Louder Exhaust

[buffalo]

Personally I like the sound of loud pipes on MY bike but when I am in my pickup and a Hardley pulls up next to me and blows my stereo away it pisses me off! I really hate having to ride beside them for any distance in traffic, very annoying. For that reason I keep my XS toned down, out of respect for others. Loud pipes save lives? Rarely do I notice a loud bike in moving traffic unless he is in front of me or directly beside me.

[Ron Moss]

The other bike I ride, a 1984 Honda V65 Magna is the one I call silent but deadly. It's fast but quiet.
I have on my XS 1100 Special a set of Jardines(4into 2) but would rather have the stock exhaust.

[pgg]

Open piped twins are an aggravating trash sound. Tinny rasping jap cars are even worse. Can't beat a howling in-line 4, a snarling triple, or a burbling V4. The louder the better. 8 thousand revs plus! Don't hold back! It's what motorbikes are for for gods sake! If you don't like it you're not a real motorcyclist! Don't give me this hand-wringing garbage! Sorry!

[CA.XSer]

There is an article in the March 03 Motorcyle Consumer News titled "Do loud pipes save lives?".

I found it very interesting. They don't have it on thier web site that I can find but maybe someone else can.

Motorcycle Consumer News

[Robert Haller]

Originally posted by Ron Moss
I won't argue the pros and cons of noisy pipes ( it's like a helment or oil thread) but I will say I believe loud pipes piss off more people than they impress.

To each his own. I was just answering your question of why some would prefer louder pipes. I'm not trying to impress anyone, I like the sound of louder (than stock) pipes. BTW, I'm not advocating obnoxious loudness. Just because some people (primarily Harley's) take it to the exteme, it doesn't mean there is no middle ground. Mine have a throaty rumble but you can still hold a conversation over them.

[pgg]

To all the politically correct conformists! Trade in your bikes on sensible nissan cars immediately! Stand aside and submit to the bland robotic queue! Assimilate into the characterless mainstream! Ride past with a silken hiss now! Shame on you! stirring stirring

[John]

Loud vs. age

In 1975, my senior year of high school, my ride was a 69 Chevelle ragtop. 327 from a 65 'Vette, Crager SS wheels, Mickey Thompson 60's and 70's tires, 2 1/2 inch exhaust pipes with Walker "Royal Scot" mufflers. Nice 'n loud, all you could hear was pipes, but when the 'tappin' started to happen' in the front, I couldn't hear it. Too late for that push rod/lifter/rocker. 'Spensive lesson. Now, I'd rather hear what's going on up front, than try to impress someone next to/ behind me. Back in '91 I had a '77 KZ1000 with a Kerker 4-1. Had no kids at the time and I used to go for long rides. I hated that buzzing in my ear all day. I liked the sound of the stock pipes I had on my 80SG, but when I bought Organ Donor, it had a set of Jardines 4-2, that were in nice shape. I put them on the SG, they look great, and don't sound much different from OEM. I like that, I can hear what's going on beneath me, not behind me. A guy a work with is a h-d freak, and he has loud pipes on his. One night on the way home from work (we don't ride together), he came haulin' it up from behind me, grabbed the clutch,and twisted the throttle when I go t beside me. Scared the $#it outta me! He's an A$$#ole anyway, but I didn't expect that. So Iguess that my arguement is that the obnoxiously loud pipes scare more people than they do anything else.
There's my 2 cent's worth.

[Robert Haller]

Re: Loud vs. age

Originally posted by John
In 1975, my senior year of high school, my ride was a 69 Chevelle ragtop. 327 from a 65 'Vette, Crager SS wheels, Mickey Thompson 60's and 70's tires, 2 1/2 inch exhaust pipes with Walker "Royal Scot" mufflers.

Sounds pretty cool to me, but then I'm still a fan of 60's era muscle cars. Personally, part of the appeal of a performance machine is the sound it makes (the sound of serious combustion going on, not just for loudness sake). but as always your mileage may vary.

Rock on pgg!

[jfb130]

I agree with the pissing people off thing. I have to find a way to quiet my bike down or drive it to the Everglades to work on it because my neighbors have the apartment office on speed dial for complaints. I had to stop working on mine today because it way "bothering" some of the other residents. So be careful how loud it is unless you live far from your neighbors.

[pgg]

John, secretly cross over the a$$*oles sparkleads.

[sam_cg_cook]

...the sound and the fury...

Okay.

Time to get this clear.
I asked the question because I LIKE LOUD pipes.
I think they sound COOL.
I'm not trying to piss people off...not doing it to impress people... not doing it to be "safer."
Not so much concerned about hearing possible engine problems...hopefully I will "feel" them.

I just like the sound of LOUD pipes. Same reason I put a header and flowmaster on my Jeep. (okay, maybe a little more performance there, too...)

Regardless... that's the way I like to ride... fault me if you want, but if you don't like it...
a.) don't do it to your own bike.
b.) don't ride with me.

-SAM

[chevy45412001]

I tend to agree with sam. My xj sounds awsome.4-1 kerker no baffle but does have end cap. Nice deep throaty sound. NOT like a crotch rocket more like a 454 chevy with open headers

[Pat Kelly]

When I first put my Jardine header on my bike I felt it would be wise to blow any styrofoam packing peanuts out of the pipes before installing the mufflers . What a sound with no mufflers, I got all tingly inside.
I have to remove the mufflers to remove my rear tire. I feel compelled to start it up each time . Someday I'll take it for a spin "uncorked".
I too am one that isn't fond of overly loud exhaust on the street, but to each their own.

[mitch]

Venture Royal

I put a set of shorties on my venture, found it to be a lot harder on gas!!! I know why, cause i love the noise and cant stop blipping the throttle on it plus i tend to run it harder, now that i can hear it scream. Mark me down as a noise luving hoodlum lol........MITCH

[Ron Moss]

Hopefully this will lay to rest the subject of the loud pipes. Some like them, some don't. I for one don't. It may be because I ride more than most or it may be because I don't want to be grouped with the bad ass image goes withe loud pipes. and I will not ride with anyone with loud pipes. You know the kind I mean.
Quite a few years ago a young man was running his motorcycle(loud pipes) back and forth in front of my house. As much as I love motorcycles that was to much. On the next pass me standing in the middle of the street with a baseball bat stopped the noise. To each his own but let's not make our image any worse than it already is. This should be enough of my rant on this subject. Thanks for listening.