Do loud pipes save lives? ︱Cross Training Enduro
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ก.ย. 2024
- www.crosstraini... Do loud pipes save lives? A bit of recent research may help to do some mythbusting! You may have seen this recently on our adventure channel, it's essentially the same vid but just with some dirt riding instead of adveneture riding. Into enduro riding? See all our dirt bike videos for dirt riding tips. Another factor is that cars have much better soundprooofing nowadays. The vast majority of cars have air conditioning and climate control, so the windows stay up. Our channel now had hundreds of dirt bike videos covering reviews, and dirt riding techniques. And sound systems in cars are louder than they used to be and much more common. These factors created serious problems for emergency vehicles as drivers frequently don't even hear the very loud forward-facing sirens. Search our channel for dirt riding gear too. Our dirt riding tips also include wider topics such as the best dirt riding boots.Do loud pipes save lives? This has been debated for years, and finally there has been some actual research done to test the theory. First, lets look at both sides of the argument. Supporters usually use anecdotal evidence. They share their stories about how their loud exhaust forced a driver to notice them and thus prevented an accident. ritics say it's garbage. Riders who simply like loud pipes are just attention whores looking for justification. Aftermarket exhaust manufacturers and some Harley riders are often the strongest advocates for loud pipes. But it's interesting to see even some of these guys are changing their minds. Boris is both. But he says it's all a myth. And you are far better off learning to ride better. And finally, there is multi tasking. Drivers are often on their phones while driving nowadays. It's no wonder that even a very loud motorbike doesn't get noticed either. So what does the latest research say? The Politehnica University of Bucharest conducted tests. Their conclusions? It's a myth. Even loud bikes aren't heard, or the driver can't tell where the noise is coming from, or they hear it too late to take appropriate action. Pause to read, or use the link to read the full research article. They say learning to ride defensively and wearing high visibility gear will make more difference. Over the years, there have been riders in the middle who are genuinely interested in objective evidence but there has been so little research done. In the 1980s, the appropriately named Hurt report said that two thirds of accidents were the driver's fault, and usually a car turning into the path of the motorbike. So the car is usually in front and doesn't hear the motorbike because the exhaust pipe is directing noise to the rear. The report also found bikes with loud modified exhausts were actually more likely to be in accidents. But the reason wasn't explained.
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We also posted this on our adventure channel recently!
Check out the Romanian research here. bit.ly/3gGSY0T
Check out the much older Hurt Report here: bit.ly/3JtdE9c
We aren't saying these studies are perfect, especially the Hurt Report which didn't examine safety and loud exhausts properly.
Please note we mention high visibility gear - many riders argue this doesn't work. However we aren't necessarily saying you need to dress in flouro yellow, just don't dress completely in black on a black bike if you expect drivers to notice you... hopefully!
My attitude has always been if you put yourself in shitty situations a straightpipe or an electric bike isn't gonna save you. Treat all drivers as they are bloodthirsty wankers.
👍😎
Saying "straight pipes save lives" is basically saying "theres nothing more I can do about my safety, now I´m putting my life into the hands of my surroundings, trusting them to hear me and thereby not hurt me".
I agree.
The only time I have personally seen where loud exhaust could help, is when the rider is sitting in the blind spot of a car. They can be quite close and so could be heard. But I think the better solution is to not spend any time in those blind spots and assume the car/truck driver is going to change lanes any second.
When I street ride (not so much anymore) I ride like people are actively *trying* to hit me. Every car is going to turn in front of me, everyone is going to change lanes into me…you get the idea.
Back in the 70s, bikes could not have gotten away (at least around here) with the exhausts so many are using now. They would have gotten tickets.
One of the things I like best about the Electric Motion (electric trials motorcycle, with real clutch) is the quiet. I can hear the birds when I’m out riding. Really something
So many viewers hate the idea of e-bikes, but the few I've ridden have been great in that respect... actually hearing more of the environment. I can't wait for the weight and batteries to be good enough to suit our type of rides.
I have sat in the car and heard/felt the loud rumbling exhaust of a motorcycler in my blind spot that I did not know was there. This is a legitimate situation in which loud pipes can save lives, even if you’re just traveling through the Blindspot quickly.
The rider could also just decide not to cut through a blind spot at all and/or just wait unit it's safe.
Having been close to hitting a moron overtaking me while turning the truck today can't just go bikes always right everyone else is at fault!
I was using my mirrors.
