Loud Pipes Save Lives?

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

I would be the first to agree that much of what I see that passes as "riding gear" on Harley riders is anything but functional. Come to think of it, though, the same can be said for most sportbike riders. Granted, the sport bikers are more likely to be seen in full face helmets, but they are also far more likely to be seen in shorts, tennis shoes, and tank tops. Those "helmets" I see on some of the Harley crowd, though - Christ almighty.

My wife and I are "ATGATT" folks, even on the Harley, even on the hottest of days. When we got rather uncerimoniously dislodged from the Harley last summer by some asleep at the wheel putz in a pickup, the armored leather gear and full face helmets quite literally saved our hides. Anyone who thinks we only wear that stuff to look cool or tough or whatever their particular negative stereotype suggests will just have to kiss my big, fat, hairy (and as of yet unscarred) white ass.

You have to at least admit that you are in the extreme minority being a serious motorcyclist who gears up all the way on a Harley, wouldn't you? It would make you the true "1%"...lol.

I don't hate all HDs and actually like the dressers and a few others but most of the bikes are a joke and the riders are clowns. I just took a 1000 mile ride this weekend and the Harleys and their riders are absolute speed bumps on Highway 1. They are too slow and/or unskilled to pass anyone and they ride in slow clumps of nitwits that are harder to pass than cars and trucks because they stake their ground across the entire lane like spandex bicyclists. I've never seen that behavior from any other brand riders. They are a serious safety hazard when they bring those slow fart sound generators onto actual motorcycle roads like the canyons of California.

My favorite was the guy I saw at a gas station putting on his version of a HD full face helmet, (it was cold along the coast), a black head sock like you wear under a racing helmet and then his $12.00 beanie helmet over that.

They are definitely good for a laugh and I can't believe you don't see that, Higgins. But then you're a pretty serious guy.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by speeder

You have to at least admit that you are in the extreme minority being a serious motorcyclist who gears up all the way on a Harley, wouldn't you? It would make you the true "1%"...lol.

I don't hate all HDs and actually like the dressers and a few others but most of the bikes are a joke and the riders are clowns. I just took a 1000 mile ride this weekend and the Harleys and their riders are absolute speed bumps on Highway 1. They are too slow and/or unskilled to pass anyone and they ride in slow clumps of nitwits that are harder to pass than cars and trucks because they stake their ground across the entire lane like spandex bicyclists. I've never seen that behavior from any other brand riders. They are a serious safety hazard when they bring those slow fart sound generators onto actual motorcycle roads like the canyons of California.

My favorite was the guy I saw at a gas station putting on his version of a HD full face helmet, (it was cold along the coast), a black head sock like you wear under a racing helmet and then his $12.00 beanie helmet over that.

They are definitely good for a laugh and I can't believe you don't see that, Higgins. But then you're a pretty serious guy.

Wow, Denis - I find myself in full agreement with you. First time for everything, I guess.

One of my all-time pet peeves are the lumbering groups of Harleys on the backroads. Some of the most inconsiderate bastards on the road today, holding everyone up like they do. I made the grave mistake back in 2000 (when I bought my now deceased Road King) of joining the local HOG chapter; about the only good to come of it was to finally gain some insight as to why they do that. Myself, though, I think it's not only dangerously stupid and inconsiderate, I think it should be an instant ticket for all involved. Obstructing the flow of traffic or something, if not a specific law prohibiting it. Make them hold a prescribed gap at every second bike or something, so other, faster moving traffic can filter through. Hell, I've been know to do that anyway, passing parts of the group and just forcing my way in where I have to, where I run out of passing room. Tends to piss 'em off, but they can kiss that big fat hairy ass of mine as well.

Sport bike riders don't ride like that. Or, if they do, at least they are going faster than most traffic and not holding everyone up. Typically, though, when I ride with that kind of group, we just pick a place to stop somewhere on up the road, and it's up to everyone how fast they want to get there. There might be two or three of us that hang together, but certainly no big pack like the Harley guys think they need.

Yes, I do shake my head at the putzes that have invaded one of my cherished sports. I do kind of long for the "good ol'" days when they all had to be kick started, and we had to ride with tools (and know how to use them). Those requirements sure thinned the herd quite a bit... Nowadays, however, the newfound reliability and ease of access has let all manner of fool into the fold. The problem is, they all try to emulate what they see as their version of "us", and make a mockery of the whole thing. And then the rest of you can't tell the difference, and start assigning stereotypes to the whole sport.

