Do loud pipes really save lives?

Question

I've seen statistical data that proves just the opposite. People on loud bikes become complacent, thinking they're presence is more obvious to other drivers, and get into more accidents as a result than those riding stock exaust systems. It's true.

Answer 1

Of all car/motorcycle accidents, over 80% of them happen due to a front-end collision of the motorcycle. In other words, by some fool turning in front of the bike.

Since sound travels backwards from the REARWARD facing pipes, that guy on the cell phone still won't hear you. Perhaps all the people that still believe the MYTH about loud pipes should bend them so they face forward. That's the only way their argument would work.

I ride a sportbike. OEM pipes; so not loud, but not quiet either, especially up above 8k RPM. I can't tell you the number of times I have been "merged into" by cagers on the freeway, even when I am right next to them WITH THEIR WINDOW DOWN!

It doesn't matter how loud you are if the fools aren't willing to pay attention. So in the end, all loud pipes do is annoy others.

Answer 2

Jake,
This is not an opinion, statistic or someone telling you about the biker they almost hit.
Loud pipes saved my life or certainly saved me from serious injury.
About 20 yrs ago, I was riding behind a car in Buffalo, NY.
The driver put on the left turn signal so I swung to the right. I wasn't speeding.
At the same time, a lady sitting in a parked car opened her door and I saw her leg coming out.
I locked up my rear brakes and I thought I was a gonner.
In a split second, I saw her leg go back in and the door shut.
My bike finally stopped about 2 car lengths past her car.
She came over and asked If I was OK. She told me that she quickly closed her door because she heard my "loud pipes".
If it wasn't for those pipes, I would have certainly hit her opened door and maybe her.
I still run loud pipes on all my bikes. Not head ache loud, just loud enough to let you know I'm there.

Answer 3

this past season i noticed that when i was in my dad's newer model pick-up, in his caddy, and in my cars, i dont hear bikes until they are basically at point blank range...close enough that a turn off would cause them to go down. the cars are just too well sound proofed compared to the cars of the past. in the summer, count the number of cagers runnin the a/c vs the 1's with the windows down; the a/c outnumber's them.

if i was looking for raw speed or horsepower, i'd have bought a 'bussa. i prefer to kick back and cruise. as long as i get from point a to b and back in 1 piece, i'm happy. i dont need the loud pipes to be happy.
no1 should be on a bike if they're not willing to accept the fact that: cagers are more inattentive than not, that a pencil at arm's length can hide a bike, and that u are ur own master. just like the saying 'chrome wont get ya home', the same applies to pipes. only u can swerve or hit the brakes, the pipes cant. u should have been on the ball scanning the road ahead, back, and sides, and preparing for anything these cell phone carrying idiots might do next, never assuming they'll do the right thing, but the wrong thing at the wrong time. if u cant willingly accept that, then u shouldnt be on the bike. i accept that risk everytime i ride. i assume all cars cant see me...i'm just not there. no pipe is going to prevent all cagers from left turning, or switchin lanes on u....especially the q-tips.
and he who constantly rides in a cager's blind spot is beggin to get turned into a grease spot. that's just common sense.

Answer 4

Firstly where did you find these statistics. I would like to see them. I find it hard to believe that someone would actually do a study on this. The amount of time to physically check each motorcycle's pipes or even contact the riders that were involved in an accident is staggering. If you can back this up with documentation fine ,if not your opinion is your own.

Answer 5

I agree with you. I no longer have the link, but there is an article out there about how even Harley agrees with you!

I personally rely on riding skills and my horn. I understand that the situations in which noise is likely to save you are really not that common.

And considering how great my car stereo is, I can guarantee that if I have it cranked which I usually do, I'm not going to hear ANYTHING! Good thing I actually turn my head before changing lanes.

Answer 6

There is no way to prove it either way. How do you prove something prevented an accident? The only data would be the number of collisions between bikes and cars, there is no reliable way to determine how many collisions, if any, were prevented because the driver of the car heard the bike, rather than saw it!

Answer 7

I'm sure they have saved a few lives here and there. But like your follow on statement, they may also lead to complacency on the riders part.

I might ride a wickedly fast sportbike, but I'm fully aware of my vulnerability and expect not only that no else is watching my back, but that the cager are actively trying to run me off the road.

I take no additional unnecessary risks by stunting and I ride in full gear and with a full faced helmet. I don't need the wind in my hair to know I'm having fun. In fact, if I can feel wind in my hair, I'd better stop and put my helmet back on :)

But that attitude keeps me on my toes.

Answer 8

Ok, heres a quick personal experiance and the main reason I have medium sounding pipes.

When I was younger and in the military...I was in my pick-up truck on a busy roadway in Virginia. I went to change lanes and checked the side mirror, rearview mirror and saw nothing...so I put my turnsignal on and looked over my shoulder and caught a glimpse of something...it was a goldwing. My window was down due to the summer heat and still heard nothing...it is a good thing I look over my left shoulder when changing lanes of I would've hit the guy. Once he saw me turn and look at him he sped up...he had been traveling beside me in my blind spot and didn't realize that my signal was on.

Then every time I have other bikes beside me in traffic I could tell cause of the LOUD pipes...that is when I said to myself if I had a motorcycle I would have a decently loud set of pipes...and now that I have a bike I do have a set of pipes that are moderatly loud but still have the baffles in them...so that they aren't obnoxiously loud.

Bottom line is that it takes a personal experience like I had to make you realize how un-seen motorcycles are in traffic.

Answer 9

Yes In most car versus bike wreck the car driver usual answer is But officer I did not see the biker. I have had too many close call with little old ladies making left turns on quiet bikes When I have my Harley out It is loud & proud and they damn sure can hear me comming unless their heasring aid batteries are tottally dead

Answer 10

In my opinion ,anything that makes a rider more noticeable (including loud pipes) adds to safety.I've been riding since I was 5 (40 years).The first thing I tell new riders is (Pretend you're invisible).The times I've been hit and had close call,SOS "I didn't see you!".Add some noise ,maybe they'll hear you.P.S. after 40 years ,I am still on gaurd when I ride.