SF Pipe Crackdown

[Karbon]

I never said I've only been riding that long. I said that it's been that long since I've gotten cut off. The thing is, not getting cut off has next to nothing to do with how much noise your bike makes, and everything to do with how you ride. If I can go 3 years through LA traffic, including years of lanesharing 40 miles a day to and from work, long trips up the coast, rides up the twisties, etc, all with stock exhausts, then why can't you? I spent my first 100k miles as a new rider raging against all of those horrible cagers who kept putting me in bad situations, until I realized I was the one who was letting their careless actions put me in a bad place.

I changed my riding style, and learned to occupy the gaps in traffic, doing whatever it took to maximize those gaps. You'll find me riding out in front of the pack, or far behind the pack, never in it. I learned to identify potentially sketchy situations and slow down or speed up to avoid them, whatever minimizes the risk the best.

You make the same assumptions that I did when I started riding...that people are going to see you, that you "showing them your lane space" is going to protect you. They're not paying attention, they're not listening, they don't give a fuck if you have the pipes of the gods or whisper quiet stock pipes. Get the hell out of there. Maintain your space cushions. Look at every car and predict what the dumbest possible thing they could do is, and then put yourself in position so you are in the best place to avoid them. Car pulling out from the right? Move to the far side of the left lane. Car preparing to make a left? Move to the far side of the right lane. Car behind you? Switch lanes so that they're in the other lane. Car in front of you? Switch lanes so you're not hidden behind them and they're not blocking your vision. At a stop? Leave it in gear and watch your mirrors to make sure that the people behind you slow down.

There are thousands of these seemingly insignificant little things that go into riding in such a fashion where you won't have to end up in panic situations anymore. If you're swerving, that's a sign you didn't adequately predict the actions that you would need to take in advance. Every crash is always a combination of factors. Removing even one of those factors can be the difference between a crash and a pucker moment, or between getting cut off or riding past the car without them even realizing that you predicted their dumb move and compensated for it before they did it. It's also not just about being careful, it's also being aggressive and committing to a course of action when the situation warrants it.

Next time you go out and ride, think about it. Compensate for the worst case scenario before it happens. See if you get cut off more or less. If someone does cut you off, think about the situation, about what you could have done to avoid it before it happened, and then do that the next time you identify a similar situation.

FUKEN YES.

HELL YES.

 

[catch2otwo]

Remember, next time your fat ass has high blood pressure, its not your diet, its the loud bikers! What a waste of tax payer money. How about using that baton to beat down some pedestrians that just decided to cross the street like it was their job

 

[Z3n]

Remember, next time your fat ass has high blood pressure, its not your diet, its the loud bikers! What a waste of tax payer money. How about using that baton to beat down some pedestrians that just decided to cross the street like it was their job

So you think that you shouldn't be able to call the cops for noise related reasons, ever? Or for violating federal and state laws?

 

[Ferd]

+1

Hopefully they come to Oakland and start hitting the gangs

 

[RD400man]

Don't fine the rider, fine the manufacturer. that way we get to keep the loud pipes on our bikes (grandfathered in, of course).

If we can buy it, it's not our fault.

That's my story and i'm sticking to it.

pretty soon they'll be telling you when to shi* or get off the pot.

and put that merry-con flag away biotches.

I bet A B A T E is gonna really be up in arms about this. First the helmet and now the bike has to sound like a bumpy sewing machine....

 

[ar15600rr]

Loud Motorcycle Noise = Sleep disturbance
* Higher Blood Pressure
* Increased Heart Rate
* Fatigue
* Mood Disruption

OMFG..! Only in San Francisco..!

they really had to fish for some BS to put on there didnt they...

and all this talk about tinted windscreens. the cvc says no windscreens can be painted so visibility isnt obstructed... but how many people look through the windscreen on a sport bike... and if you are, you are probably going well over the speed limit.

 

[Brown81]

So you think that you shouldn't be able to call the cops for noise related reasons, ever? Or for violating federal and state laws?