[JavaBrewer]

Jeff is at worst a 2% guy in the legit HD world. He's a rare breed these days.

Started a similar loud pipes thread many years ago. Admittedly I should have avoided the whole "RUB" reference but my experience was directly tied to the neuvo HD crowd that gives folks like Jeff a bad name on a BBS.

Stereotypes are everywhere and should not be taken to heart...unless you fit one. Unfortunately I fit several...

[stuartj]

Originally Posted by JavaBrewer

Jeff is at worst a 2% guy in the legit HD world. He's a rare breed these days.

Started a similar loud pipes thread many years ago. Admittedly I should have avoided the whole "RUB" reference but my experience was directly tied to the neuvo HD crowd that gives folks like Jeff a bad name on a BBS.

Stereotypes are everywhere and should not be taken to heart...unless you fit one. Unfortunately I fit several...

Funny to look back at that old thread and see the people, well, Jeff, getting caned there too.

Noise is empirical, it can be measured. Most race tracks I go to enforce noise limits, and if you break them, you get black flagged. At a race track, where one might expect noisy machines.

Context is required here. As gearheads, most of us enjoy a machine with a note. The particular tone of the HDs, I personally cant stand, but it seems some like it. Fair enough. But SOME of the HDs are shatteringly, rattle the windows, wake up babies loud. Theyre thoroughly illegal. On that basis, they interfere with other peoples quiet enjoyment of the road, the neighbourhood or wherever. Issue a defect and send them back to the burbs on a flatbed.

The fact that all that noise is producing 15 rear wheel hp from 1300cc, and the riders 'lifestyle statement' is pure comedy, is not the point. Its not AFAIK illegal to be a bell end.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by JavaBrewer

Jeff is at worst a 2% guy in the legit HD world. He's a rare breed these days.

Started a similar loud pipes thread many years ago. Admittedly I should have avoided the whole "RUB" reference but my experience was directly tied to the neuvo HD crowd that gives folks like Jeff a bad name on a BBS.

Stereotypes are everywhere and should not be taken to heart...unless you fit one. Unfortunately I fit several...

Yeah, I tell you, the modern Harley rider and the "culture" they have built for themselves is an embarrassment. And the fact that H-D's marketing machine has fully exploited it just doesn't sit all that well with me. It's like these folks are trying to simply buy their way into something they have neither earned nor fully understand. Their "lifestyle" is a hollow caricature of the way in which we have honestly gone about it for my entire lifetime, and for a good deal before that.

These people do make for an easy target, I'll give them that. It is pretty easy to poke fun at them. Just look at how often it comes up here - pretty low hanging fruit for the low self esteem crowd looking for a boost.

In the end, though, these weekend warriors are simply unwinding and enjoying themselves. Pretty harmless fun. While I may not want anything to do with them, I will never begrudge them their right to enjoy themselves. Yes, some of their bikes are annoyingly loud, yes some of them dress funny, but what the hell - live and let live. Life's too short to waddle around with one's panties constantly in a twist over the latest thing or someone that annoyed you.

[VINMAN]

Stewie seems to have an obsession about this. What happened, the loud noise scare you and make you drop your wine and cheese??

I will agree with Jeff though. Being a long time HD rider, it is a bit annoying at the "culture" that they have perpetuated. Dealers are more concerned with selling accesories and clothing, then with bikes and service. But i still dont look down on the RUB set. Yeah its not my thing, but they are just a bunch of people enjoying themselves. Nothing wrong with it. Hell I've been to PCA events, where half the guys there are wearing every item out of the P-car accesory catalog, looking like douchey walking billboards. Same thing, just a bunch of people out enjoying themselves they way they prefer to. But I dont think I'm any better than anyone where I need to trash them. As the saying goes, Different strokes.....

[stuartj]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Yeah, I tell you, the modern Harley rider and the "culture" they have built for themselves is an embarrassment. And the fact that H-D's marketing machine has fully exploited it just doesn't sit all that well with me. It's like these folks are trying to simply buy their way into something they have neither earned nor fully understand. Their "lifestyle" is a hollow caricature of the way in which we have honestly gone about it for my entire lifetime, and for a good deal before that.

These people do make for an easy target, I'll give them that. It is pretty easy to poke fun at them. Just look at how often it comes up here - pretty low hanging fruit for the low self esteem crowd looking for a boost.

