Routy wrote on 08/08/11 at 05:45:09:


At least we agree on that.  I hate ignorance too!!  What could be more ignorant than riding along making a huge, publicly annoying racket, deluding yourself into thinking you were in a protective cacophony, safe from those who would attack you?

The law doesn't require sirens and train whistles on my CS-1.  Even so, I have obtained a pretty small airhorn setup I plan to install instead of using the OE "meep, meep" buzzer.  It'll fit down low in front of the rear tire.  I found a clearance sale on some small two-horn sets.  ($9)  I'll be using just the little horn, and I am here to tell you when the compressor puts all its air into that one little horn it is loud.  I mean loud.

Consider two situations:
   1. You are in the left lane on a four lane 2-way street on a quiet bike with my $9 horn.  You are about to overtake a ditsy kid in a rap-music-18”-subwoofer-Civic in the right lane.  Without any warning, he starts to change lanes into you.
   2. You are in the left lane on a four lane 2-way street on a no-baffles bike with a meepmeep horn.  You are about to overtake a ditsy kid in the rap-music-18”-subwoofer-Civic in the right lane.  Without any warning, he starts to change lanes into you.

In both situations, the kid undoubtedly didn’t know the biker was there.

Which bike will be more able to persuade the dude to stay in his lane?

Would the racket-bike have been able to make the kid aware there was a bike there?  

The earth is NOT flat!

"deluding yourself into thinking you were in a protective cacophony, safe from those who would attack you?"


Does anyone really think that way?  I think that assumption is the problem in this debate.  

I read an article about this topic the other day and it said that the awareness and reposnsiveness of the rider is your primary safety and the most important one.  Reflective vests, horns, flashing headlights, loud pipes and such are secondary safety measures.  They are nice and can be helpful but you must rely on Your primary safety measure yourself.

Can we all get behind that, shake hands, and be happy?

MrBrownTX wrote on 08/08/11 at 12:00:09:


Sheeesh.  You make it sound like we are mad at each other  Why do we need to shake hands, and force ourselves to be happy?

Some folks get misplaced feelings in these debates,,,, thinking we are fighting with each other, hating each others' guts for conflicting opinions.  As my surfer nephew would say, "totally bogus, dude!"

When I enter into these discussions, I visualize all of us sitting around a campfire, bbq pit, swimming pool, party boat, whatever,... lounging around with a cooler full of interesting beverages, going back and forth slamming each other with differing thoughts on these "issues" without a care in the world aside from chatting about fun stuff.  

The everpresent problem with us all being separated by computers is that we can't see the twinkle in someone's eye when he tosses out some comment that could be misinterpreted as an insult, when all that was intended was at worst a smart-alecky (probably funny) remark.

Get a grip on the big picture here.  We are really fortunate folks.  We “meet” here to chat about a unique motorcycle.  We all have enough time and money to afford computers and motorcycles.  When one guy says loud pipes saves lives, and the other says that is a clueless concept,… them ain’t fightin’ words, that’s just us getting involved in some enjoyable issues.

Anyway, I don’t feel a need to make up and be happy.  I’m happy already.











                                                                               

If I may get in the middle of this monkey nuts fight,  and then maybe the thread can go back to the original question....

Loud pipes help people notice you, but will not prevent a-hole-itis from striking.  Me and my boys all ride with the idea that the next cager will be the one to get ya.  

However, since ya can;t look in all directions all the time, loud pipes at least warns the not brain dead that there is a motorcyle within close proximity.  Nuf said OK?

Now,  are these motors prone to exhaust leaks?  F-ing thumpers vibrate like a paint shaker some times.

Built2Last wrote on 08/09/11 at 13:29:26:


They shake so much your nuts will crack and fall off...