"Loud pipes save lives"
I hear this all the time by Harley riders.. How true is it?
After riding on the street for many years this is what I have observed.
Usually a person in a car with the windows rolled up and the radio on (or on the cell phone) will NOT usually hear any bike behind them, Even with loud pipes they will not notice them until the bike is next to them or out in front of them.. And of course by that time they are usually startled and sometimes angry...Maybe that is what the "REAL Bikers" want?
So what is the fascination with loud pipes? Is it just an "Image thing"
I can certainly understand the feeling a rider gets when he/or she revs up the motor and it bellows out a big rumble..(I love the sound of my Panigale when I start it up and rev it sitting in the garage) But how loud should we go on our pipes? Is it really worth it on the street to have a really loud bike that wakes up and pisses off all the neighbors for two blocks away when we fire up the bike in the morning ??
And to what degree is a loud pipe going from sounding good to obnoxious?
I guess it is just a matter of taste and attitude and whom you are around at the time.. At the Racetrack it sounds great . People at a race track expect that there will be powerful (and loud) racing bikes/ cars etc.. (They pay to get in to watch them)
But how about out on the street or in your neighborhood
How did the Loud pipes thing ever get started???
In my opinion it is basically the viewpoint of the Harlely/Crusier badass wannabe crowd that extolls the virtue of "loud pipes save lives" in order to rationalize their own need to be noticed.. (Look at me I'm a bad ...) Maybe their daddy didn't give them the attention they needed when they were little LOL..
OK I digress..
I do know this, To many non motorcyclists, obnoxiously loud pipes really cause a lot of anger and resentment toward all motorcyclist.
My new stock exhaust on my 1299 S Panigale is LOUD compared to any other bike I have ever ridden.. It is louder idling than my 2011 Kawasaki ZX10r track bike (* see me on it at the track in my avatar) with a full titanium exhaust and short stubby Akropovic can revved at 5000rpm!
I personally wear ear plugs all the time anyway because I value my hearing since I am not a spring chicken anymore and have already done God knows how much damage in the past at loud rock concerts etc etc... However it is still loud to others out there .. I don't think it is obnoxious sitting at the stop light or taking off but imagine what it would sound like with open pipes!
Now here is my rant!
Loud pipes basically irritate and distract others on the road (and really loud obnoxious pipes are causing the motorcycling community to face ever more stringent laws regarding exhausts etc..) There I have said it.. Any comments? any disagreements with this statement?
As an example.. Just look at the current California and Colorado regulations regarding motorcycle exhausts now. The left wing tree huggers in the government there have already passed bills restricting the use of any non factory exhaust (non DOT stamped) because of the loud noises emitted by those that wanted to look bad .... More laws less freedom for all ..
As for the Harley crowd..... Here is where I will get into deep doo doo with the Cruiser crowd..
All Harleys really have going for them is to be loud and the "image". They are not fast.. At least not what I would call fast ...Most Harley riders care nothing about being fast and I can respect that.. They just want to cruise and enjoy the day and there is a lot to be said for that.. I totally understand that..! and no, I am not talking about the average rider that likes to socialize with others and enjoys the riding experience and freedom that it represents.
I can really dig that and I understand that is not most peoples idea of fun by blasting out the population with loud pipes ( those of you who do know who you are out there LOL)
What I don't understand is how some of them equate loud pipes with being fast or powerful. From a pure and logical performance aspect, the average Harley peters out about 110 to 115 mph! They were never designed to travel at those speeds long. So why all the loud pipes and image of being powerful when it is all just a farce?
Hell, The fastest stock Harley V- Rod ever made will have it's ... handed to it on a drag race or in the twisty's ( against a bone stock (quiet) CBR 600)
As far as Harleys go..They are fine bikes but they don't really have the market cornered on being cool just yet.... I think it just depends on where you hang out and with whom you hang with.. Right?
For example.. Pull up on your Panigale to a typical biker night with Harley crowd and mostly you will just get stared at (at first) because the Panigale kinda sounds like a Harley twin revving at about 1500 rpm of course.
After all it IS a BIG twin. And it puts out some great sounds.. But overall they could care less about a sportbike rider and they have their own little click..
