A dangerous myth: Loud pipes alert car drivers

[dawnrazor]

I dont rekon harley pipes are as loud as sports bikes unless they are pulling hard rev's......they just putter putter along

SO harley riders refer to the noise their bikes make as "rolling thunder", why exactly?

[pritch]

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.

This was actually a finding in some tests in the USA years ago, most drivers only registered "threats".

Our drivers probably aren't any smarter than those in the USA and since those tests were done we have the advent of cellphones....

[scumdog]

I dont really like harleys all that much, i mean i accept someone has their own right to choose what they ride...they just seem ornamental to me?

Nothing wrong with 'ornamental' sunshine, that's what keeps Autosol in business!!
And when you're a bit older you realise that 'fast' isn't what it is all about ALL the time.

[terbang]

Lotsa good ideas here however its allways a series of events that can cause an accident so therefore it also stands that a series of actions can help prevent an accident (managing your risk).
A combination of good riding habits (ride like you are invisible ETC), High visibility (Dayglo vests and bright helmets ETC) and Noisey pipes to attract attention (to those that can hear you) would add up to it being as safe as it gets (not as safe as home on the sofa) or managing your risks as best you can when it comes to mixing it with cages on our roads. And it is all about personal choice.

[Rashika]

Nothing wrong with 'ornamental' sunshine, that's what keeps Autosol in business!!
And when you're a bit older you realise that 'fast' isn't what it is all about ALL the time.

See now THATS what the HD has going for it....so damn shiny from all the autosol on the chrome that it blinds all the drivers from behind!

[sAsLEX]

Blindspot?
Open top car,Dumbass

*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*

I reckon that point there would be the one your looking for the bold bit meaning convertible, I did relise you were in an open top car.

[scumdog]

See now THATS what the HD has going for it....so damn shiny from all the autosol on the chrome that it blinds all the drivers from behind!

I see a richly deserved cuffing and bitch-slapping about to be dealt out at Woodstock!!
(Be easy 'cos you'll still be blind from the dazzle off the bling on my bike)

[Kickaha]

I see a richly deserved cuffing and bitch-slapping about to be dealt out at Woodstock!!

How you going to manage that, Dangerous told me you spend all your time in a alcoholic stupor at these rallies

Be easy 'cos you'll still be blind from the dazzle off the bling on my bike)

I guess with the amount of breakdowns and time off the road you have plenty of time to polish it

[scumdog]

How you going to manage that, Dangerous told me you spend all your time in a alcoholic stupor at these rallies



I guess with the amount of breakdowns and time off the road you have plenty of time to polish it

Wanting some of the same treatment Big Boy????

And what would Dangerous know about my state of sobriety? The big jessie spent more time in the tent than a circus clown!

[GSVR]

Pure white cats have a far greater chance of being run over by cars. I always thought this was becuase they were deaf and couldn't hear the cars approaching. But maybe its becuase they are white and blend in with the road so well so cars don't see them.

This topic seems to come up on a regular basis and my opinion already exists on other threads.

[Lou Girardin]

I dont rekon harley pipes are as loud as sports bikes unless they are pulling hard rev's......they just putter putter along

You think?
Come and listen to a debaffled Twin Cam on our dyno. Thunder is an understatement.
Better still, have a listen to Ray's 124" bagger at the drags.

[Oscar]

When a mate of mine and I swapped bikes, I could hear the sound of my bike (being ridden by my friend) behind me. That was through a helmet and ear plugs.

This brings up another issue - why are some guys so keen to get Motorcycles legislated to a standstill?

Having established that loud pipes don't save lives, we should consider the fact that they just piss people off. The kinda of people who write to the paper and whinge to their MP's...

[sAsLEX]

Having established that loud pipes don't save lives,

We have? many of the stories on here have mentioned how in their experience Loud pipes have saved them coming to greif

[Oscar]

We have? many of the stories on here have mentioned how in their experience Loud pipes have saved them coming to greif

I've seen nothing here that supports the theory.
One guy says that his loud pipes alerts a guy in a car in an intersection when he had the right of way. Anyone that relies on cars giving way as of right is going to get taken out soon, pipe or no pipe.

As for the highway, it's simple physics. Unless your loud pipe is pointing forwards, or is as loud as a 747 taking off, it's only the people behind you that are going to be "alert" (i.e. pissed off). You're also relying on the other guy to hear you - that is not have a late model car and/or being listening to loud music.

Your hi-vis clothing and headlight being on is far more likley to get the moroms attention...

[sAsLEX]

As for the highway, it's simple physics. Unless your loud pipe is pointing forwards, or is as loud as a 747 taking off, it's only the people behind you that are going to be "alert" (i.e. pissed off). You're also relying on the other guy to hear you - that is not have a late model car and/or being listening to loud music.

ON the MW speeds often aint that quick in the rush hour, so sound does make it quite far forward, generally people behind you dont get pissed off as if your splitting they soon get left well behind.