Loud Pipes Research Study
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,673
Likes: 16
From: Norfolk, VA
A couple of things, though I am certainly not an expert in this field. My opinion is it is not only the level or volume of the noise, but the fact that it is associated with something. If one is surrounded with loud bikes all the time the sound of a loud bike will "blend in" just as the eyes "seeing" a motorcycle can blend in to the visual background. For instance a gun shot on my street draws my attention, but a gun shot at the range does not even make me turn my head.
It is going to be very difficult to quantify how much the louder pipes help. It is going to come down to opinion again in the end. In my mind the question is not if or if not the loud pipes make a motorcyclist more noticeable, but rather how much it helps. We have to decide if the inconvenience to others is worth the extra safety. I would certainly be more noticeable if I rode around with a large speaker blaring a very high pitched noise to the front and rear of the motorcycle, but I do not think any of us would think that was a reasonable thing to do.
My opinion is that the studies I have read say that most motorcyclist are killed or injured by left turners that are not paying attention. One would assume they are in front of the bike at the time they make a left turn. I would also guess that most of the time the left turner in front of the bike would not hear the pipes unless they were pointed toward the front of the motorcycle. Just a guess. Sound waves are directional, a motorcycles pipes pushes most of the noise to the rear. Like I said I am not an expert, just guessing here.
Good luck with your study.
It is going to be very difficult to quantify how much the louder pipes help. It is going to come down to opinion again in the end. In my mind the question is not if or if not the loud pipes make a motorcyclist more noticeable, but rather how much it helps. We have to decide if the inconvenience to others is worth the extra safety. I would certainly be more noticeable if I rode around with a large speaker blaring a very high pitched noise to the front and rear of the motorcycle, but I do not think any of us would think that was a reasonable thing to do.
My opinion is that the studies I have read say that most motorcyclist are killed or injured by left turners that are not paying attention. One would assume they are in front of the bike at the time they make a left turn. I would also guess that most of the time the left turner in front of the bike would not hear the pipes unless they were pointed toward the front of the motorcycle. Just a guess. Sound waves are directional, a motorcycles pipes pushes most of the noise to the rear. Like I said I am not an expert, just guessing here.
Good luck with your study.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,915
Likes: 8
From: Austin TX
O.K. So if this study proves unequivocally, without a doubt, once and for all, absolutely, wholly, entirely, without exception, POSITIVELY that loud pipes do not make a difference in safety, or heaven forbid actually cause more problems than they solve....
How many of you will put on quieter pipes?
How many of you will put on quieter pipes?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,673
Likes: 16
From: Norfolk, VA
O.K. So if this study proves unequivocally, without a doubt, once and for all, absolutely, wholly, entirely, without exception, POSITIVELY that loud pipes do not make a difference in safety, or heaven forbid actually cause more problems than they solve....
How many of you will put on quieter pipes?
How many of you will put on quieter pipes?
LOL, come on, you already know that answer to that question. I do not know one person with loud pipes that really has them because they are safer. They have them because they like the sound.
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