Why do people ride those big bikes with ridiculously loud noise?

[Disneyglobegirl]

Yeah...no. Not buying the "saves lives" spiel.

It isn't like a regular motorcycle creeps along all ninja-stealth-like, and you can't hear (or see) them coming. They are every bit as loud and noticeable as any other car on the road without the added bonus of "bringin' the thundah!".

Besides which, they simply HAVE to be damaging to the operators hearing.

It's the same reason guys put glass-packs or huge pipes on their sports cars.

THEY ARE SHOWING OFF. Period.

I just spoke to my father (who owns an insurance company) and asked if ANY insurance company, he knows of, offers discounts on your rates for having extra loud pipes. Nobody does. One would imagine if loud pipes were such a huge SAFETY help, you'd get a better insurance rate for having them.

You have YOUR opinion and I have MINE. I said that the people that I PERSONALLY know who have put on loud pipes have done so that others would hear them.

Thanks but I think I am done here before this turns into another bike bashing thread. Have a great day

 

[Jennasis]

You have YOUR opinion and I have MINE. I said that the people that I PERSONALLY know who have put on loud pipes have done so that others would hear them.

Thanks but I think I am done here before this turns into another bike bashing thread. Have a great day

Au contraire...I like motorcycles. I do not like the ones that are loud enough to set off car alarms. I also don't like people spittin' on my cupcake and telling me it's frosting.

but motorcycles? Like 'em just fine. NOthing makes me happier than cruising along the interstate behind a guy with a nice tush in a pair of Levi's on a hog!

 

[rotlex]

Loud pipes save lives.

This. Seriously. They don't need to be obnoxious, but I've ridden all my life, and have ALWAYS had louder than normal exhaust on my bike. It's amazing how much more drivers around you are aware of you when they can hear you, even if they don't see you!

 

[rotlex]

If most of the folks with loud pipes were worried about safety, they'd wear a helmet!...but no...does not look cool...would cover up the do-rag...

It's all about the image...can't ride unless you're wearing worn out jeans, a black t-shirt, and do-rag...tattoos and big woman on back are optional.

I've often told folks that I would get a motorcycle, but I can't afford the t-shirts...



I'm done.

LOL, you have never ridden have you?

 

[Handbag Lady]

As the owner of a convertible, I have perfected my "nanny stare" for the loud bikers of Los Angeles.

 

[rotlex]

Hey, since were discussing loud. As a biker\lifetime Harley owner, I have to ask what bothers you more. Loud pipes on bikes, or those ridiculously onboxious coffee can exhaust systems on midget wanna be race cars that appear to be all the rage today, LOL.

Seriously. I have no problem with noise, but I actually can see a bike having louder than average pipes. Yes, from experience I know it can make drivers around you aware of you,and yeah, it is fun to "rumble" down the road, but for the life of me, I can't see why anyone would want to drive around all day in a car sounding like a swarm of bumble bees.

 

[wdwmom2]

There's a difference between normal motorcycle noise and crazy pipe work done on a bike to make it where you can't even hear the person beside you talk.

DH and I can still talk to each other when we are riding down the road, no mics. We don't care for those obnoxiously loud bikes either.

If most of the folks with loud pipes were worried about safety, they'd wear a helmet!...but no...does not look cool...would cover up the do-rag...

It's all about the image...can't ride unless you're wearing worn out jeans, a black t-shirt, and do-rag...tattoos and big woman on back are optional.

I thought I was a biker, but I fall short of your requirements. I don't own a single pair of worn out jeans, no tatoos, and I am really not that big of a woman. I do wear a do-rag on occasion(it's covered by a helmet when we are riding), I own a few black Harley shirts (OK, maybe more than a few). But, I ALWAYS wear a helmet!!!!!!

Despite all this, DH and I can clean up quite nicely

 

[C.Ann]

Actually, it's so they don't get killed.


You may not be able to easily see a motorcycle while you're driving but if they're loud you can certainly hear them.

Loud pipes save lives.

Didn't do my brother any good.. He died in a motorcycle accident on his way to work in June of 2006.. The only reason he even had the motorcycle to begin with was because he had to travel long distances for work, gas prices were sky high, and he thought he could save some money.. Saved the money alright - but lost his life instead..

Americade week just finished up here - over in Lake George - and since one of the routes to get there goes right by my place here in the mountains, all I heard day and night was motorcycles whizzing by.. And as I do every single year, I prayed constantly that no one would die during this week-long event.. Didn't help matters any that we also had rain most of the days - but the bikes just kept whizzing by in packs of 20 to 50 at a time.. This year I didn't even watch the news to find out if there were any deaths.. Just didn't want to know..

 

[sunnyday123]

For some people (at least, most of the ones I know)--it's similar to gorillas beating their chests.

This is exactly what an ex-bf of mine said. There were a few guys he rode with who modified their bikes to make them loud, and he hated when they were around, because that was all he could hear.


Now, if someone can explain to me why my neighbor carts his bike out every weekend, starts it and then goes into the house for 1/2 hour and NEVER rides it, I'd be grateful.

 

[SleepyMom]

Now, if someone can explain to me why my neighbor carts his bike out every weekend, starts it and then goes into the house for 1/2 hour and NEVER rides it, I'd be grateful.

