Author Topic: Loud Pipes (Read 8040 times)

guzzijohn · « **Reply #60 on:** February 04, 2010, 05:39:03 AM »

Somehow I have survived riding for 31 years without loud pipes. Lucky,Eh?
GuzziJohn

Savage_99 · « **Reply #61 on:** February 04, 2010, 05:43:24 AM »

A good thing about winter is that those annoying things are silent.

I see them as bullies who don't care.

One started up as I walked a distance behind it. I have a heart condition and it scared me.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #62 on:** February 04, 2010, 05:50:13 AM »

My last ride was a Dresser and it had a stereo and i really enjoyed listening to tunes while riding so it also had muffled pipes! but on occasion when passing "someone" walking down the side of the road, especially if their pants was on the ground, I would swith off and switch on and give em a gun shot! Now I know that is frowned on by mechanics but it worked for me and i never had any problems that stemmed from that.
So loud pipes is ok on occasion as far as I'm concerned.

Swampman · « **Reply #63 on:** February 04, 2010, 07:30:32 AM »

It's a free country. If you don't like loud pipes you don't have to listen. By the way the trains have to blow their horns by Federal regulation.

myronman3 · « **Reply #64 on:** February 04, 2010, 08:49:45 AM »

Quote from: guzzijohn on February 04, 2010, 05:39:03 AM

Somehow I have survived riding for 31 years without loud pipes. Lucky,Eh?
GuzziJohn

yes, damn lucky. i used to think i was that good, too; until i crested that hill one sunny afternoon and was lucky to escape with my life. it all became crystal clear for me- you can do everything perfect and still end up dead. i repeat, i will take EVERY advantage i can get.

gman628 · « **Reply #65 on:** February 04, 2010, 05:01:30 PM »

Quote from: myronman3 on February 04, 2010, 08:49:45 AM

Quote from: guzzijohn on February 04, 2010, 05:39:03 AM
Somehow I have survived riding for 31 years without loud pipes. Lucky,Eh?
GuzziJohn
yes, damn lucky. i used to think i was that good, too; until i crested that hill one sunny afternoon and was lucky to escape with my life. it all became crystal clear for me- you can do everything perfect and still end up dead. i repeat, i will take EVERY advantage i can get.

You see it with bikers more than any other sport, guys think that just because they've had no problems that they are "eggsperts" so to speak. We all have a bit of luck, and when something goes wrong there's always an excuse why and it's usually because it was the other guys fault or they didn't see me. Well I for one will never be able to use the excuse that they never heard me coming. I don't come home at 1:00 in the morning and rap my pipes, but when I go by you on the road, you will know I am aproaching you, and that is not by mistake!

Gary

guzzijohn · « **Reply #66 on:** February 05, 2010, 11:13:30 AM »

The problems with loud pipes are:
There are always idiots that use no reasonable judgment on the throttle, keep blipping the throttle at stop lights, accelerate harder than needed when passing, leaving from a stop, etc, just to get a reaction or "hear big bad me". This behavior really really pisses a lot of people off. Across the nation bans on other than bone stock pipes is growing and will soon limit all of our choices. I recently has a H-D go by on a quiet evening and I could still hear the bike after it was more than three miles from me, there is no reason for that.

Unbaffled pipes are not need to increase performance, less restrictive pipes do that without having to be much louder than stock. Do all you can to increase your riding skills, keep your bike in top condition and wear high viz clothing, don't piss the general public off they will eventually get even!
GuzziJohn

myronman3 · « **Reply #67 on:** February 05, 2010, 11:17:09 AM »

baloney.

cephas53 · « **Reply #68 on:** February 06, 2010, 02:18:22 AM »

Have been around awhile and I've settled on hiviz gear, earplugs, and a horn that sounds like a semi to be noticed. Ride in rural areas, avoid interstates when possible. If I rode in a heavily populated area I may feel different, but the writing seems to be on the wall for loud pipes, they will lose rights. Seems noise ordinances are being worked on all the time. Should be a good money maker.

Dances with Geoducks · « **Reply #69 on:** February 06, 2010, 06:14:20 AM »

For soccer Moms with screaming rug rats, cell phones, and GPS all barking at them.
The first thing out of their mouths is always " I never saw the bike"

Like anything in this world, some folks have to go to the extreme and have straight pipes.

