"REAL Bikers" Harley's and LOUD pipes..!

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I run Phil's cans on my 1199. I also wear ear plugs. lol.

I fall in the camp of "I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it".

When I ride I'm continually looking for opportunities to reduce my risk. Motorcycle riding, regardless of the bike, carries with it inherent risk. As good riders it is our job to find any advantage we can to reduce that risk so we can go home at night and give our kids hugs and kisses.

One of my tools is my exhaust. Does it work all the time?? Tough to say. Has it made people aware of me (even 2% of the time)? Absolutely. And that 2% gain is justification enough for me. My bike is MotoGP level loud. But I'm not an ..... with it in populated areas. I keep the rev's low and am sensible when around others. However, if it's needed, a pop of the throttle and everyone within a 5 mile radius knows where I am at. YMMV.

Ride safe my friends...
 
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Worked for me the other day. About T-boned a German Shepard @ 40mph because some considerate couple were walking it without a leash and decided to run out into the road. A couple loud revs a tail between its legs bolted into the woods.
 
There is an anti social rebellious FTW aspect of Motorcycling, and Hot Rodding that seems to be slipping away. Having a fast loud motorcycle is COOL, having a fast loud Hotrod is COOL. When you start worrying that you might up set the neighbors with your loud bike, go by an electric two wheeled transportation appliance, and commend yourself on your new found sensitivity.
 
Obnoxiously loud pisses people off, it doesn't save lives. My parents live in the western mountains of NC (some of the best motorcycling anywhere) and when the Harleys come by with their open pipes you just want to get out a 12 gauge and blow them off the road, ticks EVERYONE off
 
fzr100098 said:
Obnoxiously loud pisses people off, it doesn't save lives. My parents live in the western mountains of NC (some of the best motorcycling anywhere) and when the Harleys come by with their open pipes you just want to get out a 12 gauge and blow them off the road, ticks EVERYONE off
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yes-yes-your-anger-tickles-me.jpg
 
Load pipes?....ha
All these Harley guys now have sound systems so load i here that coming before the sound of the pipes . Some even have subs enclosed in the saddle bags
 
"Loud pipes save lives" = fallacy

there's a difference between a nice sounding exhaust system, and an annoying bark of straight pipes.

and you should be wearing earplugs to deter high-frequency hearing loss, not for the loud pipes...
 
Loud pipes, sadly, do work well. When I hear a Harley with loud pipes I'm instantly on alert for a newb who can't ride for $h(t.

On my 1199, people do give me extra space, because bikers are morons, and they'll be blamed for any accident.

Obnoxious open pipes on a I4 sportbike or Harley is crap, and people have been frowning on that more than ever before. They're not making friends. A Ferrari or Ducati with very loud exhaust, but not straight pipes, is loved by most people. I'm still in awe at how many people wave or stare with wonder.

A double standard, but that's America.
 
centeroff said:
There is an anti social rebellious FTW aspect of Motorcycling, and Hot Rodding that seems to be slipping away. Having a fast loud motorcycle is COOL, having a fast loud Hotrod is COOL. When you start worrying that you might up set the neighbors with your loud bike, go by an electric two wheeled transportation appliance, and commend yourself on your new found sensitivity.
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Dumbest ....... comment in the thread.

But I will agree with the sentiment that loud pipes for the most part can save lives. Especially on bikes like ours where the exhaust exits through the side, it will have a bigger noise radius.
 
Living in a city with major idiots or living in a major city with idiots (however you slice it), like Miami...loud pipes aren't exactly a bad idea. Ridiculously loud...is just that, ridiculous. I think the Pani is just loud enough. Very nice that when you spend 20k on a bike you don't have to add exhaust. I'm sure some would argue otherwise.
 
Increasing sound levels while in pursuit of either increased performance or enhanced sound quality is fair game. When attempting to produce a better breathing/flowing engine, or achieve that lusciously bass-rich exhaust note, the last thing I concern myself with is the possibility of riling up the neighborhood knitting club. That being said, additional noise just for the sake of being louder seems pointless. I always ride with the assumption that I am both invisible and inaudible to all others with whom I share the road.
 
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Indiana Jones said:
I think the Pani is just loud enough. Very nice that when you spend 20k on a bike you don't have to add exhaust. I'm sure some would argue otherwise.
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Well I agree, the 2015 R is perfect for me, that homologated Akra sounds fantastic :D
 
I know that I can only really hear bikes in the car when they are in front of me; the sound travels behind the exhaust, not out and then forward :D
 
Bright dual headlights are really your best defense, as shilling already said - distracted soccer moms can still pull out in front of you
 
Duck41 said:
I always ride with the assumption that I am both invisible and inaudible to all others with whom I share the road.
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That's your ticket to ensure safety, regarding cagers.

I've even made direct eye contact with drivers and they STILL pull out/turn left in front of me.

Who makes eye contact and pulls out? Lmao.
 
People can't always tell where the sound is coming from. If in doubt when facing cagers wanting to turn, flash the brights.

Harleys - I have two of them and may get another. Either you get it or you don't (Harley character). I have seen plenty of good riders and plenty that aren't in the Harley camp (as well as other brands too). Harley riders are more noticeable because they are a lot more of them. They are fun to ride at relatively low speeds whereas the sport bikes start being fun at 80 plus which is hard to do on the street without cops ruining the fun.

The rebel thing I don't quite buy. There's a lot of conformance going on there. It's a bandwagon thing. The "badass" thing is very oversold. It's superficial so don't be distracted by it. The real badasses are the GP riders dragging their elbows!

It's hard to get the "right tone" without the loudness. It's easier with larger muffler volume but then that's another can of worms.
 
Oddly enough, when I wear assless chaps with an exposed ......., traffic keeps their distance and I always feel safe:eek:
 
I like the sound of the twin, my last bike was a TLR and it had a fantastic note, I love the crackle on the overrun, whether or not that makes any difference in traffic I don't know. I leave for work at 4 am, not on the bike, if I had a neighbour who was firing up his bike at that time I would walk next door and rearrange his exhaust for him, it's not rebelious and cool, it's just ....... inconsiderate.
 
When I had my 1199R with the Termis installed, I used to take it out of the garage then push it away from my neighbors before starting it up if I was leaving very early in the morning.
 

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