"Loud" Pipes

[Disco]

Get custom ones made ...... worth every penny!

+1!

[czuch]

I'm pissed! And I'm gonna get more pissed soon.
(See Australian interpretation)
I had a 67 Sportster with 18" straight pipes.
A lot of people were pissed.
(Not Australian interpretation)

[Raider]

Man, I appreciate every post I've read of yours, Carl.  That said, I'm one of the culprits.  I'm not a jerk about it, but when I lead rides (usually a couple a year- one from NC to Maine every year), I put the very loud pipes in the rear.  All the guys I ride with know who they are and understand it. 

Some of our guys wear ear plugs, most don't.  Some wear full helmets, others don't.  Some have fairings, others don't.  Despite all those differences, everyone who's ridden to the right rear of my buddy's HD doesn't want to ride there again! 

I vary the placement based on type of roads/traffic/weather conditions (buddy has a "traffic cone orange" bike; he marks the back in any period of limited visibility!), so it's not a 100% rule, but I'm guilty.

Ride safe,
Jerry

[Pappy!]

The loud pipes save lives slogan to me is bogus for the most part.
If you disagree then, while you are in your car, watch for bikes coming at you in the opposite lane. Can you hear them before they are on top of you? No? Correct.... they have to be almost next to you before you can hear them and definitely way to close to make any reaction should you need to.
Same for bikes coming up from the rear. Cannot hear them until they are almost beside you.
While they are beside you they will no doubt save lives hence the (for the most part) disclaimer. Then again, any MSF course teaches you to not ride in the blind spot so your very presence at or just ahead of their side mirrors will or should let them know you are beside them.
Since the exhaust exits toward the rear any bike coming at you, be it from the opposite lane or coming up on you from behind will be throwing the sound away from you until it gets too close to be of any good.

The AMA does still send out DB meters to groups. They are also very aware of and are making riders aware that more and more communities are passing noise laws due to loud pipes.

[RainMaker]

Man, I appreciate every post I've read of yours, Carl.  That said, I'm one of the culprits.  I'm not a jerk about it, but when I lead rides (usually a couple a year- one from NC to Maine every year), I put the very loud pipes in the rear.  All the guys I ride with know who they are and understand it. 

Some of our guys wear ear plugs, most don't.  Some wear full helmets, others don't.  Some have fairings, others don't.  Despite all those differences, everyone who's ridden to the right rear of my buddy's HD doesn't want to ride there again! 

I vary the placement based on type of roads/traffic/weather conditions (buddy has a "traffic cone orange" bike; he marks the back in any period of limited visibility!), so it's not a 100% rule, but I'm guilty.

Ride safe,
Jerry

Thanks for your post.  And ride safe!

RainMaker

[Momz]

All three of my Valks have "loud" pipes (Dragon Packs, Cobras & home built), but my wife's 1700 Roadstar had some really annoyingly loud shotgun exhausts.    
She now has a set of 2 into 1 performance pipes that are still loud, but pleasant to hear.  

And she rides in front of the pack!

[Willow]

Once more let me emphasize my point was not where one rides in a group or whether or not one likes loud or quiet pipes but whether or not one is told where he will ride in the group depending upon what someone does or does not like about his motorcycle.

Also note that the original advice on pipes was given to a rider who had just purchased a Valkyrie.  I would say the multiple references to unmuffled V-twins really don't apply.

Am I the only one that sees something of a contradiction in some of the claims.  It seems that some of the same people are claiming the sound of the pipes only can be heard from behind the bike but that their own ears would be negatively impacted were the pipes on their own motorcycles.  Those two don't work together, do they?

Honestly, I would ride with almost any of you.  I have and will ride drag, at the front, or somewhere in the middle but I won't be told where I must ride based upon what someone does or doesn't like about my motorcycle.  There are folks I don't like to ride near in groups.  Should I find myself near one of those I would likely reposition myself but it wouldn't occur to me that I insist on the other rider repositioning himself.  There may be one exception.   

[The emperor has no clothes]

  "there may be one exception"

[RainMaker]

Once more let me emphasize my point was not where one rides in a group or whether or not one likes loud or quiet pipes but whether or not one is told where he will ride in the group depending upon what someone does or does not like about his motorcycle.

Also note that the original advice on pipes was given to a rider who had just purchased a Valkyrie.  I would say the multiple references to unmuffled V-twins really don't apply.
  