@@mrln247 On a 4 lane road (two lanes in either direction), you are going to be in someone’s blind spot at some point. Wether they are passing you or you are passing them, you pass through their blind spot. Also, is it safer to hold up traffic behind you or pass a vehicle on this road? You MUST pass through blind spots.
@@eag8999 Yes and you can pass through those blind spots not sitting in them, sensibly defensively aware of them loud bike or not. On a 2 lane road with opposing traffic trying to pass a turning off vehicle quickly with a loud bike is stupid.
This doesn’t consider how loud pipes deter animals from crossing our paths. I see far less deer riding with louder pipes than with quiet exhaust.
After 24 years of road riding - loud pipes have nothing to do with other drivers that are threats noticing you. I enjoy the extra sound for short trips, and it gets annoying on long trips. Like others said, ride like you are invisible; Because, to someone in a car, with 2 screaming kids, a radio and phone notification going off - you are.
Well said!
took you that long to figure it out? lol just kidding 👍
My extensive 5 year research on loud pipes is I pickup 15.3 chicks per week on my bike with after market loud pipes. With stock scooter sounding pipe, negative 3.2 chicks per week
Where are you finding that much baby chickens 🐔 ?
😉
Sorry to hear it takes that to get girls.
Just what I was thinking... that's a lot of eggs to eat.
How do you carry chickens on your bike?
@@danmanthe9335 I own a KLR650, how do you think bruh? A milk crate
Don’t think they do much to save lives but there definitely is a sweet spot between obnoxiously loud and standard that is my preference
I love loud bikes / cars, and I was going to tell you to lighten up about the people on your street…
Then you said it was at 4:00 AM. I suddenly understood your frustration
the one guy I've seen successfully use volume to get attention is the Royal Jordanian... he rides a Hurqvarna Nuda and it fairly barks when he blips it. You can see people jump on the sidewalks. He is an "assertive" urban rider who takes pride in his diplomatic skills and social interactions while riding in London traffic. See his channel on TH-cam. I'd love to have that bike, but I would definitely change the exhaust and ride much less "assertively" than he does.
On my trail bike i like my exhaust to be quiet, but my own stats and research tell me after 25 years of riding my sports bikes i can definitely say load pipes works you can actually see their heads turn in the car and look in their rear view mirror as well as side to side when your're behind them and sometimes approaching and if you can notice they're half asleep a quick rev certainly get their attention, sure most accidents are rider error but the question if loads pipes work i can personally say yes and that's hands on individual experience of 25 years.
Last time I was in the US , the cars and trucks were just as loud as the bikes , back in the UK , and the pop'n'bang tune cars are more annoying than the bikes . Locally , the only 'annoying' noise is the Tesla driver and his 'choir of the undead souls' reversing sound. Obviously , my own French and Italian two strokes (stock exhausts) sound fantastic to me , and didn't even scare off a deer in the woods yesterday.
I've ridden long enough to know loud pipes don't save lives. Riding defensively does. I have avoided several accidents in the last 2 years of riding by assuming every car driver is blind or distracted. I love loud exhausts but I'm not the kind of a-hole that rides full throttle through residential areas in the middle of the night.
Maybe for road riding but not woods riding.
I'm not a fan of of loud exhausts when I ride, but I don't care if other people have them as long as they aren't jerks about it.
With cars on the road, I have always assumed every car is actively trying to kill me so constant vigilance is key.
Never has a loud car or even a horn helped me out in a situation where someone has not noticed me, but flashing lights and especially intentionally locking up hard tires result in a super loud and scary noise for most people, making them pay attention instantly.
Thank you for your video! In my opinion there's no chance that a loud pipe would save lives, but a better rider does. I rode for 26 years and I have had many different bikes, but I never learned how to ride a bike, because I never spent a cent to get real driving lessons. A big mistake! Now I would like to get driving lessons, mostly off road, but I don't have a bike and not even the money to buy one, so I can just enjoy watching your videos and "riding" with you.
Thanks for sharing!
When I was 19 I liked the sound of the open exhaust on my CBR 600 but over the years I grew tired of my own noise and installed a DB killer. I haven't noticed any change in behavior of cars while passing through traffic jams here in NL. Some notice you, others don't. I think it has more to do with your visibility and speed.
The best advice I ever received was from the old fella who took me for my licence test back in the 90's: "Treat every driver as a dickhead who is out to get you".
Situational awareness and where you place yourself in traffic is way more important than a loud pipe in my experience.
