Could loud pipes impead safety?

scott2007nomad · 10-19-2009, 07:47 PM

I was leaving work Friday in downtown Houston when I heard sirens.
In downtown, it’s hard to tell where the sirens are coming from since the sound echos off of all the buildings.
I came to a green light going about 30mph and noticed the sirens a little louder so I slowed down only to see two firetrucks coming into the intersection.
Luckily I had plenty of time to come to a safe stop.

So I’m wondering, if I had loud pipes, and maybe wearing ear plugs, would i have heard the sirens in time to stop?
I currently have stock, de-baffled mufflers.

Any thoughts from those who have come into a similar situation?

Thank you,
Scott

**ringadingh** · 10-19-2009, 07:52 PM

I use ear plugs most of the time while riding, and have V&H pipes as well. The pipes are louder than debaffled pipes but not real loud. Ive never had a problem hearing sirens coming near me, they are loud enough that it would be hard to not hear them if your in the vicinity.

jonsamson · 10-19-2009, 08:26 PM

Umm, the speed limit in downtown Houston is 20 Mph until you get out of the business district than it is 30 and no tall buildings. I wear ear plugs offten when on the freeway, I have VH pipes with ultimate baffles, and I can hear the sirens no problem, just don't race you motor and drive 30 mph in 1st gear and you should be ok.

**Jared** · 10-19-2009, 08:29 PM

+1

I too have the vh pipes with ultimate baffles and I've never had any problems.

scott2007nomad · 10-19-2009, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonsamson

Umm, the speed limit in downtown Houston is 20 Mph until you get out of the business district than it is 30 and no tall buildings. . . . just don't race you motor and drive 30 mph in 1st gear and you should be ok.

LOL, well thanks, I'm not really sure on the speed as I wasn't really watching the speedo and was in line with another car.

But thanks guys for the input, I won't have to worry about ear plugs then or shopping for new pipes.

**Top Cat** · 10-19-2009, 10:32 PM

**jestephens** · 10-19-2009, 10:46 PM

I've got loud pipes and never had any trouble hearing sirens. On the bike or in the car, I often hear something that causes me to look around but end up seeing the emergency vehicle really far away, and other driver still look oblivious.
Possibly there are some things we are tuned-in to and others we are not.

billz410 · 10-19-2009, 11:15 PM

I'm gathering you find these loud/aftermarket pipe threads rather humorous, TC???

**Top Cat** · 10-19-2009, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billz410

I'm gathering you find these loud/aftermarket pipe threads rather humorous, TC???

Yes bill I used to get in, shall we say, discussions about them.
I have decided I'm not going to change anyones mind by stating my well known opinion.
Soooooooo, I just keep quiet

and try to chillax.
CHILLAX= to chill out and relax

(from the tripster dictionary) ;)

cactusjack · 10-19-2009, 11:47 PM

Yes, you would hear sirens, air brakes, backup alarms, car horns, etc., with both loud pipes and earplugs. Earplugs don't eliminate your sense of hearing. You can hear almost everything, it just isn't as loud.

**Top Cat** · 10-20-2009, 09:37 AM

Just a thought.
How about the guy ridin' behind the guy with loud pipes.
Would they hinder his ability to hear. I think the guy behind gets more of the noise than the guy with the loud pipes.

cactusjack · 10-20-2009, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Top Cat (TC)

Just a thought.
How about the guy ridin' behind the guy with loud pipes.
Would they hinder his ability to hear. I think the guy behind gets more of the noise than the guy with the loud pipes.

Definitely the person behind would hear more than the rider with loud pipes. Maybe the guy ridin' behind shouldn't be following so closely?

rewindgy · 10-20-2009, 10:52 AM

What?? I can't hear you!!

dogdoc · 10-20-2009, 01:52 PM

V&H pipes with UB and ear plugs and you CAN still hear emergency vehicles easily. They are so much louder than anything we could throw at them.

caddman11 · 10-20-2009, 02:23 PM

I don't wear ear plugs and my pipes aren't all that loud, but sometimes I do go with in-ear isolation ipod plugs and with those I can't hear anything. I only wear them now on the slab, not around town because of reasons you mentioned.

I did try riding with a group of HD riders and couldn't take it for more than 5 minutes. I slowed down and let em go. Don't have any idea how they could stand the volume.

