All I know is that all this talk of safety and saving lives has inspired me. With all the big SUVs on the roads these days, it’s easy to be in people’s blind spots. Therefore, I’m going to wire my horn so it sounds continuously whenever the key is in the ignition.
Safety first, my friends. Safety first.
No probs. It was posts like that that led me to believe that there was some conclusive study done on the subject, when apparently there has not been.
The linked Hurt Report says this too, although it also states that invisibility of bikers accounts for half of accidents.
Possibly. It could also be that the studies are so far inconclusive, or that they included it for another reason, such as community pressure. It’ll be interesting to see where this comes out in the end.
Oh yeah? Well, when I go for a walk, I’m followed by a line of bearers who carry my penis on their heads.
Stiff necks they’ll never get. 
After reading this thread, I went and Googled “loud car horns”, and now plan to buy an airhorn-like device for my Sundance. When I hit the horn, I want people to freakin’ JUMP!!!
Don’t beep the horn on a pedestrian bridge, then.
Why? I just have mine precede me. Saves a lot of chafing.
I’ve had this one explained to me by a Hell’s Angels affiliate. The same one who introduced me to the concept that loud pipes are about safety.
See, helmets are actually dangerous because covering the ears makes it harder to tell when a vehicle is approaching from behind.
It makes total sense now, doesn’t it?
If it doesn’t, you just need to do a lot more crank so your brain can keep up.
Like this? Yes, it’s a stock color.
Oh, well then could he explain what those shiny glass thingies on my handlebars are for then? :dubious:
Can you leave it on all the time? If so, that would be great! Safer than a regular volume horn! I love safety.
Check out the following thread from the Motorcycle Consumer News forum and look at the links
http://www.mcnews.com/anforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=54963
Unclviny
Cool site. Good link.
Hell, I don’t want to compel them to DO anything to protect themselves. I just want them to CEASE making noises that are obnoxious at a great remove.
If they’re sufficiently concerned about their safety, I wouldn’t mind in the least if they painted their bikes day-glo pink, but that’s up to them.
Well, parse this out with me. Motorcyclists, on the whole, aren’t riding motorcycles out of necessity; they’re doing it because it’s fun. I’m all for that part.
But then they’re saying that in order to have their fun safely, they’ve got to split the eardrums of anyone within a few hundred yards.
Even if that’s true, it’s assholish. What they are doing is arbitrarily deciding that their pleasure is more important than the tranquility of hundreds of other people that they will pass in the course of their ride.
If they can’t find a way to safely have a good time on two wheels without being antisocial on a large scale, then they should accept the risk, or find another hobby.
Just so.
Agreed. It’s just that the way you phrased it before it sounded suspiciously like wishing death on them.
From the Hurt report* (linked above)
According to #2 pipes have no effect in 25% of the accidents. You would have to have somekind of way loud pipes to get that telephone pole to move out of your way.
#s 6 and 7 would tend to indicate that loud pipes would help prevent accidents.
However read #8 The single most common accident is from a motorist turning in front of a motorcycle. Loud pipes just aren’t gonna help here, they are pointed the other damn direction. :smack: Headlights, and helmets will help pre and post accident, but pipes aren’t since the sound is headed the wrong direction.
*What a great name for a report discussing injury!
Back in the day, my mother had a 1980’s Oldsmobile ninety-eight and that tank’s horn sounded like a herd of spooked, stampeding elephants!
She could call me home from my friend’s house five blocks away just by pressing that bad boy’s horn. :rolleyes:
Unless you have a muffler, then it’s not irrational hatred. It’s rude to be that loud. This goes for other folks with loud ass stereos, glass packs, straight pipes, etc. in other vehicles. Besides irritating most rational people, that extremely loud noise isn’t good for your ears nor bystanders’ ears.
Absolute HorseShit. Loud Pipes cost rights. 30 years of riding, 20 years of working in the industry, 17 years racing and 6 years of having an asshole neighbor with an unplugged “Hardly-Ableson” have taught me this.
Proper safety equipment, including a SNELL full-face helmet, save lives. Loud pipes get you banned from prime riding areas.