My brother was ran down by an little ole lady. He now rides with straight pipes.

In 40 years on the road, Ive been run down lots of times, once by a cop. I still use only the stock muffs on my Harley.

Just have to keep your attention on whats going on around you.

I went for a 100 mile putt a few days ago. Had 3 near misses, Im freakin invisible

buck460XVR · « **Reply #70 on:** February 06, 2010, 06:22:43 AM »

Like music, louder is not always better. Anybody that has sat at a stoplight on Lazelle street coming into Sturgis, and experienced the rush that comes with the rumble of 20,000 bikes shaking the ground beneath your feet, knows that there is nuttin' in the world like the sound of a well tuned Harley, with a quality set of aftermarket pipes. But gettin' caught behind the idiot with a bad runnin' bike, fitted with shorty straightpipes, that insists on jackin' off on the throttle every chance he gets, irritates even us grizzled old riders. Thus, I agree, these idiots are gonna make us all pay in the long run. Unfortunately, someday in the near future, all bikes are gonna sound like Leadwings. Hopefully, since Wisconsin is the home of Harley Davidson, we'll be the last to have to succumb.

KeepTryin · « **Reply #71 on:** February 06, 2010, 07:20:40 AM »

You CAN get away with a lot more on a quiet bike. Not that I've had too many like that.

deernhog · « **Reply #72 on:** February 06, 2010, 01:12:15 PM »

Well tuned aftermarket pipes sound good to me and I do believe they get you noticed. The extra loud straights and no baffles can even be tolerable to the public when road sensibly but alas someone will let her rip when and where they want without regard to the others around them. I never fail to hear some cat rapping his bike up at 6:30 am when we are at a rally.

Ditchdigger · « **Reply #73 on:** February 06, 2010, 01:54:11 PM »

I like the sounds of straight pipes,but not if I have to follow them for 600 miles.I have a neighbor that leaves for work at 6 o'clock every morning with a Victory twin and loud pipes.He always just idles by all the neighbors,but it still wakes them up.I'm always awake when he leaves,but the rest of the neighbors are not happy about it. I may be lucky as some are,after 50 yrs. of riding everything I still havn't had a accident or dropped a bike. Digger

gman628 · « **Reply #74 on:** February 07, 2010, 12:07:02 PM »

I totally agree about the straight pipes, I've been there..done that. I currently run Samson fishtails, but they will bark if I get on it to pass someone. Some people would complain about anything other than factory pipes. Its going to get harder and harder to find any aftermarket pipes these days, as the goverment puts more restrictions on noise and air polution we already have bikes being built with converters.

Gary

Hickok · « **Reply #75 on:** February 07, 2010, 01:12:32 PM »

I have Vance & Hines pipes on my VTX 1800 and I love'em. I don't care if a person has stock pipes or after market pipes. To each his or her own!

GRIMJIM · « **Reply #76 on:** February 08, 2010, 12:31:40 PM »

I lke the sound of loud pipes on a harley. I used to have short straight pipes on my '79 sportster but it was heavily wrenched on and ran terribly with any back pressure.

That was also in my younger days. Now I have an aftermarket set on my ultra classic (they were on it when I bought it so I don't know what brand) that is a little louder than stock at idle but has a real nice growl when you jump on it.

skarke · « **Reply #77 on:** February 09, 2010, 02:40:44 PM »

I drive a hybrid, it's true

My car goes sssssssssssssss

I did buy a new leather jacket though

Seriously, I have a motorcycle license, love bikes and harleys, and love the sound of them. But, I also like the sound of crickets, birds, and Merle Haggard, none of which I can listen to within two miles of somebody running non or lightly muffled bikes.

pastorp · « **Reply #78 on:** February 09, 2010, 03:15:11 PM »

My hometown is the geezer retirement capital of the south. St Petersburg, Fla. I was sitting at a 4 way stop intersection in a residential neighborhood, on a red & chrome scoot when the old geezer began his left turn. He cut the corner so close that it was evident he would sideswipe me when I yelled at him through his open driver window. He hit the brakes and accusionally looked at me and demanded to know " where did you come from". I informed him I was there the whole time. Folks we are invisable to lots of drivers.

In new mexico I bought a honda 750 CBC with short straight pipes. Everyone knew I was around but to this day I wonder how much of my hearing loss is due to those pipes and how much to all the gunfire I endured in my youth without hearing protection.