I do. Leaf blowers. Fucking more annoying than any Harley.
Oh yeah, and screaming children.



I agree with most of what you are saying in this thread. However, I don't know where you came up with the idea that using your high beams is going to do anything. I gave up on that shit like 20 years ago.

If they are not going to see a BRIGHT RED GIANT VFR behind/going by them, they are certainly not going to see the BRIGHT RED GIANT VFR flashing it's high beams.

Now, I just behave as if all cars are driven by robots programmed to randomly veer all over the road while being completely unaware of turn signals or mirrors or anything else.

I don't even honk or flip a bird. One of the robots has to do something really special to even get a shake of the head from me.

 

[Var]

I personally notice/spot lane sharing bikes easier when they have loud exhaust. But it's still against the law so if you decide it's worth your while, suck it up and pay the fines in exchange for your real or percieved safety.

 

[Z3n]

I do. Leaf blowers. Fucking more annoying than any Harley.
Oh yeah, and screaming children.



I agree with most of what you are saying in this thread. However, I don't know where you came up with the idea that using your high beams is going to do anything. I gave up on that shit like 20 years ago.

If they are not going to see a BRIGHT RED GIANT VFR behind/going by them, they are certainly not going to see the BRIGHT RED GIANT VFR flashing it's high beams.

Now, I just behave as if all cars are driven by robots programmed to randomly veer all over the road while being completely unaware of turn signals or mirrors or anything else.

I don't even honk or flip a bird. One of the robots has to do something really special to even get a shake of the head from me.

I don't flash them, I just leave them on when I'm lanesharing. It's possibly illegal, but I have noticed a huge change in how many cars scoot to the side to give me a little more space. And I return the favor with a little wave. It works best when it's overcast or darker out (when most people have their lights on anyways), and I never do it at night.

And aren't leafblowers mandated at a federal level as well? I don't think people add V&H pipes to their leafblowers typically.

Don't fine the rider, fine the manufacturer. that way we get to keep the loud pipes on our bikes (grandfathered in, of course).

If we can buy it, it's not our fault.

That's my story and i'm sticking to it.

pretty soon they'll be telling you when to shi* or get off the pot.

and put that merry-con flag away biotches.

I bet A B A T E is gonna really be up in arms about this. First the helmet and now the bike has to sound like a bumpy sewing machine....

Just for the sake of it, "because it's there" is how 5 year olds justify their bad behavior, when they know it's bad but they refuse to take responsibility for it because it's just too difficult for their little baby hands to stay out of the cookie jar. It's also why we have lawsuits where people are suing McDonalds because they can't stop stuffing their faces with happy meals.

Put that merry-con flag away indeed. Personal responsibility is dead, long live finger pointing.

 

[Brown81]

I don't flash them, I just leave them on when I'm lanesharing. It's possibly illegal, but I have noticed a huge change in how many cars scoot to the side to give me a little more space. And I return the favor with a little wave. It works best when it's overcast or darker out (when most people have their lights on anyways), and I never do it at night.

I am glad that works for you. Here's the thing though, I kind of agree with your words here:

The thing is, not getting cut off has next to nothing to do with how much noise your bike makes, and everything to do with how you ride.

but I feel like it could just as easily say this:

The thing is, not getting cut off has next to nothing to do with how bright your headlights are, and everything to do with how you ride.

Know what I mean here? Not trying to bust yer balls, just trying to get my head around why you are totally against loud bikes because they are illegal. But, then you seem to not care at all if you driving around with your brights on is illegal or not? Just seems to be a bit of a double standard is all.

I mean, the loud pipe people (including several police depts) use the exact same argument that they think they:

have noticed a huge change in how many cars scoot to the side to give me a little more space.

Again, I tend to agree with what you are saying for the most part.

 

[Z3n]

I am glad that works for you. Here's the thing though, I kind of agree with your words here:



but I feel like it could just as easily say this:




Know what I mean here? Not trying to bust yer balls, just trying to get my head around why you are totally against loud bikes because they are illegal. But, then you seem to not care at all if you driving around with your brights on is illegal or not? Just seems to be a bit of a double standard is all.

