A dangerous myth: Loud pipes alert car drivers

[Pixie]

As far back as I can remember I've heard and read comments from Bikers that loud pipes are a safety device,warning idiot car drivers that you are approaching.
I've known this is dangerous bullshit for years because I have driven cars and know that a bike with loud pipes is not audible from any significant distance in a car.Maybe these bikers that believe this have never been in a car,or maybe they are just deluded.

Yesterday I was on the southern motorway, on my way to a job in Hamilton.
I was in an open top car and had been watching a bike in my mirror as he slowly approached from a fair distance back.
I was doing 120 kmh and the bike was doing about 125 kmh.
As he got closer, I saw it was a chopped Harley ,extended forks,the whole bit.
I didn't hear the motor till he was level with my rear bumper and as he passed me I also saw that he had straight pipes with the only concession to noise reduction being fishtails on the pipes.

So that's how close an unmuffled Harley can get before a car driver will hear it.
Don't rely on your loud pipes waking up some dozy ass in a car,it'll kill you.

[SPORK]

Turn down your stereo. You just couldn't hear him over "The best of Justin Timberlake"

[Grahameeboy]

I have always doubted the loud exhaust claim....maybe in town they are more audible but how often when you hear a police/ambo or fire engine siren do you you know where it is coming from??

[SimJen]

one thing a louder zorst will do, is stop bloody Pukekoes running out.
plus they sound cool

[sunhuntin]

I have always doubted the loud exhaust claim....maybe in town they are more audible but how often when you hear a police/ambo or fire engine siren do you you know where it is coming from??

ive often wondered that one, too. i know when im riding, i can hear little beyond the wind and on occasion, the noise of the bike. if a cop car was behind me, i likely wouldnt know till they went past, or if they were in my mirrors.

[Grahameeboy]

one thing a louder zorst will do, is stop bloody Pukekoes running out.
plus they sound cool

why would someone from Pukekohe run out......he he.....

[sAsLEX]

I didn't hear the motor till he was level with my rear bumper

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*

[Cookie]

Pixie, that's interesting. I am longing for the day when I can have some decent pipes.

I suppose you could back off the juice so they crackle a bit when you come up to intersections where every dozy bugger is either gazing into space or texting their boyfriend? That could be handy.

[Grahameeboy]

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*

....no no and no again.....they said they saw him before but that so they they still have a valid point....if they had not looked in their mirror the audible bit would have been too late as he was level with bumper...

[Lou Girardin]

*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*

There's no c pillar on a convertible.

[Grahameeboy]

There's no c pillar on a convertible.

Arrhh...Lou...what about the roll cage bar

[pritch]

My bike has the standard pipes and can't sound any more threatening than a sewing machine. A loud exhaust might hopefully wake up some of the more dozy pedestrians though...

[chickenfunkstar]

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.

The only time a car can take you out is when you are in front of its rear bumper. When you are travelling next to a car which can't be bothered doing a head check, surely there's at least some benefit in being able to be heard?

[sAsLEX]

There's no c pillar on a convertible.

umm yeah I know, prob no b pillar either hence the * and bit saying I was asssuming there was one and its associated blind spot.

[Grahameeboy]

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.

The only time a car can take you out is when you are in front of its rear bumper. When you are travelling next to a car which can't be bothered doing a head check, surely there's at least some benefit in being able to be heard?

In guess it all depends on where you are.....how good the acoustics are cause my standard SV1000 pipes sound lounder in some places.......