Do loud pipes save lives?

[STRAMASHER]

Had to drop my Akra full system and re-fit the OE twin howitzer 4-2 on my GSX14 many moons ago. Everytime nipping away from the lights as normal, looked down and I was doing 60mph. No sound just a silent waft of torque. Got "re-mot'd" and whipped it right back off.

Loud Pipes Save Licenses.

[Chris_SVS]

Originally Posted by STRAMASHER

Loud Pipes Save Licenses.

A what?

[Ruffy]

I guess part of the problem is that the sound is primarily spat out of the rear of the bike and so, given the nature of sound waves, it needs a disproportionate amount of total extra sound pressure to overtake the bike and provide change in hazards in front of the bike (which in my experience is where the things that hurt generally come from).


At the risk of de-railing, I think the "loud pipes save lives" debate is out of date: Nowadays I think the bigger concern is how not to be invisible due to the DRL glare/intensity of cars behind. Or is it more relevant because we can't now just turn on our headlights in daytime to make ourselves stand out?

[Chris_SVS]

That's a good point, DRLs are ever more prevalent on bikes. My bike has them as standard + I added one of my own too.

Seems a bit like fighting fire with fire

[daktulos]

Originally Posted by Chris_SVS

That's a good point, DRLs are ever more prevalent on bikes. My bike has them as standard + I added one of my own too.

Seems a bit like fighting fire with fire

Hmm, maybe some blue flashing DRLs ...

[Biker Biggles]

The question is going to become academic as legal controls over noise become more stringent. Thats the direction of travel everywhere and loud pipes will become vorboten.

[Chris_SVS]

Originally Posted by daktulos

Hmm, maybe some blue flashing DRLs ...

[keith_d]

Originally Posted by daktulos

Hmm, maybe some blue flashing DRLs ...

The white flashing LEDs that some cyclists use seem to be pretty good at getting driver's attention.

The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 state:

Lamps to show a steady light

13.—(1) Save as provided in paragraph (2), no vehicle shall be fitted with a lamp which automatically emits a flashing light

So you're not allowed to fit one to your bike, but in theory there's nothing to stop you wearing one if you really want to stand out from the DRL crowd.

[Bibio]

proper attention on the bikers behalf usually saves your life. if you get into a lot of near misses then i would suggest that you go for some form of advanced riding tuition. too many bikers blame the cage driver when in reality its their fault, but nobody likes to be told their wrong.......

[Dave20046]

I dislike this saying.

When in the car I generally clock bikes miles off, but I've noted quite a few occasions when I've heard a bike before seeing it and hesitated to locate it before moving. As a rider I've noticed traffic opens up like the biblical red-sea, I remember being on a rideout with people off this forum and I went to the front to clear the way through a huge accident related queue on a motorway.

It's another way to be heard/seen, you'd never rely on. My preference is to be heard, but I hate the perception that comes with it.