I mean, the loud pipe people (including several police depts) use the exact same argument that they think they:


Again, I tend to agree with what you are saying for the most part.

Because my lights extend to exactly the audience I am trying to reach: The folks in front of me. Loud pipes are indiscriminate.

Let me sum it up this way: I'm for sniper rifles but against nukes.

It's a balance of 3 things: My safety, illegality, and the potential damage/discomfort to other people. I try to maximize safety while minimizing illegality and irritation to others. Highbeams might be illegal (gray area) but are easily "fixed", with minimal discomfort to others, and increase my safety. Loud pipes are illegal, not easily fixed, for a questionable safety gain, and will cause discomfort to those around me if I get hard on the throttle.

And I love getting hard on the throttle.

 

[JO EBRMC]

FUKEN YES.

HELL YES.

FUKEN YES *2

 

[Wack]

SF is going to start charging admission so they can pay for this type of idiocy. When tourism drops off as a result, they will simply raise admission. Keep in mind any modified bike is fair game not just the ones you don't like.

 

[Var]

^^ya it will be all illegal mods though. Can't really complain about it can you?

 

[Brown81]

Because my lights extend to exactly the audience I am trying to reach: The folks in front of me. Loud pipes are indiscriminate.

Let me sum it up this way: I'm for sniper rifles but against nukes.

It's a balance of 3 things: My safety, illegality, and the potential damage/discomfort to other people. I try to maximize safety while minimizing illegality and irritation to others. Highbeams might be illegal (gray area) but are easily "fixed", with minimal discomfort to others, and increase my safety. Loud pipes are illegal, not easily fixed, for a questionable safety gain, and will cause discomfort to those around me if I get hard on the throttle.

And I love getting hard on the throttle.

I tend to agree. But, the people against loud pipes always that they are useless because they are direction and you can not hear them until they are already passed you.

The people for loud pipes use the exact same argument:

"It's a balance of 3 things: My safety, illegality, and the potential damage/discomfort to other people."


Just sayin!

 

[Var]

Rememer when you are lanesplitting you aren't always passing traffic. Riding in rush hour is a dynamic experience. If you lane share at legal speeds cars WILL notice you easier or if you linger in between cars they will notice you easier.

 

[Z3n]

I tend to agree. But, the people against loud pipes always that they are useless because they are direction and you can not hear them until they are already passed you.

The people for loud pipes use the exact same argument:

"It's a balance of 3 things: My safety, illegality, and the potential damage/discomfort to other people."


Just sayin!

Of course it is. That's the core of most disagreements in life.

The difference is: I am more respectful towards others, even at a relatively minor amount of danger to myself. He'll, if you wave a thanks to people who move over in the split you're putting yourself in danger to some degree for "nothing".

As I mentioned before...my illegal actions are easily fixed with the flip of a switch and in no way indiscriminate. Pipes, not so much. I'm confident enough in my riding skills to safely say that I feel no additional risk from running stock pipes. Others don't feel the same way.

 

[Brown81]

Of course it is. That's the core of most disagreements in life.

The difference is: I am more respectful towards others, even at a relatively minor amount of danger to myself. He'll, if you wave a thanks to people who move over in the split you're putting yourself in danger to some degree for "nothing".

As I mentioned before...my illegal actions are easily fixed with the flip of a switch and in no way indiscriminate. Pipes, not so much. I'm confident enough in my riding skills to safely say that I feel no additional risk from running stock pipes. Others don't feel the same way.

Yeah, good points.

 

[machete]

Did you say SF put the crack pipe down?

never.

The simple way to avoid EVER being arrested in SF is to claim that you violated Federal law by ILLEGALLY sneaking into this country. Just say yer gay, and in yer homeland of asscrackenstan (or wherever) you are being persecuted............the DA's office will buy you a house and send you a written apology for stopping you, as you are in a "sanctuary city" (GAG!)


Sneakin' By!

nice