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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Sorry, not meant in that context for all situations. Should I apologize, I'm not sure, because if I go down I know the first thought will be "why were you being so stupid?" But the bottomline is that many if not most of the accidents I read is single vehicle citing speed and conditions. I drive down one road that has a personal memorial for a biker that lost his life. What was he doing - 100+ on a slight blind curve in a 35 mph zone and hit a mulch truck that just pulled out of the business just on the other side of the blind spot. Too many things on that road signals there are hidden dangers everywhere, yet he found the need to do what he did dispite the risk and paid for it. A loud pipe did nothing to save him. He was a ATGATT guy, and everyone had grand things to say about him, by at 20 years old or so, he lacked major judgement in that situation. So sorry. We learn everyday.
Varrrrroooom Varrrrrroooooooom bapppp bappppp potato potato potato..... I may have just saved my life...
Edited by varyder 2011-11-30 2:28 PM
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Tourer
Posts: 599
New Mexico | That's ==== "Sweet Potato - Sweet Potato - Sweet Potato" === on a Victory :-)
I do agree if you made a list of the efficiency of safety equipment/knowledge, Rider Safety courses would be at the top, whereas loud pipes would be down towards the lower end of the scale.
Rider Safety course, experience, properly maintained equipment, reflective clothing, proper rest, all more important IMHO.
But loud pipes do have their place on the list.
Edited by Boots 2011-11-30 3:58 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 102
Cary, NC | I don't have loud pipes and don't want them. I like being able to hear now and hope to be able to hear the things around me in the future. I am a firm believer in having a very loud horn. This seems to work well and if it doesn't I always have my wife there to really give them hell when they try to invade our space. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 102
Cary, NC | I don't have loud pipes and don't want them. I like being able to hear now and hope to be able to hear the things around me in the future. I am a firm believer in having a very loud horn. This seems to work well and if it doesn't I always have my wife there to really give them hell when they try to invade our space. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 102
Cary, NC | Sorry about the double post. Seems to be a problem with the posting. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | okay - the rule is, if you make a double post, one of them becomes a joke post, and your case, two of them. in case you didn't know, you can edit them up to 15 minutes or 5 minutes or some length of time after the orginal posting. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 965
New York State |
:laugh:
Edited by Trekwolf164 2011-11-30 6:10 PM
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Tourer
Posts: 390
| The safest motorcycle is one that is not being ridden. But that is not what motorcycles are made for........that sounds familiar .....If loud pipes make you feel safer then have them , if day glow riding clothing makes you feel safer then wear it. There is no single thing that will keep a distracted driver from running you down. I do not like loud pipes overpowering my loud music......so I do not have them.....like the sound though. I ride like I am invisible and so far that works for me.. |
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Tourer
Posts: 548
Mount Vernon, WA United States | Any time this conversation comes up I'm always amazed at how "loud" translates to "Deafening" and "stock" translates to "sewing machine". I never thought of bikers at black and white. I'm not, but it seems on this topic, no one sees grey.
Anyone who thinks "hearing" a bike is safer than not hearing a bike... well... I don't know what to think about that. Ever step out in front of a Prius ??? I have.. Actually it was in back of one. In the parking lot, I walked around my car, right across the back of a Prius that was backing up. Didn't HEAR IT !!!! Lisa and I used to ride a lot together. I can't tell you how many times I saw people on busy highways attempt to merge into her and get startled when they SAW her next to them instead of "hearing" something and not going there. She rides a SilverWing and it doesn't make any noise.. For myself.. when I'm in a car... I have certainly HEARD bikes, trucks, other cars, etc.. before I saw them in my side mirror.
When I think of loud in the concept of being heard... I'm just thinking louder than a sewing machine. The stage-1 pipes on my old V92C were fine. Just a bit louder than stock, not obnoxious, and I was heard. No one ever stepped out in front of me, no one ever tried to turn into me. They knew I was there. I don't understand the gufuffle... it's common sense 101. If you can hear something you likely will see it. Those of you that say "I drive by bikes and I don't hear'em until their next to me...." Get your ears examined... or... maybe you're in a Jag or Merc which are really quiet. I can HEAR most bikes by time they are in my dead spot off the rear corner. I usually HEAR them, then look around in the mirrors to see what I'm hearing.
As far as safety... on a bike... nothing beats experience. I have taken the MSF course more than once and had a good friend when I lived back east that was an instructor and used to give me tips and tricks as they came up. Being visible is the next important thing.
And back to noise... I've heard people brraaap their pipes to get a cars attention. Really?? Would you do that in your car too? I don't think a bike needs to really be much louder than a car.... A car just by size, 4 tires, and the air it's pushing makes more noise than most stock bikes.
And finally... another note on sound (excuse the pun) there is a reason that folks like Nissan and others have integrated SOUND into electric cars because they are too quiet. http://www.theworld.org/2011/06/adding-noise-to-electric-cars/ This is also being done on electric motorcycles in Europe. So if it's possible for a vehicle to be too quiet, then it stands to reason that some noise, not excessive should exist.
I know there are those that disagree.. Your opinion, is your opinion. As for me... when I'm on a bike I do everything I can to ensure I'm seen and heard within reason, and I still assume that everyone around me is driving blind and deaf.... and that last bit is probably the most important for anyone. Assume that you can't be seen or heard. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1117
Northeast Ohio | rwilly - 2011-11-30 12:31 PM
If loud pipes saved lives, then school buses would have them.
They are also the size of a 1200 sq/ft ranch home, are painted yellow and are 40x larger than a motorcycle. Not sure where you live, but the school buses by me are also louder than most motorcycles without mufflers! My daughter hears it coming from two blocks away before heading out the door every morning. |
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Tourer
Posts: 523
seattle, wa | ScoreBo - 2011-12-01 9:19 AM
rwilly - 2011-11-30 12:31 PM
If loud pipes saved lives, then school buses would have them.
They are also the size of a 1200 sq/ft ranch home, are painted yellow and are 40x larger than a motorcycle. Not sure where you live, but the school buses by me are also louder than most motorcycles without mufflers! My daughter hears it coming from two blocks away before heading out the door every morning.
And I bet the drivers could tell you alot of stories about people that didn't see them.
As a truck driver for 20 years, I have seen alot of crazy things. |
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Tourer
Posts: 416
Prairie City, IA United States | Wow guys, a mistaken post has gone viral! LOL. I enjoy the fact that we can have a debate about motorcycle safety from pipes to clothing to whatever makes us feel safe.
I am one of those HiViz riders and I still treat myself as being invisible. The 2011 vision has plenty of sound in the pipes for me. |
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Not Guilty
