Loud pipes save lives?

[Ryan_G]

I have only seen a positive effect of loud pipes in low speed areas like a parking lot or garage. I have had multiple people in both of these areas let me know after I parked the bike that they could hear me before they saw me and it prevented them from backing up into me or pulling out in front of me. But at speed on a highway or public road no one in front of me is going to hear me before I am within 5 feet of them.

 

[riverotter]

Loud pipe = two senses: sight and sound
Quiet pipe = one sense: sight

I can't imagine that a loud pipe makes things worse (though my neighbors may disagree). I've seen many drivers become suddenly attentive when I ride by, and I can't imagine that it's just because I'm exceedingly handsome.

 

[AZmidget91]

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.

The problem with that study is that is covers "aftermarket mods" and any "bike" I guarantee people with modified bikes ride them harder, and certain bike stereo types are true, which leads to accidents, and just because they had an aftermarket exhaust, that means that is what caused the accident? Don't think so. Like riverotter said, it adds a sense that they may notice you.

 

[Timeless]

+1 for loud pipes making other drivers more aware of your presence.

 

[go cytocis]

The problem with that study is that is covers "aftermarket mods"...just because they had an aftermarket exhaust, that means that is what caused the accident? Don't think so.

I don't think so either, nor do the authors of the Hurt Report who make no claim that that there's a causal relationship between loud pipes & collisions, just a positive correlation.

There could be many reasons for this: Riders of modified bikes ride "harder"? (as you suggest) Probably. Riders with loud pipes have a false sense of security? Maybe. Loud riders are more annoying & incite more road rage against them? Perhaps. Riders with less skill tend to compensate with more mods? Who knows.

Regardless of the cause, the fact remains that if you've got loud pipes you're statistically more likely to be killed or injured in a multi-vehicle collision, period, no matter what the folklore says.

 

[DrogeN Omen]

loud pipes and bright lights save lives.

i commute to work every day so i see what effect my 94db pipes have on cagers, also run driving lights, 12v 55W halogens, yes they are kitchen down lights i modified and waterproofed.

here's a pic

 

[2004xb12s]

My loud pipes have definitely saved me before. A mom in a minivan almost merged into me last summer when I was on my supermoto. My reflex wasn't to hit the horn. I quickly pulled the clutch and cracked the throttle to rev limiter. Scared her so bad she almost ran off the road in the opposite direction.

 

[vroom]

So, by your own account, it nearly caused death.

 

[DualSportDad]

riding down the road on my KLX400R witha full yosh system (really loud) i was slowly passing a soccer mom in a mini van, windows up and as the rear of my bike passes her on her left with my pipe basically right in her face at 5,000 rpm i catch a glimpse of the mini van bumper coming into my lane right at the rear of my bike. i switch to 4th and grab a fish full of throttle. as i pull i way i hear the tires squealing and look back to see soccer mom in a full out panic maneuver.

adding a 100 watt 8" race light seemed to help me get better noticed.... on the street, not so much by big ass duallies in parking lots tho

 

[ztied]

I also can say the noise helped make drivers alert when they dont see me .its not cruising and being loud, its the dropping a gear a revving it up that catch their attention.

 

[Matteson]

I just like being loud and obnoxious!

 

[go cytocis]

I just like being loud

See, here's a guy willing to just tell the truth!

Don't get me wrong, in appropriate places (read: at the track, at meets, or in rural areas), I love loud pipes as much as anyone. I've got an R75/5 with a pair of Hoske megaphones that makes most straight-pipe Harleys sound cute.

I'm aware however that most of the general public doesn't share my aural appreciation of an Airhead flat twin at anti-social volumes so I keep it out of their ears. And certainly when it comes to safety, I'm under no illusion that my exhaust is playing any role in keeping me out of a collision with a car.

But hey, it's your life, safeguard it with whatever myths & old wives' tales you like. Just know that the research doesn't support your beliefs, & understand that you're harming the image of the motorcycling community amongst law makers & the general public.

 

[go cytocis]

loud pipes and bright lights save lives....i commute to work every day so i see what effect my 94db pipes have on cagers

Lighting? Definitely! Research bears that one out & it's why bikes come with daytime running lights. The pipe however? I'm still skeptical.

Since we're comparing annecdotes on the subject, I had a little KLX250sf with a TBR M7 pipe on it which measured 105 dB! (My XB with Drummer 'only' measured 96 dB). But because the KLX was small & black, it was forever getting caught in cager's blind spots. While it was LOUD, it was one of the most dangerous bikes in traffic I've ever owned simply because it was visually inconspicuous.

 

[XLXB]

In my delusional opinion loud pipes help in slow, very slow speed situations with an alert rider. (parking lots, garages, cruising for women) But anything that increases your visibility is a much better investment in your personal safety, but not so much with the ladies.

 

[ToneTheMoan]

Well my Drummer has increased the size of my Knob incredibly!!

 

[ztied]

Bright lights may be good for frontal veiw, but the drivers on the interstate that come from behind, or side dont seem them.
+1 on the brighter visibility clothes.
And there are the drivers out there that just dont see or hear the bikes

 

[go cytocis]

Well my Drummer has increased the size of my Knob incredibly!!

 

[2004xb12s]

Anything you can do to make your motorcycle better seen/heard/acknowledged the better.

 

[jetlee]

http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/last-word-loud-pipes-tech-matters

 

[jetlee]

From the above link:

After reading through every single motorcycle accident report I could find I had to admit that not one of them drew any sort of definitive correlation between a motorcycle's noise level and the likelihood of its being in an accident. The closest thing I found on the subject was in the "Hurt Report," which determined that modified motorcycles were overrepresented in the accident column and that large touring bikes like Gold Wings were underrepresented.

The problem is that it's easy to read more into those statistics than the author intended. Granted, choppers and cafe racers (and now some sportbikes) often run loud pipes, but extrapolating that into something further than a few general comments on why they may be involved in more accidents than any bone-stock bike is foolish and, yes, a little irresponsible.

The Hurt Report was about modified motorcycles in general. Comparing a mature person who only puts louder pipes on their bikes to some testosterone-fueled young'in that has added a cage, intake, exhaust, hi-comp pistons, etc., and saying they're just as likely to wreck is ridiculous.

I'd like to see a study specifically aimed at loud pipes vs accidents.

Kind of like people complaining about lane-splitting being dangerous, but then someone did an official study only to find out that it is indeed safer for everyone.