Comments on: Oakland, California Police modify their Mufflers to make them Louder!

By: Kien Quoc

Kien Quoc — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 17:45:43 +0000

It’s better and safer to be loud whenever you’re on a motorcycle. Already that you’re in a small vehicle which makes it more difficult for drivers to see. The loud sounds let large vehicles be aware that you’re around and less chance of an accident. I refuse to ride my bike if it’s too quiet.

By: John G

John G — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 20:58:48 +0000

In reply to Rob Estoker.

Are you the Jim Piver who asked me about my sister Dagmar? Castlemont, 1963?

John Geltmeyer. del_amigo@yahoo.com

By: Derick Jones

Derick Jones — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:16:20 +0000

I would have to agree with Mark. Sounds like hypocrisy to me.

By: Norman Gregory Fernandez

Norman Gregory Fernandez — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:07:25 +0000

I agree RD.

Norm

By: Norman Gregory Fernandez

Norman Gregory Fernandez — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:57:05 +0000

So what is your point? :)

Norm

By: Norman Gregory Fernandez

Norman Gregory Fernandez — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 19:59:32 +0000

I agree. But you miss the point of the article and the hypocrisy of it. They are busting bikers all over California for having the same pipes that the police do, which violate EPA standards! The Police themselves are breaking Federal regulations with their pipes!

Many bikers have the pipes for the same reason, for safety.

Why is it OK for the Police to have loud pipes for safety and not us?

Norm

By: Norman Gregory Fernandez

Norman Gregory Fernandez — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:13:19 +0000

Thanks for your kind words Layne. You should register as a member of the blog by using the link on the bottom right sidebar so that you will be notified of new articles and the like.

Take care,

Norm

By: Norman Gregory Fernandez

Norman Gregory Fernandez — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 16:23:42 +0000

So true Burt.

Norm

By: Norman Gregory Fernandez

Norman Gregory Fernandez — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 21:10:47 +0000

There has been a Federal Law EPA stature on the books since the 70's which prevents somone from modifying a stock exhaust period. It generally has never been enforced and may even be unconstitutional because it would force someone to not be allowed to choose aftermarket solutions which may be as good, etc.

In the end, I agree with you. However, I still think that loud pipes save lives as well.

Norm

By: austin beshears

austin beshears — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

need to keep a copy of this with you when you ride so if you get pulled over for loud pipes you have a justification

By: Gerald

Gerald — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

In a modern car, you can hardly hear the noise of an 18 wheeler traveling 2 feet by in the other direction, much less a “putt-putt” of any motorcycle. Good for the economy though! I have 250,000+ miles on my current ride, and from my experince 16 flashing blue lights wouldn’t help. You have to drive for them as well as drive for youself.

By: Robin

Robin — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I have to share this with you guys! The coolest way to blaze the roads on your motorcycle and ensure that other motorists notice you…is to check this place out – http://www.ironhorsehelmets.com ,they have some of the coolest bling for your helmets. We all have to be safe out there, but we can have fun doing it! One of the greatest benefits is the fact that YOU ARE NOTICED! It is shown that the majority of our motorcycle accidents are due to other motoristsÂ…who say they DO NOT SEE US!, lets throw that excuse out their window! Yeah I know the famous t-shirts all you fellows wear that say Â“If You Can Read ThisÂ…The Bitch Fell OffÂ” are the only accessory you feel you need, but I have to say, there is something hot about a guy with a MohawkÂ…..especially a purple one! I wear mine and I love it, I get lots of attention, not that a lady on a bike does not anywayÂ…but the more the better! The helmets are affordable and I plan on getting a few for my riding buddies for Christmas gifts, I want to keep them safe, and I do think this is a cool way to do itÂ….make motorcycle helmet wearing fun.

By: Layne

Layne — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I came across your site "Googling" for articles on Veterans Day. I'm really glad that I just kind of fell in here. I enjoyed reading this article on the Oakland Police Department as I used to live in the Bay Area. I also tagged your blog to keep up with your writing as you hit a sentamental spot for me. My brother was a rider, all his life. He had built several over his life, having passed away last year due to health complications. My brother was one of those big, burly, mean looking bikers. When you got to know him, you became aware of how amazingly smart and talented and funny he was, and being one of the kindest and most gentle individuals you could know. It is a tragedy that he is now gone. Shortly after his death, I had picked up a scooter/motorcyle (a Honda Reflex Sport). The memorial that was held for my brother several months ago, I rode in on my little bike, his friend blessed my bike with my brother's ashes, so now I feel like my brother will be guiding all my adventures as I take it on the road whereever I go. Your site will give me insight and tips that a novice just would not be aware of and can only have access to with a circle of fellow rides, which I have not having just moved back to Cali last year when my brother was diagnosed. I packed up and came back home to be with family and am enjoying the process of starting over.

So any tips you can offer a newbie, novice, dork, who is also a woman would be delightfully read.

Wishing you great love and success,
Layne

By: Ajlouny

Ajlouny — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

If it makes their life in a safer place to have a louder muffler so they can be heard…then so be it. It’s part of their job to be on a motorcycle rain or shine protecting our cities and states. Who cares if it’s loud.

By: Kidding yourselves

Kidding yourselves — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Pat Hahn of the state of Minnesota's Motorcycle Safety Center says he understands individual expression. But he says the idea that loud pipes save lives is a myth. Hahn, who writes books and articles on motorcycle safety says there's a problem with the safety theory because the pipes direct the sound backwards.

Ignoring the fact that many aftermarket pipes are illegal, motorcyclists who defer to the wisdom, "loud pipes save lives" are sadly misinformed. Riders who believe that an ear-shattering exhaust note actually increases safety are either kidding themselves or rationalizing self-indulgent behavior. Fact is, loud pipes do more to hurt motorcyclists than help them, the attention they draw to a rider is not worth the negative public image they create.

It's rooted in physics. Unlike an earthquake, which emits waves in a sphere away from its epicenter, sound waves can be directed. (A good example of this a megaphone: if sound waves were not directionally sensitive, megaphone users would all be deaf.) The pressure wave emitted from an exhaust pipe is pointed away from and behind the motorcycle. To hear it from anywhere other than directly behind the bike, you rely on the resonance of the pipes and reflection of the sound waves off of other objects, like cars, signs, buildings, etc.

The EPA also considered the issue of "noise visibility" as popularized by the slogan, "loud pipes save lives". This is the theory that a small group of motorcyclists believes that they are making themselves more conspicuous to other motorists in traffic by modifying their motorcycle exhaust systems to produce an excessive level of exhaust noise. The EPA concluded that the proposed noise emissions regulations would have no effect on rider safety.