In the end, though, these weekend warriors are simply unwinding and enjoying themselves. Pretty harmless fun. While I may not want anything to do with them, I will never begrudge them their right to enjoy themselves. Yes, some of their bikes are annoyingly loud, yes some of them dress funny, but what the hell - live and let live. Life's too short to waddle around with one's panties constantly in a twist over the latest thing or someone that annoyed you.

Nothing unique to HD in this Jeff. As I recall they nearly went broke in the 80s (so did Porsche in the early 90s) and they managed to reinvent themselves as marketers, and sell what they had. Old technology, nostalgia, bad boy, Americana draped in Stars and Stripes bandanas.

Gibson and Fender, occupying a similar position in the popular pysche sell guitars that haven't changed since 1958 and cost 20k to people who put them in loungerooms or glass cabinets. Conversely, most new Porsche owners have zero interest in the old cars and aspire to a prestige marque.

Its a consumer world, you can buy anything and they've as much right to it as you have. There might even be a web board somewhere bemoaning the tossers that carry 1911s and don't understand their history.

Gosh, Vin, nasty.

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by stuartj

Nothing unique to HD in this Jeff. As I recall they nearly went broke in the 80s (so did Porsche in the early 90s) and they managed to reinvent themselves as marketers, and sell what they had.

Yep, similar strategies based on two realizations: that most people are enamored of the brand name, and most buyers will never ride/drive the product near its limits.

[glewis80SC]

Originally Posted by VINMAN

Stewie seems to have an obsession about this. What happened, the loud noise scare you and make you drop your wine and cheese??

I will agree with Jeff though. Being a long time HD rider, it is a bit annoying at the "culture" that they have perpetuated. Dealers are more concerned with selling accesories and clothing, then with bikes and service. But i still dont look down on the RUB set. Yeah its not my thing, but they are just a bunch of people enjoying themselves. Nothing wrong with it. Hell I've been to PCA events, where half the guys there are wearing every item out of the P-car accesory catalog, looking like douchey walking billboards. Same thing, just a bunch of people out enjoying themselves they way they prefer to. But I dont think I'm any better than anyone where I need to trash them. As the saying goes, Different strokes.....

+1....well said.

[markivtruck]

i had drag pipes on a 76 sportster when i was 20 yrs. old . but i am not 20yrs. old forever. today all 45 yr. olds have loud pipes because it is their first bike. the stickers should say helmets save lives and loud pipes suck. also kids have hondas with loud pipes

[cashflyer]

These are the first three results produced when I google the term do loud pipes really save lives?


Loud pipes save lives

This myth is originated in the very biking world and is has a lot of supporters among both riders and custom aftermarket exhaust pipes manufacturers. Basically, those who claim that loud pipes save lives assume that the louder the noise a motorcycle makes on the road, the more chances they have of being noticed by other road-colleagues and thus less likely the occurrence of an accident.

The truth behind such a claim disproves this myth on so many levels: simple, common physics, common sense or plain reason can bring in countless reasons because this is just a myth. Let's tread the path of physics a bit and analyze what's happening from a strictly mechanical point of view.

Motorcycle exhausts openings are facing towards the rear of the bike, and it's obviously to the back where the gases and all the noise are directed. Assuming that the noise a motorcycle makes travels in an omnidirectional manner is just wrong, because noise is air (or other gases, for what's worth) in movement. With the air/ gas jest directed towards the rear of the bike, it's there where all the noise goes. And if you don't believe this, just 'start your engine in the open and then check the noise levels when facing the bike and behind it, alternatively.

When riding at higher speeds, things are even worse, because you're not only remaining close to the place where all the exhaust gases start to make noise hitting the mass of air, but you're traveling further from that zone as you advance on the road.

Now, having established that pipes generate a lot more noise behind the bike than in front of it, claiming that loud(er) pipes would help getting you noticed by the man driving the car in front sounds just silly. A loud exhaust pipe could come in handy when splitting the lanes at low speed, letting the drivers in front of you know “something is approaching” and maybe preventing them from cutting you off or opening the doors. Analyzing the crash reports, statistics indicate that around 77% of the hazards come in front of the biker, and only 3% approach from behind. What's next, front-facing exhausts?

Having installed modified pipes on a bike may indeed make it sound a lot different, with a touch of more aggressive tone, and could, beyond any shadow of doubt, make the rider feel better about him/herself and his or her machinery. Cool pipes make any bike look better, there's too much truth in here to start a debate; but along with the mean looks come a lot of other things...

