As a Harley owner I have to say that some riders do go to extremes with loud pipes, but I would rather hear or be heard coming up on another vehicle because no matter how much skill you think you have riding a motorcycle there is a distinct advantage to having other motorists aware of your presence whether visually or audibly. No matter how defensively you drive, there exists the fact that anyone checking their blind spot (usually a very quick glance) will inadvertenly not notice anything smaller than a car & start a manuver that could ultimatly be disasterous. Iām sure that there will be people who will respond that they are better drivers than that. Well I say good for you that you are & I hope that you are never proved wrong especially if it involves me!
I have been riding motorcycles on the street with stock pipes for 35 years (mostly with a license), and have never felt a need to have others hear me coming. It is a good idea to stay out of peopleās blind spots so they can see you, and you can usually tell if the other drivers see you. With all due respect, if you are that concerned with being heard it might be time for you to get rid of the bike and buy a buick.
i have NEVER seen a harley with a muffler in honolulu, but i can tell you why this is in one word: corruption $$$$$
if you think the harleys are loud where you live, believe me, you havnt heard anything like the noise they generate here.
as for as the psychology of these clowns, the loud motor cycle becomes a penis substitute.
I do disagree with the premise that loud pipes save lives. Many people who run loud pipes get whacked anyway.
The same thing applies with that Federally mandated āLights onā BS. The only thing that means is that the light is burning brightly when someone pulls out in front of you anyway.
Even Harleys with modified exhausts are much more pleasant to listen to than say a Honda Civic with no muffler (a.k.a. coffee can pipes) or a 4 cylinder Kawasaki with a Kerker 4 into 1 header screaming at 8k RPM.
It would be like sitting at a concert. Whatās going to really bother your ears the most; the low range bass (Harley) or the lead guitar (ricer car, Kawasaki, leaf blower, etc.) when the guy is wailing around the 19th fret?
The truth of the matter is they are being banned. The EPA has set forth regulations outlawing the use of aftermarket exhausts on motorcycles, all brands. The law was written too strictly to be enforced and would also entirely outlaw a billiond dollar industry, aftermarket exhausts. The more responsible manufacturers have banded together and started self regulating themselves. I think 92 db was the agreed upon limit for this year and they are bringing it further down in the future. They plan to have a self imposed limit close to the factory exhausts. There are a few renegade companies out there but they seem to be short sighted and will probably not be part of the industry in a few years.
Noisy bikes donāt bother nearly as much as the car stereo with loud bass going whump, whump, whump, whump, whumpā¦ while I wait for a traffic light to change.
What a riot you guys areā¦ha ha ha.
Yes, I own a Harley Sportster. I donāt own an SUV, or pick-up truck. My other vehicle is just a Honda Civic. The Sportster is my primary vehicle, so my primary concern when I go somewhere is other people on the road. Also as a military member Iām required to wear safety gear at all times when I ride. For whatever reason, other drivers often fail to notice me on the road, even with my huge bright orange safety vest with 280 square inches of reflective yellow stripes. From personal experience, my noisy exhaust system has saved my life on several occasions. The motorcycle horn is just not an option; first because it just doesnāt get any attention (much like a bright orange/yellow safety vest), second because to hit the horn requires moving your hand around on the controls ā just not the best idea when you have several tons of steel barreling down to flatten you in a few seconds.
Yes unfortunately there are some bad motorcycle riders out there too. If you try to see things from a motorcycle riderās perspective you might find some understanding. If you had to fight for your right of way in traffic all the time over decades on the road your attitude might be effected. You might dislike people driving cars because they usually donāt drive correctly. You might have little compassion towards your neighbors because they just canāt understand since they arenāt out there riding. Having a friend die due to no fault of their ownā¦ after riding in their funeral parade you might feel differently.
I hope this helps you in your understanding for why some motorcycle riders (not just Harley) annoy you some of the time. You should be able to work things out with your neighbors if you talk to them with some understanding of their situation.
As I have said, that is complete BS. Iāve been riding for a long time (about 35 years), without any silly vest, helmet, or loud pipes. If you are not skilled enough to avoid being hit while riding a legal bike, give it up and buy a mini-van. If I die on a bike, it will because I did something stupid. When did americans become such wimps.
Bikes in general, have a bad reputation due to these bozos.
If you are not skilled enough to avoid being hit while riding a legal bikeā¦If I die on a bike, it will because I did something stupid
When someone swings a left directly in your path, youāll have done nothing wrong and there is no way to avoid it. I donāt care how defensive you drive, you canāt possibly react to that, and many other, situations. If you havenāt yet experienced such an event, youāre not putting on many miles, you drive in rural settings or some other such low risk environment. EVERYBODY I know has had at least one close call. Some have been hit through no fault of their own. Iām not supporting loud pipes, just addressing your assertion that people who get hit are somehow less skilled than you are. You have an arrogant tone and thatās dangerous in my book. You think youāre too good to get hit by a cager. Best of luck to you.
