Hmmm, well I still don’t buy the safety feature argument. But you’ve provided a reasonable and polite defense so fair play to you.

I definitely did get the pipes for the safety aspect and not for the sound. On more than one occasion a car has merged into be because the driver did not look and did not hear. One was even a cop! (which would be ironic, the last cop to hit me back in 2002 paid for my truck and my house and this bike etc.) Since the installation of the pipes I have had no issues. Approaching cars from the side, they actually slide over to give me room. I’m not sure how laws are in other states but in CA it’s legal to share a lane with a vehicle so in many cases if they hear you they will slide over for you.

@mimic – I do have hi-viz gear, but it doesn’t help when the drivers don’t look before they leap. And as far as the “sorry neighbor” comment, it was more of a joke. I have conversed with them as many have bikes as well. I’ve had no complaints, only positive comments. It seems pretty loud to me since I’m sitting directly on the bike. I let a buddy take it up and down my street yesterday, sounds great. Being heard does get the attention of SoCal drivers. If you have a bike down here, your going to need it.

25 years here. So try and apply some logic instead of being so dismissive.

Several people make the points very well on that page (so i can be lazy and don’t have to type them).

Smart riding saves lives. If we educated our drivers more before giving them licenses, that might also save some lives.

(i HATE HATE HATE the loud pipe saves lives claim… fucking pisses me off…)

Beyond all that, congrats on the bike.

I wouldn’t want to crash in that jacket.

^ Sorry – @Flappy

Loud pipes save lives? Yeah, thats why you bought them I am sure.. nothing to do with the image or being cool or anything.

Do you have a fluro yellow helmet or ride in hiz-viz gear? That might save your life too and it wont annoy innocent people sitting in their houses who pose no threat to you at all. I bet you dont do that though.

As you say, sorry neighbors… they get to suffer because you choose to ride a bike and then pretend making it louder is a safety feature.

What a joke.

I’ve nothing against bikes – I’ve had a lot over the years. But I dont like loud bikes because its just completely rude to disturb the peace of others unnecessarily. And I especially don’t like people who try to disguise their selfishness as a safety feature.