Do loud pipes save lives?

[Zerk]

Originally Posted by merickk

The time spent there is minimal with a heightened sense of my surroundings either slowing down or passing to get out of the blind spot rather than to cruise along and expect the sound of my bike to make the driver aware of my presence.

People have problems with logic.

Nobody said, to just cruise along complacent.

If you think it is safe to fly by paying attention, if you add to that the possibility of them hearing you, you added more safety.

[bwalsh]

Loud pipes do save lives...






Oh, you meant on motorcicles...

[250senuf]

Originally Posted by merickk

Have you seen a stock KLX exhaust


of course it needs a better aftermarket exhaust otherwise there ain't enough air leaving that 1/4 in tube.

Hey mang, be nice. It's 19/32 not 1/4, that's a HUGE difference.

[windmill]

As the whole argument for "loud pipes save lives" is biased on the premise that any additional conspicuousness, no matter how antisocial or limited in effect still increases safety.
I figured to show how these folks could attract even more attention to themselves, and be even safer.

The ultimate safety riding suit, bright, noticeable, well padded, and the perfect social statement for the rider with an obnoxiously loud exhaust. As a bonus they could get a "rain suit" at any drug store.

[dbuzz]

Originally Posted by ragtoplvr

True story

Rider, sees car about to pull out in front of her. She

A. Covers brake, determines and implements evasive action, sounds horn and survives.

B Revs engine so car will hear and stop.

If I add Harley rider, I am sure you will pick B

As she did. Bike totaled, some broken bones, and she just does not understand why the pipes did not work. Not even when explained to her.

Yes, she is blonde, but many of the guys in her club also do not understand. Right now she says she is not riding again. I hope this remain true.

Rod

How sad for her

I had to do the rev engine loudly, toot horn emphatically in a mall carpark yesterday ... but I also did the other things mentioned in 'A' too ... the Termis on the Duc sound awesome in a concrete cavern If I do all the above on my Harley will I still be a Harley riding doofus?

[LuciferMutt]

Originally Posted by dbuzzy

How sad for her

I had to do the rev engine loudly, toot horn emphatically in a mall carpark yesterday ... but I also did the other things mentioned in 'A' too ... the Termis on the Duc sound awesome in a concrete cavern If I do all the above on my Harley will I still be a Harley riding doofus?

Loudish Ducati - sounds like sex

Loud(ish) HD - sounds like ass

[Zerk]

Originally Posted by DevilNinjaDog

Loudish Ducati - sounds like sex

Loud(ish) HD - sounds like ass

Maybe you are sticking it in the wrong hole.

[SgtDuster]

Originally Posted by Zerk

Maybe you are sticking it in the wrong hole.

[abhibeckert]

Originally Posted by DAKEZ

I don't care if they hear me or not... For that matter if you blindfolded the lot of them I would still ride. If you can't or don't ride in such a way as to be able to avoid the rolling hunks of steel that you are sharing the road with you should not ride period. That is why I believe Loud pipes do NOT save lives.

Fair enough, that's a valid argument, but I don't think our own actions are enough to render us 100% safe. If a car is driving under the speed limit in the slow lane, and I'm riding on the speed limit in the fast lane, there is a chance the car will suddenly swerve into my lane while I'm overtaking them. Assuming they serve too fast for me to hit the brakes, and there's nowhere for me to go (oncoming traffic or a concrete barrier next to me perhaps), what could I have done to avoid that? Aside from choosing not to overtake, there isn't any way to avoid being close to another car while riding in the city.

Originally Posted by DAKEZ

I believe that even if a tie-rod broke on a car I am passing suddenly throwing it in my direction I would be able to avoid it. Am I alone in this regard?

Yup, you're alone. If you changed "I would be able to avoid it" with "I almost certainly would be able to avoid it", then I'd agree with you.

Originally Posted by dwoodward

I will grant that emitting a constant, unfocused, annoying noise from a vehicle, mainly projecting to the rear, may have some value in aiding other's situational awareness.

So did you vote "yes, they save lives" in the poll then? Because that's exactly what you just said.

Originally Posted by dwoodward

If it's really a safety feature, everyone should do that- all bikes, all trucks, buses and cars. Bicycles and pedestrians, too. There, problem solved, right?

