Loud Pipes do save lives!
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 112,202
Likes: 1,316
From: On a hill among the hills, PA
I kow riding on the interstae at speed and a cage pulls up beside me, I see that they may not know i am there I blip the throttle and they usually look.. did it save my life.. dunno.. I do know they didn't pull into me. Stock HD horns in my opinion are worthless at speed.. might be good at slow speeds or in parking lots but thats it. I can here bikes coming up behind me that have loud pipes even if I don't see them in my mirrors! I have never heard a crotch rocket coming up behind me though or a stock HD.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 9,741
Likes: 1,599
From: Danbury CT
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.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
From: Mooresboro NC
Science has proven that we use auditory senses as well as visual senses to alert us of our surroundings.(you really need scientific data to tell you that and can't figure it out for yourself...
).
Yes our visual sense is more strong while driving, our auditory sense is second and if they can have laws on using headphones on bikes or cars citing the dangers of not hearing traffic and other things(another proof that we utilize auditory perception) it is obvious that there is serious proof that we utilize sound to alert us of our surroundings. The louder the noise, the more it is noticed, thus, the more of a chance we have of others being alerted to our presence. All this simply boils down to LOUD PIPES SAVE LIVES.
). Yes our visual sense is more strong while driving, our auditory sense is second and if they can have laws on using headphones on bikes or cars citing the dangers of not hearing traffic and other things(another proof that we utilize auditory perception) it is obvious that there is serious proof that we utilize sound to alert us of our surroundings. The louder the noise, the more it is noticed, thus, the more of a chance we have of others being alerted to our presence. All this simply boils down to LOUD PIPES SAVE LIVES.
I do know that Harry Hurt (The Hurt Report) thouroughly investigated motorcycle accidents through out the 70's and made several recommendations based on his findings to make motorcycles safer and loud pipes failed to make the list. I also know that David Hough who has probably forgotten more about motorcycle safety than most of us put together, will tell you there is no data that supports the theory that "Loud pipes save lifes" I personally think based on his writings that he don't believe it. I also conclude that around 90% of the bikes I see around my neck of the woods have loud pipes on them and I still see fatalities in the paper every week. If I miss them than my Dad or wife will show the article to me! If you rely on loud pipes to "save your life" then we may be reading about you soon. I beleive the best piece of safety equipment you have is between your ears and so protect it well.
I'm Done with this thread.
Mark
Road Captain
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 645
Likes: 15
From:
I don't have a problem with you putting loud pipes on your bike (I like most pipes) I wouldn't mind if you thought a rubber chicken on your head would help save your life. In other words, I don't care what you do in the name of safety. After all, it is your life. Personally, I think painting your bike bright yellow instead of black would make you more safer than the loud pipes. If you want me to take your claim seriously than please post a study that have the same conclusion as you.
I do know that Harry Hurt (The Hurt Report) thouroughly investigated motorcycle accidents through out the 70's and made several recommendations based on his findings to make motorcycles safer and loud pipes failed to make the list. I also know that David Hough who has probably forgotten more about motorcycle safety than most of us put together, will tell you there is no data that supports the theory that "Loud pipes save lifes" I personally think based on his writings that he don't believe it. I also conclude that around 90% of the bikes I see around my neck of the woods have loud pipes on them and I still see fatalities in the paper every week. If I miss them than my Dad or wife will show the article to me! If you rely on loud pipes to "save your life" then we may be reading about you soon. I beleive the best piece of safety equipment you have is between your ears and so protect it well.
I'm Done with this thread.
Mark
I do know that Harry Hurt (The Hurt Report) thouroughly investigated motorcycle accidents through out the 70's and made several recommendations based on his findings to make motorcycles safer and loud pipes failed to make the list. I also know that David Hough who has probably forgotten more about motorcycle safety than most of us put together, will tell you there is no data that supports the theory that "Loud pipes save lifes" I personally think based on his writings that he don't believe it. I also conclude that around 90% of the bikes I see around my neck of the woods have loud pipes on them and I still see fatalities in the paper every week. If I miss them than my Dad or wife will show the article to me! If you rely on loud pipes to "save your life" then we may be reading about you soon. I beleive the best piece of safety equipment you have is between your ears and so protect it well.
I'm Done with this thread.
Mark
Bill
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 495
Likes: 0
From: Bedford Nova Scotia Canada
If my Loud Pipes can alert people around me than that means I am louder than them so they hear me over their own vehicle.
Is the reverse of that,,,I can't hear anything because my pipes are so loud.
These auditory senses ,that loud pipe advocates think are crucial, are now useless to the actual bike rider to hear things around him/her.
Is the reverse of that,,,I can't hear anything because my pipes are so loud.
These auditory senses ,that loud pipe advocates think are crucial, are now useless to the actual bike rider to hear things around him/her.
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ
Put my stock mufflers back on a few weeks ago. Haven't noticed anything different in the way traffic deals with me. I can see how loud pipes may assist in certain circumstances.
I'd say the safest thing would be to look like a motorcop. Everyone seems to notice a cop.
I'd say the safest thing would be to look like a motorcop. Everyone seems to notice a cop.
Advanced
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Eugene, Or
I must disagree on the saving lives point. While somewhat louder pipes sound nice LOUD pipes tend to just give us all a bad name. Not to mention the tickets.
Having spent 32 years in law enforcement I can attest to the fact that the siren does little to clear your path and it is pointed to the front of the vehicle. Add speed to the equation and the distance someone in front hears the siren decreases incrementally. Get yourself some 1 million candlepower landing lights and you will be noticed much more by people in front of you.
The best protection to saving your life is to ride defensively with the thought that nobody can see you and thank the ones that do.
Having spent 32 years in law enforcement I can attest to the fact that the siren does little to clear your path and it is pointed to the front of the vehicle. Add speed to the equation and the distance someone in front hears the siren decreases incrementally. Get yourself some 1 million candlepower landing lights and you will be noticed much more by people in front of you.
The best protection to saving your life is to ride defensively with the thought that nobody can see you and thank the ones that do.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,203
Likes: 2
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Thing is,
You don't know how many times your *** was saved from idiots who did respond to the noise of your pipes,
I almost pulled into a BMW bike this summer as he was not in my sideview mirror, and the bike was so quiet I never heard it,
Some noise from the pipes would have alerted me to his presence,
Last edited by ButtMan1000; Dec 19, 2009 at 06:45 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,745
Likes: 1
From: A house.
Thread hijack in progress.
The article was about blind pedestrians not being able to hear electric cars as they cross the street.
The article was about blind pedestrians not being able to hear electric cars as they cross the street.
It really is interesting how so many justify their loud pipes for safety reasons. Most of us don't wear hi-viz clothing or add driving and fog lamps, side lights and modulators because it detracts from the Harley cool factor, but pipes? gotta have those for safety.