👍
in slow traffic the difference between reving my 300 and my prior 250 does noticeably get someone's attention, and it isn't some low Harley sound. But that's a situational low speed brap, similar to honking. And I think the lower sound level not wearing and deadening my own senses matters far more than counting on someone else's competence.
The much more noticeable effect wasn't sound. It was moving from the small beige-grey 250 to the looks-bigger-than-it-is black and kawi-green 300 ninja. It asks to be looked at, and that means they end up aware you are there. I pay attention to other drivers mannerisms and where they are focused, and that was an immediate huge boost in people being aware I was there. (still gotta drive like people are incompetent gumbies)
Hi-vis gear definitely feels to help a lot for my commute riding. Used to run all black/white gear and had several times where people would turn out in front of me, now I have the Turtle Helite vest with hi vis and a hi-vis backpack and haven't had that issue.
My last accident - quite a few years back - I was on my way home from work, on a bright blue BMW K1200RS (a large bike) with headlights on (2004 bike, always on lights) and a brand new hi-vis vest on (my truck parked in a rail yard, so had to have clean hi-vis all the time, I just used to leave it over my bike jacket), and a car pulled out of a side street, straight into me..
My muzzle exhaust on my 98 zx9r, about 20 years ago, possibly created an accident. Some hipster D- Bag in a crosswalk, on the phone, not paying attention, standing in the crosswalk, in the right turn lane. I bounced the Kawi off the rev limiter, and I think he shite his pants.
I'll say this from a heavy vehicle driver's perspective.
I definitely hear loud pipes, I automatically start checking my side mirrors and if I can will move over to allow said motorcycle to filter through traffic.
Scooters on the other hand I can't hear and often find out last second that they're next to my truck, very dangerous!
Make what you like of that info.
Purely anecdotal, but possibly could use more testing. I've found that if I swivel my helmet at potential cars that haven't seen me, they will do a roll on, and sudden stop. I attribute this to the natural predator/prey response. When prey (the car driver) sees a helmet physically swivel towards them, it's possible that this triggers a hereditary response in the driver to recognize the bike as something that exists (even if not predator) and people instinctually want to stop. I am not funded well enough to record such situations. But if anyone wants to get me a grant............
Brmmm brmmmm. Empty vessels make the most noise, or is it the Dunning Kruger effect? Your practical tips really nail it. The same (W) factor that asserts the loud pipe mantra, probably also over estimates their abilities and the proctective powers of tassels and leather vests. Loving your material.
Tassels and leather vests! 😂
I've always associated this saying mostly in relation to keeping wildlife at bay. I don't think your bike needs to be obnoxious, but going from the stock pipe on my SV650 to a aftermarket, made the bike go from sounding like a sewing machine, to a motorcycle and I anecdotally saw less deer after.
We have a local that rides a Kawasaki sports bike with loud pipes it makes all the pops and bangs when down shifting and is music to everyones ears when on the throttle. I know its way too loud but it sounds so good. I dont care much for the outlaw wannabes on there Harleys with straight pipes tho.
When I hear a loud pipe fly by me I start to panic and lose focus on the road. It scares the shit out of me. My bike has the stock exhaust but the previous owner derestricted it, there are certain places and times I'll actually avoid riding because I dont want to draw attention to myself
My street pipes are side discharge straight pipe with adjustable baffle, (‘83 Honda shadow) I keep the rpms down in residential areas and only “crack the pipes” like a horn when someone pulls a stupid. I think an air horn would be reasonable because of the pathetically weak stock horn. My dirtbike however is spark arrested & forestry approved and I like it that way. (‘05crf450x)
There is one more point I want to make: the boy with the short P. has no chance himself to hear what is happening around him, no ambulance, no police, no signal from another car. Yes, a bike should have some sound, but I wonder if the boys get a headache after 10 minutes of riding. Besides, a quieter pipe has its advantages - you are not so easily recognized when riding through the holy German forest.
I Have a flashing light on the front of my street bike, and even texting while driving look up into their rear view mirror when I come up from behind. Many times they actually move a lane over. Really one of the most effective ways to be noticed.
At my workplace, we have to use blue flashing lights on the back of our hard hat for visibility. I'm pretty sure one of them would make a tremendous difference in safety without being super annoying.
Bonus points for the fact that it cost probably less than a Big Mac
@@cedricboivin9422 Yeah man. I put a velcro attached flashing light (15 bucks on Amazon) on the back of my helmet. Before doing all this, I noticed I was much less likely to get cut off at night, as people see lights on the bike. During the day, people just look for cars, and literally don't see you. The flashing (especially irregular flashing) really gets noticed.
