A dangerous myth: Loud pipes alert car drivers

**SlowHand** · 20th January 2006, 11:52

Originally Posted by dawnrazor

boy racer pulls out in front of you, doesn't hear you because of the stero up to 11

but why not just have a system where 10 is louder?

Originally Posted by some poor whining schmuck

Had a guy in a Merc today start to cut me off. Grab the clutch roll the throttle, suddenly he moves back into his lane. (I'm about half a meter behind his rear bumper in the right lane with him in the left)

Use the horn. That's what it's there for.

**dawnrazor** · 20th January 2006, 13:55

Originally Posted by Strat

but why not just have a system where 10 is louder?

Haven't you ever heard of "spinal tap - the movie"

**Wolf** · 20th January 2006, 14:16

Originally Posted by Motu

Anyone who releys on noisy exhausts,headlamps on,or on highbeam,fluro jackets,daytime running lamps or a rotating beacon on top of their helmet - is flirting with danger.They can be added to your awareness package,but don't make them the basis of your safety kit.

I'm with you on this. It doesn't matter what you do to increase awareness, if the other road users are lost in their own little dream world they won't pick up any of it. I ride and drive (and walk) by the assumption that they do not know I'm there and may behave accordingly at any stage. I've seen enough people pull out in front of me when I'm in a cage, when I could have sworn they were looking directly at me, not to trust any other road user's perception.

Drive/ride like everyone else is an idiot. I could ride a tarmac-coloured electric motorbike while wearing tarmac-coloured gear and not significantly decrease my safety because my safety is dependant on me seeing them, not on them seeing or hearing me.

**SlowHand** · 20th January 2006, 16:02

Dawn you twat, do you want me to beat you with my cucumber? Or lock you in a cocoon. Im sure that's what the 'reporter' said to Mr 11.

**dawnrazor** · 20th January 2006, 20:43

Originally Posted by Strat

Dawn you twat, do you want me to beat you with my cucumber? Or lock you in a cocoon. Im sure that's what the 'reporter' said to Mr 11.

was that in inches or feet

**Pixie** · 20th January 2006, 23:40

Originally Posted by sAsLEX

ah I see........you mention you could hear him as he traversed your blind spot *, this is interesting as you mention loud pipes dont alert drviers.

In the other thread where I bought up the loud pipe issue your above anecdotal evidence shows that loud pipes would of prevented the incedent occurring would it not? seeing as the driver took all proper precautions in trying to check the lane beside him visually, the extra aural cue would of alerted him to the presence of the bike next to him.

*ok I know you were in a hair dressers car of some sort but for the point of my point you had a c pillar blocking you view*

Blindspot?
Open top car,Dumbass

**Pixie** · 20th January 2006, 23:43

Originally Posted by Motu

Anyone who releys on noisy exhausts,headlamps on,or on highbeam,fluro jackets,daytime running lamps or a rotating beacon on top of their helmet - is flirting with danger.They can be added to your awareness package,but don't make them the basis of your safety kit.

My point exactly

**Pixie** · 20th January 2006, 23:51

Originally Posted by Big Dave

I also know I have far, far fewer 'incidents' looking and sounding like a 'bikee' on the thunderbird than I do as the 'adventurer/motorcyclist' on the chook chaser.

Black leather, a snarl and some loud pipes get you more room in traffic than any flouro vest.

My theory is that they may "see" you but the info only registers on their conscious mind if you fit their idea of a threat.

I still argue that the loud pipes will not be heard.
I'm not against loud pipes,by the way. After all,I have a micron race can "not for street use" on my bike.

**Pixie** · 20th January 2006, 23:56

Originally Posted by TL Rider

I had R3 Yoshi's on my TL and is did make a difference...They DID hear me BUT only because I used the gas to make sure they did,ie: button off a bit when approaching their blind spot. My GSX with a single Yoshi makes a higher pitched sound and seems to be heard better when given a blip'n and can be heard from further off. Maybe something to do with 12000 rev's though
Certainly isn't full proof but surely any help is good.
Have noticed riding Duc-Gurl's TL with standard pipes on that there isn't the same presence...therefore I'm even more wary.
Trust no one....stay alive

If they don't hear an ambulance's siren that's right behind them,they won't hear anything.
I suspect they responded to the movement of your bike in their peripheral vision, in the mirrors or out the window.

**Pixie** · 21st January 2006, 00:00

Originally Posted by WRT

Which brings me to another point, if you are in traffic in a car and a big twin comes lanesplitting up past you, with aftermarket pipes the chances are that you will "feel" the pressure waves before you hear the bike itself. Have had that happen a couple of times while sitting in traffic on the mway. Admittedly this only happens if you dont have the radio blasting at full bore.

Are you sure they aren't feeling the distortion of the space-time continuum,caused by the gravity feild around your ego?

**Pixie** · 21st January 2006, 00:08

Originally Posted by Jackrat

Sounds to me that people who drive poofters cars are just deaf.
I hear bikes coming up behind me on a regular basis,and not all of them are Harleys running straight pipes either.

Probably 'cos the old nails you own are so slow

**Pixie** · 21st January 2006, 00:16

Originally Posted by scumdog

Been saying that ALL along, you see the the stickers "Loud Pipes save Lives" but it's a crock - it MAY help but not as much as you think, especially if the engine is not under load.

Who would know better than police or ambulance drivers.
I've heard and seen the stories of joe public failing to pull over or give way at intersections to emergency vehicles with sirens on.
Do these people think their pipes,pointing backwards, are louder that a 120 db siren pointing forwards.
Dreamers

**Pixie** · 21st January 2006, 00:21

Originally Posted by ApplicatioNZ

All I could do was give him my special "stare of death"

The correct term is "withering stare"

**Pixie** · 21st January 2006, 00:28

Originally Posted by Damon

I think you'll find that 98db is only an idle level for most vtwins, i've had my tested at 104db at idle, granted the guy stuck it right up to the pipe but when i gave it a blip it went of his meter which went to 114db,

If you stuck the sound meter in one of the cylinders you'd probably get a reading approaching 200 db.
Making a reading using wrong technique is pointless.