Loud Pipes Save Lives: Myth or Truth
In motorcycling, the topic “loud pipes save lives” never seems to die. Chances are you’ve seen the biker stickers and patches with this phrase. But is it myth or truth? The phrase is related to two extremes of an argument. Some argue that loud motorcycle pipes prevent accidents and so save lives; others argue that the loud noise is merely a nuisance.
Many cities and communities in the United States have banned motorcycles because of residents complaining about the noise from motorcycles. And before I became immersed in motorcycle culture, I would have probably supported a city ordinance banning motorcycles if the noise bothered me.
So, loud pipes make motorcyclists more visible to others on the road, and this increases safety. Now how much this contributes to saving lives is difficult to measure, but you might say that increased safety reduces the chances of serious accidents. There’s your answer: “loud pipes save lives” is truth.
A question then comes to mind:
Does this mean that the rest of humanity has to cope with the noise?
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16 Responses to Loud Pipes Save Lives: Myth or Truth
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the louder the better
They’ve saved my bacon!
Truth! If I can’t make eye contact I want them to hear me coming!.
P.S. I eventually plan on getting louder pipes when the $ comes my way…
So should pedestrians carry air horns and blast them constantly as they walk through neighborhoods just to make sure everyone can see them?
So should pedestrians carry air horns and blast them constantly as they walk through neighborhoods just to make sure everyone can hear them?
Pedestrians don’t share the sidewalk with vehicles that can turn them into bags of goo.
False, some of these douchebags don’t even take proactive efforts to increase their visibility.
Loud pipes piss off everyone else and lead to more legal restrictions on bikers. That’s a fact.
All I know is that loud pipes have saved me more than once. Especially when someone in their 4wheeler cant put down the phone long enough to use a mirror. as for pissing people off? well, im not really worried about someones feelings, when it comes to saving my ass. I guess i’ll choose quiet pipes, and toss a spark plug through their window. Pedestrians and Air horns? Don’t be dumb.
I ride a quite Honda ST 1300. I also have a Stebel aftermarket air horn that blast 130 decibels when needed. It is the best of both worlds. The four wheeler on the cell phone at the intersection gets a blast and sees me. People who are responsibly driving are spared.
LPSL, seriously?
As Neal Stephenson puts it in ‘Zodiac’ (The words in brackets [ ] were added by another blogger.):
” First, a word on motorcycle safety:
If you’ve put yourself in a position where someone has to see [hear] you in order for you to be safe — to see [hear] you, and to give a f**k — you’ve already blown it.”
This blogger also makes another good point; How long does it take the driver of a car to identify the source of a siren? I assure you I’m working much harder to find the siren than the loud bike. second, what makes you think the average driver that doesn’t care can hear your pipes over his stereo? The only thing that keeps you safe is the instrument between your ears. use it and drive defensivly. The only thing loud pipes buy you is a false sense of invincibility. I don’t have any science behind that either, but it’s worth as much as your love of “the sound”.
So that’s the purpose of loud pipes – to be sure that motorists know that you’re there, right? So I’m sure that you guys with open pipes also wear all kinds of reflective clothing and have reflectors all over your bike to be sure that motorists can see you at night, right? bullsh*t! following the “loud pipes save lives” logic, all pedestrians should blow airhorns whenever they step into the street. in fact, that would be kind of a fun thing to do – walk up right up behind a bike stopped at a red light, and blast a 150db air horn. when the startled rider turns around, just say “hey – airhorns save lives!”
I’ve been looking through different answers to this for much of the afternoon. My conclusion is, the pros are far outweighed by the cons. Hearing you is not seeing you, most drivers will just be annoyed and discount the sound. Also, you’re creating animosity toward all riders. Ultimately, even if you are convinced you’re safer- what gives you the right? You chose to ride a vehicle that has inherent safety issues. Others around you should not be affected by your choice. You want to ride, suck it up and do what you can to increase safety without being a nuisance to others.
When bikers have to share the road with dumb bitches driving and putting lipstick on, dipshit kids staring at their cell phones while going 80 on the high way, and fat whores driving with their knees while they pound a Whopper in their meat smoker, talk on a cell phone and finger diddling themselves and giving a hand job while on the road all at the same time, we need all the extra help we can get.
Just another line of BS to try to justify annoying others. Loud pipes only impress the other small minds running them.