I live in WV where we have a real problem with deer jumping out in front of you. I have seen many deer along side the road, most do not budge for a cage. Alot of times they will even step in front of the cage. I have seen them running toward the road on my bike, they got close to the road, turned the other way and go back to where they came from because if the pipes on the bike. Yes I know for a fact that night the loud pipes saved my life. I have seen many deer run from the pipes. say what you want... and my neighbors do not mind my pipes either.

 

I live in Oregon and have Loud pipes and they definitely do work on Deer. They run in front of me with a car and away from me on the Bike. They serve their purpose in that they do draw attention but the ones that abuse it by pulling out of the local coffee shop and have to get three gears before the next light, well Ya know. I respect my neighbors and keep it down around them and only blip the throttle when I need someones attention. They Work!

 

This is such a tired argument. No one puts loud pipes on for safety - they do it because of performance or because they like the sound. They just try to justify it to others who don't like the noise by saying it saves lives.....

 

Yeah, and I have hit a deer on my bike with "loud pipes". I also know several other HD riders running louder than stock pipes who have also hit deer....With deer, there is nothing that works to keep them from running out in front of you....Heck, they stand right beside the interstate eating with tractor trailers roaring by at 80 mph, a set of loud mufflers ain't gonna bother 'em much.

 

+1

i didnt vote because i dont know exactly where i stand on the issue. i tend to wait until someone does an actual controlled experiment before passing judgement with stuff like this.

speaking of, *has* anyone done a controlled experiment on this subject? (by "anyone" i mean an institution with the means to conduct a legitimate controlled experiment, not just a poll.) everything ive read on the subject has been anecdotal or opinion.

my $0.02:
whenever i hear an ambulance siren, it takes me a few seconds to figure out which direction it's coming from. i would guess that hearing a motorcycle's exhaust would be much the same, if not worse, since an ambulance's siren is omnidirectional and pipes just aim backwards. (we should all aim our exhausts forward, hehe.) that said, hearing the siren *does* raise my awareness and make me look for an ambulance....

 

I like them louder than stock but not like I had on my last bike. I think when you are on multi lane highways riding next to cars it can help get you noticed but beyond that I am not sure.

The deer issue can go either way depending on where you ride. If your out in the back roads they tend to make more of a difference. Deer around civilization could probably care less.

I do agree though that probably 90% of the people that put them on just want loud pipes. That would fit me.... it's how loud that is debate...

 

I always find this an intersting debate. Most people, including the MSF suggest that bright clothes, lights etc. help one to be noticed and count as safety features. Pipes, I believe, can also help one be noticed and follow the same logic for me. Nothing takes the place of safe riding, but the more we are seen and heard the better. I do think, however, that there is a point at which loud can be overdone.

 

+1

I like loud pipes for both reasons Safety & Personally. There is a point where people get out of control with the loud. I have one buddy that took the baffles out of his and he now has to bring up the rear everytime we ride. I ride to work alot, so when I leave in the AM I'm very respectful of the throttle with regard to my neighbors.

 

I think there's a valid safety argument for louder than stock pipes... it is effective to get peoples attention.. having over the top loud pipes however is detrimental in a lot of ways.

I ran rineharts for over a year and they were seriously impacting my hearing. I swapped over to a Supertrapp 2:1 system. They are significantly louder than stock and enough to be heard but not enough to leave my ears ringing after 30 minutes.

 

I read a "study" on this a few years ago. The conclusion was that loud pipes slightly increased your chances of being noticed (read not hit). The percentage was less than 10%, but I'll take it. If I can find the reference, I will post it.