I've seen several bikes around here that have some kind of mod that flashes the high beams opposite of low beam. That gets your attention from a long ways away be it in front of behind you
I think you should make another video more focussed on the offroad, because if a rider is on a trail with low visibility a loud exaust could be very important to notity hikers of his presence.
could also spook a horse that they haven't seen, round that corner...
I also ride a liter sports bike; I usually use a higher gear to reduce noise. I have plenty of power and more than adequate speed to maneuver through traffic. Often I think how only the underpowered bikes have to rev out, which increase noise output, to have adequate acceleration. I wonder if a slogan of "liter bikes save lives" would catch on.
A properly baffled aftermarket pipe is not even comparable to the straight pipes that only a moron would run. Most of the "loud pipes saves lives" riders here in the US don't even wear a proper helmet which gives their claim to safety no credibility. There is a device on every street motorcycle that is designed to create noise to alert others you are there, its called a horn!
I think a far better thing to make louder is the horn on your bike. So many bikes come with stock horns that are honestly a joke. My dad has a pair of very loud car horns on his DR650 and ill be swapping the one on my crf300l for something similar. That said, there's still no replacement for getting better at riding your motorcycle
I think my exhaust did help. I was cruising in traffic and someone tried to pull into my lane into me. I gave a loud blip of the throttle and they quickly changed their action. This being said I've put my baffle back in. I didn't want to be a nob waking my street up at 7am.
The only time loud pipes ever get usefully noticed is in two lane traffic, at or near a standstill, when some of the slightly less asleep muppets who have parked themselves on the lane stripe in an effort to see the standstill better, actually notice the biker who can filter. Or could is said muppet wasn't in his way.
oh, and one other thing...
POWERRRRRRR!
I ❤️ u guys. It only took me 1 bad accident 20 years ago to smarten up. (19yo) It’s sad over here (🇺🇸) it’s only getting worse. How with all the technology and knowledge known now a days how are people getting dummer? SMFH
Recently we unfortunately had a man riding home on his cruiser bike get cut in half, literally, by a reckless driver passing 3 cars in a curve. There was a large gravel parking lot he could have dove into right where the crash happened but he either didn't have time or didn't think to try his luck diving off road at highway speeds. Stay safe, stay alert, loud pipes don't stop compleat idiots.
I got passed by an open header bike going way over 100 mph. A few vehicles up, a work truck with trailer got startled by the loud fly by, swayed across the lane line trying to straighten up, he almost wiped out the first bike's entire squad who were a couple seconds behind. The others braked or rode around in the inside safety lane.
I actually used to ride with a guy who did something similar. Very risky overtaking stunt with a loud pipe, the car swerved off the road and briefly went sideways. There was a whole family in the car. I gave the rider a hard time when we stopped but he just couldn't see he'd done anything wrong and said it was obviously just a bad driver. What a dickhead.
Damn! Didnt get to see the harley helmet. ☹👍
All I know is I legally ride my trail bike on the road and lane splitting is like the parting the Red Sea.😊 (edit: hell even overtaking people give me room come to think of it!)
On my much quieter road bike not so, have to give it a rev if things look sketch.
If people don’t know already, (seems like some commenters don’t realise the importance of being heard) hot tip, give it a rev to get drivers attention if you expect a potential hazard, then watch the heads turn or eyes in mirrors (Yes…..up down left right, in front,or behind, they actually can hear you! shock!). 😄
Really is the safety of being heard actually a debate? Maybe it is, who knows in these times.
Maybe the real debate is an emotional one vs aftermarket? Either way, ride smart, be seen, be heard, be safe. 👍
Akropovic zorst & a good wheelie . Everyone knows the begs in town 🤙
I like the hearing I have left. I appreciate a quiet bike that sounds good. Not the crappy factory moped muffler, but definitely not drag pipes. Though I did straight pipe my twin cylinder John Deere tractor.
Does the John Deere do wheelies now?
Actually I have gotten the front off the ground on steep hills and pulling heavy loads. So yes.
I hate and love my Yoshimura exhaust on my little wr250r. Hate it for riding around town turning everyones heads, love it for the much needed extra oomph and dirt bike feel offroad + hopefully scaring the grizzlys...
As illustrated by your documentary, people drive using their eyes not their ears. Visibility is the key and defensive riding coupled with common sense, increases your odds of not getting killed.
