# Fucking motorcycles **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 8, 2010, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-motorcycles/553012 "2010-09-08T03:11:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-motorcycles/553012/101 "2010-09-09T14:12:58Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Those loud pipes drive us all nuts, but you have to learn not to sweat the small stuff. A loud motorcycle really isn’t worth giving yourself an ulcer or a heart attack over. I don’t have a choice: noise causes physiological phenomena, amongst which is release of stress hormones, which are unhealthy. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-motorcycles/553012/102 "2010-09-09T14:44:59Z")
[QUOTE=Ludovic;12894134I don’t have a choice: noise causes physiological phenomena…[/QUOTE] I agree. When an unmuffled Harley is beside me the pressure waves impinge on my eardrums, causing my eyes to ‘vibrate’ and a sensation similar to dizziness. The same thing happens when I’m calling someone on the phone and the ring pulses are particularly loud. Of course, those people are being intentionally obnoxious. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-motorcycles/553012/103 "2010-09-09T15:01:23Z")
I guess I’ve never noticed that with loud motorcycles. Booming car radios will make my eyes water though. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-motorcycles/553012/104 "2010-09-10T00:31:16Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > > [@sisu](#): > > > > Now now was someone mean to you at school today? > > > > Mate you ride a Vulcan 900, nice little bike and what I learnt on. A nice learners bike, see I can be nice to someone riding another type of bike. I don’t assume that just because you ride an entry level bike that you are scared of power and too poor to buy a big bike, do I? > > 😃 Yanking your chain, mostly. Not all H-D riders are assholes, I’ll grant that, but just about every asshole rides an H-D. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an asshole on a Kawasaki or even on a Goldwing. Not looking hard enough:p Come and talk to the local Ducati coffee boys ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-motorcycles/553012/105 "2010-09-10T00:56:48Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > As I said earlier, I live in a very quiet neighborhood. Sometimes I think we are the youngest people here. Regardless, we are quiet, too. I’d have called them and I wouldn’t be the first ones. What an total dumbshit asshole he was. Oh, no argument here. I was just saying that we were raised with that noise coming from the garage, so it’s more like mommy’s heartbeat (daddy’s really ;)) to us. It would never occur to me to call the cops over it. But yeah, most normal people living on a cul de sac in the suburbs would be calling the cops. ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-motorcycles/553012/106 "2010-09-10T01:18:43Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > > [@sisu](#): > > > > Now now was someone mean to you at school today? > > > > Mate you ride a Vulcan 900, nice little bike and what I learnt on. A nice learners bike, see I can be nice to someone riding another type of bike. I don’t assume that just because you ride an entry level bike that you are scared of power and too poor to buy a big bike, do I? > > 😃 Yanking your chain, mostly. Not all H-D riders are assholes, I’ll grant that, but just about every asshole rides an H-D. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an asshole on a Kawasaki or even on a Goldwing. I’ve known a lot of jerks on jap sport bikes. Most goldwing riders I’ve know were pretty sedate. ---
**Author:** ![sweepkick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@sweepkick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweepkick)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-motorcycles/553012/107 "2010-09-10T05:23:03Z")
Fuck you all who ride these bikes with straight pipes, or otherwise modified to make the “growl”. I’d agree that the louder the pipes, the smaller the penis. Get yourselves a muffler, and a therapist who can help your feelings of inadequacy. You fucking jackasses. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-motorcycles/553012/108 "2010-09-10T05:56:06Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Even supposing loud pipes do save lives, it still is nothing more than an act of selfishness. > > Basically, “loud pipes save lives” breaks down to: > > 1. I’m going to drive a vehicle that’s more risky to operate than a standard car is, because I enjoy riding that kind of vehicle. > 2. But I’m not going to assume the added risk that goes with that benefit of enjoyment. > 3. Instead, I’m going to annoy the fuck out of everyone within hundreds of yards of me in order to make my pastime slightly less risky to me. > 4. So everyone else around me has to enjoy their day a bit less in order that I might enjoy my day a bit more. 1. I’m the sort of selfish asshole who is happy to employ a safety strategy that works only because every other vulnerable road user (other bikers and pedestrian in particular) isn’t selfish enough to use it, since if they were none of us could hear above the din made by everyone else (and all of us would shortly have permanent hearing loss, anyway). ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-motorcycles/553012/109 "2010-09-13T23:53:31Z")
And you wonder why motorcyclists have a get stuffed attitude, the hatred that has been poured out has been way over the top from a small minority. Remember we are your brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, sons, daughters we just happen to like riding motorbikes. To comment 5 above, so what? I have every right to deploy any safety strategy I think will work. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-motorcycles/553012/110 "2010-09-14T00:30:09Z")
> [@sisu](#): > > To comment 5 above, so what? I have every right to deploy any safety strategy I think will work. That you _think_ will work. Color me unimpressed. I happen to like riding motorbikes too. Are you seriously going to play the martyr card when even other riders think loud pipes are ineffective, selfish, and asstarded? ---
