Oakland Motorcycle Cops Stir Controversy with Loud Pipes
Civilians are usually the ones getting attention for loud motorcycle exhausts, but this time the San Francisco Chronicle reports that the Oakland Police Department-- AKA "Rolling Thunder"-- has re-installed noisy aftermarket pipes onto their fleet of Harley-Davidsons. According to the article, safety concerns spread among the department three months ago when an officer riding with stock pipes was struck by a motorist who claims he didn't hear him coming. The new pipes produce an average of 93 decibels.
MIC spokesman Mike Mount is quoted as saying, "We encourage all motorcycle riders to keep the original low sound levels that meet the ... federal sound limit of 80 decibels." He adds that "It would seem counterintuitive that a law enforcement agency would go against federal standards." Especially considering that recent laws have been clamping down on loud bike exhausts, the Oakland PD's attitude seems to suggest that they are above law, or perhaps that they know something that non law-enforcement types don't.
Are the Oakland PD's loud aftermarket pipes justified, or is this a case of law officers taking advantage of their positions of power? Do you think loud pipes will save officer's lives?
Photo © George Frey/Stringer/Getty Images News
Comments
Tough one, but do we really want cops breaking the law?
Yeah well, the police also got sirens. They’re making legitiment noise, their the man, they also lane split, so stop your whining…
The man also probably ain’t sitting at the light reving for no reason while gramps is trying to take a siesta… Be thankfull they don’t carry rubber hoses to beat over your head…
If making their bikes louder then the current law allows for the reason of safety, then the current laws need revision. Sure, bust ppl for cranking on the throttle for no good reason, but if making their pipes louder will keep them safer, there is no reason to not allow civilians the same safety.
Can anyone find an authoritative source confirming any safety benefits of loud motorcycle mufflers? After many hours of research I was able to find many sources stating that loud mufflers were in fact a safety hazard. But I was unable to find anything credible supporting the notion that loud is safe.
Loud pipes antagonize cage drivers. It is bad enough that cagers drive with their heads up their asses. When you antagonize and aggravate them they become even more likely to do stupid things.
Been ridin’ 30 years and am so sick of “drugstore pirates” ridin’ three month old harleys with loud pipes and 500 miles on the odometer.
Benn riding since ‘64 ….
Loud pipes save lives …
Screw cagers ….
Loud pipes will not save lives nor prevent accidents because they can only be heard by the people BEHIND you and nearly all accidents are caused by the people in front of you. Go figure. Duh’oh!!
I agree with shoveljohn!
I have heard a number of stories where a motorist didn’t know a bike was there!! BTW..what does the amount of time you own a bike or how many miles you have on it matter??
You don’t need loud pipes or a motorcycle to have someone that is demented and has road rage do something stupid!!
Man, I almost hate to respond to this question! Here goes! There is no doubt that a motorcycle with loud pipes riding in your blind spot can be heard. I drive a car also and have heard a motorcycle before they pass me many times. It is true that they be only one or two lengths behind me but still I heard them. Now for the rest. I have aftermarket pipe on my Victory. I can ride loud or I can ride quietly. Bottom line is most of the time we choose to make excessive noise with bikes. Some want to be seen riding their new steed. Others just want to be heard. Whatever the reason is we need to be aware of how we affect others. I personally think straight pipes should be banned. I also think that the guys and girls that purchase a Honda Civic and put on stinger pipes should be held to the same standard as anything else. They bother me more than most cycles.
I also agree that maybe the laws should be changed if we have an official government entity sanctioning loud pipes!
First of, everyone needs to stop being so bitter. Thats why we have motorcycles, to enjoy life… Second, as much as i dont like cops, I dont want them getting hurt as well, so doing something like modifying their exhaust to assist in safety is not a problem in my book. But I agree the law should be amended then to accommodate the safety of all bikers. And sure there are no studies to prove that loud pipes save lives. There are many reasons why cagers get into accidents with bikes and I can tell you from personal experience that louder pipes work, so there is one less excuse cagers can use… and whether you ride once in your whole life or every day, safety is paramount no matter what!! Long story short, good for the PD, now lets get that law amended
I have been riding motorcyles for 30 years and have been a law enforcment officer for 32 years. Loud pipes do nothing for safety – it is all about “look at me”. Think about it logically, if most motorcycle fatalities are from drivers turning left in front of motorcycles, how does the exhaust level behind the motorcycle increase safety?
Jim is right. The Oakland PD’s decision is all about “look at me” because their identity was wrapped up in this whole “Rolling Thunder” thing. They wasted $1,200 of taxpayer money to create a study to justify it (naturally, it was inconclusive). The truth is that nothing short of a Harvard Study showing that loud pipes explode when you start the bike would have kept them from putting them back on their Harleys. I
think it’s a shame since, regardless of your position on the debate, it’s 100% illegal to have the pipes they are riding with. You or I wouldn’t be able to register them in CA.
I’ve been riding motorcycles for more than 35 years and I don’t believe loud pipes as a whole save anyone from an accident. However if it gives the sense of added security to the person riding then I say go for it, but with some equality. I personally don’t ride with loud pipes but have other things such as bright clothes and lights that quiver that bring me a sense of added safety KJ.
Of course loud pipes help. Can you honestly tell me that you’ve never been driving a car and heard a bike overtaking you before you saw him? Being noticed is a huge part safety on a motorcycle. That’s why we buy headlight flashers, light-bars, reflectors, aftermarket horn upgrades, tail light modulators, and yes, loud pipes. All of the motorcycle safety courses stress to be conspicuous. If it keeps you from being run off the road even once, it’s worth having!
I’ve been riding since I was 16 and I’m a good deal older than that now. Being heard isn’t just for those other drivers, it also applies to pedestrians who don’t look and step out directly in front of a vehicle. Hearing the bike approaching does cause most of them to look where the noise is coming from. Most of these exhaust systems can be reasonably quiet unless you crank them so the level of noise is largely the perogative of the operator. I would expect the motorcycle police in this department are being instructed not to abuse the ability to make noise. These guys have a tough enough job avoiding collisions and put an awful lot of miles on in risky situations so anything that helps, in my opinion, is justified. They have lots of other features that the general public aren’t allowed to have so why not this.
You people who say pipes don’t save lives have got to be kidding me! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had people moving into my lane and when I rev up the bike they stop and give you that “oh, I didn’t see you” look or how many times people would have kept going through an intersection cutting me off if I hadn’t pulled on the throttle to noise it up. Loud pipes DO save lives!
One last thing then I’ll keep quiet, Seems that all the things motorcyclist do to keep them selves safe are for the most part illegal eg. light modulators after market horns and light bars and still I have yet to see a study by anyone that proves what works and what doesn’t. So where does the line get drawn?
Several things need to be said, in my opinion. I also would like to point out that I am 60 years old, and have been riding motorcycles since I was 13, and have been involved in traffic accidents where a car driver was at fault.
1) No credible research indicates that “loud pipes save lives”. The individuals that promote this position seem to forget that the great hazard to motorcyclists from cars is from the front, either being turned left in front of, or pulled out in front of. Loud pipes make most of their noise to the rear.
