LOL

HighMileJon wrote:

Making a vehicle aerodynamic and reducing wind noise does not mean you can't hear a loud motorcycle approaching around you. If they did make a vehicle even close to sound proof from the outside environment that would be very dangerous.

I'm not referring to the aerodynamics and wind noise. Much of the extra crash protection (side impact beams, side air bag pockets, etc) built into cars now all have the effect of reducing the amount of exterior noise you can hear. Also, the pipes are pointed rearwards, and sound propagates like any other wave: Most of it goes in the direction that the sound source is "pointed" in. Most of the sound wave from an MC pipe goes to the rear of the bike. Example: Yesterday I had an MC with loud pipes pull onto the on-ramp next to me on the DVP. I saw him in the rearview, but I didn't hear his pipes until he was 1 car length from me. That was with the engine idle, windows rolled up, radio off.

Sirens, conversely, have the speakers aimed in all directions. The sound wave is equally strong in all directions, that's why it's easier to hear than an MC pipe if you're in front of the MC. I still think hwybear's original statement is right - if you want the pipes to be effective in warning drivers, turn them forward.

The bigger problem, I think, isn't so much pipes or anything like that, it's that many "cagers" have limited (if any) respect for those on motorcycles. But that's a different story...

if he was only 1 car length behind you when you first heard him then i wouldn't consider his pipes loud, lol....

LeafsChopper wrote:

if he was only 1 car length behind you when you first heard him then i wouldn't consider his pipes loud, lol....

"Loud" is relative, after all...