Loud Pipes

Here I go. I really wanted to stay away from this subject, but I can't any longer. This is a polarizing issue and I would be remiss if I didn't at least offer my opinion.

Stock pipes suck. There's no question about it. Equally indisputable is the fact that there is nothing that sounds better than a v-twin with the right set of pipes. On my VTX 1300, I have Vance and Hines Big Shots. They offer stylish looks, and that indistinguishable v-twin lope we all dream about. They are plenty loud enough, but with an easy throttle hand, I can reign in the noise when I need to (i.e. when leaving for work at 4am or when passing through town on a crowded afternoon).

There are two styles of loud pipes that I can't stand; straight-piped, no-baffled, unmuffled v-twin cruisers, and high-revving- high-pitched cans on sport bikes. Both of these are completely and unnecessarily obnoxious. Riders who insist on riding with either of these styles of pipes are just quickening the legislation that will, one day, require all bikes to sport OEM exhausts.

Loud pipes save lives. That's the mantra from either of the two groups mentioned previous. No they don't. Not even a little bit. The little old lady that's going to pull in front of you will not hear your pipes (blatting behind you, nonetheless) until it's too late. The 16-year old girl is too busy gossiping with her friends and won't hear (or see you) before she pulls out in front of you. The 17-year old boy is more concerned with impressing his buddies and listening to his stereo entirely too loud and won't hear you. Shall I go on? LOUD PIPES DO NOT SAVE LIVES!!!!