2) One thing that HAS been shown to increase safety is the use of bright and reflective clothing, such as orange vests in the day and scotchlight at night.
So, we get people using loud pipes which have only a minimal effect, at best, but no one will wear bright clothing, which DOES have an effect. maybe there’s a little too much of a “black leather syndrome” at work here?
3) How do you expect the populace, especially bike riders, who often tend to be pretty independent minded thinkers, to obey the law if the people charged with enforcing it don’t respect it? Ask any peace officer what is one of the pillars of orderly society in this country, and he or she will tell you “voluntary citizen compliance with the law.”
4)The Federal government should immediately suspend all federal funds to the agencies that violate federal requirements, including LEAA, LEPA grants, you name it. The very idea that a local law enforcement agency would choose to violate federal regulations.
5)Lets assume that loud pipes DO save lives; does that mean that the police are somehow more entitled to that protection that private citizens? It better not, not in this country. It seems there were some elite police types in Germany during the 30’s and 40’s who got special priveleges; I guess we’ve forgotten the fact that that was a bad idea then, and its a bad idea now.
YES Loud pipes saves lifes, Now you will read esp on this page that they don’t and u will here thet the person has been riding 30+ years blas bla bla..but they have no mileage on their bikes and if u believe a cop well u know they all are corrupt or have issues NOT corrupt u say ask any cop if they let a buddy go free or give out their pba cards…. back to the issue how many cars pull out in front of a loud semi?? not to many why cause the cars can hear them way off…
I have been riding for 50 years and I cannot count the number of times that my pipes (not excessively loud) on my Harley have attracted the attention of a driver that was starting to turn into me. If you are practicing good awareness you will see the vehicle start to move your direction and the driver will not be looking at you. But, when he hears the pipes, you can observe the sudden head movement and darting eyes that are looking for the sound he/she is hearing. The driver then will usually give you the apologetic wave after heshe stays in his lane.
This same issue came up about “Loud Motorcycle Pipes” in the Springfield, Ma. Republican and what a can a worms I opened. I have been riding motorcycles for the past 37+yrs. My Harleys exhaust pipes ARE street legal but louder than most. Riding with loud pipes HAVE saved me more than once. Going through town on a double lane road a car drifts into my lane and I pulled the clutch in and rapped the throttle, they pulled back into there lane “sorry I didn’t see you”. Yeah, my louder than most pipes have saved us more than once. People argued I should have used my horn. Sound the horn and you have people on the side walk waving to you.
Holly smoke batman..get me some Charmen tissue for all this sniveling. Loud pipes or just loud mouths…which is worse..? Pipes need to be between 83 to 87 desibles to be of (quote)”a safety item” that can be heard over the thump-thump of a homies SUV’s stereo or countryboy’s redneck grocery getting pickup….or maybe the roar of the local diesle metro bus. Louder pipes save lives, not loud pipes, when they can be heard over the common cluter noise of the street. The federal Law mandates that stock pipes achieve a max +/- range of 80 des. or less to qualify for EPA rules & reg’s. These test, if you’d look up the test results, were done in closed sound chambers, not the streets of California, Houston, Atlanta or here in Washington,DC.
It happens a lot, several times a week and mostly on the weekends, here in the DC metro when motorist are running ramped in the streets with the perverbial head up the ass…just darting to the groeseries store or Home Depot….stock motorcycles get nailed to the guard rail or plain ran the F* over because they can’t be heard by the auto that has it’s windows rolled up, steeo or DVD player blairing and since the bikes are only 1/7 the size of the smallest average car, they can’t be seen either. The high tech stero world and the nw car trend of super-quiet auto’s have raised the bar or should I say have raised the decilble threshold beyond the 80 dec. set by EPA.
My hat off to the Brothers in Blue..the “Thin ~ Blue Line” for knowing what laws to challenge. Good for them…! Un cap them pipes boy’s and let the real bitching begin. Most Cop bikes are HD 93 or 100 cid motors…they sound sweet un-caped….at least my neigbors think so…!
Yep..I am a cop..! And…your point is..?
kjo6141,
Federal law FMVSS 108 (passed in Oct 2001) makes motorcycle headlight modulators legal in all 50 states. Horn upgrades from whimpy stock Japanese horns can also perfectly legal as are ligh-bars to augment the headlight. If you don’t like louder aftermarket pipes – save your money, but please don’t discourage others from valid safety equipment.
(Quote) YES Loud pipes saves lifes, Now you will read esp on this page that they don’t and u will here thet the person has been riding 30+ years blas bla bla..but they have no mileage on their bikes and if u believe a cop well u know they all are corrupt or have issues NOT corrupt u say ask any cop if they let a buddy go free or give out their pba cards…. back to the issue how many cars pull out in front of a loud semi?? not to many why cause the cars can hear them way off… (Quote)
I said NO CREDIBLE RESEARCH to show that loud pipes save lives – everything here is anecdotal evidence.
And I’ve got a ton of street motorcycle miles, by the way.
And as far as why people don’t turn in front of freight trucks, well, it’s because they’re huge, and people SEE them.
I drove fire trucks for a long time, and with diesel engines, sirens and air horns people still don’t pay attention. You think that some pipes on a motorcycle are gonna help? (except for just a few isolated incidents)
It all about size – adding 10 inch bands of reflective scotchlight to Fire trucks was the best thing to happen to visibility.
And If you want sound, get a real horn to blow at them. Most car – train accidents happen because cars run into a train that has already blocked the crossing, you think they can’t hear a train?
And as far as cheap metric horns, that goes for HD also, although my Gold Wing has a real horn, and it’s lots louder than the noise maker one that came on my Harley.
The bets thing is to have laws that make it a criminal act to turn into or in front of a motorcycle, and lock up soome folks driving cars, and not let people waltz with the old “I didn’t see him” whine, and a coroner’s finding of accidental death.
I too live in the DC area just like the cop. I can’t believe that this person is in law enforcement, what a ridiculous and poorly considered statement. The argument for the use of illegal mufflers is simply stupid. How can you justify infringing on the rights of everyone else to peace and quite with an illegal activity which only possibly offers some form of safety for the single individual rider? This is why people with common sense have developed laws at the federal, state, and often local levels to mitigate this blight which lowers everyones quality of life.
The DC area is a highly metropolitan area with many important historic, tourism, and recreation areas including the George Washington National Parkway (a national park). Over 80% of motorcycles have illegal mufflers, and blast their way through residential areas, past tourists and bicyclists, people walking with babies or dogs. Wouldn’t you think that a normal person would have a clue about how their inappropriate behavior affects others? Maybe these irresponsible motorcyclists have antisocial personality disorder.
Why can’t anyone cite any authority which states that loud mufflers increase safety? This is important so that we rely more on science than perception of motorcycle riders and look at the overall picture regarding safety and not just a few individual examples.
Anything louder than a stock muffler should be ticketed period. Does it make sense that every motorcycle is louder than a semi, dump truck, or bus? Here are some common sense positions by authoritative sources on motorcycles.
