confiscated more than 60 bikes yesterday.

Traffic officers set up three road blocks around the Island to stop people with obviously faulty cycles.

It is a major offensive against noise, pack racing and theft which are proving to be a nuisance in Bermuda.

Police yesterday stressed their aim was not to "persecute'' -- and many offenders were being let off with cautions.

"We merely want to do something about a situation which has been going on a long time,'' said a Police spokesman.

But some of the young cyclists who had been caught complained that they had not been given time to repair their cycles before the Police offensive.

An announcement on Friday warned offenders that traffic officers would soon be starting their campaign against noise nuisance caused by "souped up'' bikes and possible stolen bikes and bike parts.

And they launched the campaign yesterday morning from 7 a.m., at points at Barnes Corner in Southampton, the junction of Manse Road and Middle Road in Paget and outside the Aquarium in Flatts.

Over the next two hours they managed to stop a large number of motorcycles and confiscated more than 60 bikes.

Outside the Aquarium two Police officers were stopping bikes particularly for having altered exhaust pipes.

But complaints were made about holding up traffic while the bikes were stopped and at least a dozen young motorcyclists remained at the Aquarium until noon to protest the clampdown.

Many of those stopped were Bermuda College students. Mr. Damon Edwards, 17, of Bailey's Bay, said: "I was trying to get to college. I had a half term test today, now I have missed it.

"They mention this law on Friday and then on Monday they are stopping people and confiscating their bikes. There was just no time to get them fixed. "I removed the muffle because it gives the bike more character.'' Miss Elicia Hollis, 17, also of Bailey's Bay said: "How could we get them fixed when Yamaha is not open over the weekend?'' Police took the cycles to the traffic pound at Prospect where tests will be carried out to see if charges are to be made against owners. The bikes will be returned but it will be up to owners to repair them to comply with the law.

Police public relations officer Sgt. John Dale pointed out that a large percentage of bikes confiscated by the Police had their muffles removed to make them louder and to allow them to have more powerful engines fitted.

Sgt. Dale admitted that there could have been problems with the timing of the operation during rush hour, but, he said: "We want to make it known that this is a 24-hour-a-day problem.

"Some people may have been delayed, if they had been stopped by Police, but if they are not law-breakers I am sure they will understand the situation.

"Those people who said they did not have enough time to change their bikes should not have been on the road if they knew their bikes were illegal and they knew about the operation. We gave people some notice. We could have done this on Friday.'' Sgt. Dale stressed cautions were being considered for many of the offences.

NO PLACE TO GO -- High school students outside the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo stand amid their bikes which Police seized yesterday in a massive clampdown on illegal motorcycles.