Someone made comment on the loud pipes save lives idea. I passed a trooper on the thruway yesterday sitting in the u turn shooting a DB meter! It want a radar gun thats for sure. I heard a few people tell me they are cracking down on loud pipes this year.
Honestly the loud pipes do get peoples attention. Many times, each time I go out I am nutral reving at someone to get their attention. I see a car backing out of a driveway a head of me, I dont even chance it that they will look, stop or keep going… I pull in the clutch and twist a few times… 90% of the time They will just about snap their neck and look right at you. it works. Same as a intersection, I come in and drop a gear and make alot of noise. it does work.
But, what it doesnt work in is on a high way when you are behind the cars. The sound doesnt travel ahead as well, and it is way harder to hear you coming. And if they have a radio on, forget it, a HotBodies gp pipe on a Liter bike you wont hear unless it is 10 feet from the car.
And on the harley doutches. I have seen more “squid” harley people all over the place.
a horn serves the same purpose. i know what you mean about not hearing it on the highway though, there was a bike that came up behind me other day doing 100+ scared the shit out of me it was so loud. didnt even hear it til he was right next to me.