Motorcycle Cruiser
http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/streetsurvival/dangerous_motorcycle_safety_myths/index.html
Myth 2: Loud Pipes Save Lives
“Yeah, there are a few situations—like where you are right next to a driver with his window down who is about the to change lanes—where full-time noise-makers might help a driver notice you, but all that noise directed rearward doesn’t do much in the most common and much more dangerous conflict where a car turns in front of you. Maybe it’s the fatigue caused by the noise, maybe it’s the attitudes of riders who insist on making annoying noise, or perhaps loud bikes annoy enough drivers to make them aggressive. Whatever the reason, the research shows that bikes with modified exhaust systems crash more frequently than those with stock pipes. If you really want to save lives, turn to a loud jacket or a bright helmet color, which have been proven to do the job. Or install a louder horn. Otherwise, just shut up.”
The American Motorcyclist Association – Excessive Motorcycle Noise
http://www.amadirectlink.com/legisltn/positions/noise.asp
Based on its opposition to excessive motorcycle noise, the American Motorcyclist Association recommends the following:
• All motorcyclists should be sensitive to community standards and respect the rights of fellow citizens to enjoy a peaceful environment.
• Motorcyclists should not modify exhaust systems in a way that will increase sound to an offensive level.
• Organizers of motorcycle events should take steps through advertising, peer pressure and enforcement to make excessively loud motorcycles unwelcome.
• Motorcycle retailers should discourage the installation and use of excessively loud replacement exhaust systems.
• The motorcycle industry, including aftermarket suppliers of replacement exhaust systems, should adopt responsible product design and marketing policies aimed at limiting the cumulative impact of excessive motorcycle noise.
• Manufacturers producing motorcycles to appropriate federal standards should continue to educate their dealers and customers that louder exhaust systems do not necessarily improve the performance of a motorcycle.
• Law enforcement agencies should fairly and consistently enforce appropriate laws and ordinances against excessive vehicle noise.
• The motorcycle industry and the safety community should educate customers that excessive noise may be fatiguing to riders, making them less able to enjoy riding and less able to exercise good riding skills.
… With many rights come responsibilities. We enjoy the right to free speech in America, but that right does not entitle us to yell “Fire!” in a crowded theater. So too, the right to ride a motorcycle does not permit us to infringe on the peaceful enjoyment of life by others.
Indeed, many others, including the courts, view motorcycling not as a right but a privilege. This is an important distinction because under our legal system, the government can regulate or eliminate a privilege much easier than it can restrict or cancel a right.
Minnesota Motorcycle Monthly
http://www.motorbyte.com/mmm/pages/safety/safety40.htm
“Ignoring the fact that many aftermarket pipes are illegal, motorcyclists who defer to the wisdom, “loud pipes save lives” are sadly misinformed. Riders who believe that an ear-shattering exhaust note actually increases safety are either kidding themselves or rationalizing selfindulgent behavior. Fact is, loud pipes do more to hurt motorcyclists than help them, the attention they draw to a rider is not worth the negative public image they create.
Federal agencies such as the US National Park Service use motorcycles with illegal mufflers installed, so do the DC police.
How many people in law enforcement are actually aware that loud motorcycle mufflers are illegal and that there are tools which enable easy enforcement such as the EPA label match program?
No one I have spoken to in law enforcement or the general public has had any idea that these motorcycles are violating the law, since almost all motorcycles are loud people assume they come from the factory that way.
Loud pipes DO save lives! (Mine anyway)Here inn South Florida the old folks used to nearly run me and the bike off the road all the time, I went with straight pipes and it stopped 99% of these incidents, and I’ve only gotten one ticket for noise pollution, at 3am, my mistake, but worth it!
I too live in the DC area just like the cop. I can’t believe that this person is in law enforcement, what an unfortunate statement for a law enforcement officer to make. The argument for the use of illegal mufflers is simply stupid. How can he justify infringing on the rights of everyone else to peace and quite with an illegal activity which only possibly offers some form of safety for the single individual rider? This is why people with common sense have developed laws at the federal, state, and often local levels to mitigate this blight which lowers everyones quality of life.
The DC area is a highly metropolitan area with many important historic, tourism, and recreation areas including the George Washington National Parkway (a national park). Over 80% of motorcycles have illegal mufflers, and blast their way through residential areas, past tourists and bicyclists, people walking with babies or dogs. Wouldn’t a normal person would have a clue about or care about how their inappropriate behavior affects others? Maybe these irresponsible motorcyclists have antisocial personality disorder.
Why can’t anyone cite any authority which states that loud mufflers increase safety? This is important so that we rely more on science than perception of motorcycle riders and look at the overall picture regarding safety and not just a few individual examples.
Anything louder than a stock muffler should be ticketed period and enforcement should be strict and continuous as no other traffic infraction infringes on so many other peoples activities. Does it make sense that every motorcycle is louder than a semi, dump truck, or bus?
“Ignoring the fact that many aftermarket pipes are illegal, motorcyclists who defer to the wisdom, “loud pipes save lives” are sadly misinformed. Riders who believe that an ear-shattering exhaust note actually increases safety are either kidding themselves or rationalizing selfindulgent behavior. Fact is, loud pipes do more to hurt motorcyclists than help them, the attention they draw to a rider is not worth the negative public image they create.”
“… With many rights come responsibilities. We enjoy the right to free speech in America, but that right does not entitle us to yell “Fire!” in a crowded theater. So too, the right to ride a motorcycle does not permit us to infringe on the peaceful enjoyment of life by others.”
“Indeed, many others, including the courts, view motorcycling not as a right but a privilege. This is an important distinction because under our legal system, the government can regulate or eliminate a privilege much easier than it can restrict or cancel a right.”
“Yeah, there are a few situations—like where you are right next to a driver with his window down who is about the to change lanes—where full-time noise-makers might help a driver notice you, but all that noise directed rearward doesn’t do much in the most common and much more dangerous conflict where a car turns in front of you. Maybe it’s the fatigue caused by the noise, maybe it’s the attitudes of riders who insist on making annoying noise, or perhaps loud bikes annoy enough drivers to make them aggressive. Whatever the reason, the research shows that bikes with modified exhaust systems crash more frequently than those with stock pipes. If you really want to save lives, turn to a loud jacket or a bright helmet color, which have been proven to do the job. Or install a louder horn. Otherwise, just shut up.”
It often seems that accident occurrence prompts reactive action. The involved police agency reviewed the accident involving the motorist and cycle cop. The response that counters not being heard is of course to increase audible presence. To the decision makers that appears to be a quick fix solution to an immediate problem. Who knows if the cop was coasting in the others driver’s blind spot of if the other driver was distracted by some other factor. I personally don’t think anyone should rely on any one point to increase rider detectability. We should stress light colored top clothing/helmet and increased lighting on bike for more visual presence. Within reason, up the amps on the pipes (mufflers) to increase audible presence. And above all, rider maintain constant awareness that he is virtually invisible to other motorist no matter what. Even with efforts to avoid other motorist’s blind spots the rider should always remember visibility, audibility, stop signs, traffic lights or right of way will not protect the biker from injury or death that’s caused by the distracted driver of a two ton SUV. So if the pipes give the cops peace of mind, so be it. If it sets a precedence, let the new max decibel limit allowed by law become universal for all riders in all jurisdictions.
Loud pipes do not save lives. The bad drivers are usually in front and beside you.
