Do loud pipes save lives?

[DAKEZ]

Simple question. There is a poll going on in another forum... It's a "Biker" forum and as it stands now it is about 1774 "YES" // 74 "NO". What say you peeps that actually ride?

[JDLuke]

Originally Posted by DAKEZ

Simple question. There is a poll going on in another forum... It's a "Biker" forum and as it stands now it is about 20-1 "yes". What say you peeps that actually ride?

They just might. Let's say you don't really ride very much, and you're scared of the front brake lever, but you went and got yourself an... oh, let's call it an 'SAE Cruiser' with the loudest open pipes you could find.

If it keeps you from riding because the noise give you a headache, it just might save your life.

[LuciferMutt]

[khager]

While they are annoying, I do have to admit when I hear that low rumble over my own bike, and feel the vibration while going down the FWY I look around and usually spot offending Harley/Cruiser nearby. So if I can hear it thru my earplugs, who knows some cagers might even hear it, look around, and see that there is a M/C in the area.

[Boston_Sprint]

Originally Posted by khager

While they are annoying, I do have to admit when I hear that low rumble over my own bike, and feel the vibration while going down the FWY I look around and usually spot offending Harley/Cruiser nearby. So if I can hear it thru my earplugs, who knows some cagers might even hear it, look around, and see that there is a M/C in the area.

That is the primary reason I voted yes. Also the Powermax pipe on my Sprint is fairly loud, and while I don't think it helps in a 180 degree situation with oncoming vehicles I think it is logical that cagers (use logical and cagers in one sentence, neat trick) do hear louder bikes and look around.

[Jedl]

Originally Posted by JDLuke

They just might. Let's say you don't really ride very much, and you're scared of the front brake lever, but you went and got yourself an... oh, let's call it an 'SAE Cruiser' with the loudest open pipes you could find.

I assume that the "loud pipes" guys have chosen loud pipes over the alternative "They can't see me and every cage is out to kill me anyway so it's my responsibility to avoid them" strategy. Sad really that someone would chose a safety plan based on pissing off everyone rather than take an active roll in their own self-preservation. But that's the world we live in . . . . . I think I'll keep my bike quiet and continue to fly under the radar.

[GoGoGavin41]

Depends. Does the bike have ABS?

[Roam]

Obviously the honest answer would be yes. Whether the the safety gained is out weighed by the annoyance created is a question best answered by the self centered pricks running headlight modulators.

[stubmw]

Excellent point.

But I would imagine that most humans are extremely self-centered when employing tactics or devices they precieve are helping to save their life?

Originally Posted by Rafale

Obviously the honest answer would be yes. Whether the the safety gained is out weighed by the annoyance created is a question best answered by the self centered pricks running headlight modulators.

[DAKEZ]

Originally Posted by Roam

Obviously the honest answer would be yes.

IMO it is not obvious at all.

[EastSideSM]

Originally Posted by Roam

Obviously the honest answer would be yes. Whether the the safety gained is out weighed by the annoyance created is a question best answered by the self centered pricks running headlight modulators.

[windmill]

The only thing loud pipes may save you from is somebody merging into you, if you don't have the skill to avoid that or use your horn, your going to kill yourself anyway.

Definitely No.

[leejosepho]

Originally Posted by windmill

The only thing loud pipes may save you from is somebody merging into you, if you don't have the skill to avoid that or use your horn, your going to kill yourself anyway.

In my own experience, horns just piss people off. And then while cruising quietly and slowly through a residential section, a fist on the hood of the car that had just pulled out in front of me as I went by definitely slowed that driver down a bit and got him a quick ass-chewing from the woman sitting next to him. Out on the open road, loud pipes cause people to stop tailgating ...

... but my most-life-saving "loud pipes" experience once happened on a hot afternoon in North Carolina (where psychologically-deafening and -sight-blocking helmets are required). The light had turned green and I had taken a look and begun moving, but then some woman in a cage with no muffler "came out of nowhere" and ran the light and my wife heard her coming and stopped me about two seconds before we would have been broadsided.

So yes, loud pipes do save lives.

[Tosh Togo]

Originally Posted by GoGoGavin41

Depends. Does the bike have ABS?

What does A Bitch Seat have to do with the dBs?.

(Unless she's screaming)

[jesse v]

No... The difference between loud pipes and stock pipes is a VERY short distance.