More BS

[kl3640]

http://capwiz.com/amacycle/issues/alert/?alertid=12305941&type=CU&show_alert=1

Basically they are trying to make illegal the use of aftermarket exhausts in NY.  If they have a problem with noise, let them legislate noise; if with emissions, let them legislate emissions; but to simply ban the product outright is ridiculous.  I encourage everyone who's reading this to take action.

[GIGOLO]

  Thats America for you.  Make a bunch of laws as fast as you can so you can say that while in office look what you accomplished.  I know for a fact that a loud pipe has saved my life and and my wifes numerous times.  I feel my life is way more important than somebodys fucking comfort for the split second im by them.  There are two options that I see, first show these fuckers that loud pipes save lives by actual tests.  Second, tell these fuckers that as soon as people stop running over bikers then we will quiet them down.  People will always run over bikers, I will always have the loudest most obnoxious pipe on my bike no matter what the laws are.  Thats why we cant race at the autobahn, noise.  Pretty stupid, huh.  Its a friggin racetrack.

[tzracer]

 
How are you so sure the pipes were the difference? Did you interview the other driver(s) after the incident? Anecdotal evidence is not usable as proof.

I have been street riding for 29 years and over 300,000 miles. I commute between 180 and 200 days per year. I rarely have any problems with cars. I used to, but as my street skills increased, my close calls with cars have gone to nearly zero. I don't recall having to use my horn once this past year. If you are relying on a loud pipe to save you. perhaps you need to re-evaluate your street riding. Racing skills are nearly useless on the street. Reminds me of an old saying in flying - applies equally well to this situation - A superior pilot uses his superior judgment to avoid situations requiring his superior flying skills.

All loud pipes do is piss people off and cause politicians to ban pipes.

Changing any part of the emission system on a street vehicle that adversely affects emissions (tailpipe or sound) is already illegal. I am not sure how difficult it is to enforce these requirements. The fines are stiff, on the order of $10,000 PER CHANGE. Also the selling dealer can be fined, especially if they installed the part(s).

Perhaps you would like the EPA to begin to enforce the Clean Air Act (1979)?

[SVbadguy]

How are you so sure the pipes were the difference? Did you interview the other driver(s) after the incident? Anecdotal evidence is not usable as proof.

I don't know where you live.  But where I live the traffic always ranks in the top three for worst in the country and everyone drives with their heads up their ass.

I ride to work everyday regardless of weather including snow, unless I'm racing that weekend and leaving directly from work.  That only happened once this year.  Over 250k miles in less than 15 years.


I have an air horn on my VFR and even that isn't always enough to snap these dumbasses out of their zombie-like state.  Bouncing it off the limiter with some backfires always seems to work though.  Yesterday I had to do it on my DR650 while some dumbass from New York thought it was a good idea to change lanes while I'm passing them.  Oh, and I'm far from sitting in blindspots like you might be surmising.  I always know what these fools are about to do anyways so it's not all that threatening.  People ignore horns even loud ones.  They need some sort of abnormal stimulus to get their attention.

The loud VFR also scares away deer, I can see them running off well before I reach them.  Either that or they freeze in place.  What's kind of funny is that after getting the air horn I figured I'd run a quieter muffler for a while.  So the very next day on the way to work with a quiet muffler I nailed a deer. Two of the bastards jumped out right in front of me.  The loud muffler went back on during the rebuild.

[banzai1]

I don't know where you live.  But where I live the traffic always ranks in the top three for worst in the country and everyone drives with their heads up their ass.

I ride to work everyday regardless of weather including snow, unless I'm racing that weekend and leaving directly from work.  That only happened once this year.  Over 250k miles in less than 15 years.


I have an air horn on my VFR and even that isn't always enough to snap these dumbasses out of their zombie-like state.  Bouncing it off the limiter with some backfires always seems to work though.  Yesterday I had to do it on my DR650 while some dumbass from New York thought it was a good idea to change lanes while I'm passing them.  Oh, and I'm far from sitting in blindspots like you might be surmising.  I always know what these fools are about to do anyways so it's not all that threatening.  People ignore horns even loud ones.  They need some sort of abnormal stimulus to get their attention.

The loud VFR also scares away deer, I can see them running off well before I reach them.  Either that or they freeze in place.  What's kind of funny is that after getting the air horn I figured I'd run a quieter muffler for a while.  So the very next day on the way to work with a quiet muffler I nailed a deer. Two of the bastards jumped out right in front of me.  The loud muffler went back on during the rebuild.

Sounds like some very real-world anecdotal experience to me.
The louder, the better, unless it's a cruiser.

[dylanfan53]

Uh Oh. I'm agreeing with the professor on this.  There have been lots of studies showing that the "loud pipes save lives" bumper stickers are BS.  Call out the mythbusters!

[r1owner]

I'm in the camp of no loud mufflers...

[Super Dave]

You don't get EPA stamped exhausts for your car when you go to Midas.  No reason to require it from another vehicle that is registered for road use. 

[r1owner]

I agree Dave... however certain motorcyclists like to run pipes with no mufflers at all and that AFAIK is illegal in almost all states.  Not to mention annoying as hell.  If I were a cop, I'd be writing tickets to everyone of those guys.

[kl3640]

Guys, this is a good debate, but I point it out only because I don't think that the government should be in the business of banning whole-sale such aftermarket parts as exhuasts.  For example, in the town where I live, there is a nice downtown area with lots of shops, restaurants, etc.  Most of the restaurants have outside dining areas.  On the weekends especially, people cruise down there in their exotic cars, and there are lots of guys on custom choppers, Harleys, and sportbikes.  In order to manage the noise, the town issued a noise ordinance for that area for certain times and decibel limits.

So my point is that, whether we agree with loud pipes or not, the government shouldn't be legislating pipes all together.  If they want to legislate noise, let them do so.  If they want to legislate emissions, let them do so.  Each one of those fights will be difficult and at least there will be much debate on the issues.  But they are trying to kill every bird with one stone and that's not right.  That's why I posted this here, so that we all could act on it and force the debate to be on the issue that governments and other citizens have specifically, not generally.  If the noise bothers them, then have them issue noise ordinances in the areas where noise is a problem.  If the emissions are a problem, then let the EPA regulate it.  But by no means should they eliminate aftermarket pipes all together.  There are reasons besides noise and emissions to replace an exhaust (e.g., weight, for one).

[r1owner]

I agree with you 100% Vas... no way should they be passing such a sweeping bill.  If this were for cars, SEMA would be all over it.

[GIGOLO]

Being able to think for yourself is starting to become a thing of the past.  To let an individual decide whether it's right or wrong to tear ass down a side street with a loud pipe is freedom.  Freedom to decide for ourselves if we want a loud pipe, a bike that does over 180, to get high, to get drunk, to want to ride mandem, to marry your best friend who happens to be the same sex as you.  I could go all day, but the point is simple, I want the freedom to decide.