What loud pipes really say...

[Ducatl]

Personally I actually prefer my bike to be quieter, although I hate the look of most stock systems. That said, I think saying that loud pipes never get you noticed based on personal rider account is a particularly poor way to statistically judge their effectiveness. The majority of the time the effect they have on your safety should go unnoticed, the idea being that they negated some possible future where a driver endangered you. There will always be drivers who will endanger riders no matter the circumstance, but do loud pipes have any effect on the number who do? Statistically speaking I'd guess that they do, and realistically speaking I'd say that even an effect on one driver might save your life.

[EvilSteve]

If you want a loud pipe because you like it, just say that. Don't drone on with the loud pipes save lives mantra to justify your own inconsiderate choices. (not directed at anyone in particular)

Can loud pipes help? Sure. Could riding around with a dead chicken duct taped to your head help? Sure. Is depending on either option to save you a wise choice? I don't think so.

I think that attributing someone's attention being directed at you to the volume of your exhaust is a tenuous argument at best. I don't believe that many people could recognize the difference between happenstance and actual causality, especially in a contentious traffic scenario.

I contend that people should actually ride with their stock exhaust for a while and see if it sounds ok first. If it doesn't then fine, go buy something but remember that anything that is too loud is going to contribute to the enforcement of laws that will prevent us from flying under the EPA enforcement radar (i.e. the application of already existing laws). Also remember that "too loud" is *completely* subjective and contextual.

I sent an email to one of the people leading up the effort to introduce the new stupid laws in NYC. I pointed out that the loudest vehicles that come through my neighborhood are actually garbage trucks and they usually drive past in the early hours of the morning.

Motorcyclists make themselves the target of legislation by pushing the limits on what is socially acceptable. How loud our pipes are, how fast we ride, the mile long wheelies on the freeway etc. Do any of us do these things? Not necessarily. Does that mean that we'll be exempt from the "EPA only", "Speed limiter" or "Forced wheelie control electronics" laws if/once they get introduced? Nope.

We're all in this together, people who go to extremes will have an affect on everyone. I'm trying to get people to consider the affect their actions will have on the wider community. If your choice is between nice sound at 90db and nice sound at 100db, please go with 90. I'm saying we should police ourselves before we don't have a choice.

[kopfjäger]

^^ Would someone please translate that for me. I bearly made it out of
High School, back in the early 70's.  

[Bill in OKC]

Most accounts of a bike hitting a deer I've heard are Honda Goldwing related.  I wonder if loud pipes could be saving the lives of furry woodland creatures?  I know cattle tend to run the other direction when they hear motorcycles coming.

[speedevil]

If you want a loud pipe because you like it, just say that. Don't drone on with the loud pipes save lives mantra to justify your own inconsiderate choices. (not directed at anyone in particular)

We're all in this together, people who go to extremes will have an affect on everyone. I'm trying to get people to consider the affect their actions will have on the wider community. If your choice is between nice sound at 90db and nice sound at 100db, please go with 90. I'm saying we should police ourselves before we don't have a choice.

Thanks.  Nice summary EvilSteve.  This thread has been a good debate with differing viewpoints being discussed without personal attacks and name-calling.  Back in school my teachers said we could disagree wihout getting personal and I guess they were right.

I posted the youtube video in the original post because it was pretty damn funny.  But it obviously generated a lot of responses, some of which I expected and some I did not.  I branched into the EPA regs, basically to educate myself to understand the rules that a lot of us (me included) choose to ignore.

The devil you know is better than the devil you don't know - and we're all better-informed now.

Ride safely.

[speedevil]

Most accounts of a bike hitting a deer I've heard are Honda Goldwing related.  I wonder if loud pipes could be saving the lives of furry woodland creatures?  I know cattle tend to run the other direction when they hear motorcycles coming.

I'm not sure there is a correlation between exhaust noise and the avoidance of vehicle-critter accidents.

I would posit that Goldwings (on average) are ridden many times more miles than the average Ducati.  As a result the Wing riders are more likely to meet a deer on the road just by being on the road more.

I get to say that because I own a Duc and a Wing.

[angler]

This thread has been a good debate with differing viewpoints being discussed without personal attacks and name-calling. 

Only because I haven't chimed in.  I have a huge c*ck.  I have boomtubes.  I ride with flip-flops, shorts, wife beater and a steel bucket for a helmet.  I shift late and rev often particularly in front of cafes and old folks homes. 

 








 

[Bigbore4]

Most accounts of a bike hitting a deer I've heard are Honda Goldwing related.  I wonder if loud pipes could be saving the lives of furry woodland creatures?  I know cattle tend to run the other direction when they hear motorcycles coming.

<snip>

I'm not sure there is a correlation between exhaust noise and the avoidance of vehicle-critter accidents.

I disproved this theory in August.  Hit a deer on my FJR with a full Muzzy system, she seemed completely uncocerned, until her leg broke. 

[Monster Dave]

Only because I haven't chimed in.  I have a huge c*ck.  I have boomtubes.  I ride with flip-flops, shorts, wife beater and a steel bucket for a helmet.  I shift late and rev often particularly in front of cafes and old folks homes.  

 

 

[speedevil]

Only because I haven't chimed in.  I have a huge c*ck.  I have boomtubes.  I ride with flip-flops, shorts, wife beater and a steel bucket for a helmet.  I shift late and rev often particularly in front of cafes and old folks homes.

You charmer you - there's one in every group (if we're lucky, just one).

[angler]

You charmer you - there's one in every group (if we're lucky, just one).

And I burnout and turn it into a wheelie at every intersection.

I kid (except about my junk and the boomtubes).  Just trying to make a point - I think you are preaching to the choir......

[sroberts152]

Only because I haven't chimed in.  I have a huge c*ck.  I have boomtubes.  I ride with flip-flops, shorts, wife beater and a steel bucket for a helmet.  I shift late and rev often particularly in front of cafes and old folks homes. 

Chicken! Those old people can't catch you nor will most of them remember past lunch time. 

[angler]

Chicken! Those old people can't catch you nor will most of them remember past lunch time. 

I think I just wet my pants laughing.....

Seriously, for a board dedicated to a hooligan bike, this group is a bunch of softies!

[damianS4RS]

Yeah, those HD guy's are the only one running loud pipes.

ZARD - Ducati 1098 full kit racing

If lovin' you is wrong.. I don't wanna be right.. 



Next comes the video with the dude in full leathers outside drinking coffee on a 100' day debate. 

[Bill in OKC]

I'm not sure there is a correlation between exhaust noise and the avoidance of vehicle-critter accidents.

I would posit that Goldwings (on average) are ridden many times more miles than the average Ducati.  As a result the Wing riders are more likely to meet a deer on the road just by being on the road more.

I get to say that because I own a Duc and a Wing.

You wouldn't happen to have a "deer whistle" on your Wing would you?  A few Wingers swear by them but I have no personal experience.