Older people like me cant see or hear. Someone on a cellphone is listening to a conversation and thinking what to say or text next, your loud pipes are tuned out.  Learning how to ride is your best defense. If you havent already MSF classes are a great place to start. I dont care how much you think you know, you'll learn something in a MSF class that might save your life.

Here’s an interesting thought to consider: it’s a fact that groups of bicycle riders who take up lane space and prevent cars from passing create animosity between some car drivers and the bicyclist. You have probably read stories about bicyclist getting run off the road intentionally etc…

Could loud pipes have a similar effect by creating animosity with some drivers (consciously or subconsciously) and negatively affecting the way they behave towards all motorcyclists?

My suggestion is to ride defensively and not rely on loud pipes. I agree with a loud horn better than loud pipes.
Then again I believe you should ride when alert and be on the defense at all times. I was given this advice and will pass it on to you. Always have an out.
Pipes that leave your ears as well as your head ringing several mins after it has passed seems to annoy people and yes make them have the nasty feelings towards all bikers. JMO for what it is worth.. kim

Well put John.

+1

I don't like "wake the dead" pipes either.  But if my louder than stock pipes can alert one more person on the street of my presence, then that's one more chance I got of making it home.

Loud is relative to the local too.

As I was riding in the right lane over the Rt. 35 bridge out of Belmar, mrs big suv person decide to make her way into my lane. I was on the shoulder looking down (probably 10-15 stories) I opened up throttle and blew it out my Trapp. That got her to move over. So, yes, may have saved my life that night as well as a few more times.

yet, all the incidents posted here about loud pipes saving lives are first initiated with the rider SEEING the offending vehicle and reacting to that. not the offending vehicle not doing something because of loud noise beside them ( I realize a non action is almost impossible to prove so kind of a no win situation for arguing for loud pipes with that argument) but again, the eyes of the rider saved their own lives, not the loud pipes, and the acceleration of the suzuki was important as well as the decision to accelerate, and depending on just a loud bark from supertrapp pipes to get someone's attention is scary man.  

if you like loud pipes for their noise, that's your personal choice, but I think assertion that loud pipes do anything to help "save lives" is dangerously misleading. it comes down to you, the rider, depending on someone else hearing you, instead of you, the rider, making a choice and/or action to save your own life.

riding smart is better than riding loud and proud anyday

I like my motorcycle to sound like a motorcycle should sound.  I did not like the stock muffler.

I like my motorcycle to be quiet enough that the wife does not yell at me -- at least about that.

I prefer noise makers to be horns.  I use car horns, a pair, high/low tones, so that they sound like a Cadillac.  Most people do not CARE if your motorcycle hits them.  Most people DO care if a Cadillac is about to hit them.

The MAC is a little louder than I want.  I have a new 26" glasspack that should be better.