I disagree, here in Los Angeles (and probably other big congested cities) it helps to be making some noise particularly on the freeway. I had stock pipes on my CB750 and they were very quiet (probably the quietist bike I have ever owned) which is nice but. I found myself dodging cars left and right on the freeway. At least in my town people always drive like they are in a hurry on their cell phones and don't seem to pay much attention to what is behind or next to them unless it is loud has strobes, siren or an air horn.
I actually got hit by a lady on the 405 freeway coming back from the bike's photo shoot for Verizon. The lady didn't see or hear me as I was passing along side of her (so she says) and she turned right into me at about 65 mph. The first thing that hit her car was the mirror and brake lever which came back with enough force to bruise my fingers and the impact on the handlebar turned the wheel and the bike lunged up the side of her shiny new BMW. The front than bounced off of her car and I had some brief wobbles but thanks to the long wheelbase was able to hold on and slow down for impact number 2 which luckily by that time was only at about 15 mph and though I am not quite sure I think my fingers got smashed for a second time and I almost dropped the bike but was able to lift it with my crazy adrenaline. Maybe I am warped but in the moment aside from OH #$%* I remember thinking at least the bike made it to a photo shoot!!!! Shouldn't my life have been flashing before my eyes??? The damage was minimal to my baby. just bent the mirror, handlebar and scuffed the fork. I bent the mirror back on the spot and had the lady buy me a new set of handlebars. I let the scuff slide just because you could hardly notice it and it's a battle scar. Her car had a bike print in the side. :-) That was in January and after that I installed a V&H 4into1 for performance and most people seem to be aware of me on the road now. I try to stay where they can see me but when I need to make a pass they can hear me buzzing which makes them a bit more cautious I'd say. When I get home I just keep it low and slow and I never get any complaints from the neighborhood. The bike is looking pretty as ever just got back from a lovely ride as a matter of fact. Peace & grease! ~Aldo _____ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Mark Hasslinger Sent: Friday, June 26, 2009 10:33 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Loud V&H exhaust: options? Wrong! no amount of noise is any deterant to unsafe drivers. the noise only serves to upset the general population and will result in laws against anything but stock mufflers. the pressure is mounting in all the small towns i ride thru, many have now posted signs at the outskirts of town cautioning against said noise. your only working against your interest by having loud exhaust. better get yourself educated! --- On Fri, 6/26/09, MrViggy <[email protected]> wrote: From: MrViggy <[email protected]> Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Loud V&H exhaust: options? To: [email protected] Date: Friday, June 26, 2009, 10:25 AM I would think that a noise canceling headset would be dangerous in it's own right. It would be much harder to hear sirens on emergency vehicles. Viggy On Fri, Jun 26, 2009 at 9:17 AM, stanley/ Randolph <[email protected] <http://us.mc817.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]> > wrote: A certain amount of noise from the exhaust is a safety thing. People may not see you, but they certainly hear you and that is a good thing, as they will tend to be more respectful of the noise than a light or the actual machine. I don't care for noisy exhaust, but on a bike, the helmet can reduce it enough; if not, it may be too loud, or not. Maybe add extra padding; or a noise canceling headset? Stanley _____ From: Marco <[email protected] <http://us.mc817.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]> > To: Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers! <[email protected] <http://us.mc817.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=nighthawk_lov...@googlegroups. com> > Sent: Friday, June 26, 2009 6:50:30 AM Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Loud V&H exhaust: options? As I recall the safety thing is an urban legend at best, a total non- starter at worst. After all, sound is directional; alerting the people (and deer) that you've already passed to your presence is not exactly useful. The horn's mounted on the front for a reason :) I see deer around me all the time; they aren't spooked by my un- baffled exhaust. They are only sometimes spooked by flashing high beams. The horn is only slightly more effective. Literally, the little bastards just stand in the middle of the street. Presumably the deer population survival strategy is to breed like mad and accept high road losses. "Like the sound" is entirely different. I like to hear that my engine's running smoothly, too. (After all, it's a contrast to all the H-D's around which have that "slightly out of tune" note - sharp-flat sharp-flat sharp-flat). We all make a deal with the devil with respect to how loud, how early, and how often. Anyhow, I was talking to an online retailer who found some replacement V&H megaphone baffles for me; I'm going to order two, see if they fit in my stock exhaust, and if not simply replace the single one on my V&H street megaphone. Will report back with the results. Ciao, Marco On Jun 25, 6:16 pm, Music and Nighthawk Nut <[email protected] <http://us.mc817.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]> > wrote: > I tote a gun, but have never used the whistles. I just want loud > exhaust cause I like how it sounds and also so people can hear you > before they see you, kinda a safety thing. </table Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.375 / Virus Database: 270.12.92/2203 - Release Date: 06/26/09 05:53:00 --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
