"Loud Pipes Save Lives"

[Wolf]

I found this rather interesting article.

Who here has an opinion on the subject - either pro or con (and how many of those "pro" sell aftermarket exhaust systems )

[NC]

I found this rather interesting article.

Who here has an opinion on the subject - either pro or con (and how many of those "pro" sell aftermarket exhaust systems )

I don't think my bike is that loud, I just think people have very sensitive hearing

Seriously, it does help when filtering.

[Biff]

I've been telling Ms Biff this for ages. But she wont believe me.

Several people have commented on how quiet the Blackbird is, so I'm glad you posted this Wolf. More ammunittion for me to justify buying a set of pipes to 'she that holds the purse strings', should the poll swings the right way that is.

[crazylittleshit]

I don't think my bike is that loud, I just think people have very sensitive hearing

Seriously, it does help when filtering.

Your bike is Loud trust me
But remeber this is a good thing

[placidfemme]

Loud pipes do help when filtering... the cars move over because they can hear you coming... I'm not sure if my pipe is "overly" loud but it does it's job

*loves after market pipes*

[White trash]

I've been told my bike is Farken loud when "on the pipe" however I don't know if it saves lives. I just like scaring the shit outta people when I come past 100kph faster.

[vifferman]

I think that anything that turns the general public off bike riders can't be a good thing, unless you want to promulgate the "rebel biker' image.

Some other points: Some people point out that the noise from loud pipes doesn't travel forward very well, defeating the purpose of them as a 'safety measure'. I had a guy on a loud VTR1000 following me, and I could hear him very well! However, I've often been surprised by some loud bike suddenly appearing alongside me when in the car, as I hadn't hear him approaching, especially if the radio was on. Then the sudden unexpected loud noise startled and irritated me, and was definitely not conducive to road safety.

I don't mind loudish bikes (or sporty-sounding cars), if they sound 'tuneful', and have decent aftermarket pipes that aren't too loud. However, VERY loud bikes (or other vehicles) just piss me off, especially if it's just NOISE, like drag pipes on a Harley.

My zorst is louder than stock, and louder than when I bought it. However, I very rarely resort to "Evil Mode" (no restrictor) as it attracts too much attention (making me nervous), makes me ride aggressively, and gets on my nerves after a while.

[Hitcher]

At some stage the STeed will lose the Toblerones and get something a little louder. For no other reason than to hide the cam-chain whine.

[TwoSeven]

Its swings and roundabouts for me really.

When I am seriously working the traffic I really dont want a loud pipe at all. In fact, i'd prefer it if the punters were dozy sods that didnt look in their mirrors and were half asleep. It means I can work round them without them trying to do extra dozy things out of some misinformed politness.

On the other hand, sometimes when i'm just messn round with the traffic a slightly louder pipes does tend to make the stupid pedestrian walking out behind the bus actually take a look first (even tho i'm in the habbit of looking for em). You also notice car drivers tend to look in their mirrors. I suspect this is what people mean by loud pipe. Its the road legal race kind that only go up to about 104dB.

My fave game with those is to pick up a copper in built up multi-lane traffic and on a closed throttle (stealth mode) flick the bike in behind using their blind spot, then pull up along side the drivers side door (just back so they have to look over their shoulder). Then rev the living tits off the bike (you have to make sure that you are just in the right side lane when you do it). Nine times out of ten you'll see them bounce of the ceiling of the car.

The last pipe I had was a full on race pipe - all 140dB of it. Used to make my ears bleed if I didnt have plugs in. That style while sounding nice really does piss folks off - I used to only have it on the bike every now and again. Problem is drivers can hear it, but cant see it - so they start doing silly moves for something that aint where they think it is.

[placidfemme]

Is there any way to check how many dB your pipe is? Or do you need to take it into a bike shop to find out?

[Ixion]

Probably at least partly true I think.

But I don't like really loud exhausts, they get very tiring on long trips. Two strokes especially are very hard on the nerves if they are too loud.

