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What's your bike?

I have no problem with cruisers that don't have super loud pipes and are ridden responsibly, as you do. I get the attraction, tho if i wanted a bike I'd prefer something like a BMW.

   

here's a nice looking Harley:

   

I just find most Harley's to be a little clunky and old fashioned looking. Also not a huge fan of chrome. Or rather, as much as I like chrome I hate dirty chrome and I hate polishing it.

I ride a Victory Vegas 8-Ball

   

Hey! Your beer fridge is empty, eh?

... and you call yourself a Canadian ..

   

You might notice that the door is off...

I just don't turn the furnace up and use the whole garage as a beer fridge. That's Canadian!

   

beautiful bike. I may not like the sound you make passing me, but I can appreciate nice machinery. US made?

   

Thanks. And yep, American.

   

My basement floor keeps them cold enough at this time of the year.

   

Let me start out by stating that I proly got the smallest wang possible & still be thought of as a man! I was never a 'Harley Guy'. Always quite happy with my Suzuki, Yammy & Honda. My Marauder is a nice little cuiser, not loud at all. I quite enjoy the ride. Very comfy. Lean back, put my feet up & ride! I wasn't 'in the market' when I bought the Harley. Just happened upon a deal that really was too good to pass up. I may flip it. But I am going to do an honest comparison between the 2 bikes and then one of them is for sale.
Is the Harley loud? You bet it is! I'll have to idle all the way out to the hiway before I roll on the throttle.
As far as 'loud pipes save lives' goes, I have seen it work first hand many times. So those of you who say "it ain't so", well your as entitled to your opinion as much as those who claim "there ain't no God", and those who claim "there certainly is a God"! Keeping in mind that 'opinions are like assholes' everyone has one, but the other person always smells worse than you do'!
As I sit here typing this, another train is going past. Sounding those big LOUD fuckin air horns as the approach each rail crossing (3 here). I wonder why they do that???

   

The difference between the train horns and a loud bike is that the horns are pointed in the direction of the poeple being warned. Your tail pipes are pointed at the people you've already passed. Something like 90% of the noise is behind you doing nothing to warn others your coming.

That's not to say that there aren't situations where it's useful. I've cracked the throttle many a time to get the attention of the soccer mom in the SUV beside me who I could tell was thinking about changing lanes without looking. But for the most part noisy pipes are just noisy. If the guys with the straight pipes were really that worried about safety they'd have a white helmet and a jacket with reflective striping. Both of which do far far more than loud pipes to keep you safe.

   

Yellow is the color that is seen the best. I have a white helmet but a yellow rain jacket.

   

You would have us believe that you cannot hear a loud vehicle comming towards you! Only after it passes you can you hear it???

   

Today's cars are well insulated with good sound systems. People don't notice sirens on emergency vehicles, and those are pointed forwards. Just how much of a dick do you want to be to the people around you for this supposed safety factor? As Unsound says, white helmets are much more effective safety measure, but the loud assholes never seem to wear them.

The logic of many bikers is what I overheard between two of these middle aged tough guys in a cafe in Colorado. How they would never ride their bikes without leathers because if you go down, the leathers will save their skin. Then they got up and rode off without helmets. (CO didn't have a helmet law at that time). So it's all just an excuse for guys that think it makes them look tough. You're into safety, let's see the white helmet and a fluorescent yellow jacket. In Canada the same guy with the loud "safe" pipes is probably wearing a skid lid and all black.

Bullshit

   

So what kind of bike do you ride?
As far as being visible as possible & wearing a skid-lid, that can't be argued. As far as my 'internet research' goes, I can find as many arguements against loud pipes as I can for them. Doesn't really appear to be any definitive scientific research on the issue. Just a lot of opinions. It appears also that the majority against loud pipes are non-riders whilst the majority espousing loud pipes are riders.
My own personal opinion (as scientific as any) is that I have witnessed 'loud pipes saving lives' so that is my stance on the subject. I will liken 'loud pipes to a siren on an emergency vehicle. Again, my own personal experience, I hear the siren-regardless of which direction it is approaching from, long before I see the source. It makes me aware that a vehicle 'out of the ordinary' is approaching 'my space' and I should pay more attention and act/react accordingly.

As you so aptly pointed out, todays drivers have much more to distract them from paying attention to their surroundings, often with deadly consequences to others. I find that as selfish, perhaps even moreso than a biker with loud pipes as the cager has the protection of a couple thousand pounds of steel that a biker doesn't!

   

Sure you can hear it, but because the noise is mostly behind the bike it's not all that noticable. As I said, a white helmet or a high-visibility jacket do far more to make you noticable than loud pipes do, yet the "loud pipes save lives" guys never seem to wear that kind of gear, which leads me to believe they're not really that concerned with safety an are simply using that as a justification for having the loud pipes that they actually want because they're cool.

That;s really my only point. If you like loud pipes... fine. I do too, to a point. Just be honest about it and admit you think they sound cool. Don't confuse things with bogus safety concerns.

Also, Yogi, it's not meant to be personal against you, Ive seen and heard your old bike, I know you're not one of those guys.

   

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