Common sense urges us to think about noise pollution: while a rider might believe that the new sound of the bike is the most beautiful music in the world, many others might (and will) strongly disagree. Throttling the bike at 11PM thundering down the alley will simply increase the prejudice most non-bikers have against us, the riders. For most people, this sound is as pleasant as a dumpster truck on a Sunday at 5 AM, after returning from a party and getting one hour of sleep.

Adding “it's my bike and I'll do with it as I see fit” is not helping; au contraire, it just makes a very lame excuse for making excessive noise. Owning a motorcycle does not come with the right to break the noise regulations, and even though a racing exhaust might receive clearance for installation on common bikes, this brings little comfort to the passers-by and traffic-fellows. It's just a matter of being polite and care for those around you.

Aftermarket exhausts will also increase the horsepower (both the loud and the properly muffled ones), but claiming this as the main reason for making excessive noise just doesn't cut it. With most of the motorcycles being manufactured these days already coming with more than sufficient power for pretty much any rider or road conditions, it's rather hard to believe that all that was missing was the 5 or 10 bhp increase granted by a hollow exhaust.

Finally, it's the simple fact that a louder pipe is by no means a proactive or primary safety measure, but a secondary one. Again, learning how to ride well (throttle, turn, brake and so on) and keeping a close eye to the traffic around you are essential to making it home safely.
The first rule of avoiding a crash is not placing yourself in a critical traffic situation, and this means riding carefully and being able to detect the potential hazards early. It's always easier to avoid a nasty situation than to find a safe exit from one.

Installing a better horn, wearing a bright color helmet or a high-visibility jacket/ vest are proven methods of making yourself noticed easier in traffic. Even more, these measures are most likely not to offend anyone, and the roads will be a bit safer having less annoyed, less aggressive drivers.
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/most-common-motorcycle-myths-debunked-part-1-45969.html


Challenging loud pipes theory
BY MARK HINCHLIFFEIN MOTORBIKE NEWS — 12 SEP, 2013

Do loud pipes really save lives?
I’m sure someone will give me an example of how they reckon a loud motorcycle exhaust saved their lives, but I just don’t understand how.
Let’s look at this very clinically.
Supporters of this contention say that loud pipes alert motorists that there is a bike somewhere about.
In a situation of impending collision, the bike is approaching the vehicle it is about to collide with, right? It’s not going in the opposite direction, is it?
They may be approaching from the side, from in front or from behind, but they are not riding away from the vehicle with which they are about to collide.
So the noise of the bike really needs to precede the bike to alert the impending collider, right?
But exhaust pipes don’t face forward. They face backward with the bulk of the noise trailing behind, not going out in front of them.
I’ve heard some pretty loud pipes, but no matter how loud they are they fail to alert motorists inside cars with the windows wound up, the airconditioner on and the radio playing.
I have been guilty of driving a car and having no idea that a motorcycle is coming up behind me and into my blind spot. Not until they are alongside or already past do I actually hear their exhaust pipe.
Just how loud would exhaust pipes have to be for people in front to hear them clearly and be a truly effective safety alert?
Rather than adding to the already cacophonous state of our urban traffic, wouldn’t it actually be better and safer for riders to alert traffic with a short blast on the horn?
If you are riding along a street and see a car sitting at an intersection and you are not sure they have seen or heard you, wouldn’t it be more effective to give a couple of quick taps on the horn to gain their attention?
A horn blast surely has more of an alert tone than the gradually increasing rumble of an exhaust pipe facing the wrong way.
There are other things you can do to get yourself noticed such as changing speed and moving around on the road.
All these proactive safety measures are much better than the ingrained and misguided trust in the safety values of a loud pipe. In fact, reliance on a loud pipe could be hindering your active safety avoidance measures and placing you in greater danger.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the sound of a baritone exhaust note. That rumbling sound is music to my ears and motivation to my soul.
But I detest those barking, angry pipes that give me a headache and only serve to upset most of the population.
In fact, noise (barking dogs, traffic, trains etc) is the most complained about issue in suburban life. Do we really need to attract more anger against bikes and bikers?
While loud pipes may not necessarily save any lives, they most assuredly are bad PR for a minority group that gets enough bad press as it is.
Let’s be honest, the people who advocate loud pipes love the sound of the pipes and/or love people hearing them and being intimidated. And maybe they have small penises and need to compensate … watch this short video.
Like I said, I love the sound of a nice macho pipe, but nothing so loud it gives me a headache and nothing that will cause my neighbours grief every time I come home at night or head off early in the morning.
While I’ve never witnessed a loud pipe saving my life or anyone else’s I have witnessed loud pipes causing dogs to start barking and horses to run into barbed wire fences.
My favourite bike noise is actually the roar of the bike inhaling, rather than exhaling. The MV Agusta Brutale 1000 has an absolutely divine induction roar.
And best of all, it sounds like a Singer sewing machine when it goes past pedestrians, motorists, dogs and horses. That’s because the induction sound is cleverly pointed at the rider and not the passerby.
Motorcycle and car manufacturers have been spending millions of dollars on research into how to best channel these “good” sounds toward the rider/driver rather than at the passing scenery.
This has mainly been forced on them by increasingly stringent noise limitation laws, but the byproduct is that we get more entertaining motorcycles to ride and we cheese off fewer motorists, pedestrians, dogs and horses.
However, I am willing to be corrected if someone can give me categorical proof that a loud pipe saved their life. Just leave your comments in the box below.
Challenging loud pipes theory - Motorbike Writer

