Loud pipes are a proactive solution to motorcycle wrecks in that they prevent wrecks. How many wrecks have helmets, leathers and insurance prevented? That is a rhetorical question, I know that helmets, leathers, and insurance have never prevented any wrecks. I don't like loud pipes but I understand why they are in use. It is better to prevent a wreck than to survive one, that is something I have learned through personal experience from thousands of miles of bicycle commuting.

Being noticed is what saves your life on a motorcycle. This includes wearing reflective or brighter clothing, having adequate lighting, and being heard. While I'm not a fan of super loud pipes you can hear from three miles away, I would rather have pipes that are too loud than pipes that are too quiet. I was next to a bike in my car one day and it was completely quiet, you could not hear any noise from it. That means now you have to be visually aware of it only, which is a problem for the coffee drinking, cell phone talking motorist. A motorcycle that is moderately load is better than one that is completely silent. Loud bikes are also probably a plus fo law enforcement, as they can hear motorcycles traveling at high speed.

It is interesting that a careful study of accident and injury statistics compiled by both NHTSA and the insurance companies show no correlation between bikes outfitted with loud pipes and lower "failure to yield" accident rates.

80,000 miles on my current ride (an 04), 65,000 0n the one before that, coast to coast, Canada to Mexico, and regular commuter in the 2nd worst traffic metro area in the U.S. I have cred wen it comes to riding with loud pipes.

Of course loud pipes help. They provide a noise cushion, egg shaped, 2/3 the way up on each side of the bike and elongated for a great distance behind it. They don't help alot directly in front.

The longer you ride, if you are smart, the better you are in constant positioning to protect yourself from the murderous and absurb whims of cagers (celldrunks who don't care or think they need to drive in any reasonable way) Pipes are another tool to keep your edge on. Given that the law is unjust, and cager rundowns of bikers is at best a joke to the judiciary, bikers need every tool they can use to stay alive.

Riding without loud pipes is like having unprotected sex....if the timing doesn't work out, you may not like the result.

When cagers care about driving again, and the law returns to justice for bikers, then and only then would I consider quieter pipes...looks like mine will be loud for a while.

I live near a busy road where the Harleys create so much noise that they drive me crazy. I find that when I'm driving my car, I tend to be very aggressive towards Harleys, don't give them any slack. There may be backlash from others besides me who hate those GD bikes.

Dave Spaulding you are a moron! The fact that you "tend to be very aggressive towards Harleys" scares the hell out of me being an avid motorcylcist, who rides a Harley. People like you should not be behind the wheel of a car! People in this country need to learn to have respect for other motorists and motorcyclist on the road. Your agressive driving is putting people's lives at risk, and you are willing to do this based on the fact that you are upset with a few riders that have loud pipes??! Wake up brother!

First I would like to say I have loud pipes on my bike. In the many years that I have ridden I have never been pulled over due to loud pipes. The reason being is When in town I don't ride like a damn fool. The effectiveness of loud pies preventing accidents is minimal. The annoyance caused by inmature dimwits racking off their pipes far outweigh any added safety in the eye non riders. Once again the acts of a few are screwing over the many.

As a biker at least I can take solice inknowing it is the posers and wannabes causing the problem. Real bikers don't try nor want that kind of attention.

Steve MC you are the moron. Where do you get of thinking that your the God of the road? Dave Spauldings point is plain and simple. He is tired of the acts of the few. Although i absolutely do not agree with his aggressive actions his frustration is easy to understand.

Scooter, your commet was very intelegent until you called a guy that said "aggressive driving is putting people's lives at risk, and you are willing to do this based on the fact that you are upset with a few riders that have loud pipes?"
How does statment that make Steve MC a moron?
Steve MC's point is plain and simple.
And where do you get off acting like your some kinda judge and jury? 1%er here, and if Mr Spaulding meets me on the road, he will get a lesson on what real aggression is all about with all of his mirrors broken off his vehical and his panels kicked in........

I am a nice guy & until someone disrespects me...