The noise travels to the rear mostly. Besides, cars are so sound proofed any more and with the radio blaring chatting on the phone and the cage driver not paying attention You are hose’d if you are not driving defensively
I ride a Harley with Screaming Eagle pipes, they are a little louder than stock pipes.
What I have seen many times are animals (mainly dogs)that start to cross in front of me and turn around and high tail it back where they came from when they hear me coming.
In 1970 a local motorcycle cop cited a 1962 Royal Enfield 650cc(Indian) with straight pipes for excessive noise. The officer was not using a soundmeter of any type just his hearing. While writing the citation another MC enthusiast on a new 1970 Triumph Bonneville 750cc rode past. Being a longtime friend he showed up at municipal court with my brother (both riding) and the judge heard both bikes using his ears and decided that the newer stock bike was louder , and reprimanded the officer with a recommendation the PD buy a soundmeter before continuing investigating upon that venue! Tulsa county,OK
Got to wonder what people end up thinking is really going to help them with respect to their safety. It’s best to have your wits about you whether you are driving a car or riding a bike, and always make the assumption that some numbskull will not see you.
I ride with more than one light up front… 3 in fact, an outfit that is hard to not see and I use my horn if necessary …. and I still find that if people do not use their heads when they drive, there is no way of doing enough to make these people see you.
As far as loud pipes go…. I can not count the number of times that I have been surprised by some turkey with loud pipes. No I did not hear them when they were behind me. I only heard them when they were directly beside me or pulling ahead of me.
I think that the police wanting to do this is a bad move. You really have to wonder how careful or observant some officers really are.
When I ride my Harley Heritage, I want to be seen and heard. Believe me with cars approaching at side streets, they do hear you, as well as cars ahead as you pass them. I also ride with all my lights on.
Why all the fuss about loud pipes, they do not hurt anyone, part of Americana. Muscle cars and Harleys are all American.
I do believe those that ride inexpensive overpowered rice rockets are behind this anti loud crap.
When us older Vietnam generation pass’s on you kiddies can have your way with your tinker toys, not until then. BTW Wheel stands on crowded highways are not cool.
Huh,imagine that.”"Loud pipes do save lives”But what about us non badge wearin’ people? Yhis is totally f–ked up.What,say who,say where.Even though I been runnin’ loud all of my 25+yrs of ridin’.Not only for safety,but because they say I can’t.And now they can and we can’t.”F–k that.
To motorcycle riders who advocate the use of louder than legal pipes (that have the required EPA label) – do any one of you consider the impact of your illegal activity on anyone else but yourself? From these posts, it is all about your safety with no apparent concern for how you disturb others. Even a mildly louder than stock muffler makes a motorcycle more noticeable than a semi truck, to surrounding neighborhoods over 200 ft. away.
A perfect illustration of this point is by Mike in post 34 who rides a, “Harley with Screaming Eagle pipes, they are a little louder than stock pipes”. He says, “What I have seen many times are animals (mainly dogs)that start to cross in front of me and turn around and high tail it back where they came from when they hear me coming.”
Now just think about that for a moment. Don’t these irresponsible riders understand that animals such as dogs have a much greater sense of hearing than people do? Do people understand that small children are very susceptible to hearing damage, that many people wear hearing aides which are sensitive to loud noises, that such noise can affect combat veterans, and that this type of jarring noise is physically harmful in a general sense by raising the stress levels of those forced to listen to it? This is supported by many scientific studies, unlike the myth that loud pipes contribute to safety.
Loud pipes may be fine in very sparsely populated areas or on a racetrack where they are actually legal. If you use them anywhere else you should consider changing your license plate to “sociopath”.
where i live almost all of the illegal motorcycles are HD, only a very few ricers. there are sooo many of these idiots why does no one enforce the laws?
The one time I was cut off and ended up dumping my bike was on a Sportster with 40″ drag pipes. These are seriously loud pipes and they did not help me.
I now have a VERY loud air horn on my bike and am not shy about using it. Quite honestly when I hit the highway for a weekend ride I do not want a loud exhaust ringing in my ear all weekend.
As for as the LEOs with the loud pipes. Unless the laws have changed in the last 20 years, any ticket they write while riding those bikes can be challenged in court as they are breaking the law while on patrol, the same basic laws that prevent the LEOs from cruising at 120mph whenever they want to.
Now what I would like to see is enforcement of the bans against loud, pounding bass in cars, fart pipes on cars, and cell phone use while driving.
One comment…one person above stated that headlight modulators are illegal…That is wrong! They are legal in all 50 states by federal law and that overrides any local or state law or ordinance. Got one on my bike and I cant tell ya how many times it has caused people to really stop at intersections when I am coming along…they stare at my bike…think something is wrong. ha ha The important thing is they notice me! As for the loud pipes issue…I hate the waste of taxpayer money, but if one person..including a cop…life is saved due to it, then its ok with me. My bike has modified..by me..louder than stock pipes but not aftermarkets. Just a couple of baffle punches often due all that is necessary to get the rumble up so cagers can hear me comin.
I had to lay a bike down cause I wasn’t seen or heard.
You can have louder pipes without going over the limit, just redirect the sound out instead of up.
BUT LOAD PIPES DO SAVE LIVES!!!
My tongue is now bleeding…I was talking about tail light modulators being illegal not head light. That was not the point anyway if something is illegal it should be illegal for everyone and I believe that was the point of topic in the first place, not even if they (loud pipes) save lives but rather if they should be allowed by LEO’s while others get citations for the same. Like I stated earlier if you believe they help you in whatever way real or perceived then do it. But if its good for the goose then…well you follow kj
I agree with MR.B!
My 97 dr650 says 93 db,but I like my D&D set-up ’cause it’s louder.
[IMG]http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn258/drsand/2.jpg[/IMG]
30+ years ago I was driving a blue and white squad car southbound on Lakeshore Drive, when a car in the outside lane started to drift into us….I honked the horn, and he moved back out….then drifted right over and hit us. It turned into a really bad day for him…but my point is, that if someone will run into a squad car a bike is even more at risk.
Now I ride a 100″ with 2 1/4″ up and out straight pipes…if I’m on the drivers side of a car, they know it. I will do whatever I need to do to increase MY survivabilty on the street. One of the anti-pipe posters stated above “Even a mildly louder than stock muffler makes a motorcycle more noticeable than a semi truck, to surrounding neighborhoods over 200 ft. away.”
Pretty good argument for louder pipes.
Expect everybody behind the wheel of a car to try to kill you….RIDE TO LIVE!
I was going to leave my comment at that…however, I can’t not address the issue of irritating other drivers, children, dogs, squirrels and other lower life forms. I run a headlight modulator, and loud pipes….and it’s probably still not enough. People are driving their cars with their knees while eating their lunch, talking on the phone, reading the paper, changing radio station, playing with the baby or just screwing around with something on the floor. If aggravating these people makes them look to the source of their irritation…that’s one more thing to get their attention.
If you ride, and you want to come home alive….try to be aware of everything around you. As a police officer I was always watching the people around me….and as much as some of the people posting here dislike cops, you would do well to emulate them, and pay attention to that person in the turn lane, the car on the side street or the idiot on the corner that will most assuredly step right out in front of you.
