Loud pipes save lives?

[GregoXB]

It seems fashionable for people to say that the loud motorcycles do not add safety. How do you feel about audible exhausts and their effect on safety?

From my experience I do notice that vehicles become aware of my presence long before I reach them and will adjust their driving behaviour. As a car operator, quiet motorcycles have crept up on me and startled me as they passed. Loud motorcycles typically grab my attention 4-5 car lengths before they reach my position.

 

[oh9bolt]

[up]

 

[08herobolt]

I've heard people arguing about this being untrue. I don't understand how someone can think that higher decibels don't help. If it's louder, then people notice.

 

[Theycallmecrash]

Lots of times a loud exhaust is much more effective than a horn For getting the attention of stupid drivers. The horns on bikes are pathetic

 

[AZmidget91]

I agree, never hurts to be too loud. If it doesn't help, oh well, but if it does, great, could save your life.

 

[ToneTheMoan]

Loud pipes every time! in my experience they seem to judge you`re going faster than you actually are due to the noise and that helps them to think a bit more before doing something stupid!

 

[Chicknstripn]

On a Buell you're always going faster than you actually are!
I agree with the general concensus, thus far. Seems you do get notice the more noise you make.

 

[ToneTheMoan]

Good answer chicknstripn! [up] Lmfao

 

[50dro]

I agree to some extent. Loud but not necessarily obnoxious, or else you will become these guys!

 

[Buellstuff]

Haha that South Park episode was hilarious

 

[Matteson]

Now that I'm not on the 1125 with deans pipe I feel more vulnerable. The ninja is quiet when I'm pulling up to an intersection for a red light. I feel apprehensive now to pull up and wait in line with the other cars. I'm afraid someone may pull out to get in the left lane and not hear me. I went on a ride with a friend and his Kawasaki W-1 was louder than mine at idle. Felt strange. Of course when I open the ol girl up she screams! Not worried about cars then.

 

[Ilirthekosovoxb9s]

Loud pipes all day everyday, and if this dude wont see me through his side mirrors i will rev the heeeeell out of my bike untill this "cab driver" sees that a motorcycle is aproching him and he has to be more careful.otherwise my friends, this dude will just change lane without giving signal and simple as that ill end up sliding for 100 meters.

 

[DesertDog]

The guy who hit me head on last month certainly didn't hear me. Seems to me that much of the sound is projected rearwards. The people behind me and on my sides hear me I'd wager but not so much in front. Really gets people's attention when you rev it real good though. I love making people drop their cell phones Bike was a 12r with the race muffler

 

[mrlogix]

both of my bike accidents (neither my fault) the drivers said they never seen me. Loud and proud brother.

 

[DualSportDad]

i live in a snow bird town full of shit drivers this time of year. i have had loud bikes for at least the last 7 years and ride as much as i can year round. i recently put the stock exhaust exhaust back on my ULY and can tell you i notice no difference in the way other drivers react. the best things i have ever dome for safety is lights. the uly has HID's in the front and a strobe module for the rear.

down here it's hot as hell and everyone rides around with the a/c on and windows up. if anyone down here thinks that their loud pipe can be heard with modern cars noise cancellation, better sound deadening/ seals etc they are delusional. i drive some old ( 97 and 99) jeep cherokees and can't even hear a ambulance when it's 3 cars away with the windows up, a/c on and the radio on, the flashing lights are what catch my eye.

 

[user_deleted]

i'll put some sort of neon orange or lime green outer vest up against drag pipes for protection any day of the week.

 

[Matteson]

I ride the city bus for my safety net...

 

[ToneTheMoan]

Car drivers only see what can hurt THEM! so why not invent a light that emits a hologram of a furkin great big truck so they see that and not an itty bitty little motorbike! That should shit the bastards up! lol

 

[ToneTheMoan]

Maybe with the pass light, light off motorbike, light on 18 wheel truck! lol

 

[go cytocis]

It seems fashionable for people to say that the loud motorcycles do not add safety.

If by "fashionable" you mean "factual", then yes.

No study has ever shown that a loud bike reduces a rider's likelihood of collision. Indeed, the opposite had been shown by The Hurt Report which indicates a greater incidence of injury & death of riders on bikes with aftermarket mods, including exhausts. All loud bikes on public (esp urban) streets do is draw unwanted negative attention & legislation to our sport.

If your safety strategy relies on a loud pipe, it's time for you to enroll in a rider training course; I promise it'll be far more effective.