10-19-2009, 07:47 PM	#1
scott2007nomad Advanced Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Deer Park, TX Posts: 513	Could loud pipes impead safety? I was leaving work Friday in downtown Houston when I heard sirens. In downtown, it’s hard to tell where the sirens are coming from since the sound echos off of all the buildings. I came to a green light going about 30mph and noticed the sirens a little louder so I slowed down only to see two firetrucks coming into the intersection. Luckily I had plenty of time to come to a safe stop. So I’m wondering, if I had loud pipes, and maybe wearing ear plugs, would i have heard the sirens in time to stop? I currently have stock, de-baffled mufflers. Any thoughts from those who have come into a similar situation? Thank you, Scott Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

10-19-2009, 07:52 PM	#2
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Could loud pipes impead safety? I use ear plugs most of the time while riding, and have V&H pipes as well. The pipes are louder than debaffled pipes but not real loud. Ive never had a problem hearing sirens coming near me, they are loud enough that it would be hard to not hear them if your in the vicinity. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
	0

10-19-2009, 08:26 PM	#3
jonsamson Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 209	Could loud pipes impead safety? Umm, the speed limit in downtown Houston is 20 Mph until you get out of the business district than it is 30 and no tall buildings. I wear ear plugs offten when on the freeway, I have VH pipes with ultimate baffles, and I can hear the sirens no problem, just don't race you motor and drive 30 mph in 1st gear and you should be ok.
	0

10-19-2009, 08:29 PM	#4
Jared Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greeley, Colorado Posts: 6,772	Could loud pipes impead safety? +1 I too have the vh pipes with ultimate baffles and I've never had any problems. __________________ Jared VBA #1051 (Former President)
	0

10-19-2009, 10:32 PM	#6
Top Cat Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Peoples Republic of New York State Posts: 15,154	Could loud pipes impead safety? __________________ Tim "TC" Conley VBA #9 2011 Victory Kingpin mine 2013 Victory Boardwalk -hers [LEFT][COLOR=#000000] [SIZE=4]
	0

10-19-2009, 10:46 PM	#7
jestephens Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Fairview Heights, IL (StLouis) Posts: 1,601	Could loud pipes impead safety? I've got loud pipes and never had any trouble hearing sirens. On the bike or in the car, I often hear something that causes me to look around but end up seeing the emergency vehicle really far away, and other driver still look oblivious. Possibly there are some things we are tuned-in to and others we are not. __________________ Jay Stephens, Former National Vice President (2013-2015) 2006 Yamaha FJR1300 formerly 2011 Vaquero- Black formerly 2005 Nomad - black/silver
	0

10-19-2009, 11:15 PM	#8
billz410 Advanced Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Dodgeville, WI COLD!!! Posts: 550	Could loud pipes impead safety? I'm gathering you find these loud/aftermarket pipe threads rather humorous, TC???
	0

10-19-2009, 11:47 PM	#10
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	Could loud pipes impead safety? Yes, you would hear sirens, air brakes, backup alarms, car horns, etc., with both loud pipes and earplugs. Earplugs don't eliminate your sense of hearing. You can hear almost everything, it just isn't as loud. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
	0

10-20-2009, 09:37 AM	#11
Top Cat Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Peoples Republic of New York State Posts: 15,154	Could loud pipes impead safety? Just a thought. How about the guy ridin' behind the guy with loud pipes. Would they hinder his ability to hear. I think the guy behind gets more of the noise than the guy with the loud pipes. __________________ Tim "TC" Conley VBA #9 2011 Victory Kingpin mine 2013 Victory Boardwalk -hers [LEFT][COLOR=#000000] [SIZE=4]
	0

10-20-2009, 10:52 AM	#13
rewindgy Advanced Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 959	Could loud pipes impead safety? What?? I can't hear you!!
	0

10-20-2009, 01:52 PM	#14
dogdoc Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,263	Could loud pipes impead safety? V&H pipes with UB and ear plugs and you CAN still hear emergency vehicles easily. They are so much louder than anything we could throw at them.
	0

10-20-2009, 02:23 PM	#15
caddman11 Advanced Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Northwest Indiana Posts: 890	Could loud pipes impead safety? I don't wear ear plugs and my pipes aren't all that loud, but sometimes I do go with in-ear isolation ipod plugs and with those I can't hear anything. I only wear them now on the slab, not around town because of reasons you mentioned. I did try riding with a group of HD riders and couldn't take it for more than 5 minutes. I slowed down and let em go. Don't have any idea how they could stand the volume.
	0

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Loud Pipes under attack	afgunner	Off-Topic	19	05-10-2010 12:05 PM
Loud pipes	cactusjack	Off-Topic	13	04-15-2010 07:32 PM
My pipes are too loud	james40	Vulcan Nomad/Vaquero/Voyager	68	11-14-2009 03:14 PM
Loud pipes and other Government BS	oldbiker	Vulcan Nomad/Vaquero/Voyager	53	02-29-2008 09:07 PM
stock pipes loud	bustagut	Vulcan Nomad/Vaquero/Voyager	6	02-08-2008 08:55 PM