Loud pipes in and of themselves will NOT save your life…..but they can help.
My 2 cents: All the comments on both sides of the “loud pipes” argument are probably correct. I have Python II slip ons–not particularly loud, but a nice, satisfying rumble. There are times in traffic when the moron in the SUV decides she needs my lane more than I do. It’s been my experience that honking the horn gets me a finger in return, but grabbing a handful of clutch and revving the throttle gets the “oh crap!” look and maybe an apologetic shrug.
I have nothing but anecdotes, no survey was conducted, but my personal theory is that there are assholes who will try to cut us off, figuring they can have our spot in traffic. For whatever reason, these assholes seem to be intimidated by louder pipes and encouraged by horns. I don’t know why that would be the case, but it sure seems to be reflected in my part of the country.
As far as the decibel limit on pipes: Loud pipes don’t irritate people, jerk-offs with loud pipes irritate people. The loser who can’t ride from his home to the grocery store without revving the throttle 8,000 times in order to have everyone hear his new straight pipes is giving us all a bad name. Maybe LEOs should ticket folks for deliberately making too much noise–like the old “exhibition of acceleration” tickets.
Loud pipes save lives and finally someone in authority admitted it.
I don’t know how many times it has saved me, BUT I KNOW FOR A FACT at least 3 times!!!
I’ve ridden on the street for 41years now and have NEVER gone down because I pay attention and do the things that make the difference…LOUD PIPES is one, A MAJOR ONE.
Isn’t America great? We all get to voice our opinions and no govt agency (that we know of) will come and take us away..
There are Loud and then there is Really Loud..A Harley has a quality that is almost reverent..maybe a bit loud, but not roaring..It’s the roaring that is objectionable and even painful to others. A Harley announces itself with a unique sound; these cops are, essentially, audio terrorists. It’s the degree of the noise. Am very very glad I don’t live in Oakland.
Ok I’ve not been riding forever. I’m an old offroad rider but have only recently put a bike on the street. I can’t tell you with my experience if louder pipes save people or not. But I can say that LE should not be above the law period. If the police in any particular town does not like a law they need to do what we are “supposed” to do and that is partition for the law to be changed. How in the hell can a traffic officer write a citation for a relatively minor traffic offense when he or she is also violating traffic laws?
These aren’t cops. They are drunk with power and should be taken down a couple of pegs by the State/Fed. There is zero evidence that suggests loud pipes save lives. If you’re too much of a wussy to ride a normal sounding bike without being frightened like a little girl then you should probably stop trying to be a cop.
I have ridden just about every type of bike over the past 40 years and I can tell you that the bikes with straight pipes cause more of a dangerous situation they claim to prevent.
Real men don’t need to feel thunder between their legs to feel safe. Bad riders that think everyone needs to look out for them, and are scared on crowded roads, need their version of a blanky. Go back to peddle power if your that scared to ride with stock pipes because the sutdies show the opposite….loud pipes are dangerous not safer. Try reading facts before blindly claiming the chant of the scared biker.
I hate the grubs and rubs with straight pipes. I intentionally ignore bikers with loud pipes. They don’t care about there surroundings so why should I give a crap about them?
I don’t care what any of you whining morons say, If I want to run my Vance & Hines true duals, I will, I like the sound. I don’t care how much you claim to ride or how long, that makes your opinion no more relevant than mine. I’m not a new rider and I’ve ridden more miles in more countries than the majority of you posting, get a life and quit worrying about what others are doing that doesn’t affect you. Besides, if you really want to help, hang up you friggin cell phone and drive.
Real men don’t need to feel thunder between their legs to feel safe.
How would you know? The fact that you sign your post ‘Real man’ seems as though you are trying to convince somebody that’s true probably yourself.
As far as straight pipes are concerned, I run a 80 stroked, ‘65 Pan with drag pipes. Do they piss off the public, do they warn drivers? Who cares, I run them because I like them.
If you have a problem with somebody running loud pipes, why don’t you go up and confront them on it. I’d really like some flannel mouth a-hole come up and get on me about my pipes. Loud pipes would be the least of his worries.
And a statement like “I intentionally ignore bikers with loud pipes.” that sounds like something a PMSing woman would say.
You know, if the pipes hurt your little ears…stay home.
Some of these statements are incredible, for example Dan who advises people to “get a life and quit worrying about what does not affect you”.
It is precisely because irresponsible motorists like Dan are using illegal mufflers that affect many people inside their homes and everywhere else. You generate what is termed blight, like someone throwing trash out the window as they drive around.
It is precisely because of this lack of empathy for the rights of other people that the general public must rely on the police to enforce the laws which protect the many from the irresponsible few with attitudes like yours.
By the way, the word empathy refers to the ability to “put oneself into another’s shoes”. Those lacking empathy are usually undeveloped teenagers or sociopaths.
Those who think riding with mildly louder pipes is OK, are dead wrong. The point of the statement below is that making a motorcycle as loud as a semi truck is borderline retarded and certainly shows a complete lack of respect for everyone else.
“Even a mildly louder than stock muffler makes a motorcycle more noticeable than a semi truck, to surrounding neighborhoods over 200 ft. away.”
When the woman in the car claimed that she didnt hear the cop on the bike, did she mean that his bike wasnt loud enough to prevent an accident from occuring? if this is so then she should be hitting cars left and right. maybe she is. As far as the loud pipes are concerned, i believe that safety was not even a thought on your minds when you had them installed. I have seen so many loud cruisers and sportbikes with their rideras and passengers wearing no protection at all. these are not safety minded riders. and how many loud bikes have we all heard go by with a helmetless rider, where allowed of course. so loud pipes are for safety concerns and its ok to ditch the helmet in states where the ground is soft. crazy. i for one could not rely on my exhaust to keep me alive.
No, loud pipes will not help someone to see you. With their windows up and the radio on they can not hear you coming in time, they can hear you going. They need to be more observant instead.
Empathy,If all you have to complain about is noise from a motorcycle, consider yourself lucky. This is America, the Land of the Free. It’s my choice to have loud pipes, just like it’s many families choices to subject everyone in a crowded restaurant to their little snot monster crying at the top of their lungs. Get over it, besides if you think cops are enforcing these laws, they usually aren’t worried about my pipes with all the other crimes out there.
dan, what other crimes out there?? this is the land of the free right?? we can do what we please. thankfully there are enough folks out there with such an arrogant attitude that land of the free will become the land of the legislated. well i applaud your honesty. at least you are not sugar coating your desire for loud pipes with that safety garbage. by the way, why do people opt for such loud pipes? whats the attraction?
do you ever take notice of the guys running the illegal mufflers? It’s always on these two types; The matching outfit croch-rocketeer screaming hey look how dorky I am or, the other, a fat guy with a lazy boy for a cycle mad at the world. Either way it’s definately a little d!@$ thang.
Okay, you say you need these loud pipes so people will notice you….um…okay but then how come the vast majority of bikers riding with straight pipes only wear helmets when required by law? how come bright orange leather jackets aren’t being worn? How come riders aren’t simply using their horn…which directed towrds the front where it needs to be…instead of deciding it’s safer to pull in the clutch and lay on the gas? Keep asserting all you want about safety but there is plenty of legal options out there that actually work and are much safer then illegal pipes…..nuff said!