I double checked.  I used the words "asked" and "request", never "told" in the responses I posted.  I did use the word "always" because I always ask the loud pipes to ride at the back of the group.  I admit it - I do!  And I will continue to do so.  I believe it is in the best interest of the "group".

I too would take offense if I was told to ride in the rear because I was ugly (I can't help that), my ride was dirty (it usually is) or some other reason where it was a problem with the ride leader or others in the group and myself due to a feature of my Valkyrie they did not like.  Now, if it's blowing oil, smoke or parts are falling off, I'd see that point.  And if asked or requested to ride in the back of the group due to pipes that are so loud that they are bothersome to me (the case here was a new rider who was complaining about how loud he thought his pipes were), I'd think that a reasonable request  as well and would do so in order to make the ride more enjoyable for the entire group.  I take the view that it's not just about me if I'm on a group ride.  I've had "loud" pipes ride in the middle of a group before and those behind the loud bikes were backing off so far that the group lost cohesiveness, broke up at stop lights, had cars move into the middle of the group.  We then had 2 group rides, and the de facto first group had the loud pipes in the back.

This particular Valkyrie was "loud" by the rider's definition.  It would not be unreasonable to conclude that the Valkyrie in question was also "loud" to those around it during a ride. It is a conclusion based upon circumstantial evidence - I had no decibel meter or independent witness to verify my assumption.

If you find a note where anyone has said they tell the loud pipes to ride in the rear of the group, please point it out.  So far, all I see is "loud" pipes being asked to ride in the rear of the group.  There is a big difference between the two.  I'd be riled up if told, not so much if asked.

[Mr Whiskey]

I'll ride in the back.
You don't even hafta ask.
All ya gotta do is catch me, & pass me!
Ready, set, GO!
 

[DarkSideR]

Be quick to listen, slow to speak is not practiced much here on the VRCC. Don't take offense Carl. It's just the way it is.

[Chrisj CMA]

Two things.  One, loud pipes may save a life.  The most dangerous situation is a car that turns left in front of a bike.  Loud pipes will do nothing there to help.  However, if in a cage's blind spot and the driver hears the motorcycle, loud pipes may help keep the cage from encroaching the bikes lane but a LOUD horn is much better.

Two.  I have led many rides and have been led on as many.  The ride leader has many many decisions to make.  A participant only has a few.  One is if you disagree with the leader you could leave, he has the right to ask you to ride anywhere he wants. I would try to compromise with anyone that didn't like what I asked but if it comes to it, the leader is right and a disagreeable rider is free to leave.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Man I'm glad my group rides are with the SoCal & AZ guys. We just ride and have a good time. I never realized these group rides could be so contentious.

No fair Mr. Whiskey , you got the jump on me 

[Mr Whiskey]

3 pages in, somebody had to say it!
(Is my OCD showing?)

[Willow]

Rmaker, we've got no particular issue other than the original "always" in advice to a new Valkyrie owner.  As to the asked or told, my formative years were in the military.  If the leader of a group or event "asks" me to do something I accept it as if I were told.  I do understand that you specifically referenced requesting, and that means what it means to you, but some a few of the later posters did seem to imply that those with loud pipes (whatever that means) would be required to ride behind them.

I'm good.  Quite truthfully I don't frequent a lot of group rides anyway as my personal opinion is that they are usually highly attended by low mileage posers with the rides at Valkyrie gatherings being the notable exceptions.

Jeff, as to pipes not stopping left turners we wholly agree on that.  Several times the term blind spot was used when referencing gaining attention as you are alongside, passing hopefully, a cage.  That ignores that a large percentage of cage drivers will look right at a motorcycle without their mind acknowledging the presence of another motor vehicle.  Those are the ones that may be helped by a little sound.  I say may because some are even beyond that.

I've already worn out the subject.  As I said before you won't convince me and I won't convince you.  I'm pretty happy with where I am.  I hope all of you are too.  It's good to ride and associate with a few people who enjoy riding motorsickles just as I do despite that we have little things about my bike and theirs, about my riding and theirs, on which we have differing preferences.  I'm good with that.

You all be safe.  I'll hope to see some of you down the road this year.

[Skinhead]

I'll hope to see some of you down the road this year.

Not if I hear you coming!

[Oss]

I need a bike to ride on Saturday at GOTF even if just for an hour or so

Dont care how loud it is  (maybe the wife will tho)

Anyone have an extra layin around?