Loud Pipes Save Lives

[hig4s]

Harley has 49 state "legal" aftermarket pipes now and Hard Krome offers "legal" aftermarket pipes for Metrics as well. They are called Vortaxx or Rec-Tec I believe.

 

http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/gma_product.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524448768479&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374309244813&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374309244813&bmUID=1213876591942&bmLocale=en_US

 

 

 

Harley slip-on are not after market, but non-stock production pipes that are tested by the factory same as the stock pipes.. Just another great marketing ploy by Harley to make their bikes not seem as expensive as they really are. They should just be an option at no or minimal cost.

 

As far as I can tell Hard Krome has a new dual wall construction to reduce sound levels and they have several patents on it, and may meet state and federal sound levels, I don't see where they are tested or stamped approved by the EPA

[BigShell]

When I read some posts about folks getting cutoff several times a day, I just couldn't relate. I rarely have that problem. I run the RK's, but they aren't drilled and certainly aren't loud.

 

Today I had to take the car for the first time in a long time. I was cutoff several times on my round trip to work today. Traffic wasn't any different, in fact, maybe a little lighter. The car isn't big, but the Impala isn't small either.

 

I believe it is the headlight modulator on the bike that made the difference. People notice the bike. So... I get seen and I can hear what's happening around me because the bike is pretty quiet. Works for me!

[Guest Vermincelli]

I've been riding bikes on the street for 25 years now on 28 different bikes. Some were sportbikes, some standards 2 touring bikes and enduros. Exhaust noise has ranged from highly illegal racing only sportbike pipes to the goldwing and current venture that are as quiet as can be.

 

Now just from my own experience I have found no difference in how other vehicles respond. I've had just as many people act retarded around me when I'm barely making a sound as when I was running the racebike.

 

So for me personally I won't go with anything loud again. The quieter the better for my own comfort (and ability to listen to the stereo)

[latheboy]

I have loud pipes on my Vmax. I doubt they save my life, but they sound good.

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2HtxfNIywU]YouTube - 1991 Vmax Marks performance exhaust sound[/ame]

[BobE]

Folks,

 

I think (and who cares what I think but me, but nevertheless...) that the point is being missed here. It's not an issue of whether WE like loud pipes or not, or they are safe or not....it's an issue of the majority, non-riding public's contention, for the law-making politician is going to listen to the majority, non-riding public. And the majority, non-riding public is saying "Enough with the racket!" and, in turn, the law is reacting accordingly.

 

The majority, non-riding public don't care about us, they don't care whether they should hear us on the road or not, they just care that loud noises of any kind are disturbing their world, whether it be bikes, cars, trucks or planes. It is easier to "control" the bikes because there are fewer of them and they don't NEED them, or their usefulness, like they NEED planes, trucks, and cars. Therefore, they will legislate noise on bikes however they can, such as banning motorcycle events (Myrtle Beach...) or running exhaust checks at events (Americade) because it is easier to pick on the bikers than it is anyone else.

 

Now, for the record, I do not subscribe to the loud bike theory, i prefer to control my own riding destiny by driving defensively and not depending on the majority, non-riding public to acknowledge I am there and therefore MUST drive safely, for they are living in their own little world, don't care about yours for it's your problem that you chose to ride a "death weapon" (as I heard on one newscast) and will only react to something that can really hurt them, like that Peterbilt bearing down on them in their rear view mirrors.

 

As for those with loud pipes, the only ones I find annoying are the throttle-rappers, mostly because they think they are pretty cool sitting there being obnoxious, dressed in all sorts of leathers but no helmet ("for safety, for safety!"), then they drag their feet for a 1/4 mile up the road before finally putting them where they belong, on the pegs or floorboards. They don't realize just how moronic they look to everyone else.

 

Louder pipes (not straight pipes) can easily be quiet, as the original poster was implying, but can be helpful in certain situations when the rider is caught not paying attention to what's going on around him and has to react fast.

 

Okay, that was a little more than I planned on espousing...sorry....

 

Back to you!

 

BobE

[davecb]

Stebel horns save lives. It will almost give the cager a heart attack.....