Be seen is much better than possibly being heard. Ever hear a sireen and have to look around to see where the sound is coming from? Loud Pipes = False Security. JMO, though
this is an arguement that will never go away. bottom line for me is that nobody has the right to disturb others. by that i mean the schmucks i occasionally hear warming up their “loud piped” bikes in the early am, without regard for the neighborhood. or at any time actually. your “rights” dont cover this!! again, to rely on the sound of your exhausts to keep you safe is pretty pathetic. ride smart, ride safe, thats what gets you home.
I live in a quite affluent area of N.C., and have somewhat loud pipes on my VTX. I never rip the throttle or try to attract attention to myself, and am not particularly a proponent of loud pipes.
The reason that I run them is obvious: several times I have been riding in the left lane (of a divided highway with 2 lanes in each direction), and have come up on drivers riding in the right lane and talking on cell phones. Often these are younger kids driving, and not at all aware of whats going on around them. I know by their expression that they were surprised to see my passing on their left side. I know that they heard me, well before they saw me, and thats the only reason that they did not move into my lane.
Loud pipes are annoying. Careful riding and bright clothing save lives. As for being heard… your horn works just as well and doesn’t wake up me, my wife, my kids, my dog and my neighors when you go roaring down my street at 2 in the morning. (Sorry, guys, but one misbehaving driver, whether riding a loud bike or driving a loud car, can wake up an entire neighborhood.)
Perhaps the Oakland Police should paint their bikes flourescent green instead of fitting illegal pipes. Police offers have devices that allow them to be heard, they are called **SIRENS**. And if they aren’t in a situation that requires the siren, they should SLOW DOWN, RIDE CAREFULLY and most importantly OBEY THE FRIGGIN’ LAW!!! Just like every other biker is expected to.
I have had my hearing damaged by idiots revving their engines on the freeway or at stop lights- I always roll up my windows when I see these a**holes coming, but when my ears ring after they gun their bikes, I loose any sympathy whatsoever for their personal “freedom” to injure me.
I say this a former rider, who quit riding because of near-misses with idiot auto drivers. Two wrongs don’t make a right.
kelly writes”…. back to the issue how many cars pull out in front of a loud semi?? not to many why cause the cars can hear them way off…”
Nope. Wrong. Semi’s are huge, bikes are tiny. Sound has nothing to do with it.
If you’re looking for a loud horn, please visit our site: http://www.GPECustom.com
The bigger question is whether we want the cops to be as loud as the attention-deprived douchebags who ride with a loud muffler. Why do I need to halt my phone conversation (or any conversation for that matter) while someone with a need for something more powerful between their legs rides by? Can’t WAIT until we run out of oil and they’re forced to put cards in their spokes.
If loud pipes saves lives, just think what actual rider safety training would do.
Loud motorcycles are for arrogant little boys who want attention. Nothing makes me angrier than being roused from my peace by this awful practice. Cops or not, SCREW THESE GUYS. Motorbikes should be no louder than cars, period.
Loud pipes wont save lives just like an orange vest wont either.
There is scientific fact that noise contributes to brain stimulation as much as visual effects. Therefore, if a orange vest can help protect you why wouldn’t loud pipes. There is also scientific evedance that sound travels by boncing of the surrondings, this would account why so many kids in the car in front of the motorcycle turn their heades to see the motorcyclest because the boncing echo does reach them, which mean the car infront does hear the pipes.
Now what evidance is there that loud pipes are a hazard because some crazy nut gets pissed and tries to kill a biker for loud pipes? Please I have seen that when a driver sees a women putting on make up, it has nothing to do with loud pipe, it has to do with a twisted individual.
Loud pipes helps and with all the noise these days it is a minimal effect to protect motorcyclest, of course rules will have to be made for those riders that just have to go over board. Like no reving while standing, it would work the same as no blowing your horn unless an emergancey. Restrict the max level of the pipes, this is such a minimal request in order to protect lives.
“A CHILD SHOULD BE SEEN AND NOT HEARD” Why because you can ignore something when you looking at it drift off and shut off your mind, that is why meditation requires a quite space, ask a yoga instructor. Yes some people have mastered it and can do it in the loudest of noise but most can’t. NOW noies is almost imposible to ignore and that with visual and you have to pay attention!
I think the federal goverment should revise this law. Protecting those who protect us and allowing us bikers to have a better chance. This is not about being big and bad its about being safe. We are taking the expereance of years of bikers and virtually telling them they didnt know squat but they do they know that the rumble of pipes gives them a better chance then none.
Yes it is all about look at me! Because if your looking at me there is less of a chance that you will kill me.
I am curious, I am reading a lot here that loud pipes are not heard to a car that is in front but I drive and I have heard plenty of motorcycles coming be hind me.
I don’t think anyone that drives can honestly say they did not hear a bike with loud pipes at one point or another coming be hind them.
The other thing I hear is get a loud horn, if they can’t hear loud pipes how will a horn work?
Also clothing and bright orange vest, yet everyone here has quoted drives saying that they did not see them, if they don’t see me I don’t think the vest will make a difference.
I don’t think there is any true evadance that a bright vest or reflectors save lives I think its as circumstantial as loud pipes.
And as far as motorcycles with loud pipes having more accedents then motorcycle with stock pipes has nothing to do with the pipes and more with the individula, conservitive takes less risk over risk taker and chance taker has nothing to do with pipes.
Also I hear about the general public, unless the biker is sitting in front of a park or a mother wither her baby reving his engine I don’t think a two minute drive by will really bother them, especially if they know its more of a safety issue then am a bad ass issue.
The truth is loud pipes just like bright helmets and vest helps. Niether save lives! But each together can give you more of a chance.
Those of you who have driven for 100 years with stock pipes and never gotten in to an accident, good for you! You have learned to take a chance with out really risking anything a true mid life crisis handled well.
Those of you that have driven 100 years with loud pipes and never have had and accident, GOOD FOR YOU! you have taken chance while minamizing your risk, you have live the true american dream!
For you that have riding both loud and stock pipes and have had accidents, you have to learn to be more careful!
Me my self I belive in loud pipes, bright clothing, DOT helmets and the right to choose, I belive that the population has grown bigger and louder and because of that bikers should too!
I am going to take a stand in what I belive and am looking to make a change in the loud pipe issue and I ask anyone that agrees to write to there congress man and do the same.
Marauder, this is directed to you! I think your defense seems to go against your beliefe.
Yes you look around when you hear sirens which means that the NOISE made you look, which is what loud pipes do.
I can be wearing a GLOW IN THE DARK NEON LIGHT BRIGHT JACKET but if I am in your blind spot, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO NOTICE IT! Now if you hear a little rumbbling (like hearing a siren) you might take a second look in your review mirror and SPOT MY NEON JACKET. Just like sirens its meant to catch your attention.