Now do the same on a Harley at the Sport bike crowd's bike night and for the most part they will probably react about the same way. Can't blame them Birds of a feather flock together..
As for Harleys. What is the fascination with the whole deal? What makes them so special? is it purely tradition and great marketing and image?
In my opinion, there are lots of cruiser bikes out there made by the Japs that will outrun (and probably outlast) a Harley and they are in my opinion much better quality. Bikes like the Yamaha/ Star Raider etc.. The raider comes stock with lots of chrome, MORE stock horsepower than a comparable Harley, better quality and it is made to tighter tolerances. I think they are a better value if you don't just care about the image. Especially when you consider the money saved versus the Harley)
Of course the Harley Riders have to also pay the "Harley Tax" They have almost an obligation to change out the pipes to usually louder pipes (that the dealer of course will be more than happy to sell them) Nothing wrong with that business wise but it is funny to me. And lets don't forget that they also have to dress up in all the Harley regalia. Some like the leather chaps and vests with chains. and of course the obligatory skulls etc.. Kind of reminds me of the biker guy in the "Village People" band back in the 70's LOL.
Full chaps , leather black vest, boots with chains, etc etc LOL. But no helmet? And Also.. what s up with those ape hanger handlebars reaching about two feet over their heads and sometimes they have long whips hanging from their handlebars LOL? Is there nothing they won't do to look badass?
It is funny, but the original bikers dressed like that to rebel (and not be mainstream) Now it is just "image marketing"
I think that is why the Average Harley guy doesnt like to wear full face helmets because they want everyone to see how cool they are. And after all, No one could tell who they were or how "cool" they looked when they rode by if they had a real full face protective helmet...Right? Am I wrong on that notion?
They consider themselves the "REAL bikers" Well I guess will never be a real biker..
side note**
Now to be fair.. I know that the sport bikers wear a lot of gear also. But usually the gear is to help them survive a crash (since they are tending to ride faster in the corners. etc.) (The smart ones usually wear helmets and gloves boots etc. also)
I am sure some of it could be just to look cool also but most everything is for and has a real purpose.. not just show.. Of course there are also the stretched out/ Neon emblazoned/ Chromed out to the point of being ridiculous GSXR's RI's, CBR's and the like (that are also chromed out to ridiculous extremes) to each his own . But I still haven't soon one with a WHIP attached to the handlebars.. (I just cannot get over the whip thing)
I know that you Harley enthusiast's out there will get riled up, but bottom line is the REAL reason they want LOUD pipes is so everyone will notice them when they ride up on a loud chromed out expensive bike..
I have a friend that runs a dyno and he told me a few years ago about a guy that came in to his shop with a Harley Fat Bob and he had installed straight pipes on it and he wanted to get "more power" because his friends new stock Harleys were running off and leaving him on the freeway!! When my friend ran the Fat Bob on the Dyno all it did was 39 HP! 39 HP you read that right LOL... Even my buddy thought that was funny. LOL..
My friend then explained to the guy the importance of back pressure and the scavenging effect between firing cycles on the motor for a bike ridden on the street (and not run wide open like a race bike at the drag races etc).
He told the guy to put the stock mufflers back on it and bring it back so it would have some necessary back pressure. They guy complied and put the stock pipes back on and it was re- dynoed and tuned. It put out 68 HP!
Still not that impressive, but much better..
The poor ....... had been riding around on a very loud bike and evidently he just got used to it.. because it "sounded" more powerful...He thought he had a powerful machine LOL. After the changes back to the original pipes and a tune up on the Dyno THEN he thought he had a FAST bike..LOL I guess it is all relative to your perspective..
Well I digress Back to the original topic..
Evidently a lot of Harley riders (and other even on sportbikes etc) equate loudness with power...
Here is the question...Do you think loud pipes are worth it? If so why?
This is just my opinion. As the saying goes To each his own.. but the cruisers are not for me.. I am only 60 and I can still ride a sport bike well (and still do about ten track days a year) so I will have to wait until I get old to consider a Harley..
Nah just kidding
Oh well just my opinion Others can and will vary..
There are BOLD riders, And there are OLD Riders... But very few OLD BOLD riders..left. I am happy to say I am one of them
Speedy
I hear this all the time by Harley riders.. How true is it?
