kinda crazy
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 382
Likes: 0
From: Central FL
For me its the way i was raised. My pops truck had a 390 with straight pipes and i loved it. Every truck i've had except for my super duty has had them. The reason it doesn't is because i know straight pipes lose horse power and low end torque. The 5.4 needs every last pony it can make. With my bike i want to be heard. There too many idiots on the road that don't pay attention. Due to one of those idiots my wife and I got hit last November.
I doubt it but then again i only know half my neighbors. The other half either don't speak English or don't leave there house
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,196
Likes: 120
From: Carstairs Alberta
i ride a bike too and i absolutely hate that philosophy. my way of thinking is that when you "make" the 4 wheelers "responsible" for looking out for you, you have abdicated your responsibility for your own safety to some dumb **** who has nothing to lose. on the bike my safety is MY responsibility and if I let someone hit me i have screwed up with a capital F. little bit different but my boss has a 08 chevy diesel, pulled the DPF, and put on some programmer on the low setting, mileage went from 17 driving 58-60, to 27-29 at 75, so yes straight pipe can improve mileage. and believe me no lack of power at any RPM. and i hate to say nice things about chevvies as bad as anyone else
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 382
Likes: 0
From: Central FL
i ride a bike too and i absolutely hate that philosophy. my way of thinking is that when you "make" the 4 wheelers "responsible" for looking out for you, you have abdicated your responsibility for your own safety to some dumb **** who has nothing to lose. on the bike my safety is MY responsibility and if I let someone hit me i have screwed up with a capital F. little bit different but my boss has a 08 chevy diesel, pulled the DPF, and put on some programmer on the low setting, mileage went from 17 driving 58-60, to 27-29 at 75, so yes straight pipe can improve mileage. and believe me no lack of power at any RPM. and i hate to say nice things about chevvies as bad as anyone else
Sorry to hijack the thread but. First off its a proven fact that loud pipes save lives. Second i would love for you to explain to me how someone not paying attention while they're making a U-turn and hitting me is due to my lack for responsibility? I had that bike for 2 weeks before the accident and didnt have the time or cash to put pipes and a power commander on it yet. Had the pipes been on he would have been able to hear me since that ********* didn't know how to use his mirrors.
Now to get back on topic. I call BS on that boat anchor. It is not physically possiable to get a 40% increse in milage while going faster. I dont care what has been done to it.
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,624
Likes: 7
From: OR and UT
I don't know why the OP was asking, but I think straight pipes on cars, trucks and bikes are all about getting attention. I don't know about you, Pili, but I think most bikers just pass it off as "loud pipes save lives" because they don't make stickers that say "Hey, look at me!"
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 382
Likes: 0
From: Central FL
I look at it like this. If i can be heard then i have a better chance of seen, and a less likely chance of getting hit. By any means loud pipes wont stop idiots from being idiots but i would rather have a slightly better chance of riding safe. There is an old saying with motorcycles. There are those that have gone done and those that will go down. In Florida there are way too many tourist that don't know where they are going and not pay attention to anything but there GPS. Being noticed on a bike is a good thing as far as I'm concerned.
As for the OP i think he likes the noise. Back in the day everyone thought louder ment more power and faster. we know better now but it still sounds good to some.
As for the OP i think he likes the noise. Back in the day everyone thought louder ment more power and faster. we know better now but it still sounds good to some.
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,624
Likes: 7
From: OR and UT
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Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,524
Likes: 2
From: CA Bay Area
you want to see how the city looks like with vehicles without mufflers -go on spring break to one of those Baja resorts.
Next time we are going to hear that those contractor grade generators run at campgrounds save lives as well
Anyway, when I converted my flatbed to dump bed, I had to shorten the pipe and end it in front of the rear wheel. Even I have bend tip pointing to the rear and down -I swear each time I open the window I can smell exhaust.
Next time we are going to hear that those contractor grade generators run at campgrounds save lives as well
Anyway, when I converted my flatbed to dump bed, I had to shorten the pipe and end it in front of the rear wheel. Even I have bend tip pointing to the rear and down -I swear each time I open the window I can smell exhaust.
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,196
Likes: 120
From: Carstairs Alberta
Funny thing. The riders that claim they need more noise already ride the loudest brand in the industry. HD. Most riders on other brands have learned to look out for themselves. Having driven bikes and semis for about 23 years have learned a tiny bit about four wheelersbehavoir patterns, so in most cases I can anticipate quite well when they are about to.somethingstupid.like a U turn in front of me. Also I have learned to.scan far enough ahead that I rarely needto make a panic stop inany vehicle. As far as going down yup been there done thatgot the titanium pin too. Every time I wrecked it was my own fault, got a little cocky and whoops down ya go
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 382
Likes: 0
From: Central FL
I have scanned the hurt report and could find nothing in it about pipes. Although it may be outdated there are some valid points.
It is fact, a fact is something you can prove. Last year from the beginning January to the middle of October i put a little over 35,000 miles from Kissimmee to Daytona on the kawisaki vulcan i had. i bought it bone stock and after 3 weeks of close calls i took a hacksaw to the pipes so i could be heard and guess what. Everyone stopped cutting me off, the deer stopped standing in the middle of the road and majority of the idiots on the road stayed away from me. I have never changed my riding style and rode the same way home and the same way there. 90% of my ridding was on I-4. Not once did i go down, now please explain to me how that is a phenomenon and not proof of how loud pipes save lives. But i do have an opinion and that is If you did ride (which i highly doubt) you would be the type to ride a vespa with training wheels and 20 lbs of leather and a safety vest when its 100 degrees out and everyone is cutting you off and laughing at you.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 382
Likes: 0
From: Central FL
Funny thing. The riders that claim they need more noise already ride the loudest brand in the industry. HD. Most riders on other brands have learned to look out for themselves. Having driven bikes and semis for about 23 years have learned a tiny bit about four wheelers behavior patterns, so in most cases I can anticipate quite well when they are about to.something stupid.like a U turn in front of me. Also I have learned to.scan far enough ahead that I rarely need to make a panic stop in any vehicle. As far as going down yup been there done that got the titanium pin too. Every time I wrecked it was my own fault, got a little cocky and whoops down ya go
Although i cant compare to your 23 years on the road during my 15 years i have never been at fault in any accident. In that 15 years i was the driver in 2 accidents. One i was rear ended and the second the bike wreck. I got a ticket for improper passing trying to avoid it and the other drivers insurance bought me a new bike with enough left over for my truck, my wives medical bills and some stuff for the house.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,272
Likes: 208
From: Cincy area
I believe its a mistake to "play" in the street anyways. Ride in the dirt where the only idiot who can hurt you is yourself. And those JO's in my nieghborhood with the loud bikes are very annoying. It only impresses teenage girls or those who are easily impressed. Real horsepower is great, but not every loud machine has horsepower.