As far as a horn, think of a car ready to crush you, your mind goes in to complete panic, you can be the best rider in the world but once that panic starts you can forget all your training forget the basic everything! Any professinal fighter can tell you that, you will be left with two things instinct and luck, loud pipes is just a little precaution. You see you dont have to think about reving your pipes like you would with your horn, the pipes are already making noies its already giving a warning. Hey a horn is great when you see the danger coming but when the danger is already on you its a little harder to warn somebody you are there, your mine goes into fight or flight mode. You either try to get away by inching closer to the rail or riding faster or even slaming your breaks or you fight by getting pissed off kicking the car and lossing control. Loud pipes is just a way to avoid it to warn someone you are coming and people can say that the noise is face towards the back and it cant be hear by the car in the front but the truth is IT CAN BE HEARD by the car in the front, in the back, in the side. I mean that is what everyone is complaining about isn’t it? That loud pipes are loud and the noise bothers them, which means they can hear them right? Everyone here can say what the want but any drive that has had a motorcycle with loud pipes come up behind them has heard them coming. Prevention is the key and loud pipes is just a little peice of that prevention, just like a siren it tells you hey I am coming then the bright orange vest can say hey I am here look out for me.
Loud pipes don’t disturbe half as much as people act like they do, its like one of the other motorcyclest said on this blog its about a small D%&&, which mean he feels inadequate and takes his insecurities out on bikers with loud pipes.
With out pointing fingures, the true saving grace is education not only for motorcyclest but for drivers anyone that has taken a five hour class for their drivers license recently can tell you that you get more information on how to approch and drive around a bicyclest then they do over a motorcyclest.
For example people mention leather jackets like is a bad thing. Do they know that leather jackets have been proven to be the best protection for road rash when you hit the pavment in a crash? Do they know that 95% or manufactures only make black or brown leather because the cost is cheaper then dying the leather.
I mean how insecure do you have to be to be bother over someone wearing leather! And know teflon clothing and draggin jeans don’t work just as good as leather. So if you see someone dressed down in black leather remember he is not trying to be a bad ass and he is not trying to out do you he just doesn’t want to be hurting if he goes down on his bike!
I was riding home on my stock exhaust and going at 35 MPH when all of a sudden, without turn signals, a guy in a car who is stopped pulls out in front of me from the left lane ,and with no room to get by him on the right side I hit the side of his car. Luckily I had a light bike that stops on a dime, but the side of my leg did barely touch his car and I could have lost a limb had I been going a few miles faster or on a heavier bike. Things like this have happened before, but not as close as that one incident. Ever since I got my new pipes no motorist has cut me off like that.
I keep hearing this and it keeps saying it is scientifacly proven.
“Yeah, there are a few situations—like where you are right next to a driver with his window down who is about the to change lanes—where full-time noise-makers might help a driver notice you, but all that noise directed rearward doesn’t do much in the most common and much more dangerous conflict where a car turns in front of you. Maybe it’s the fatigue caused by the noise, maybe it’s the attitudes of riders who insist on making annoying noise, or perhaps loud bikes annoy enough drivers to make them aggressive. Whatever the reason, the research shows that bikes with modified exhaust systems crash more frequently than those with stock pipes. If you really want to save lives, turn to a loud jacket or a bright helmet color, which have been proven to do the job. Or install a louder horn. Otherwise, just shut up.”
But when I drive my care and a motorcycle is coming behind me with loud pipes I can hear them from at least three cars away!
Maybe when they ran this test they were only two vechiels on the road? A car about a mile away and a motorcycle a mile behind it? Sound travels, if there is a car behind the bike the echo will bounce of that car if they are cars on the side they sound will bounce off of them, walls bill bords and so one. How do I know this SCIENCE! The same SCIENCE that showed how bats bounce high pitched sounds to see their surondings and since when we ride there are surondings then I am sure the echo projects and makes it to a car or two in front of the motorcycle.
I mean if you want more proof maybe we can take a poll right here.
HOW MANY PEOPLE WHEN DRIVING HEAR A MOTORCYCLE WITH LOUD PIPES COMING UP FROM BE HIND? I DO, I DONT.
I DO!
Law enforcement break laws every day.For instance in the state of Washington it is now against the law for people to use their cell phones while driving, without a hands free device but the police are exempt. Legaly a police officer can not exceed the speed limit or commit other infractions unless they are running code. i.e. with siren or emergency lights, or both in use. but they do it all of the time. If the police do not have to obey the laws, why should anyone else.
Lets see “loud pipes irritate cage drivers” DUH…that’s what there for!
If he’s irritated, he KNOWS where I am!
75% of motorcycle/car collissions occur at intersections…42% of those occur when the car driver violates the cyclist right of way by making a left turn accross his/her path. Since motorcycle exhausts point back, even very loud motorcycles aren’t heard in these situations. Again, even when passing, the bike is almost alongside the car and so the driver didn’t hear them for most of the potential impact time.
60% of all crash involved motorcyclist were on modified bikes…the most common modification is to make the bike louder.
Ask yourself, honestly, if hearing the potential hazard was so important, why would you make your bike so loud as to reduce your own ability to hear hazards? After all, as a motorcyclist, you have much more to lose in a collission than does a car driver.
You can get a license to drive if you are deaf, you cannot if you are blind…obviously, riding with your lights on has a better chance of helping you be seen by drivers than loud pipes.
Statistics came from the Hurt Report, by the way.
James Franklin
Jacksonville, Florida 32244
808-225-0994 (cell)
I started riding in 1964, I have actually ridden 2,000,000 miles on the road, have no idea how many miles I have ridden off road.
I can honestly say that I have owned loud obnoxious motorcycles and very quite motorcycles and can’t give you one instance where I could see that the loud bike made any difference over the quite ones besides citations.
60% of all crash involved motorcyclist were on modified bikes…the most common modification is to make the bike louder.
Less than 2% of motorcycle impacts involve animals or pedestrians.
Ask yourself, honestly, if hearing the potential hazard was so important, why would you make your bike so loud as to reduce your own ability to hear hazards? After all, as a motorcyclist, you have much more to lose in a collission than does a car driver.
After reading all this mythology about how loud pipes save lives, I just had to ad another comment.
Again, I am not making statistics up, they came from the Hurt Report, which is something LEO should be familiar with.
Heck yes! Loud pipes save lives! I think they are a must on all bikes.
I approve of the pipes makeing more noise!
I like the sound, plus I like to know when there is a motorcycle coming up, sometimes they can be in your blind spot and this helps to hear them coming up.
Now That’s Just SILLY!!!
No, loud pipes don’t actually save lives. What with the sound damping interiors of cars over the last 2 decades, and the stero systems in cars, people don’t hear the police sirens rated at 130 decibils let alone loud exhaust pipes at 95 decibils. They are breaking the law, just like police that speed with no emergency lights or siren or talking on a cell phone or using the car mounted computer in their vechicles. As an ex LEO, I think all of them should be given a ticket, for all the offences I mentioned, just like anyone else.
If you don’t enforce noise limits, Oakland will be unliveable. If the intention is to create a chaotic “open penitentiary” to save money, do it to Antioch.
I’m a retried Cop and I’ve been riding for over 40 years. If your too Chicken Sh-t to ride legal, you shouldn’t be riding.
Loud pipes saving lives is a myth, no evidence, no fact, no studies. Just an excuse to justify bad conduct.
Oakland PD, your an embarassment to police nation wide!
