Read more about the Poll: How Do You Feel About Loud Pipes? at Motorcycle.com.

I don't like them. I had a Harley Road Glide with stock pipes and they were too loud. It gave me a headache after an hour on the road. I don't believe the old wives tale that loud pipes save lives. People have their windows rolled up with the a/c going and the stereo is blasting or they are busy taking or texting on the cell phone. I also feel that it is bad for our image.

Motorcycles and loud/open pipes have been part of the ethos of motorcycling since the beginning. Back in the early 1900's many motorcycles came with exhaust pipes with movable end caps. The caps would cover the exhaust pipe end with a perforated cap for riding in the city, but by moving the cap away from the pipe end it was marked as country. Let's face it in the early days of cars and motorcycles the world was moving forward and if noise was the price to pay for progress, so be it.

Today, with the crowded cities and the " Hey, look at me crowd" the exhaust has taken on a new meaning. The exhaust suppliers adverts talk about the "Growl" and of course the deeply throated rubble. I noticed that a simple slip-on can costs $400.00 to well over $1000.00 to achieve the "presence" that many of today's riders need. What a great many of the new owners don't know is that the new Mega Exhaust system may yield less power due to the computer control of the today's engines.

Loud exhausts for the bar hopping crowd, where the rugged individuals that all dress alike gather is part of the "Hey, look at me" group. This group rarely travels more than a very few miles, unlike the coast to coast traveler that needs the ride to be peaceful. A prime example of the long distance traveler is the BMW, GoldWing owners, quiet, dignified and able to cover 5 to 600 miles a day without the fanfare.

Loud exhausts and motorcycles seem to go together like peanut butter and jam, it has not changed in over 100 years and it will not until the motorcycle riders are banned from riding due to the disruption caused by the exhaust.

A prime example of the change in the world of high performance, look at the race cars of today, mufflers on each one.

I know that image sells and the performance suppliers will run that horse into the ground.

I like quiet, efficient machines.

Good Luck

Larry

Loud pipes save lives is a myth and just another way for some people to annoy the public.

since the noise goes to the rear everything is behind the rider and not where it does any good until they are right beside you, besides here in BC one does not have to be able to hear to drive a car.

Sound is directional. Unfortunately, some folks think it makes them look tougher to get up next to your cage at a red light and rev it up a little. I call it little man syndrome, where the loud pipes make up for small manly parts. All the loud pipes do is annoy folks. If loud pipes really saved lives, just think of how many GW or BMW bikers are dying all over the highways by having quiet bikes. Good lighting, paying attention, and dress to be seen will get you a lot farther that loud pipes. I've owned a couple of Harleys over the years, kept the stock exhaust on them. I enjoy being able to hear myself think while I am out enjoying life.

Gene

Maybe the real question should be:

How do you feel about forum owners who try to stir up controversy just to increase their "CLICK COUNT" ??

I find it reprehensible.

What's a click count? If it's chrome I want one.

Free sites like this aren't really free.
Advertisers pay the owners based on how many people visit the site every day.
And sometimes based on what they click on while here.

Doing anything that increases the traffic to the site increases their revenue.

Hey there,

As you mentioned, our editorial team posts these articles to drum up a conversation.
We are not looking to start any controversy.

We post these articles with the same intention that members post on the site.
Strictly to build a conversation and get the community involved.

If you truly have an issue with these posts, what kind of articles would you like us to post in the future?

Richard.

Anything that does not glorify actions that are obnoxious and illegal or dangerous.

What will be next......an opinion poll about illegal street racing......or stunting while going 100 MPH down the highway ??

How could you NOT think there is a high probability of a subject like that causing a heated discussion and controversy ???

Hint: There IS a VERY high probability.