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by jdavis703 2366 days ago
That loudness is a safety feature. It helps keep drivers alert for the presence of a motorcycle. I don’t ride, but I see our streets are becoming more and more dangerous as people ditch sedans for SUVs and trucks; extra sound proofing is added to cars; and people continue to text, eat or be under the influence while driving.
2 comments

I’m by no means an advanced rider, but I am a rider, and I don’t buy the “pipes save lives” argument in the slightest. The cone of sound goes out the back of your bike when accelerating: pretty much alerting the motorists I’m least worried about to my presence.

I’m way more worried about people doing stupid stuff in front of me than behind me. And when I’m worried about people behind me, I’m mostly worried at stops that someone will rear-end me... when my hypothetical loud pipes would be idling at a purr anyway.

On my very sensible Honda CB500X, I have a quiet exhaust and have a daytime headlight modulator, which I’m positive has caught the attention of distracted motorists. I’d take a very cool and very legal headlight modulator over loud pipes 100 times out of 100.

Bright lights save lives!
Yeah, now let's make the cars that loud as well to keep the pedestrians more alert. Preferably loud enough to make you deaf unless you get out the way and take cover.