Oakland PD sounds like a bunch of do as I say and not as I do elitest.
I ride only stock pipes, DOT approved helmet.
The sound is projected to the rear, most accidents are from the 10 and 2 o-clock positions. The bike is moving foward, thus the Doppler effect. The math and science doesn’t add up. Loud pipes saving lives are a fairy tail made up by posing throttle jockies.
Loud pipes should be illegal. Especially pipes that are so loud it hurts the ears of motorists who have their windows rolled down. The T-bone accidents aren’t going to be affected by pipes, and the other accidents are caused just as much by rider stupditity as they are by driver stupidity.
I have Thunderheaders on my ‘05 Heritage. I can tell you that I’ve had any number of drivers, who weren’t looking my way when they were about to pull out in front of me, turn to look at me when I just cracked my pipes a bit for them instead of using that weeny-ass horn they put on bikes. I’ve also been heard by drivers in the next lane who hear me when they couldn’t see me because I happened to be in their blind spot. Regardless of what anyone -thinks-, louder = safer on a bike. Besides, if it didn’t, why’s this Police agency changing out their pipes? They must feel the same, although they don’t want us “subjects” having the same Rights.
Reading these comments are quite amusing and i am sure the real men aren’t so tuff and I question the alledged experience of some.Insulting other people’s opinons doesnt make your argument anymore valid or correct. My opinion is simply this “freedom of choice” we have enough unforcible laws on the books. The life of an officer performing his duty is no more valuable then a blue collar worker riding his bike to the factory.(Because gas is $3.00 a Gal.)It’s like the helmet law its a riders discision.
Who says modulating headlights are illegal? Prove it to me! All states I know of have a set of criteria that such modulating devices must adhere to, frequency, intensity, etc, and they do. I installed one on my FatBoy, and it gets instant attention, like the rotating light on the front of a fast passenger train! As has been said: anything that makes cagers see us and save a life or a limb for us bikers is worth considering. My only complaint? Biker friends called me “blinky”!
Stand on any street corner and wait for a bike to ride by, if you can’t hear the bike before it gets to you, you need your hearing checked. Now wait for me with my drag pipes, bet ya heared me sooner, and if ya still didn’t hear it before it went by, you really need to just buy a recliner and stay off the street. Doppler effect changes the “pitch” of the sound, not the sound “level”.
I can’t believe how many inconsiderate people there are in this country. Just so you know, it is not your right to run loud exhaust. It is illegal in every state. Just because the police don’t enforce(and from some of the posts, actually break the law)doesn’t make it all right. What is a right,(mine and yours) is the right to a reasonable amount of peace and quiet. Running loud pipes(on a motorcycle or any vehicle) make you inconsiderate to other drivers, your neighbors, and anyone else that doesn’t want to hear your vehicle. And if your inconsiderate that by definition makes you a JERK! As for the loud pipes save lives crap, Harley are involved in more fatal accidents, so that shoots that theory. If you are worried about your safety, wear a frickin’ helmet along with your assless leather chaps and eather jacket with fake gang badges all over. I never understood the full leathers, but no helmet, maybe someone can explain? As for the cop riding straight pipe Harleys, you should be ashamed and fired. You have no right to enforce the law if you, yourself do not obey it. I guess cops can be jerks too. Peace Out and treat your neighbor as you would have them treat you. I’m sure no loud piper would apreciate me runnin my weed wacker in font of their house at three in the morning.Good Day.
Louder exhaust sound from motorcycles is good. It can and does save accidents from happening and anyone who disputes this is either playing an agenda or a full blown liar!
All who have ridden bikes with loud enough pipes to be heard over the din of traffic have had instances of drivers waking up to the sound of louder exhausts.
I also use very, very loud air horn systems on my bikes which have saved my life over and over—I honk at anyone in my safe zone–long before they get an opportunity to murder me!
Bull crapers who spout the lie of “Well only those behind you can hear your loud pipes” are morons who have little experience or as stated earlier are pushing their agenda of death.
Murder by cell phone is becoming the weapon of choice of those who don’t like loud pipes on bikes———-I say shoot em while they text!
I agree with comment #17 I myself have throttled up my engine for knuckle heads, girls and girly boys texting and not paying attention while driving.And at times I see a middle finger huh I know I got there attention. Ride Safe My harley buddies.
“Okay, you say you need these loud pipes so people will notice you….um…okay but then how come the vast majority of bikers riding with straight pipes only wear helmets when required by law? how come bright orange leather jackets aren’t being worn? How come riders aren’t simply using their horn…which directed towrds the front where it needs to be…instead of deciding it’s safer to pull in the clutch and lay on the gas? Keep asserting all you want about safety but there is plenty of legal options out there that actually work and are much safer then illegal pipes…..nuff said!”
here here! or how about using things already on your bike to keep you out of harms way??? like your brakes, throttle, the bikes natural ability to turn on a dime. if you have time to pull in the clutch and rev your engine… you have dime to drop a gear, open the throttle and get the hell out of the situlation, instead of coasting along blipping the throttle like and idiot!!!
or i love what one rider said, he had to “lay his bike down” if you are laying your bike down , its outta control and doing you no good and you probably did it by locking the back brake yourself!! bottom line is we are always going to be hard to see and hear, ride aware, take a class learn how to control your bike and ride defensively and thats gonna actually help save your life not your damn exhausts!!
loud pipes never hurt or killed anyone they are the sound of freedom. and yes loud pipes save lives. So get A life clowns.
WELL, FIRST I THINK EVERYONE IS ALITTLE TOO BITTER WHEN IT COMES TO THE POLICE. I THINK THE BIKES SHOULD HAVE LOUD PIPES. I AM A M/C RIDER AND MY LOUD PIPES HAVE SAVED ME. YOU HAVE NO PROTECTION ON A M/C. DRIVERS DONT ALWAYS SEE YOU BUT THEY WILL HEAR YOU. IF A POLICE OFFICER ON A M/C GETS HURT OR INJURIED TO THE POINT HE OR SHE HAS TO BE RETIRED……..WHAT A WASTE TO THE CITY AND TAX PAYER. I THINK WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR COPS. THEY SHOULD HAVE THE BEST EQUIPT.POSS. AND SINCE WHEN IS THE FEDERAL GOV. RIGHT ABOUT ANYTHING. I SUPPORT ALL THE POLICE OFFICERS AND SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU FOLKS DO.
Loud pipes saved my ass – don’t care about what you think. If I had stock pipes on my bike the pretty lady on her cell phone would have merged right into me on a two lane interstate. She heard my pipes, looked over and quickly jumped back to her lane. Don’t tell me or anyone else what you think – especially if you don’t ride.
Whiskers – B’more, MD
I have been riding for about 10 years now, 2nd stint. When my pipes were stock, I had quite a few people do a lane change and I had to hit the brakes hard so they didn’t run me over. ! time I had no where to go and ended up kicking her door and she went back over, but her cell phoone never left her ear. The loud pipes do save lives as people next to you can’t or won’t look to see if you are there. Now that my pipes are loud, I haven’t had that happen to me since. Loud pipes won’t help for cars in front of you, thus you still should wear brightly colored clothing and and the lightbar and modulators and get a stebel to replace the stock horn.