A dangerous myth: Loud pipes alert car drivers

**chickenfunkstar** · 23rd January 2006, 10:08

Originally Posted by Oscar

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...

If I car car hear me when i'm either behind it or beside it, how is that not of some value to my saftey?

**Oscar** · 23rd January 2006, 10:13

Originally Posted by sAsLEX

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.

You've lost me: If you are going slow enough that the sound makes it there before you do, what's the danger? You should be able to react to anything happening in front of you at that speed anyway.

Furthermore, lane splitting with loud pipes does piss people off. Very much.
I had a Harley riding dickwad carve me up on the Southern Motorway yesterday...wanker.

**sAsLEX** · 23rd January 2006, 10:18

Originally Posted by Oscar

If you are going slow enough that the sound makes it there before you do, what's the danger?

Only in the first few gears does my bike dip below 330ms so yes it is safeish, once I get in to fourth though the associsated boom does wake up the cagers once I am past them, the shattering windows has annoyed some people though!

**Oscar** · 23rd January 2006, 10:19

Originally Posted by chickenfunkstar

If I car car hear me when i'm either behind it or beside it, how is that not of some value to my saftey?

Apart from the fact that your loud pipes may cause the car driver to reacting badly to you riding beside him, why are you relying on his hearing (and him not having the stereoo on etc), for your safety?

Ride like they don't hear or see you to stay out of trouble...

**Oscar** · 23rd January 2006, 10:21

Originally Posted by sAsLEX

Only in the first few gears does my bike dip below 330ms so yes it is safeish, once I get in to fourth though the associsated boom does wake up the cagers once I am past them, the shattering windows has annoyed some people though!

Oh great...I'll see you over at the thread complaining about the proposed new noise test for WOF's then...

**chickenfunkstar** · 23rd January 2006, 10:29

Originally Posted by Oscar

Apart from the fact that your loud pipes may cause the car driver to reacting badly to you riding beside him, why are you relying on his hearing (and him not having the stereoo on etc), for your safety?

Ride like they don't hear or see you to stay out of trouble...

I'm not relying on him to hear me. Its merely an aid, just like having the headlights on during the day. Not many people seem to think that headlights on during the day is a bad idea.

I do ride in a manner which assumes drivers don't know i'm there. That doesn't mean that I don't want drivers to know i'm there however.

**Oscar** · 23rd January 2006, 10:37

Originally Posted by chickenfunkstar

I'm not relying on him to hear me. Its merely an aid, just like having the headlights on during the day. Not many people seem to think that headlights on during the day is a bad idea.

I do ride in a manner which assumes drivers don't know i'm there. That doesn't mean that I don't want drivers to know i'm there however.

I don't disagree, anything that lets them know that your there is good.
But "lights on" initiatives don't tend to piss people off - I don't know of any LTSA plans to test for overly bright headlights...

**sAsLEX** · 23rd January 2006, 10:44

Originally Posted by Oscar

Oh great...I'll see you over at the thread complaining about the proposed new noise test for WOF's then...

yes you will, as instead of using the existing legislation that had dB limits and an International standard of testing defined, they will change it to some willy nilly test that some burecrat invents rather than an engineer!

**scumdog** · 23rd January 2006, 11:01

At the roadside in an open fronted cafe' in the weekend, traffic bumper to bumper (was in the BigCity of Invers) and various bikes went past, some going same way as traffic but on cycle lane, others going the other way on the other side of the road....

Could hear bikes approching (cos traffic was doing about 10-15kph) BUT until they came into sight I had only a vague idea where they were approaching from - so sure, I heard them but had a 50-50 chance I was looking in the right direction for them.
And I was sitting 10 or so more metres back from the road in the open, NOT in a car with three others yakking away and the stereo going plus the A/C fan going full tit.

Make what you will of the above.

**Grahameeboy** · 23rd January 2006, 11:08

Originally Posted by scumdog

At the roadside in an open fronted cafe' in the weekend, traffic bumper to bumper (was in the BigCity of Invers) and various bikes went past, some going same way as traffic but on cycle lane, others going the other way on the other side of the road....

Could hear bikes approching (cos traffic was doing about 10-15kph) BUT until they came into sight I had only a vague idea where they were approaching from - so sure, I heard them but had a 50-50 chance I was looking in the right direction for them.
And I was sitting 10 or so more metres back from the road in the open, NOT in a car with three others yakking away and the stereo going plus the A/C fan going full tit.

Make what you will of the above.

Agree Mr Scumdog....I made this point early in the thread.....I don't think ewes can rely on noise...too many variables.......eyes have it I say...they never lie unless you are not wearing your glasses......eyes are the key to 'reactions'

**Wolf** · 23rd January 2006, 11:34

Have loud pipes if you like, but don't rely on me to get out of your way - all sound comes "from somewhere to the right of me" because I am deaf in my left ear. If you aren't riding or driving as if I don't know where you are, then you're likely to get a nasty surprise unless I am alert and actually see you...

OK, I may well see you and react as I will be riding as though you don't know where I am, but that's not the point - others may not be as alert.

Eventually, there will be few internal combustion vehicles left. Diminishing fuel supplies and the practical problems with producing enough "grain alcohol" (ethanol) for the number of vehicles will mean that electric vehicles will become more common (especially now that they've found means to organically produce hydrogen to power the fuel cells).

What will everyone rely on to "make themselves safe" once cars and bikes make no noise save the gentle sussuration of their wheels on the road?

**chickenfunkstar** · 23rd January 2006, 11:52

I've just browsed through the whole thread and I can't seem to find anyone who thinks its a good idea to rely on a loud exhaust.

Most people who are for loud pipes seem to say that they can be useful in certain situations. I can't really see how anyone disagrees with this.

**Pixie** · 23rd January 2006, 11:55

Originally Posted by Oscar

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...

You've got the wrong end of the stick.
The point I am argueing is ;don't rely or think that you are safer because your pipes are loud.
I don't care if the pipes are loud,as I have post previously,I have loud pipes on my bike.

And to those who claim that drivers notice them because of their pipes,You will never know why they notice you,wether it was the pipes or the headlight or movement in the mirror.
Unless you approach a group of legally blind drivers.

**Grahameeboy** · 23rd January 2006, 12:05

Originally Posted by chickenfunkstar

I've just browsed through the whole thread and I can't seem to find anyone who thinks its a good idea to rely on a loud exhaust.

Most people who are for loud pipes seem to say that they can be useful in certain situations. I can't really see how anyone disagrees with this.

I reckon is just an excuse for buying loud pipes........