Loud Pipes do save lives!
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
Ain't like the ole 67 GTO I had with cams, headers and shorty's that came out in front of the rear tire with Thrust mufflers...
..
That baby rattled the window in the house when I started her up......
Man I loved that one...
...
She'd almost wake up the dead, wouldn't have to worry bout the blind not hearing her.
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..That baby rattled the window in the house when I started her up......
Man I loved that one...
...She'd almost wake up the dead, wouldn't have to worry bout the blind not hearing her.
..
Thread Starter
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 11
From: Palm Harbor fl.
Have you been experiencing the real world lately? Camoflage and silence is used to not be detected. Noise, color, light are all used to be detected. Loud noise attracts peoples attention! Loud colors too! No other way around it. For every driver that did not notice the extra attention you drew to yourself, the overwhelming majority did. Like I said, you would not be able to quantify those that did notice you, simply because they did and no interaction took place. Experience your life, notice what you notice while experiencing it, if a noise diverts your attention to it, or a color or light has you notice it, that is what you are doing to others with your loud pipes, or lights and colors. You are being noticed my friend and that is how it is.
Last edited by rounder; Dec 19, 2009 at 10:16 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 36
From: Las Vegas
As a rider I will say it "loud (way loud) pipes **** me off."
I compare it to the cager with his whole car filled with speakers...
both get noticed..both are irritating.
and in the end the very driver you want to notice you and RESPECT you is now pissed and wants run yer **** over.
So, yes to fact you will get noticed more than other bikers...but I am not so sure you get the results you think you do.
But you could paint your bike yellow
smile...its just opinions....happy holiday
I compare it to the cager with his whole car filled with speakers...
both get noticed..both are irritating.
and in the end the very driver you want to notice you and RESPECT you is now pissed and wants run yer **** over.
So, yes to fact you will get noticed more than other bikers...but I am not so sure you get the results you think you do.
But you could paint your bike yellow
smile...its just opinions....happy holiday
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
From: Mooresboro NC
Here are my thoughts. Unless you point your pipes toward the front of your bike, loud pipes do very little to alert people of your impending arrival. Pointing towards the back of the bike does more to alert people that you are already gone, and because sound waves bounce off objects behind you, it may be confusing to anyone in front of you who might hear, where the sound is actually coming from. This is why you can't compare loud bikes to Emergency vehicles as far as sound goes. EV alerts are projected ahead of them, not behind.
I will admit that loud pipes may have some limited benefit if you were riding along side someone or in thier blind spots. However, loud pipes could startle a driver to taking un-necessary evasive action if the noise is too loud or confusing.
I love the sound of a V-Twin and I will select mufflers that I find will enhance that sound which I find is most pleasing to my ears.
As far as I know most safety experts and studies conclude that loud pipes does very little if anything to improve our safety while riding and I know from experience that loud pipes will not prevent a deer from running out in front of you.
Mark
I will admit that loud pipes may have some limited benefit if you were riding along side someone or in thier blind spots. However, loud pipes could startle a driver to taking un-necessary evasive action if the noise is too loud or confusing.
I love the sound of a V-Twin and I will select mufflers that I find will enhance that sound which I find is most pleasing to my ears.
As far as I know most safety experts and studies conclude that loud pipes does very little if anything to improve our safety while riding and I know from experience that loud pipes will not prevent a deer from running out in front of you.
Mark
Thread Starter
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 11
From: Palm Harbor fl.
I hear bikes coming from all directions and sure as chit never get confused as to where they are coming from, left, right, behind, in front. I am sure you do to.
Last edited by rounder; Dec 19, 2009 at 11:18 AM.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,067
Likes: 60
From: Chesterfield, VA
I'd rode in a group with a guy once whose bike was so loud he put plugs in his ears. I'm thinking, what good are loud pipes for safety when you can't hear for yourself what is going on around you. I like a nice beefy tone on my Harley, I have 2" rush slip-ons, but when you end up wearing ear plugs...maybe you went too far and now have regrets.
The problem with the Volt is that nothing can hear them like children and animals. Most vehicles are loud enough to be heard.
Now if you really want to be heard you could mount sirens, fire off fireworks, carry a tuba, fire a shotgun, whatever. You will get noticed.
Thread Starter
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 11
From: Palm Harbor fl.
yeah when I saw the article, The first thing that came to mind is how noise does in fact factor into safety! whether it is a blind person crossing the road or someone in the car in a riders general vicinity. Put it together.