I haven't seen many people in this thread say they like loud pipes. So far as I can tell, most of us are either annoyed by them or don't mind but is considerate of the people who are annoyed. Also, I'd like to point out that "loud" is a relative term, so "loud pipes" inherently means "much louder than a typical car/bike/truck/pedestrian".

[DAKEZ]

Great post.

Originally Posted by abhibeckert

Fair enough, that's a valid argument, but I don't think our own actions are enough to render us 100% safe. .

I absolutely agree. There is never going to be a 100% safe in anything... I"ll live with the 98% safe while riding until I don't.

Originally Posted by abhibeckert

Fair enough, that's a valid argument, but I don't think our own actions are enough to render us 100% safe. If a car is driving under the speed limit in the slow lane, and I'm riding on the speed limit in the fast lane, there is a chance the car will suddenly swerve into my lane while I'm overtaking them. Assuming they serve too fast for me to hit the brakes, and there's nowhere for me to go (oncoming traffic or a concrete barrier next to me perhaps), what could I have done to avoid that?

The little twisty thing on the right grip... It only turns so far. I go to it far more often than I ever consider using the brakes to get out of harms way. If I were to guess it would be around 85% throttle 15% Brake. Riding at higher RPM’s in the power/torque band of whatever you ride is a very important safety feature.

Originally Posted by abhibeckert

Yup, you're alone. If you changed "I would be able to avoid it" with "I almost certainly would be able to avoid it", then I'd agree with you.

Agreed.

[Aussijussi]

Originally Posted by DevilNinjaDog

Loudish Ducati - sounds like sex

Loud(ish) HD - sounds like ass

I agree there is no better sound than Ducati make's. My Norton 850 wasnt too bad either, in fact all the britt bike's sounded good!

[dbuzz]

Originally Posted by DevilNinjaDog

Loudish Ducati - sounds like sex

Loud(ish) HD - sounds like ass

Purrfect combination ?

[dwoodward]

Originally Posted by dwoodward

Well, since a lot of the engineering (and parts) comes out of Asia these days...

Asia... or Italy and India, apparently. Stolen from Motorcyclist:

Harley-Davidson—America’s oldest and largest motorcycle manufacturer—is apparently preparing to outsource some motorcycle production to India. Reliable sources in both India and Italy insist The Motor Company is developing an all-new, small-displacement V-twin platform that will be manufactured at H-D’s purpose-built, 70,000 sq.-ft. factory outside Delhi. This new machine will let Harley sidestep ban on importing under-800cc bikes to India—one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing motorcycle markets—and also provide American dealers with a much-needed replacement for the entry-level Buell Blast.

If the photo there is representative, I like.

[dwoodward]

Originally Posted by abhibeckert

Fair enough, that's a valid argument, but I don't think our own actions are enough to render us 100% safe.

Youre relative safety started going downhill when you got out of bed this morning. You can work to manage that, or not. .

Yup, you're alone. If you changed "I would be able to avoid it" with "I almost certainly would be able to avoid it", then I'd agree with you.

HOW you think about things and the human brain's ability to delude itself is important. If DAKEZ thinks he can, he's more likely to make it than if he thinks he probably can. In the latter case, there's a point where doubt creeps in. Once you start to think you might not be able to do something, you're a self-fulfilling prophecy waiting to happen.

Having said that- it's important you back up your beliefs. There are a lot of people who think they can, but don't think about what it really means. Too many of those ride motorcycles.

[Zerk]

Originally Posted by dwoodward

Asia... or Italy and India, apparently. Stolen from Motorcyclist:

Harley-Davidson—America’s oldest and largest motorcycle manufacturer—is apparently preparing to outsource some motorcycle production to India. Reliable sources in both India and Italy insist The Motor Company is developing an all-new, small-displacement V-twin platform that will be manufactured at H-D’s purpose-built, 70,000 sq.-ft. factory outside Delhi. This new machine will let Harley sidestep ban on importing under-800cc bikes to India—one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing motorcycle markets—and also provide American dealers with a much-needed replacement for the entry-level Buell Blast.

If the photo there is representative, I like.

I don't think outsourcing is the right word, unless they bring them back here. I beleive they are building them to sell in India.

I am very pro American made, but that doesn't really bother me.