You must live in my neighborhood! I don't get it either, he starts it and let's it run for a long time and every once in awhile he will come out and rev it up. Does this all all hours of day and night and then pulls it back into the garage

I have nothing against bikes or even (semi) loud pipes, but I do wonder why it needs to be pulled into the driveway for extended periods of time, just for us all to listen to. Of course this is the same neighbor who parks his camper in the street across from my driveway all summer

 

[crazee4mickey]

Loud pipes save lives.

I enjoy the sound of a loud bike and you know what if it saves lives then its worth it!

I prefer this to the loud bass "boom, boom" cranked music of kids/adults pretending to be young or the sound of obnoxiously loud mufflers on cars or trucks.

 

[crazee4mickey]

If most of the folks with loud pipes were worried about safety, they'd wear a helmet!...but no...does not look cool...would cover up the do-rag...

It's all about the image...can't ride unless you're wearing worn out jeans, a black t-shirt, and do-rag...tattoos and big woman on back are optional.

I've often told folks that I would get a motorcycle, but I can't afford the t-shirts...



I'm done.

Totally off topic but.....

Stereotype much??! You must have loved the old movie "easy Rider"!
My husband and son both ride and hate to disappoint but neither wear do-rags, torn jeans,are not covered in tattoos, etc. as you put it....both wear helmets and they dress extremely well-----the image you portray is outdated as I see very, very few dressed like this except in old 60's and 70's movies!
Welcome to the year 2010 my friend......

 

[disfan07]

Personally, I can't stand motorcycles at all...I don't understand the point of having one but that's JMO.

My Aunt is a nurse at a hospital in LA and when she was younger she didn't hate motorcycles it was just something that she had no desire to ride.
After 15+years as an ER nurse, she absolutely hates them. She has seen way too much to ever think they are a good idea.

I have found that bikers in LA are the worst. Between the lack of helmets, the way they drive (essentially no laws to follow around here) and the noise it drives me absolutely insane.

But it drives me just as crazy when were are stopped in traffic next to an escalade with rap music blaring so loud that I could hear it blocks away! Its absolutely obnoxious and a daily occurance (it's always escalades and rap music in the city)

That being said, our next door neighbor is a cop and obviously keeps his motorcycle at his house. we always know when hes leaving for or coming home from work because of the noise but he is very considerate about it (he sometimes leaves for work at 4 AM or gets home around 1) and doesn't let it run in the driveway. usually we only hear it for a second as he pulls into the driveway.

 

[naturegirl]

I can't stand the loud bikes either.

DH and I used to ride a lot back in the day, but we both sold our bikes when the kids came along. We were always BMW people, but now DH wants to get a Harley and I'm against it. I like riding with people who wear helmets, boots, gloves and armored suits. I don't like riding with people who choose not to wear safety gear and go bar hopping on their bike. Riding is a very social thing for us and we enjoy going to rallies and being part of bike clubs. Obviously not everyone fits into the stereotypes of their brand of bike, but they didn't get those stereotypes for no reason.

Motorcycles are more than just a mode of transportation for most bikers, it's an image, a mindset, and a sense of comraderie. Anyway, that's my 2 cents.

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

The louder the better! Mine was always loud! That way you could hear us coming! because some people just want to run us down, so if more people in cars watch who is coming, then we would not have to do it!! That is my experience!
althou I love to set off car alarms!!

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

Totally off topic but.....

Stereotype much??! You must have loved the old movie "easy Rider"!
My husband and son both ride and hate to disappoint but neither wear do-rags, torn jeans,are not covered in tattoos, etc. as you put it....both wear helmets and they dress extremely well-----the image you portray is outdated as I see very, very few dressed like this except in old 60's and 70's movies!
Welcome to the year 2010 my friend......

ya, no kidding! althou today I do have 6 tattoos, and have skull caps and hate to wear a helmet! Oh and I am a girl and a grandmom!!
I feel bad for people that ...just do not get it! they will never know of the freedom and the rush you get! For people who love Disney and get that back at home feeling when you hit the gates...that is (if you are a true Disney lover) how it feels!!

 

[L107ANGEL]

If most of the folks with loud pipes were worried about safety, they'd wear a helmet!...but no...does not look cool...would cover up the do-rag...

It's all about the image...can't ride unless you're wearing worn out jeans, a black t-shirt, and do-rag...tattoos and big woman on back are optional.

I've often told folks that I would get a motorcycle, but I can't afford the t-shirts...



I'm done.

You are kidding right?!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I get that the motorcyclists want you to hear them coming but when it is so loud that it startles me because I have no idea where that jet engine is coming from then no- it does not do anything but cause problems for drivers. Whenever I hear them so loud it gives me anxiety because I don't know where they are coming from and I hate noises that loud. It is not a normal driving noise. There has to be a compromise.

 

[Philagoofy]

Why do car drivers have to hear the motorcycles coming? Don't the driving rules that other vehicles have to adhere to apply to motorcycles as well or do they have their own set of rules? Aren't they supposed to stay in lanes behind other vehicles, pass the same way by signaling in advance, obey the same traffic regulations, etc?

 

[John VN]

Not sure if the loud noise saves lives is as effective as suggested. I wonder if an accident frequency to exhaust pipe decibel level has ever been done. Doppler effect anyone? When I had my bikes I just thought it was cool.

Au contraire...I like motorcycles. I do not like the ones that are loud enough to set off car alarms. I also don't like people spittin' on my cupcake and telling me it's frosting.

but motorcycles? Like 'em just fine. NOthing makes me happier than cruising along the interstate behind a guy with a nice tush in a pair of Levi's on a hog!

I would think that a crotch rocket would provide a better view than a hog.