Defensive driving and expecting all box drivers to be complete idiots is the best option. However, my unscientific research says that moderately loud pipes do help keep the deer from running out in front of you. They here you coming sooner and tend to get spooked earlier. If I'm in a super quiet car or on a really quiet bike or bicycle.. you're on them before they notice you. The get spooked and run in random directions.
I found that louder pipes contribute to rider fatigue/ headaches etc and that is a significant decrease in rider safety.
This is a good argument for ear plugs too... for extended riding above 60kmh.
Crazy loud pipes are just annoying but a pipe that is loud in mid to high revs is good.
Loud pipes definitely save lives, I have been riding for 4 years now on reasonably quiet pipes and especially in tourist season or wet weather people will just pull right out infront of you around town and merge into your lane when your right beside or just behind.
Since getting a full flow pipe on my CRF300L nobody at all has done this to me and the previous week it happen 3 times on the same roundabout, its not going to do anything on the highway or for people way infront of you but its way way easier (and more polite) to do a quick rev than to honk at someone not paying attention and most of the time you dont have to due to the low thump of you accelerating or engine breaking.
My new pipe is only around the same Db as the stock pipe but just makes a much better more throaty dirt bike noise and not only does it sound great but people can hear it through their cars and has a general idea if im getting closer or further from them and on what side.
Before covid there was multiple stories that came out in my area of people saying they didn't hear the train horn coming when parked on the tracks....
I promise a train horn is louder than any bike
In my personal opinion, if one decides to park on railroad tracks then you can't complain when you get hit by the train
😂 Good point!
I have never been one for loud pipes. I want mine as quiet as possible. You are much more likely to avoid an accident if you are aware of the idiots around you. I think I am way safer on the trails than I am on the street. We all do dumb stuff but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.
People with obnoxiously loud exhausts are more likely to be in an accident because they’re the type of people that ride like jackasses. Not everyone, but we all can picture exactly who I am talking about.
I ride and drive as if every other road user is trying to kill me. My reaction times are also decreasing as I get older so I try and drive accordingly.
Same here. Especially after a guy pulled out in front of me when I was sure he was looking straight at me. Hit the gutter, I was flipped over a fence then slid down a steep embankment. Just a corked thigh and on crutches for a few days.
Just ride like you have never been seen by anyone, riding both defence and offence meaning either stay back at a safe distance or put yourself where you will be seen . Don't ride in blind spots ☺️
Thanks for another great video Barry👍.
Cheers David 😁
Driving through an urban area last week a dufus driver pulled out in front of me from a side street.
She looked, saw me too late looked shocked but pulled out anyway.
What prevented the collision was training, practice & 2 fingers
Always covering the front brake.
Not a stupid over priced pipe.
So annoying. And it doesn't have to be that way. In Holland everyone grows up cycling and they are incredibly aware of riders when driving. I spent three months weaving through Amsterdam traffic daily and not a single close call. It can be so different.
Since taking the quiet stock pipe off my MT07, I haven't been cut off since.. But it could be coincidence.
i only have a loud-ish one on my bike as i need every bit of power i can get out of my old TTR250 and it does work well but if i put on the stock muffler it realy takes away allot of power and wont alow me to sit on 110ks (will sit on 110ks well with the aftermarket pipe)
i do use my bike for long distance camping and also for day rides , so when riding with other ADV riders i need EVERY bit of go i can get to NOT slow down the group ☹
if i was riding by myself then i would gladly put standed muffler back on 😁👍
keep well mate and love the videos 😎🍺
ps i ride in town at very low revs as to keep down the noise 🙂👌
I used to think that loud pipes were the answer... they're not. By the time you hear anything loud, it's difficult to pinpoint the direction and react appropriately. However, high vis colours are unnatural therefore our brain naturally picks up on the odd variation. After driving with loud pipes for a number of years, I really enjoy the soft rumble of my boxer engine 🤓
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On Road here in South Africa LOUDNESS is better / one the trail bikes could be silent...except we need the double braap sound
I've had bikes with pipes so loud that my mate two suburbs away could hear me start riding to his place, and I've got an electric now. There's no difference. The cars and the pedestrians are the same.
The only change is that I never get pulled over by the cops on the electric and the loud bike I was pulled over every couple of weeks.
Oh, and the ringing in my ears from the loud pipes is still there. My hearing is permanently buggered. Which is really socially isolating. Loud pipes are not worth it.
Bummer to hear about the hearing loss, it's lifechanging for sure.
Got wings exhaust with bigger DB killer that comes pre installed on it and yes its louder than stock ktms 690 exhaust but i will never change to stock again and burn my soft luggage and my gear on dat bulky griller.
