Easy Rider goes electric at
Yogi @ Sun Mar 16, 2014 9:43 am
Unsound Unsound:
Yogi Yogi:
You would have us believe that you cannot hear a loud vehicle comming towards you! Only after it passes you can you hear it???
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.
Oh, I'm not taking any of this discussion personally. I'm just saying that I have actually seen both sides of the argument and believe both sides make valid points. I do like the sound of loud pipes. I had the option of purchasing much louder pipes for my Marauder when I bought it. I declined. I live in what could pretty much be described as a 'retirement community' and consideration for my neighbors played a part in my decision. Riding the Marauder thru the city on occasion, and having a few 'near misses' by cagers who didn't notice me, for one reason or another, has actually made me decide that whichever bike I decide to keep and ride, it will be outfitted with the LOUDEST air horn that I can find.
Unsound @ Sun Mar 16, 2014 9:45 am
![[B-o]](./images/smilies/drinkup.gif "Drink up")
An airhorn is an excellent idea. THat and a pocket full of ball bearings 
Tyler_1 @ Sun Mar 16, 2014 9:49 am
The sound of motorbikes, dirt bikes and quads is a sign of Spring!!! ![[cheer]](./images/smilies/icon_cheers.gif "Cheer"){kind=icon}
I think noise bothers city people more because even when they think it's quiet, it isn't. I also think if you can see cars, trucks, pedestrians, and bicycles, you should be able to see a motorbike. 
Jabberwalker @ Sun Mar 16, 2014 9:52 am
I've had more than a few visits to otherwise pristine lakes totally ruined by jet skis revving, revving again and again and again. Any idiot can operate a jet ski and a surprising number of them do.
andyt @ Sun Mar 16, 2014 10:34 am
Or snowmobiles or quads in the backcountry. There's yahoos everywhere.
Yogi, I ride a Cannondale and a Brodie. I have a white helmet and on cold/rainy days I have a bright yellow jacket on, otherwise a white t-shirt.
Yogi @ Sun Mar 16, 2014 11:45 am
andyt andyt:
Or snowmobiles or quads in the backcountry. There's yahoos everywhere.
Yogi, I ride a Cannondale and a Brodie. I have a white helmet and on cold/rainy days I have a bright yellow jacket on, otherwise a white t-shirt.
Yogi, I ride a Cannondale and a Brodie. I have a white helmet and on cold/rainy days I have a bright yellow jacket on, otherwise a white t-shirt.
Do you think that you are just as safe using your precautions to be visible as you would be if you perhaps had yet another way of making drivers aware of your presence in traffic? What safety equipment, as prescribed by your local laws, do you have on your bikes?
See, I agree that a lot of 'Hog' riders sport the loud pipes just for the idea that it will make others think they are cool. This is where the 'small penis syndrome' comes into play. An unintended benefit then of their loud pipes is that those 'cagers' who hear them are also more likely to look for and see them. Thusly possibly avoiding an accident between the two vehicles.
andyt @ Sun Mar 16, 2014 12:03 pm
As I say, unless the rider is wearing a white helmet and bright colored jacket, preferably yellow, I don't think he's serious about safety. skid lids and black leathers don't make it, and those are the guys most likely to have the loud bikes. I think most of us are cagers at some point or another. I can't recall a time that loud pipes on a bike made me look out for them more while driving. Mostly the noise comes after they've roared by me already.