Loud pipes are common on Harleys and most Harley riders are quick to say "loud pipes save lives" but is there any quantative proof to this claim? Police bikes are typically very quiet, you'd think with all the investment in training a motorcycle cop they'd put loud pipes on the bikes, if it made a difference. Are there any statistics to support this claim or is it just an excuse to make some noise?
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Saturday, June 6, 2009
Do loud pipes really save lives?
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7 comments:
I think it's just an excuse to make noise. Because while the statment appears to be safety minded, I've noticed the people making that claim are usually wearing skullcaps, riding without safety apparel or black jackets, on a black bike. If they really believed it they would be dressed in hi-vis helmets, jackets, be riding a colorful bike with multiple headlights. All things to make themselves more visible to go along with their loud pipes.
There's no doubt that making a hell of a racket will attract attention, but how effective it is in attracting the attention of a soccer mom (or dad) in a minivan full of kids, the stereo blasting, and speaking on a cellphone, is in my opinion very questionable.
I also have to agree with anonymous. If safety was the primary reason we'd see a lot more day-glo orange on the roads.
However I would still be interested in see any real evidence one way or the other.
Hmmm....interesting question. I am one of those that prefer loud pipes. The soccer moms and dads that are preoccupied may notice when I wrap the throttle... But I would be interested in evidence as well.
There doesn't seem to be a lot of evidence to support this claim. The point about day glow gear is very valid, if you really want to increase your safety you'll make you and your bike as visible as possible.
Loud pipes create low frequency sounds directed behind the bike. Many bikers want the lowest (bass) sound they can get. They'll spend thousands of dollars to get that "rumble".
Low frequency sounds are hard to pinpoint (in both direction and distance). They also do not penetrate into cars or closed structures that well. Studies have shown that the best sounds to attract attention are high frequencies directed forward (as in a police siren). If the loud pipes crowd actually wanted to increase safety, they are doing it in the completely wrong way.
"Loud pipes save lives" is a lie, pure and simple.
If loud pipes save lives imagine what proper gear and training could do....
The "loud pipes save lives" seems to be an anecdotal observation that has been hijacked by attention mongers as an excuse for bad behavior. I live near a town square and from spring to summer the little man-children ride up and down back and forth from the bars literally 24-7. No mufflers and they sit at the two intersections up and down from my home and rev and cause as much racket as possible. These people aren't interested in safety. They're interested in "being manly" and "being tough." You want to know what's tough and manly, soothing your one year old back to sleep night after night because of some little men who have no civility. I'm sitting at my kitchen table on a Saturday afternoon listening to yet another symphony of self-centered riders revving their engines all through the town.
BTW, I own a 2006 V-Rod with STOCK PIPES. And it's hella fast and feels great. I don't have to wake the neighborhood to feel cool riding it.
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