South Park has an excellent episode all about this.
The library scene 😂
My best advice for new riders is, "Ride as though everyone on the road wants to kill you, and do your best to make it hard for them" Keeping that in mind at intersections or people turning left, or when passing people, or people with cell phones in hand while driving will give you a better chance at surviving the roads
Great advice! It's what has worked for me so far. Drivers rarely surprise me as I am expecting them to do the dumbest things already.
Louder pipes save the lives of pedestrians, one of the complaints with electric cars is you can’t hear them coming.
The average pedestrian is not too bright so best way to catch their attention is to be noisy.
If people complain about the noise then they are aware of your presence, if they don’t hear you and don’t complain then you don’t exist.
But there is a fine line between loud and noisy, a bit of tone is nice but excessive distortion is annoying.
The tyre noise of an electric car is as great or greater than an IC engined car (heavier and thus more tyre load to the road) you don’t generally hear a car’s engine these days (in UK). Pedestrians are permanently distracted, as are car drivers, with phones and other geejaws. Take training for on-road riding and save your life. Les in UK
@@leslieaustin151 I am not a scientist or researcher of any description but did work as a motorcycle courier for 20+ years and so from my personal experience riding my DR650 with the standard exhaust as opposed to the stain tune exhaust is less people walked out in front of me with the stain tune.
Rider training is without doubt a bonus, I have done a few over the years but in reality nothing beats seat time, riding in suburban traffic 8 - 10 hours a day, 5 days a week for 20+ years sure does teach you what works and what doesn’t when it comes to road safety.
So what you are saying is we need to redirect our exhaust to the front and make it loud as possible?!
Or into the helmet... both could be equally effective. 😎
If loud exhaust saves lives then I should ride with my horn on at all times
🤣
I personally never assume anyone in car would ever hear me unless i already gone past them. However i can see how pedestrians in town and around corners could hear me if i where riding like a dick. That might save someones life. But also this assumes i ride the bike hard enough and at high enough rpm so people react. I personally would when i out walking and about to cross the street
unrelated to traffic i came across a situation yesterday where a loud exhaust would have saved my life. i was riding rampart range in colorado, when i rode up to a huge black bear. it was running away, but much too slowly for my comfort. so i revved the stock WR250R and it made no difference to the bear’s pace. it was at that moment when i wish i had installed after market pipes
I know it's easier said than done, but are you aware that this bike come with a horn?
😂
Straight piped motorcycles are incredibly annoying. And its the same guys with straight piped harley that complain about "fart can Hondas" even though in my eyes they are both in the same bathtub. There are far too many "petrolheads" who equal "loud" with "great engine sound". IMO there is a finesse to great engine sound, where you want to acheive a good noise, while subdued and without drone at any speed. But most people have the brain of a stegosaur and love just being loud and annoying. When I was 15 I was building a brass "loud pipe" for my moped. But then I grew up...
It's an interesting concept, as kids we typically love loud noises. E.g. Adults will find kids tv programs very annoying due to all the loud sounds trying to get attention.
I believe loud pipes help. Of the two Harley’s I’ve owned the first one had an obnoxious v&h exhaust. It would give me a headache on long rides, I bought it used so it wasn’t my fault. My second harley I bought new and installed reinhart slip ons, it was the perfect low rumble upon deceleration and not to loud on acceleration. That being said I’ve certainly caught the attention of idiots (usually female) in cars by revving, it seems easier & quicker to react with clutch and throttle than hit the mediocre horn that might not get their attention since they most likely get honked at on a regular basis.
I’ve always ridden two-strokes and they are naturally loud, 200xc, 300xc. When I switched to a 4 stroke 530 xc it was a sewing machine.
For my current 890r I ordered a cat delete from arrow. Haven’t installed it yet but based on reviews it’s just what I’m looking for. I also ordered an air horn for it as well.
Bonus question: why do harley riders dress like pirates? I never got into the harley fetish side of being a harley rider.
So they dont have to change when they get to the Purple Onion?!?! 😜
If you own the bike, and it has a loud pipe, it’s your fault. Try telling the mom who finally got her baby down for a nap and an hour of much needed sanity that your loud pipes are the previous owners fault.
@@gpaull2 I never rip roared around the neighborhood you ass hat. I don’t give a flying f about sleeping babies or your comment.
And I sarcastically said it wasn’t my fault but you are too idiotic to pick that up.