[Chocaholic]

Quite an analysis there.

Correction...most aftermarket pipes do not typically increase horsepower...only volume. In many cases HP is decreased while torque almost always suffers especially in the absence of proper fuel mapping.

[cashflyer]

Do Loud Pipes Save Lives?
by: MCg

THE DEBATE GOES ON. I’ve never struggled so much to write a motorcycle article as I have with this one. A reader challenged me to enter the discussion about loud pipes earlier this year. At the time, I thought it an easy endeavor because I had my own years of experience and opinion on the matter.
However, I made a mistake: I decided to research the matter. And in the process, my opinion has been somewhat modified.

The Search for Evidence: “Loud Pipes Save Lives”
As you, too, might be inclined to do when seeking more info on a subject, I did an Internet search for “Loud Pipes Save Lives” and read through numerous articles at the top of the search results and much lower in the results.
What I came away with was less certainty on the subject than when I started. And more so than any time before, I recognized that truth can be illusive.
Now I don’t know if my personal experience is typical, or atypical, but I did ride for years with high-performance (and loud), exhaust pipes – when I was much younger. To this day, I don’t know how my ears survived. (Well, the fact is, now that I’m considerably more mature, the question of how well they survived is just as murky as my research on the matter of whether loud pipes save lives, or not.)
Although it appears my hearing is not as good as it used to be, how much of that is due to loud pipes or lots and lots of very loud concerts and very loud music blasting through headphones is difficult to discern. I’m sure it’s safe to say that neither supported long-term optimal hearing. (I only started wearing ear plugs while riding several years ago).

Loud Pipes Are Impractical For Long-Distance Touring
My first coast-to-coast motorcycle trip was on a motorbike with a high-performance, non-stock exhaust system that did not endear the neighbors to my notion of a spirited form of transportation. Although I’ve ridden coast-to-coast across North America a number of times since, I recall that first trip as a highlight of my life. And although I could discourse about the virtues of that summer adventure, in the early 80′s, for hours on end, one thing that I realized without any advice, feedback or suggestions from anyone else, was that loud pipes made for uncomfortable long-distance riding (and also that I would be switching from chain-drive to shaft-drive motorbikes for touring).
Personally, I don’t like loud pipes. As much as I love each and every kind of motorcycle, the only ones that diminish my enthusiasm for the brotherhood are those that disrupt the neighborhood harmony by announcing their every breath coming and going.
So, here I am, a long-distance, mature rider, with hundreds of thousands of miles of motorbike experience, who “used” to ride with loud pipes, and who has not liked them for years, and who is philosophically opposed to them due to their inherent and ongoing damage to the motorsport in the way they impinge on the lives of those non-riders whom are adversely effected by the noise pollution of their very existence. Hence, wouldn’t you think I’d be a vociferous opponent of the same?
Which brings me to the point of the first paragraph. I was already aware of the lack of real evidence that supports the concept that “loud pipes save lives.”
But lo and behold, my research did find anecdotal reports that extol the virtues of loud pipes.

