Do Loud Motorcycle Pipes Increase Safety?

Motorcycles are one of the most innovative modes of transportation. They are ideal for city traveling and off-road adventures because of their small size. Regardless of their smaller size, motorcycles are competent machines for taking you long miles. It will take you less time on a motorcycle to reach a destination, even if you travel in a city that remains busy throughout the day.

However, motorcycles are less safe than cars when it comes to safety. Due to their smaller size, motorcycles tend to be less visible to other vehicles on the road. It can be difficult for large vehicles to notice motorcycles, particularly when riding at high speeds or intersections.

Therefore, motorcyclists are advised to make themselves more visible on the road while riding. This helps them be more noticeable to car drivers and is also safer.

There are many ways through which a rider can improve his visibility. These include:

• Wearing bright-colored clothing

• Reflective motorcycle riding vests

• Bright-colored helmets

• Using bright headlights

• Day-time running lights (DRLs)

• Installing Reflectors on motorcycles

• Honking motorcycle horns

• Using turn signals/indicators

These are the most common ways a rider can make himself more visible to other road users to ensure safety. However, some riders claim that loud motorcycles also increase your safety and prevent motorcycle accidents from happening. According to these riders, loud motorcycle pipes make you more noticeable on the road.

Is it true? Do loud motorcycle pipes increase safety by making you more prominent and noticeable? Do statistics prove the same? Continue reading this article to learn in detail whether loud motorcycle pipes increase safety or not.

Many international studies based on experiments have found that loud motorcycle pipes have no such role to play in making riding safer. Loud motorcycle pipes don’t help bikers become more prominent and noticeable.

There is no evidence supporting this claim. Most probably because the exhaust pipes are located at the back of the motorcycle. The sound coming out of the exhaust pipes travels backward. Hence, the cars or vehicles in front of you fail to notice the loud sound from your motorcycle pipes.

Another study in Romania carried out several experiments to find how useful loud motorcycle pipes are to ensure bikers' safety. According to this study, modern cars are capable of keeping noise to a minimum due to their tightly enclosed structure. Modern cars are so well-packed that even the loudest motorcycle pipes are difficult to hear.

The study further adds that people sitting inside a modern car will not hear a motorcycle approaching them until it is within 33 feet from behind. A motorcycle is most noticeable to a car driver when it is beside it.

According to the 2018 Road Safety Annual Report of France , it is estimated that approximately 33% of motorcycle accidents occur in busy urban areas where the traffic remains at its peak. There are the areas where the noise pollution is the maximum, making even louder motorcycle pipes less audible to car drivers.

According to scientific research and statistics, loud motorcycle pipes may not help keep riders safe. However, common perceptions and beliefs about loud motorcycle pipes increasing safety and preventing accidents still exist.

If you ask someone unaware of the scientific research, he/she will most probably vote in favor of loud pipes to prevent accidents. Loud motorcycle pipes may not make a rider noticeable on the road, but they are used to get the attention of road users. It is one of the most common motorcycle modifications that stands out from other motorcyclists.

Installing loud motorcycle pipes helps you get noticed by other road users, most specifically other motorcycle riders . However, it depends on how loud a motorcycle pipe is. If your bike has extremely loud pipes, you are probably being criticized and considered irresponsible. You are considered a rider who is contributing heavily to noise pollution.

As a motorcyclist, several proven ways exist to become more visible to cars and other large vehicles. As discussed previously, it is important to use the below methods to be noticeable and safe on the road:

These tips are not only for low-light conditions. You must always stay visible to avoid getting hit by a large vehicle because you are in the blind spot.

Besides wearing bright riding gear and making themselves more prominent on the road, riders must improve their riding technique. Opting for a defensive riding style is one of the safest strategies for avoiding a motorcycle accident.

For this, you must assume that you are invisible to others. Road users can’t see you unless you make eye contact with them. Road safety is in your own hands. You have to rely solely on your riding to be safe while on the road.

Therefore, ride slowly and sensibly and be defensive at all times. Don’t indulge in road rages, aggressive riding, or swerving dangerously on the road.

There are various reasons why motorcyclists install loud pipes on their bikes. Some riders want to stand out and have everybody notice them, so they install extra loud pipes. They do it to look cool.

However, on the contrary, some riders believe that loud motorcycles are safer as they prevent accidents. They think that loud motorcycle pipes help them become prominent and noticeable to other road users, particularly cars and large vehicles.

Constant exposure to loud sound can result in hearing problems and even loss in severe cases. According to a scientific study, most motorcycles typically produce a sound of around 85 dB. However, some high-performance bikes also make a much louder sound of more than 100 dB, which can cause hearing loss. Below is the chart to learn more about the sound frequency and safe exposure. If the exposure exceeds the same limit, you are more likely to suffer from hearing loss.

Read the article below to learn in detail about it:

Motorcycles must not produce a sound of more than 100 dB . Even for the high-performance motorcycles, it must be around 92-100 dB . However, it is the maximum limit. Your hearing can still get damaged if you are continuously exposed to a sound of 100 dB for hours .

The answer to this question is simply ‘Yes’. You should wear earplugs if you regularly ride a motorcycle. Earplugs provide the best protection to your ears while riding, particularly in busy traffic areas. It doesn’t matter even if you are wearing a good-quality helmet and balaclava; earplugs are still a must-used equipment for regular motorcyclists.

Some exhaust systems and mufflers amplify motorcycle sound, while others minimize the noise coming out of the exhaust pipes. Silencers installed on a motorbike are usually more effective in reducing sound than regular mufflers.

To make motorcycles quiet, one must ensure that the silencer is perfectly attached to the exhaust system. Also, before installing a silencer, the rider must confirm that its radius is smaller than the exhaust pipes’ inner area.

There are diverse opinions on this topic. Some riders say that it is quite enjoyable to listen to music while riding at the same time. However, it can be distracting, making rides unsafe.

If you still want to listen to a motorcycle while riding, ensure it is not loud. Check if you can hear the vehicles approaching you. Ensure it doesn’t block your ears; you can listen to the background noise. Also, you must be able to switch music easily without risking your safety.

You may be suffering from tinnitus if you can hear the ringing sound after riding a motorcycle. It is an indication of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). In this condition, the delicate hair inside your ear may be damaged due to being constantly exposed to loud noise.

Motorcycles can produce up to 80-100 dB, which can change depending on speed. A noise of 80 dB may only be an issue if your ears are exposed to it longer.

Motorcycle engines and constant exposure to the wind while riding are significant causes of tinnitus. You must wear a helmet that perfectly fits your head to block wind from entering your ears and causing hearing issues.

It is established that loud motorcycle pipes don’t usually help make rides safer. They may make you more noticeable on the road, but louder pipes don’t help increase safety and prevent accidents. You may get prominent, and other motorcyclists may notice you for being extra loud (for wrong reasons). However, someone driving a modern-day car may not see you even if your bike has loud pipes.

Modern cars also come with premium and loud sound systems for music. Also, the highly enclosed structure of these cars makes them completely soundproof. You may not be able to hear anything from outside.