Do loud pipes save lives?

I've always been a believer in this addage, to a certain extent. But have you ever noticed, when your in a car, and a bike with loud pipes passes you, you don't hear it until it's already passed you? Also if that's the case, you'd think you would see a lot of wiped out Honda Goldwings.

[Twinpeaks]

I have read many an article over the last 3 decades, they can offer no statistics, no scientific back-up, no nothin' to support this theory.

What I do have are a few experiences where loud pipes saved a fellow brother. I was in the cage, on the freeway, 65 mph, signal on, mirrors checked, gettin' ready to merge right when I heard a familiar sound (loud pipes). I stopped, waited and let him pass. Quite pipes may not have done the job here I don't know.
Now the rider was screamin' way over the speed limit, on my blind side, oblivious and ignorant as this is near rush hour traffic.
Not sure who would've gotten the ticket but I know I would've walked away from it and he would not have.

If everyone was truthful they simply like loud pipes and "loud pipes save lives" is a convenient slogan! I know this - it can't hurt!

[street bob]

Yes................

[09 Classicman]

This is a debate that has going on forever it seems. As far as there being any statistics regarding the question, one must first ask themselves whom funds such studies to glean the statistics. Insurance companies and governmental agencies are typically the only ones with deep enough pockets to fund such a thing. That being said, there would be no benefit for either to fund any study to determine the answer to such a question because the government wants a quiet little utopian society where no-one offends anyone else with any noise whatsoever and the insurance companies don't like scooters because as a group we are a much higher risk compared to their other go along to get along customers.

Lane position and speed are also important factors in being seen/heard. I've been passed by really loud crotch rockets that were going so fast I had no chance of hearing them until they were past me. I've seen loud Harleys almost get into trouble because they were at the very outside edge of their lane where the cage couldn't easily see them as they were changing lanes.

Now, in my personal experience, a cage that was thinking about sharing my lane on a 4 lane road, heard my ThunderHeader and it definitely saved a collision, I saw them turn their head looking for me because they heard me before they saw me as I approached as their turn signal came on. Riding in interstate traffic I commonly saw cages looking to see where that sound was coming from before I got to them. Now, for the cage that turned left in front of me and 2 other cages at an intersection loud pipes didn't help one bit.

So I guess one has to use one's own personal experiences to decide, because for every person whom says loud pipes save lives there will be one whom says they don't. I say they do, we just got an 09 EG Classic and when money allows there will be louder pipes on it, people just don't hear hear the quieter bike, I'm just glad the horn is pretty loud.

[frisco-rigid]

I have never subscribed to "Loud Pipes Saves Lives"..

If it were Literally so then "Quiet Pipes Takes Lives"..

I have no doubt the two examples 09 and Twin provided are true but I also know that in my many years & miles riding I cannot say I definately had any close calls because I Do Not have loud pipes..

Two great well thought out replies, thanks guys..


If loud pipes saves lives then with all my miles & years I should be dead along with literally Millions of quiet pipe riders like in Bricks example of GoldWing riders..

[evoKENevo]

Looking and listening are at least as important as being seen and heard. Last year I saw a "biker" with loud pipes take off from a green light...right into the path of a fire engine crossing the wide multi-lane intersection with it's lights flashing and siren blariing. Nobody got hurt...but it was definately a close call...and not the firemen's fault.

[unclepsycho]

I think we gotta look out for ourselves. I ride like I am invisible, no one see's me, and if they do see me, they are out to hit me, cuz they are jealous of me on a bike while they are stuck in a cage. Sounds like a paranoid way to ride, but with many years on the road and most of them fairly safe, Thats what works for me.
I have one of each right now, One Loud Bike, and one quiet bike. The only time I notice a difference is when I'm splitting lanes. The loud bike gives them pre warning that I am there. But I dont go much over 5-10 mph over the speed of traffic when splitting lanes. Yeah, I have hot rodded a few times, but that is not the resposibility of other people to look out for me, I have just taken my life into my own hands at those times, and trusted my own reaction time to save me.

funny story about splitting lanes..... on my way home from work at my last job, same time every day, everyone would kinda nudge over giving room for me when I was splitting lanes, and going just a little faster than them, but not by much. That is everyone except an ambulance, that seemed to be in the traffic every day at the same time. The jerk would actually swerve in towards me as I approached. I watched this happen for about 3 or 4 days, and then I had enuff. Next time he did it, I got up next to him... and landed a huge spit ball on the window, (childish I know) flipped him off and asked if he wanted to pull over to discuss it? Never had the problem again.

[2003FXDX]

I think a little extra noise helps combined with other factors to help visibility and of course not riding like a f_ _ kin' idiot.

[confederate]

I, absolutely, 100%, positively agree that loud pipes help to save lives and prevent accidents. I don't care what any old crusty iron butt know it all says to the contrary. Anything that helps make cagers aware that there is a bike where they may not be able to see, helps with safety.

[83XLX]

I think they can prevent accidents in certain situations (lane changes), but all these open pipes people are running that are obnoxiously loud will bring about some pretty restrictive noise legislation in the future. I have louder than stock aftermarket mufflers on my bike, but unbaffled drags don't do any of us any good in the long run.