On the other hand, the bark of a big single on the mega - sigh

As reagrds the safety thing I think the biggest factor is one that is hardly ever mentioned.

They make people think you are going faster than they would otherwise.

Most people are very poor at judging any sort of vehicle's speed, and especially bikes.

So they assume that vehicles are doing the sort of speed THEY would in the same circumstances - which often means "slow slow slow"

So they underestimate how fast the bike is going. This is one of the reasons why an Interchangeable Mabel will see you, and pull out in front of you. Yes, she sees you, but she has no idea how to estimate your speed. So she assumes you're going at the speed she would. And odds are you're going a LOT faster.

Having a loud exhaust makes him think you're going fast 'Ohhh look at the motorbike - I can hear it from here. Isn't it dreadful the way they race around at such ridiculous speeds. I'll just wait until he's gone - goodness he was going fast , I couldn't hear myself think"

[Wolf]

From observation when riding the TS125, the only advance warning my loud pipe provided was to my friends who'd put the jug on - because they recognised the sound and actually cared enough to do something.

Unlike all the bastards on the road, who behaved just as obnoxious and/or oblivious as ever. I was certainly no safer on the TS than I was on the RX125, which was way quieter.

I agree with Neal Stephenson:

" First, a word on motorcycle safety:
If you've put yourself in a position where someone has to see you in order for you to be safe -- to see you, and to give a fuck -- you've already blown it."

It applies to being heard, too.

I'd never put my faith in the idea that the noise of my pipes should be sufficient warning to keep me safe - I've had too many fuckers look straight at me and still do something stupid, to believe they will get out of my way just because they can hear me.

My assumption is always that the other driver/rider has his/her head up his/her arse - I'm often right. And I assume that those who are aware of me and others just don't give a fuck. Those two assumptions cover well over 95% of all road users.

Even if I were riding an electric motorcycle, I'd still be perfectly safe - because it is my vigilance and safe riding techniques that keep me alive, not the vigilance or awareness of other people.

Personally, I cannot tell where a noise is coming from - exhaust or siren - especially in built-up areas where the buildings throw back echoes from all sides.

The "LPSL" argument is a bullshit "justification" for those who lack the integrity to say "I want some really loud pipes because I think they sound cool."

I don't mind loud pipes so long as they sound sweet. That ear-splittng toneless reverberating noise that Wanker Rotary Engines put out - RX-7 with holes in exhaust kind of thing - sounds like shit... I can't stand it. It's the Mazdabator sound. I'd rather have a deep bass thrumming sound that doesn't hurt the ears and cause the fillings in my teeth to vibrate loose.

For my own riding - especially out in the countryside - I like as quiet a bike as possible. That's my thing.

I don't begrudge anyone having loud pipes - unless they sound like a sack o' shit like most Mazdas and a few of the OC's bikes - but I do not buy the line that the pipes are a magical way of making the vehicle "safer" - not even the gods can make a fuckwit alert...

[Anonymous]

Why do you think Ghost rider blips his throtle like he's raping it when he has to split past slow moving trafic. He is reckless but he isn't compleatly stupid. He uses the high beam headlights as a visual safety device for himself and he uses the loud pipe as a hearing (I am sure there is a better word to use here, but you know what I mean) safety device.

[Coldkiwi]

Even if I were riding an electric motorcycle, I'd still be perfectly safe - because it is my vigilance and safe riding techniques that keep me alive, not the vigilance or awareness of other people.

if you beleive that applies in all situations, you need to do some more riding around town more my friend. The stupidity and plain old arrogance of pedestrians around Auckland CBD when faced with a quiet bike is nothing short of staggering on a regular basis (and thats not the cagers).

Besides... how do you then educate stupid pedestrians when they step out and don't see you without a loud exhaust to blast at them when they've walked in front of you? They all appear very alert after you inform them of how close you actually are by using the throttle

[Omega1]

Yeah ,I love loud pipes on a Harley