After riding on the street for many years this is what I have observed.
Usually a person in a car with the windows rolled up and the radio on (or on the cell phone) will NOT usually hear any bike behind them, Even with loud pipes they will not notice them until the bike is next to them or out in front of them.. And of course by that time they are usually startled and sometimes angry...Maybe that is what the "REAL Bikers" want?
So what is the fascination with loud pipes? Is it just an "Image thing"
I can certainly understand the feeling a rider gets when he/or she revs up the motor and it bellows out a big rumble..(I love the sound of my Panigale when I start it up and rev it sitting in the garage) But how loud should we go on our pipes? Is it really worth it on the street to have a really loud bike that wakes up and pisses off all the neighbors for two blocks away when we fire up the bike in the morning ??
And to what degree is a loud pipe going from sounding good to obnoxious?
I guess it is just a matter of taste and attitude and whom you are around at the time.. At the Racetrack it sounds great . People at a race track expect that there will be powerful (and loud) racing bikes/ cars etc.. (They pay to get in to watch them)
But how about out on the street or in your neighborhood
How did the Loud pipes thing ever get started???
In my opinion it is basically the viewpoint of the Harlely/Crusier badass wannabe crowd that extolls the virtue of "loud pipes save lives" in order to rationalize their own need to be noticed.. (Look at me I'm a bad ...
) Maybe their daddy didn't give them the attention they needed when they were little LOL..OK I digress..
I do know this, To many non motorcyclists, obnoxiously loud pipes really cause a lot of anger and resentment toward all motorcyclist.
My new stock exhaust on my 1299 S Panigale is LOUD compared to any other bike I have ever ridden.. It is louder idling than my 2011 Kawasaki ZX10r track bike (* see me on it at the track in my avatar) with a full titanium exhaust and short stubby Akropovic can revved at 5000rpm!
I personally wear ear plugs all the time anyway because I value my hearing since I am not a spring chicken anymore and have already done God knows how much damage in the past at loud rock concerts etc etc...
However it is still loud to others out there .. I don't think it is obnoxious sitting at the stop light or taking off but imagine what it would sound like with open pipes!Now here is my rant!
Loud pipes basically irritate and distract others on the road (and really loud obnoxious pipes are causing the motorcycling community to face ever more stringent laws regarding exhausts etc..) There I have said it.. Any comments? any disagreements with this statement?
As an example.. Just look at the current California and Colorado regulations regarding motorcycle exhausts now. The left wing tree huggers in the government there have already passed bills restricting the use of any non factory exhaust (non DOT stamped) because of the loud noises emitted by those that wanted to look bad .... More laws less freedom for all ..
As for the Harley crowd..... Here is where I will get into deep doo doo with the Cruiser crowd..
All Harleys really have going for them is to be loud and the "image". They are not fast.. At least not what I would call fast ...Most Harley riders care nothing about being fast and I can respect that.. They just want to cruise and enjoy the day and there is a lot to be said for that.. I totally understand that..! and no, I am not talking about the average rider that likes to socialize with others and enjoys the riding experience and freedom that it represents.
I can really dig that and I understand that is not most peoples idea of fun by blasting out the population with loud pipes ( those of you who do know who you are out there LOL)
What I don't understand is how some of them equate loud pipes with being fast or powerful. From a pure and logical performance aspect, the average Harley peters out about 110 to 115 mph! They were never designed to travel at those speeds long. So why all the loud pipes and image of being powerful when it is all just a farce?
Hell, The fastest stock Harley V- Rod ever made will have it's ... handed to it on a drag race or in the twisty's ( against a bone stock (quiet) CBR 600)
As far as Harleys go..They are fine bikes but they don't really have the market cornered on being cool just yet.... I think it just depends on where you hang out and with whom you hang with.. Right?
For example.. Pull up on your Panigale to a typical biker night with Harley crowd and mostly you will just get stared at (at first) because the Panigale kinda sounds like a Harley twin revving at about 1500 rpm of course
. After all it IS a BIG twin. And it puts out some great sounds.. But overall they could care less about a sportbike rider and they have their own little click..
