Loud Pipes do save lives!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,352
Likes: 648
From: Vegas, baby!
That would explain why so many GoldWing riders die. And why so many of us that have ridden quiet 'metrics' for decades died years ago. Wait a minute....
That was meant to be a joke. But there is an instance when loud pipes can save lives. About a year ago I was out riding one night. When the car ahead of me turned into a parking lot, I only then heard and recognized that there was a Harley ahead of me. So it occured to me that if a motorcycle was out at night, and it's rear lights were not working, and it's rear reflectors were gone, the noise from it's exhaust might prevent the motorcyle from being hit in the rear.
Ron
That was meant to be a joke. But there is an instance when loud pipes can save lives. About a year ago I was out riding one night. When the car ahead of me turned into a parking lot, I only then heard and recognized that there was a Harley ahead of me. So it occured to me that if a motorcycle was out at night, and it's rear lights were not working, and it's rear reflectors were gone, the noise from it's exhaust might prevent the motorcyle from being hit in the rear.
Ron
Last edited by rjg883c; Dec 20, 2009 at 01:13 AM.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 354
Likes: 2
From: Toledo, Oregon
I ran one of my pipes, the left out the rear, I then ran the right one to the front. I am running Rush slip on's with Vance and Hines baffles in the rear and Supertrapp baffles in the front. I have a squawking bird horn mounted on the bars (fredandbarney.com). I keep a flare gun handy at all times.
Works pretty good but will accept any feedback you may have.
Works pretty good but will accept any feedback you may have.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,865
Likes: 168
From: Potsdam, NY
Unless you are a Harley owner and highly attuned to the noise it's just background city noise you block out until one blows by you. Studies have shown that wearing highly visable gear makes being hit by a car less likely (Hurt Report) however exhaust noise has never been proven to lessen the likely hood of a collistion. In fact a friend who drives an ambulance told me he was behind a bunch of bikes one day and they did not pull over because they could not hear his siren. Continuous loud noise has been proven to cause hearing loss and mental fatique ( lack of alertness ) though.
Last edited by fat_tony; Dec 20, 2009 at 02:54 AM.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,530
Likes: 607
From: Raleigh NC
never... but then again, I have used my stribel 139 db horn, a time or twelve....
edited to add:
everyone I know personally, who uses the line "loud pipes saved MY life" tells the (almost) exact story... Cager almost turned into the bike, and the biker was saved by reving the engine... IF??? the loud pipes were such a safety device? why do so many cars almost run over the bikers?
Only proven safety device, is, a trained rider who is aware.... you like LOUD pipes... fine with me....just don't try to BS yourself that they are safety equipment... funny thing is....it's usually the ONLY "safety equipment"
Last edited by skootchnc; Dec 20, 2009 at 05:37 AM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,447
Likes: 163
From: Northern VA
Loud pipes aren't going to be heard when a cager has windows rolled up and the stereo pumping up the volume, which is not uncommon around here. Do agree that there are specific situations where loud pipes will make a difference.
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 112,202
Likes: 1,316
From: On a hill among the hills, PA
You guys must have some p!ssy neighbors!! Around here they don't seem to care but I don't live in a plan so that might make a big difference. Probably city dwellers have the same problem.. homes to close together and neighbors have nite jobs sleepin during the day. If you run em you have to respect that fact... if your going to throttle jockey through the neighborhood then I guess your going to p!ss someone off! Not everyone cares that you own a motorcycle. Dirt bike riders seem to be more annoying around here than an HD rumblin through the valley. They take the mufflers off and have that crack rapp rapp to them. Four wheelers do it too and they are just as annoying. Like the guys with the boom box cagers.. they started cracking down on them because they don't have any respect for people living along the roads so now they hand out tickets.
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