Although you may not be at fault for the collision, a motorcycle rider is responsible for spotting a potential hazard, like an oncoming vehicle waiting to make a left turn in front of you. You are wrong. There is a way to avoid it. Search for potential hazards. Evaluate the situation, planning a way out of the potential situation. Then you execute your plan if necessary. If the oncoming vehicle hasnāt acknowoedged your presence, you would be a fool to ride into the intersection at full speed. You should slow your motorcycle to a speed at which you can swerve around the oncoming car or, if necessary, stop before you enter the intersection. I am not saying that your friend was at fault. I am just saying that almost every collision is predictable and preventable. If you donāt believe that, you should be in a car, not on a motorcycle. When you get on a motorcycle, you are taking responsiblity for your safety. You canāt rely on anyone else to look out for your safety. The cost is too high to trust strangers. Donāt tell me that you have to cause noise pollution because you canāt take responsiblity for your own safety.
I use to think motorbikes were loud until I recently learned to ride one. It actually depends on your perspective, that of the rider or the observer. If you are on the bike, you dismiss this sound because you are paying attention to the road or wearing a helmet (a very good idea). Most HOGS, have a low resonance due to the cycling of the motor, the exhaust system is a matter of design or finish. I donāt think most riders change the exhaust to produce a louder ārumbleā. Rather, most times to enhance appearance or increase efficiency. Unfortunately, there are a lot of āaftermarketā products that areā¦ well, cheap! I prefer a lower CC, higher cycling, motor that produces a āwhineā. I will probably stick with this ātoneā. As for the HOGS, forget about changing the bike or the club, they are legendary!
āEVERYBODY I know has had at least one close call. Some have been hit through no fault of their own. Iām not supporting loud pipes, just addressing your assertion that people who get hit are somehow less skilled than you are. You have an arrogant tone and thatās dangerous in my book. You think youāre too good to get hit by a cager. Best of luck to you.ā
I have also bent up a few motorcycles, Iām not saying I canāt get hurt on a bike. I am just saying if I put myself in a position where someone can hit me, itās my own stupid fault. The day I think I need loud pipes to protect my self from grampa on the road, Iāll know itās time to quit. Riding is risky; if you choose to take that risk, you donāt get to whine about it.
Let me be clear, I have no problem with stock harleys. They donāt interest me very much, but they are perfectly legal (I did think they were pretty cool when I was 12 and had baseball cards in my bicycle spokes). I donāt even have a problem with those whiny little rice rockets, if they have a legal exhaust. I am talking about folks who claim they need off-road pipes to ride safely. I maintain that is nonsense, they simply like to make noise.
BTW, I was talking to my daughters audiologist a few weeks ago, she was telling me about a good number of bikers who have hearing damage from their own bikes. So, be careful of the noise level, especially if you live in a āno helmetā state. Consider wearing something that protects your ears (I know, I donāt do it either; but it is probably a good idea).
Well, my Harleys have a loud rumble, stock pipes or not, and the BMW /7 I had produced nothing more than a hum. The percentage of people who turn left in front of me, pull out from a stop sign, or change lanes right on top of me is the same no matter what I was riding.
Send a pace car out in front with flashing lights and flags and some people are going to attempt to kill you anyway. Many car drivers KNOW the motorcycle is there, but for some goofy, unexplained reason theyāll pull out anyway; even if they do hear you. If they can see you and donāt care then itās not likely any noise is going to alter their opinion.
Yup, itās just part of the deal if you are going to ride. If you donāt stay a couple of steps ahead of all the idiots in cars, you will get smacked sooner or later. You pretty much have to ride like everyone is trying to hit you.
I am just saying that almost every collision is predictable and preventable
That is, without question, the most ignorant thing I have ever read on this board.
And please do not presume to lecture me on how to drive defensively on a motorcycle. Based on what you wrote, you shouldnāt be giving out advice to anyone. Itās quite obvious that you have never been in any real near-miss or similar conflict with an oncoming car or you wouldnāt suggest such foolishness.
The accident youāve conveniently filled in with your own fantasy details was actually on a two lane road. The scoot was going straight, the car hung an unsignalled left directly into their path. Do you plan to slow down for every single oncoming car so that you can swerve around them? Thatās laughable.
Iām not saying I canāt get hurt on a bike
Iād be really amazed if you thought otherwise.
I thought I was pretty clear in addressing this point however:
If I die on a bike, it will because I did something stupid
I only hope you are right- in the sense that no one ever does something you cannot evade. The ones you see happen very often. But it only takes one where you donāt.
āI only hope you are right- in the sense that no one ever does something you cannot evade. The ones you see happen very often. But it only takes one where you donāt.ā
True enough, you can only do what you can do.
I am just saying that almost every collision is predictable and preventable
That is, without question, the most ignorant thing I have ever read on this board.
I was paraphrasing the Motorcycle Safety Foundationās Basic Riderās Course section on Risk Acceptance. The direct quote is āMost crashes are predictable and preventable.ā So if you think it is ignorant, it is only because you have not educated and you are ignorant. If you really think it is the most ignorant thing you have ever read on this board, you should take it up with the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.