The Truth, or Not?
So, what is the truth? Are those riders who state that loud pipes “have” saved their lives just plain wrong?
What my research did “not” do is change my perspective on whether I, personally, will integrate loud pipes back into my riding: I won’t. In fact, in the future, I will likely include an electric motorcycle (which are practically silent), within a stable of riding choices.
However, what has resulted from my research regarding loud pipes is a softening of my perspective. Even though scientifically unproven, if riders’ lives have been saved because of loud pipes, or if riders believe they are safer with loud pipes, those are some compelling factors – at least for those individuals.
Even so, such does not address the rights of others to “not” be subjected to the noise of loud motorcycle exhaust systems.
In conclusion, although I am not an advocate for loud pipes, and even though I disagree with the use of the most obnoxious ones, and even though there is no hard evidence in support of their use as a safety catalyst, and even though the loudest pipes do damage to the overall public perception of motorcycling, I respect that there have been “some” quantity of riders (however large or small), who are still riding, purportedly as a result of loud pipes. Which has caused me to re-evaluate their application.
Do Loud Motorcycle Exhaust Pipes Save Lives? | Motorcycle-Intelligence.com

[cashflyer]

#3



Do Loud Pipes Save Lives?
by: MCg

THE DEBATE GOES ON. I’ve never struggled so much to write a motorcycle article as I have with this one. A reader challenged me to enter the discussion about loud pipes earlier this year. At the time, I thought it an easy endeavor because I had my own years of experience and opinion on the matter.
However, I made a mistake: I decided to research the matter. And in the process, my opinion has been somewhat modified.

The Search for Evidence: “Loud Pipes Save Lives”
As you, too, might be inclined to do when seeking more info on a subject, I did an Internet search for “Loud Pipes Save Lives” and read through numerous articles at the top of the search results and much lower in the results.
What I came away with was less certainty on the subject than when I started. And more so than any time before, I recognized that truth can be illusive.
Now I don’t know if my personal experience is typical, or atypical, but I did ride for years with high-performance (and loud), exhaust pipes – when I was much younger. To this day, I don’t know how my ears survived. (Well, the fact is, now that I’m considerably more mature, the question of how well they survived is just as murky as my research on the matter of whether loud pipes save lives, or not.)
Although it appears my hearing is not as good as it used to be, how much of that is due to loud pipes or lots and lots of very loud concerts and very loud music blasting through headphones is difficult to discern. I’m sure it’s safe to say that neither supported long-term optimal hearing. (I only started wearing ear plugs while riding several years ago).

Loud Pipes Are Impractical For Long-Distance Touring
My first coast-to-coast motorcycle trip was on a motorbike with a high-performance, non-stock exhaust system that did not endear the neighbors to my notion of a spirited form of transportation. Although I’ve ridden coast-to-coast across North America a number of times since, I recall that first trip as a highlight of my life. And although I could discourse about the virtues of that summer adventure, in the early 80′s, for hours on end, one thing that I realized without any advice, feedback or suggestions from anyone else, was that loud pipes made for uncomfortable long-distance riding (and also that I would be switching from chain-drive to shaft-drive motorbikes for touring).
Personally, I don’t like loud pipes. As much as I love each and every kind of motorcycle, the only ones that diminish my enthusiasm for the brotherhood are those that disrupt the neighborhood harmony by announcing their every breath coming and going.
So, here I am, a long-distance, mature rider, with hundreds of thousands of miles of motorbike experience, who “used” to ride with loud pipes, and who has not liked them for years, and who is philosophically opposed to them due to their inherent and ongoing damage to the motorsport in the way they impinge on the lives of those non-riders whom are adversely effected by the noise pollution of their very existence. Hence, wouldn’t you think I’d be a vociferous opponent of the same?
Which brings me to the point of the first paragraph. I was already aware of the lack of real evidence that supports the concept that “loud pipes save lives.”
But lo and behold, my research did find anecdotal reports that extol the virtues of loud pipes.

The Truth, or Not?
So, what is the truth? Are those riders who state that loud pipes “have” saved their lives just plain wrong?
What my research did “not” do is change my perspective on whether I, personally, will integrate loud pipes back into my riding: I won’t. In fact, in the future, I will likely include an electric motorcycle (which are practically silent), within a stable of riding choices.
However, what has resulted from my research regarding loud pipes is a softening of my perspective. Even though scientifically unproven, if riders’ lives have been saved because of loud pipes, or if riders believe they are safer with loud pipes, those are some compelling factors – at least for those individuals.
Even so, such does not address the rights of others to “not” be subjected to the noise of loud motorcycle exhaust systems.
In conclusion, although I am not an advocate for loud pipes, and even though I disagree with the use of the most obnoxious ones, and even though there is no hard evidence in support of their use as a safety catalyst, and even though the loudest pipes do damage to the overall public perception of motorcycling, I respect that there have been “some” quantity of riders (however large or small), who are still riding, purportedly as a result of loud pipes. Which has caused me to re-evaluate their application.
Do Loud Motorcycle Exhaust Pipes Save Lives? | Motorcycle-Intelligence.com

