I use my horn all the time..it's like a sonic middle finger most mornings.
Loud vs quiet exhaust?
- Thread starter Drennan57
- Start date
This thread is a giant waste of time. The guys in the stock pipe crowd aren't interested in listening to reason from the moderates who are perhaps making a little more noise than they are for all the valid reasons that have been discussed.
Nobody in this thread (IIRC) is advocating or arguing for obnoxious open pipes...but god forbid that I make a few more DB than a stocker, suddenly I'm an arsebag.
Whatever.
I would contend that the middle ground accepted by society is the level set by the Ministry. Surely you can believe there were advocates for even stricter noise restrictions just as there were others like you who want a higher limit, making the legislated level the middle ground. You just think the middle ground should be higher and that anyone who doesn't agree with you is in the wrong. Nobody here is advocating for silent bikes.
kwtoxman
Well-known member
Lol, ignorance is bliss. Look up "ministry" legislation on noise, and anything related to vehicles or motorcycles. Hint, it isn't what you think.
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Drennan57
Well-known member
I think the legal limit is 110db. I have literally the loudest exhaust you can buy on my CBR and it just scratches 100. If you want a bike to be louder then that for anything but track work you should probably get your hearing checked.
Anything short of a headers dump is deemed legal, plenty of space to work with.
Anything short of a headers dump is deemed legal, plenty of space to work with.
Drennan57
Well-known member
I think the legal limit is 110db. I have literally the loudest exhaust you can buy on my CBR and it just scratches 100. If you want a bike to be louder then that for anything but track work you should probably get your hearing checked.
Anything short of a headers dump is deemed legal, plenty of space to work with.
Anything short of a headers dump is deemed legal, plenty of space to work with.
Roadghost
Well-known member
Loud pipes are great if you like going deaf. My little Honda seems to have blown the glass out of its mufflers so I'm taking them off and repacking them. If that doesn't work I'm getting new ones because my ears are ringing like hell even with plugs in. My Harley has Vance and Hines Straightshots and I put glasspack baffles in them to quiet it down, but it's still quite loud.
The only advantage I find to loud pipes is when you're beside someone in their blind spot. Otherwise the sound from a bike shoots backward, not forward so the vehicles in front of you don't hear you until you're on top of them. Useless. Let's be real here: loud pipes were originally for performance reasons and raising hell, not safety. The saves lives argument was an invention to keep it legal. Fair enough, I don't care.
The only advantage I find to loud pipes is when you're beside someone in their blind spot. Otherwise the sound from a bike shoots backward, not forward so the vehicles in front of you don't hear you until you're on top of them. Useless. Let's be real here: loud pipes were originally for performance reasons and raising hell, not safety. The saves lives argument was an invention to keep it legal. Fair enough, I don't care.
Joe: Yes that would seem to be the logical option BUT when was the last time logic was employed by any level of government in writing regs?? lol
It still wouldn't prevent me from buying your bike putting the stock pipes on for the registration/safety. Then immediately taking them off and putting back on loud pipes, which is why it would require that if your stopped with anything other than an OEM pipe, you get naed for it. Which is the way it will likely get written.
Blackfin: I agree, as I have said an appropriate pipe, ridden in an appropriate manner will satisfy most people. You assume that I am against all aftermarket pipes, which is an incorrect assumption. It is just that fact that MOST riders don't seem to know how to operate the bike appropriately. The mere description of "loud pipes" indicates, to most people, that the intent is for the rider to make as much noise as possible. Unfortunately, as even you have stated those who have them installed, have the feeling that the more noise the bike makes the better "protected" they are, and as such don't use the noise only when required but rather at all times. I admit there are those who use the sound appropriately, but then you also must agree that there are those who don't use it appropriately.
Unfortunately, it is that minority, (which is comprised of those running straight pipes as well as those running packed, but loud pipes), who hurt the cause overall. Just as it is hooligans who give all SS riders a bad image.
This is why it is inevitable that at some point they will become restricted. The powers that be, can't fortunately outlaw a horn. So I will continue to feel safe using my skills and abilites with the "occasional" use of the horn, to create an acceptable, appropriate sound at the appropriate time, rather than constantly.
It still wouldn't prevent me from buying your bike putting the stock pipes on for the registration/safety. Then immediately taking them off and putting back on loud pipes, which is why it would require that if your stopped with anything other than an OEM pipe, you get naed for it. Which is the way it will likely get written.
Blackfin: I agree, as I have said an appropriate pipe, ridden in an appropriate manner will satisfy most people. You assume that I am against all aftermarket pipes, which is an incorrect assumption. It is just that fact that MOST riders don't seem to know how to operate the bike appropriately. The mere description of "loud pipes" indicates, to most people, that the intent is for the rider to make as much noise as possible. Unfortunately, as even you have stated those who have them installed, have the feeling that the more noise the bike makes the better "protected" they are, and as such don't use the noise only when required but rather at all times. I admit there are those who use the sound appropriately, but then you also must agree that there are those who don't use it appropriately.
Unfortunately, it is that minority, (which is comprised of those running straight pipes as well as those running packed, but loud pipes), who hurt the cause overall. Just as it is hooligans who give all SS riders a bad image.
This is why it is inevitable that at some point they will become restricted. The powers that be, can't fortunately outlaw a horn. So I will continue to feel safe using my skills and abilites with the "occasional" use of the horn, to create an acceptable, appropriate sound at the appropriate time, rather than constantly.
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You say they give you an advantage when you're beside someone or in their blindspot then go on to say they're useless and the safety argument is invented. Which is it?
It's no secret I've got a loud exhaust. I also wear a beanie helmet most of the time without ear protection. And I see a lot of like minded riders.
Once I'm travelling up to 100 km/h and beyond, I can't hear my bloody exhaust to save my life. Let alone someone else. The wind makes too much noise.
And yes, I'm fully aware of the damage to my hearing.
And the risk of not wearing a full face helmet. And riding a motorcycle.........
If I wanted safe, I'd take the train.
Once I'm travelling up to 100 km/h and beyond, I can't hear my bloody exhaust to save my life. Let alone someone else. The wind makes too much noise.
And yes, I'm fully aware of the damage to my hearing.
And the risk of not wearing a full face helmet. And riding a motorcycle.........
If I wanted safe, I'd take the train.
If riding directly beside someone matching their pace, passing at a speed 1km/h faster, or riding in someone's blind spot doesn't make you feel like your in a very dangerous position you don't know what your doing and need some lessons before you're injured or killed. The other option is to just get a louder exhaust because that's what safe riders do.
RichinOville
Well-known member
My favorite quote on this topic, as always been.... "If you think that loud pipes save lives, just imagine what learning to ride could do for you" 
I thought motorcycle exhausts were omnidirectional? That's why I never look backwards during a race, I can just hear your bike behind me lol!
I thought I could hear another bike at mosport this year, turns out it was just the sound of my bike bouncing off the wall in turn 1 and 10.
Roadghost
Well-known member
You need to read that again. I said they are useless from behind.
Personnally, I am offended at the use of the term "blind" spot. I think we should change it to the ore sensitively diverse term of "visually challenged" spot...lol
But if that car or truck as you rightfully pointed out did that 120 degree turn that quick a loud pipe is unlikely to be of much help, (nor will a horn, HiViz, headlights or even brakes)...lol