The pirate thing is just to match the rest. I've watched so many people go from metric to harley...and all the sudden they're growing a beard, buying a leather vest, sewing on skull patches, and ignoring their metric riding buddies. The same exact argument you made for dipshits not hearing horns is my exact argument for revving. Everyone hears bikes revving all friggin day for no reason and tunes them out...so just another rev happy biker won't get the attention they want. South Park don't lie. hahahaha !!
That Southpark scene in the library was awesome... cracks me up every time!
The MINUTE I first got onto the expressway with open pipes on my my z1000 I was cut off by a driver. They cannot hear it. It doesn't help. The bike sounded like a microwave stock, never had a close call on it previously. I also crashed and bent those pipes along with my right foot when I had loud pipes on it... Just a little actual history.
Harley rider: "Loud Pipes Save Lives" & "There was nothing I could do, I had to lay her down" and other myths they tell themselves.
I still have the stock exhaust on my bike I bought 20 years ago.
Is your adventure channel a TH-cam channel pls? Whatever it is would u put a link to direct me to it pls?
It's Cross Training Adventure, Dave. A quick Google seach will bring it up.
I would be happy if I can find a super quiet sikencer to my enduro bike.
It was ugly AF but there was a really efficient system you could add to two strokes. It slipped over the end of the exhaust then a rubber pipe did a few bends underneath the standard exhaust. No loss in power at all, way quieter.
@@crosstrainingenduro I rode with one for years on my exc 200 and then on my 300 xcw. Worked well , drew lots of attention, for the quiet and the "look" .Never had a problem passing sound check at our events ,but then never had an issue with the stock exhaust on either bike . Only removed it because the 300 developed a crack in the subframe and thought the added weight was responsible .
I'm trying hard to find a stock exhaust for my DR...
Very easy, Dan. Just go on a DR650 Facebook page. Plenty of guys give them away... or for next to nothing.
Can we get this video in front of every driver and rider all over the world? I don't believe for a second that loud pipes save lives for the reasons you stated. MAYBE the deer that hit me maybe could have heard me instead of me surprising her but I doubt it
I've heard some riders say loud pipes will scare animals away, Dan. But my limited experience doesn't support this. They are so unpredictable they can still dart across the front wheel... I was almost taken out by a kangaroo last time.
Loud pipes only save lives by the do-gooders having another excuse to keep us off bikes. Keep in mind the police can hear loud pipes too and they will be well ready with the radar gun when they hear you coming.
My dad installed an air compressor /air horn on his 1972 BMW R75. Much better.
Probably a lot cheaper AND more effective than loud exhausts. 😂
I believe it is better to be thought an idiot then to utilize an overly loud exhaust and remove all doubt.
🤣
I have watched a wreck at 5mph because the car not paying attention had there music so loud they didn't hear the multiple horns of the car they backed into.
So louder wouldn't help anyone there
Interesting! When auto sound systems became really loud the cops were actually pulling over younger drivers with 'doof doof' music at full blast and advising they keep the volume lower so they could hear horns or sirens. It triggered a big debate with the youngsters about a loss of personal freedom and over-policing...
There are exhausts that are loud and pleasant BUT only for some some seconds .. There are exhausts that are Loud and unpleasant that should not even exist.
I enjoy the sound of some exhausts but at the end they all annoy you and others .. I wish there was something that sounded nice and not so loud aaand gave you more power .. But i think its difficult to ever achieve..
And YES and NO … For the question in the title…
I believe that yeah.. maybe people have been saved by using the exhaust instead of the horn .. But its not very civilized ..
I have always agreed with Barry on those typical unwanted people making noise ..
One bike I like the sound of is my brother's GS1200. It has a brilliant exhaust note but isn't actually noisy. Very rare!
I don't know everytime im on the road and i here a bike exhaust i notice it and it raises my attention sligntly.
We bike riders definitely take note lol. I'm always thinking 'what sort of bike is that?'
Governments are starting to disagree with this myth, and legislate against loud aftermarket exhausts… Here’s a quote: “New York State signed legislation that increases penalties against motorists and repair shops that illegally modify mufflers and exhaust systems to make them excessively noisy - an act associated with aggressive driving that harms community health, safety and comfort. This bill amends vehicle and traffic law, increasing fines and penalties and creating stricter regulations on vehicle equipment. Maximum fines for installing illegal equipment will be raised to $1,000, an $850 increase. Inspection stations will also be required to inspect motorcycles to ensure mufflers and exhausts have not been illegally modified.”
