Hacker News Reader

My reply to that (as a motorcyclist of 30+ years) is, "If loud pipes save lives, imagine what learning to ride that thing would do?"

We make it illegal to eat or use cell phones while driving because distracted driving is dangerous, yet it's ok to rattle everyone's windows with your Harley.

Even if somehow it is 'safer' for the biker it's definitely not for everyone else.

It's much safer than not hearing traffic or covering sounds from the environment using a car stereo though.

It’s not “ok”, we have the same laws against loud exhausts. They’re just not enforced. Why? I have no idea. Should be easier to enforce than cellphones.

There’s a pretty common four word slogan called “Loud pipes save lives” - if you look out for it you’ll start to see it everywhere, bumper stickers, tshirts, etc. Its somewhat controversial and not widely accepted by all motorcycle riders.

I never heard safety being ever related to it, only being the motorbike version of tuning culture.