Now days I wear ear plugs & a headset and ride with stock pipes on my bike. Trying to save what hearing I got left. My wife & I just sit in the evenings yelling "what you say" at each other now. I want to be able to at least hear the dinner bell in the retirement home.

varmintman · « **Reply #79 on:** February 10, 2010, 11:52:27 AM »

Been through the straight pipe thing on my harleys when I was younger but going on 66 and now I have thunderheaders on my roadking classic and like said before mellow when cruising but nice when I get on her. Turned many a deer at night that were thinking about crossing in my path. Dan

billy_56081 · « **Reply #80 on:** February 10, 2010, 12:05:19 PM »

Back in the day loud pipes got a lot of stupid people DWI's. Breaking the noise ordinance equals probable cause to make a stop and it was all elementary after that.

giturgun · « **Reply #81 on:** February 10, 2010, 03:11:42 PM »

I like my lead wing and with the factory 95 horsepower and around 100 ft lb torque it don't feel to heavy. Also got a 77 1000 Bobber Rat goldie , it is sort of leaking coolant in the right headgasket and needs to be fixed.
I also like the quiet purr of the exaust as I ride my almost as quiet as an giant electric motor down the road. I can listen to the music, and when the wife says something the radio cuts down automatically, The cb is also nice to listen to . I am going to add a GPS soon.
i GOT OUT OF THE LOUD WHEN i NOTICED MY EARS RINGING . Now I try to save my hearing as much as possible. I worked on bikes of all brands for several years and back then I ran straight pipes on everything I had except the Interstate 1100 . My 77 has a set of Jardines on it now , it did have straight pipes till a few 500 mile days and the constant roar. Used to not bother me , have rode to Florida and back on 4 cyl. bikes with pipes cut off just behind the front pegs. Must be an old geezer thing I guess , but I did enjoy it for a long time.

horsepower · « **Reply #82 on:** February 10, 2010, 10:41:32 PM »

Quote from: Swampman on February 04, 2010, 07:30:32 AM

It's a free country. If you don't like loud pipes you don't have to listen.

If only that were true, there'd be no discussion. Unfortunately, owners of loud pipes/banging bass music/barking dogs etc seem to think their rights supercede everyone around them--undoubtedly because they are so much tougher and cooler than everyone around them. Listen to them in a sound-proof box as loud as you want. Listen to them in front of my house, you may have to redefine tough regardless of how "bikery" you may think you are. It's just plain rude and rudeness is a weak man's substitute for power. It should go without saying but I know how thin skinned many of the tough folks here are, loud enough to be heard and loud enough to be stupid are two entirely diferent things.

bobg · « **Reply #83 on:** February 11, 2010, 01:58:43 AM »

I sure would like to see some of the things that have been said tried on my son in law. I can tell you in about 3 seconds you would be on the ground eating gravel.
bobg

deernhog · « **Reply #84 on:** February 11, 2010, 02:13:36 AM »

I don't know Bob there sure are some cyber badasses that might blogg the heck out of him and make him sore. LOL

myronman3 · « **Reply #85 on:** February 11, 2010, 03:25:16 AM »

i think alot of the animosity toward bikers stems from some twisted form of jealousy. it is usually some deepseated often repressed feeling that these folks often times cant even pinpoint themselves, but i have seen it firsthand many, many times. whether it involves women, their own inability to experience freedom or happiness in their lives, or just the desire to be a crappy and unhappy person who is mad at the world.
i really dont care, it is their problem not mine. the loud pipes stay.

bobg · « **Reply #86 on:** February 12, 2010, 10:23:52 AM »

Hope no one misunderstood what i said. My son in law does run load pipes. He tells me they are stock but i sure don't believe it.

myronman3 · « **Reply #87 on:** February 13, 2010, 12:16:12 AM »

i had stock pipes on my fatboy and believe me, them suckers were LOUD. i put these vance and hines longshots on, and it changed the sound, but i cant say it made it louder one bit.

giturgun · « **Reply #88 on:** February 13, 2010, 07:26:10 AM »

The stock pipes may actually be stock , But with no guts in them.

myronman3 · « **Reply #89 on:** February 13, 2010, 09:05:16 AM »

that is the way they used to make them. i went to court on it and got it thrown out. they havent been tampered with or altered in any way.