a rollercoaster. That's really all there is to it. Hearing it makes you think of the fun yourself.

this is actually a really great comment. Mercedes is pivoting to the crossplane kinda for this reason (the american market.) it makes a V6 sound like a V8, keeps their engine design euro spec compliant, and helps deliver torque which their twelve SUV lineup desperately needs considering most weigh in at over two short tonnes. crossplane also helps mask turbo whine which most red-blooded americans associate with their…

Mercedes is running cross-plane cranks in their V6 engines because V6s are cross-plane out of necessity. That applies to all engines with cylinder counts which are not exponents of 2.
Post reply on HN