Are super loud exhausts so effective as safety equipment that they render helmets unnecessary?

Question

Isn't it strange that all those safety conscious Harley riders who go out of their way to install those extra loud 'safety pipes' hardly ever wear reflective vests and full face helmets, usually no helmet at all. Kind of strange that such safety conscious people are only concerned with safety when it comes to one thing.

Answer 1

Loud pipes as safety gear rate right up there with ride bells, deer whistles and rabbit feet.

The idea that "loud pipes save lives" is an excuse for self-indulgence.

Answer 2

Safety ?  I just think they sound niiiiiiiiiiice !!!

Edit:  Talk about strange.....I think its just as strange to hear "sport bike" guys boasting that they wear armor and full face helmets while talking about running triple digits on public roadways.  

We all need to watch ourselves....no matter what we ride or how we choose to gear up.

Answer 3

Agreed.  If having loud pipes "saves lives", then you'd think they would wear a helmet which is actually statistically PROVEN to save lives.

Answer 4

I agree with loud pipes. Car drivers just don't seem to want to see us. So I ride with my brights on and my pipes are a little loud. If you had as many supprised looks when they see you as I have you too would agree. I wear a helmet

Answer 5

loud pipes do help in town etc... Helmets don't save as many lives as you may think, but not wearing one can make $$$$ for the state your in.

Answer 6

Extra loud safety pipes. That's funny. I might get me some of those.

Answer 7

That's the first time I've ever heard of a loud exhaust being pitched as a safety item. That's funny.

That is more of an excuse for them than anything else. When people tell them their bike is too loud, they can say it's for safety.

Remember when radar detectors first came out? There were ads that said they weren't so much to help people speed, but a safety item because it kept you more aware if there were police and potential slowdowns ahead.

To both I say - yeah, right.

Answer 8

Anything that makes me more visible to the other driver is a good item. Sound believe it or not is another way of letting another driver know you are there.

Answer 9

a loud exhaust isnt going to save you from a gravel patch

Answer 10

nay sayers who DONT RIDE but read articles instead that some study says louder exhaust doesn't help, know nothing about riding. i have riding both stock exhaust and louder exhaust on different bikes i have had. and with the stock exhaust i have NEVER had a cager do a second look or start to look for what is making that sound. with the louder exhaust They often look

on the interstate.  remember any study can be manipulated to state what ever you want 90% of the time.  As for the fact that most loud pipes saves lives croud not wearing helmets, that shows how smart they really are.  if loud pipes saves lives, and helmets save lives you would think it would be a no brainer to go together. but some people just have no common sense.  Its all about the image, nothing else.

Answer 11

I wouldn't risk my head on that it might help a little bit at intersections with a red light your direction otherwise i don't think so ,and yes I have drag pipes with the baffles in on my Sportster and still wear a full face helmet,I went down once in a turn with only the half helmet after that I went to a full face.

Answer 12

when Harley Riders say loud pipes save lives it's said tongue in cheek. I've never known anybody that took it seriously.

A big part of riding a Harley (not for everyone of course) is the ego and attitude. Which means they're too cool for helmets.

There have also been studies showing that full-face helmets can cause neck injuries due to the weight of the helmet slamming into the back of the neck so some people use that as their reason.

Of course there are also riders that just don't like having they're head covered while they ride. If you've ever ridden without a helmet you'd know that it feels awesome.

That being said, I do wear a full-face. Even if I do end up paralyzed I'll still have my pretty face so I can at least get some love from the ladies.

Answer 13

Why can't you just mind YOUR business and let others take care of theirs. Wear what ever you want and quit chirping, nobody's gonna pay any attention to you any way. Do you care if I get hurt on a motorcycle? H*** no!

Answer 14

The Loud Pipes Save Lives thing has been debunked so many times as pure MYTH that I'm surprised people still fall for it.  I suppose gullibility and ignorance are more powerful than logic and physics to those with room temperature IQs.

Answer 15

Extra lights, full face helmet, air horn, reflective gear, loud pipes etc. NOTHING can get the attention of a driver that isn't paying attention. Marbles in the shirt pocket? Cracked windshields get attention after you flip the driver that ran a stop sign off and toss a marble up. Air horn? That'll get their attention when you pull up to the NEXT red light and they want to crowd you out. Air horns are around fifty bucks and look decent. Loud pipes they hear AFTER you pass them, if you do.

Answer 16

if i'd have been wearing a full faced helmet like you preach we should all wear i'd be a vegetable today after this weekends accident.  yeah, it's much safer to add extra weight to your neck for an accident

Answer 17

Helmets have not been statistically proven to save lives!  These stats only reflect fatalities relative to states with or without helmet laws.  They do not take in to account a number of other criteria that affect the final # of fatalities.  The stats are very vague.

Answer 18

loud exhaust doesnt matter if their stereo is louder