**LOUD** enough for ya??

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Loud pipes don't save lives. It's a myth. Orangepeel is right, no one will hear the pipe until you pass them anyway. Before I put a dB Dawg on my bike, my loud pipe just gave me migraines and annoyed anyone riding behind me.
 
aftermarket exhaust is not necessary, but it is just one more tool that helps you to get more noticed. combine it with safe riding habits and u r golden.
like ironlung said, it does make a difference.
 
I just wanted to add to this, from another quasi-scientific point of view.

Should you have said loud pipes in an area that is conducive to sound waves being reflected back towards all vehicles (think an amphitheater here, like downtown in a city with high rises, etc.), than what is taking place is that some sound is being reflected back towards vehicles, allowing for motorists to potentially become aware of a loud noise (a.k.a. your motorcycle) somewhere around the vehicle (which admittedly, *may* save lives; however, we all assume that a user would react in a logical fashion and check blind spots, etc., which we know doesn't always happen).

In a scenario where there is no ability to reflect sound back towards a road where vehicles travel (e.g. countryside, open highway, etc.), it may be more difficult to prove that someone actually would hear a bike moving up through a blind spot.

Again, I know of no hard proof that either supports or debunks this view, but again, everyone is entitled to their opinion on the matter given the nature of the "facts". A search on the 'Net yields nothing conclusive, however, I found this article here: http://motorcycle-intelligence.com/do-loud-pipes-save-lives/1119/ has the best advice (echoing several posters in this thread): "Even though scientifically unproven, if riders’ lives have been saved because of loud pipes, or if riders believe they are safer with loud pipes, those are some compelling factors – at least for those individuals."
 
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I almost hit a patched biker with straight pipes a few years ago.
He was hiding behind a truck and the echo of his exhaust made it sound as if he was coming from the opposite direction.
Imagine someone pulling out and looking the wrong way, while you're in a blind spot for them.

Maybe Mythbusters should get involved. I still swear that my horn gets more attention, with the added benefit that I only get it when needed, without constantly distracting some drivers.
 
dr_sarcasm said:
I just wanted to add to this, from another quasi-scientific point of view.

Should you have said loud pipes in an area that is conducive to sound waves being reflected back towards all vehicles (think an amphitheater here, like downtown in a city with high rises, etc.), than what is taking place is that some sound is being reflected back towards vehicles, allowing for motorists to potentially become aware of a loud noise (a.k.a. your motorcycle) somewhere around the vehicle (which admittedly, *may* save lives; however, we all assume that a user would react in a logical fashion and check blind spots, etc., which we know doesn't always happen).

In a scenario where there is no ability to reflect sound back towards a road where vehicles travel (e.g. countryside, open highway, etc.), it may be more difficult to prove that someone actually would hear a bike moving up through a blind spot.

Again, I know of no hard proof that either supports or debunks this view, but again, everyone is entitled to their opinion on the matter given the nature of the "facts". A search on the 'Net yields nothing conclusive, however, I found this article here: http://motorcycle-intelligence.com/do-loud-pipes-save-lives/1119/ has the best advice (echoing several posters in this thread): "Even though scientifically unproven, if riders’ lives have been saved because of loud pipes, or if riders believe they are safer with loud pipes, those are some compelling factors – at least for those individuals."
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yeah i agree with that, if your on the highway probably wont help as much cuz its too dam loud esp on the 407 with the rubber on cement contact. On the other hand local roads..I can always hear a bike when one is pulling up from behind of even passing on the opposite lane and it always grabs my attention since i always wanto check out what they're riding lmao. Pretty dam sure a loud exhaust will create more head turning since people might think there's a lambo pulling up which is what you would want (to be seen by others) lmao
 
Exactly. Logically this makes some good sense, considering also that most of us live in areas that are fairly built up, with lots of buildings, fences, brick houses etc.. all around the roads in and around the city, which is perfect for reflecting sound. For me personally this is good enough, because even if it helps me just once, it worked.

dr_sarcasm said:
I just wanted to add to this, from another quasi-scientific point of view.

Should you have said loud pipes in an area that is conducive to sound waves being reflected back towards all vehicles (think an amphitheater here, like downtown in a city with high rises, etc.), than what is taking place is that some sound is being reflected back towards vehicles, allowing for motorists to potentially become aware of a loud noise (a.k.a. your motorcycle) somewhere around the vehicle (which admittedly, *may* save lives; however, we all assume that a user would react in a logical fashion and check blind spots, etc., which we know doesn't always happen).

In a scenario where there is no ability to reflect sound back towards a road where vehicles travel (e.g. countryside, open highway, etc.), it may be more difficult to prove that someone actually would hear a bike moving up through a blind spot.

Again, I know of no hard proof that either supports or debunks this view, but again, everyone is entitled to their opinion on the matter given the nature of the "facts". A search on the 'Net yields nothing conclusive, however, I found this article here: http://motorcycle-intelligence.com/do-loud-pipes-save-lives/1119/ has the best advice (echoing several posters in this thread): "Even though scientifically unproven, if riders’ lives have been saved because of loud pipes, or if riders believe they are safer with loud pipes, those are some compelling factors – at least for those individuals."
Click to expand...

I wish they would get involved, because I really want a definitive answer.

Baggsy said:
Maybe Mythbusters should get involved. I still swear that my horn gets more attention, with the added benefit that I only get it when needed, without constantly distracting some drivers.
Click to expand...
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