About time I'd say .👍
Good move. I feel for the hundreds of residents who live along a very popular road that starts from the city limits. Their weekends are filled with loud Harleys and screaming sports bikes. The cops have speed traps but never seen or heard of any moves against loud exhausts.
Every cleggnut round these parts believe more noise = more power and a remap must pour as much unburned fuel out of the exhaust as possible.
And a local 'enduro' outfit insists on black camo sticker kits and riding gear in the jungle.....
......cos it makes it easy for you to be found it stuff happens....right?
🤣
You're invisible
They're out to kill you
Now go ride with this in mind
Yes!
I'd like to think the reason loud piped bikes were in MORE accidents is because the kind of dumb ass that rips out their stock exhaust internals is the same kind of dumb ass who rides aggressively and thinks they own the road. That said, I appreciate a nice exhaust rumble. I try not to rumble through red lights or into other vehicles.
I don't believe that loud pipes do anything to save lives and just piss of all the neighbors. That being said I would like to know your thoughts on the new cars that as technology gets better with collision avoidance and things like lidar that notify drivers of motorcycles or objects that may be in their blind spot. My friend says his truck actually saved his motorcycle because it stopped his wife from backing over it in the driveway.
Is the car actually becoming safer to motorcyclists as technology improves. Are the sensors good enough to notice a motorcycle and prevent a rear end collision? Can we trust that the car is looking out for us and now we just have to look out for the drivers of older model cars. Interested in what you think of this, has this crossed your mind at all, or am I just wishful thinking?
I find the new technology very interesting, Rod. And I must admit I know very little about it. My brother just bought a new van which has all of those features. It all looks as though it would help... but of course some drivers might just beocme even lazier and trust in the tech too much?
@@crosstrainingenduro I agree with you on the drivers getting lazier but I find it a potentially interesting topic that might be worth some exploration. I am a computer science engineer and I do have a little training in robotics and some limited understanding of lidar which is used in things like cars and your autonomous drone. Just can't help but wonder how significant is this to the overall safety of motorcyclists. Can automobiles be tuned to spot them?
I hope they can make it work, Rod. I know my Skydio drone can't recognise moving objects so a car, truck or another rider can take out the drone if it's flying low.
Here's my take..... Punks rev their bikes every chance they can. Even regular riding needs a little rev while downshifting. My point is...revving happens at intersections, saying hello, downshifting, in tunnels, showing off, etc. etc. The ridiculous part is, these revving fools think a car driver can tell the difference between happy revving at every opportunity and mad revving for appearing beside you at twice the speed limit. Who knows WHY they're revving.....it's too "normal." The horn isn't decoration. Besides, if you ride with some sense, you don't need to honk or rev every two minutes.
South Park had an episode on this.
I love the hog riders in the library lol
Loud pipes are just annoying. Especially when the rider tries to justify it with exaggerated HP gains, yet when we ride they are still trailing behind my stock setup. At least be honest and simply admit you want attention.
well it is safer because tak or instance foot walkers they hear us coming and move lol saftey
The only true answer is humans are annoying and can always have excuses for what they want.
If the loud pipes are for safety they would always be pointed forward. Motorcycles don't travel in reverse.
Loud pipes stroke egos.
Are cars the only thing we need to beware of🙄
Thanks for the laugh about the micro pennis f as f , seriously in the bush loud four strokes have had a hugely bad influence in getting single track closed every were in aus . The only way to ride on the road and not die is expect every single other road user to take you out and you may survive its worse on a bicycle .
The one thing that dirt riders do more is fluro bright clothing helmets makes a big differance .
I love the morbidly obese guys that tell me their loud pipe shaved 1.5 kilos off their bike.. I'm like, dude you ate more than that for lunch.
I pretend that I am invisible and no one can see me.
Good strategy
THE ONLY reason to put straight pipe on your bike is for racing because it's lighter. Every other reason is just from a stupid head.
They may not save lives, but they definitely do help when lane splitting. When cars are standing still, or barely moving, there's much less cabin noise.
When I commute on my rather loud big single, people move and give me a way between the cars. If I take one of the newer, more quiet bikes, the same does not happen, and people are more likely to attempt dangerous lane changes in front of me, trying to get into the lane that moves.
That's what I thought when I had noisy bikes. How comes people give me way noticeably more often and earlier when I'm lane splitting or filtering on my new bike now that I have a legal exhaust. Maybe it's the LED lights or the hazard lights or the bright colour scheme or motorists suddenly became more bike aware? But I wouldn't want to go back that's for sure.
Shhh , ah that’s better