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-motorcycles/553012/111 "2010-09-14T03:06:13Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > This is why lane-splitting should be legal in every state. It’s much safer than weaving in and out of lanes. I disagree. Friday, I was driving in very heavy traffic on the Interstate. Bumper to bumper but moving about 25-35 MPH. I needed to get from the left lane to the center lane and an opening developed to my right. Just as I started to move over, I saw something come up in the right side-view mirror. Some asshole on a crotch-rocket doing about 60 riding between the lanes. Note that this is in a construction area and the lanes are already a foot or two narrower than normal with Jersey barrier at the left edge of the left lane. I jerked the wheel to the left and got out of his way in the nick of time. I damn near hit the wall on the left. If I hadn’t reacted the instant I did, he would’ve been forced into the center lane and probably into the back of another car, or maybe into the side of my car. And for the record, lane-splitting is illegal in Louisiana as is passing on the right. ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-motorcycles/553012/112 "2010-09-14T04:30:11Z")
> [@jasonh300](#): > > > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > > > This is why lane-splitting should be legal in every state. It’s much safer than weaving in and out of lanes. > > I disagree. Friday, I was driving in very heavy traffic on the Interstate. Bumper to bumper but moving about 25-35 MPH. > . I don’t think anyone is suggesting that it should be legal at those speeds. I’m not, at least. But when traffic is stiopped, or inching ahead is the only time I ever split lanes. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-motorcycles/553012/113 "2010-09-14T06:41:34Z")
> [@sisu](#): > > I have every right to deploy any safety strategy I think will work. No I very much doubt you do. Noise regulations don’t permit it. Further, if you do have the right then so be it but it doesn’t make you any less of a selfish asshole. ---
**Author:** ![justrob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9adbd/32.png) [@justrob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justrob)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-motorcycles/553012/114 "2010-09-14T14:20:20Z")
> [@sisu](#): > > And you wonder why motorcyclists have a get stuffed attitude, the hatred that has been poured out has been way over the top from a small minority. The problem is at this point it becomes a chicken/egg type argument. Which came first? The get stuffed attitude from riders or the hatred from others? From most of the riders I know with really loud pipes the get stuffed attitude is the main reason for them. The, theoretical, safety aspect is what they say when someone else asks them about the loud pipes but when talking amongst themselves it’s all about pissing off the little soccer moms. I ride a motorcycle and personally don’t like the really loud pipes. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-motorcycles/553012/115 "2010-09-14T14:49:18Z")
I pull up alongside cars all the time that have their music cranked to high heaven, I know loud pipes will not make a difference to them. Also a lot of cars are just built to minimize noise from outside. I personally ride with ear buds usually with music while on my bike. Your loud pipes are not a safety feature. Ask any deaf person. Visibility is safer, bright colors, lights, being aware of all the vehicles around you, that’s safety. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-motorcycles/553012/116 "2010-09-15T00:54:01Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > > [@sisu](#): > > > > To comment 5 above, so what? I have every right to deploy any safety strategy I think will work. > > That you _think_ will work. Color me unimpressed. > > I happen to like riding motorbikes too. Are you seriously going to play the martyr card when even other riders think loud pipes are ineffective, selfish, and asstarded? I don’t have super loud pipes but if it is within the law I see no issues. Now pipes that break EPA rulings are not kosher. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-motorcycles/553012/117 "2010-09-15T12:54:09Z")
> [@sisu](#): > > I don’t have super loud pipes but if it is within the law I see no issues. Now pipes that break EPA rulings are not kosher. So as far as you are concerned if it pisses people off because they get their conversation or TV watching or music listening interrupted or get woken up or their children woken up (all of which happen to me regularly thanks to a particular neighbour) you don’t give a fuck as long as it’s legal. You’re a selfish asshole. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-motorcycles/553012/118 "2010-09-15T15:35:09Z")
I think the saying should be “Audible pipes save lives.” It is important to be noticed, if other drivers aren’t seeing you hopefully they can at least hear you. But there should definitely be a reasonable decibel limit. My bike has factory pipes and doesn’t make much noise unless I make it. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-motorcycles/553012/119 "2010-09-15T17:21:23Z")
> [@bdgr](#): > > What we are talking about…at least what I am talking about is when traffic is at a dead stop. Not heavy traffic, but a traffic jam. In that case, you are not changing lanes, you are not moving. It doesn’t inconvience you one bit. If you’re only a few cars back from the red light, you’re unquestionably not moving until the light changes. But what I more commonly experience is that there’s a red light somewhere up ahead, and traffic around me is stopped, then things shift a little - my lane moves up a car length, or the lane next to me moves up a few car lengths, or whatever. Things are rarely **reliably** at a dead stop for more than a few seconds. (And yeah, I’ll take advantage of those shifts to nudge a front wheel into the next lane if I decide that’s where I want to be. When that happens, I don’t want a motorcyclist splattered all over my front fender.) Maybe it’s different in the traffic situations you encounter, but that’s what it’s like on my commute. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-motorcycles/553012/120 "2010-09-15T18:11:47Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > > [@El\_Presidente](#): > > > > 1. Weaving in and out of traffic in a traffic jam to get ahead of cars is not the safest thing in the world. > > This is why lane-splitting should be legal in every state. It’s much safer than weaving in and out of lanes. I don’t see how lane-splitting (which most bikers do regardless of whether it’s legal) prevents weaving. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-motorcycles/553012.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-motorcycles/553012.md?page=7)