[cashflyer]

#3



Do Loud Pipes Save Lives?
by: MCg

THE DEBATE GOES ON. I’ve never struggled so much to write a motorcycle article as I have with this one. A reader challenged me to enter the discussion about loud pipes earlier this year. At the time, I thought it an easy endeavor because I had my own years of experience and opinion on the matter.
However, I made a mistake: I decided to research the matter. And in the process, my opinion has been somewhat modified.

The Search for Evidence: “Loud Pipes Save Lives”
As you, too, might be inclined to do when seeking more info on a subject, I did an Internet search for “Loud Pipes Save Lives” and read through numerous articles at the top of the search results and much lower in the results.
What I came away with was less certainty on the subject than when I started. And more so than any time before, I recognized that truth can be illusive.
Now I don’t know if my personal experience is typical, or atypical, but I did ride for years with high-performance (and loud), exhaust pipes – when I was much younger. To this day, I don’t know how my ears survived. (Well, the fact is, now that I’m considerably more mature, the question of how well they survived is just as murky as my research on the matter of whether loud pipes save lives, or not.)
Although it appears my hearing is not as good as it used to be, how much of that is due to loud pipes or lots and lots of very loud concerts and very loud music blasting through headphones is difficult to discern. I’m sure it’s safe to say that neither supported long-term optimal hearing. (I only started wearing ear plugs while riding several years ago).

Loud Pipes Are Impractical For Long-Distance Touring
My first coast-to-coast motorcycle trip was on a motorbike with a high-performance, non-stock exhaust system that did not endear the neighbors to my notion of a spirited form of transportation. Although I’ve ridden coast-to-coast across North America a number of times since, I recall that first trip as a highlight of my life. And although I could discourse about the virtues of that summer adventure, in the early 80′s, for hours on end, one thing that I realized without any advice, feedback or suggestions from anyone else, was that loud pipes made for uncomfortable long-distance riding (and also that I would be switching from chain-drive to shaft-drive motorbikes for touring).
Personally, I don’t like loud pipes. As much as I love each and every kind of motorcycle, the only ones that diminish my enthusiasm for the brotherhood are those that disrupt the neighborhood harmony by announcing their every breath coming and going.
So, here I am, a long-distance, mature rider, with hundreds of thousands of miles of motorbike experience, who “used” to ride with loud pipes, and who has not liked them for years, and who is philosophically opposed to them due to their inherent and ongoing damage to the motorsport in the way they impinge on the lives of those non-riders whom are adversely effected by the noise pollution of their very existence. Hence, wouldn’t you think I’d be a vociferous opponent of the same?
Which brings me to the point of the first paragraph. I was already aware of the lack of real evidence that supports the concept that “loud pipes save lives.”
But lo and behold, my research did find anecdotal reports that extol the virtues of loud pipes.

The Truth, or Not?
So, what is the truth? Are those riders who state that loud pipes “have” saved their lives just plain wrong?
What my research did “not” do is change my perspective on whether I, personally, will integrate loud pipes back into my riding: I won’t. In fact, in the future, I will likely include an electric motorcycle (which are practically silent), within a stable of riding choices.
However, what has resulted from my research regarding loud pipes is a softening of my perspective. Even though scientifically unproven, if riders’ lives have been saved because of loud pipes, or if riders believe they are safer with loud pipes, those are some compelling factors – at least for those individuals.
Even so, such does not address the rights of others to “not” be subjected to the noise of loud motorcycle exhaust systems.
In conclusion, although I am not an advocate for loud pipes, and even though I disagree with the use of the most obnoxious ones, and even though there is no hard evidence in support of their use as a safety catalyst, and even though the loudest pipes do damage to the overall public perception of motorcycling, I respect that there have been “some” quantity of riders (however large or small), who are still riding, purportedly as a result of loud pipes. Which has caused me to re-evaluate their application.
Do Loud Motorcycle Exhaust Pipes Save Lives? | Motorcycle-Intelligence.com

[cashflyer]

Apparently loud pipes also cause the Pelican server to get wonky.