Now do the same on a Harley at the Sport bike crowd's bike night and for the most part they will probably react about the same way. Can't blame them Birds of a feather flock together..
As for Harleys. What is the fascination with the whole deal? What makes them so special? is it purely tradition and great marketing and image?
In my opinion, there are lots of cruiser bikes out there made by the Japs that will outrun (and probably outlast) a Harley and they are in my opinion much better quality. Bikes like the Yamaha/ Star Raider etc.. The raider comes stock with lots of chrome, MORE stock horsepower than a comparable Harley, better quality and it is made to tighter tolerances. I think they are a better value if you don't just care about the image.
Especially when you consider the money saved versus the Harley)Of course the Harley Riders have to also pay the "Harley Tax"
They have almost an obligation to change out the pipes to usually louder pipes (that the dealer of course will be more than happy to sell them) Nothing wrong with that business wise but it is funny to me. And lets don't forget that they also have to dress up in all the Harley regalia. Some like the leather chaps and vests with chains. and of course the obligatory skulls etc.. Kind of reminds me of the biker guy in the "Village People" band back in the 70's LOL. Full chaps , leather black vest, boots with chains, etc etc LOL. But no helmet? And Also.. what s up with those ape hanger handlebars reaching about two feet over their heads and sometimes they have long whips hanging from their handlebars LOL? Is there nothing they won't do to look badass?
It is funny, but the original bikers dressed like that to rebel (and not be mainstream) Now it is just "image marketing"
I think that is why the Average Harley guy doesnt like to wear full face helmets because they want everyone to see how cool they are. And after all, No one could tell who they were or how "cool" they looked when they rode by if they had a real full face protective helmet...Right? Am I wrong on that notion?
They consider themselves the "REAL bikers" Well I guess will never be a real biker..
side note**
Now to be fair.. I know that the sport bikers wear a lot of gear also. But usually the gear is to help them survive a crash (since they are tending to ride faster in the corners. etc.)
(The smart ones usually wear helmets and gloves boots etc. also) I am sure some of it could be just to look cool also but most everything is for and has a real purpose.. not just show.. Of course there are also the stretched out/ Neon emblazoned/ Chromed out to the point of being ridiculous GSXR's RI's, CBR's and the like (that are also chromed out to ridiculous extremes) to each his own . But I still haven't soon one with a WHIP attached to the handlebars.. (I just cannot get over the whip thing
) I know that you Harley enthusiast's out there will get riled up, but bottom line is the REAL reason they want LOUD pipes is so everyone will notice them when they ride up on a loud chromed out expensive bike..
I have a friend that runs a dyno and he told me a few years ago about a guy that came in to his shop with a Harley Fat Bob and he had installed straight pipes on it and he wanted to get "more power" because his friends new stock Harleys were running off and leaving him on the freeway!! When my friend ran the Fat Bob on the Dyno all it did was 39 HP! 39 HP you read that right LOL... Even my buddy thought that was funny. LOL..
My friend then explained to the guy the importance of back pressure and the scavenging effect between firing cycles on the motor for a bike ridden on the street (and not run wide open like a race bike at the drag races etc).
He told the guy to put the stock mufflers back on it and bring it back so it would have some necessary back pressure. They guy complied and put the stock pipes back on and it was re- dynoed and tuned. It put out 68 HP!
Still not that impressive, but much better..
The poor ....... had been riding around on a very loud bike and evidently he just got used to it.. because it "sounded" more powerful...He thought he had a powerful machine LOL. After the changes back to the original pipes and a tune up on the Dyno THEN he thought he had a FAST bike..LOL I guess it is all relative to your perspective..
Well I digress Back to the original topic..
Evidently a lot of Harley riders (and other even on sportbikes etc) equate loudness with power...
Here is the question...Do you think loud pipes are worth it? If so why?
This is just my opinion. As the saying goes To each his own.. but the cruisers are not for me.. I am only 60 and I can still ride a sport bike well (and still do about ten track days a year) so I will have to wait until I get old to consider a Harley..
Nah just kidding
Oh well just my opinion Others can and will vary..
There are BOLD riders, And there are OLD Riders... But very few OLD BOLD riders..left. I am happy to say I am one of them
Speedy
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