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Thanks Seth for the leads. Loud pipes do loose rights in some cases. I think trail bikes and off road should be as silent as possible, unless racing. I am also not a believer in irreversible mods. I can always put back the stock system if I want sewing machine quite again. Ill post some photos of what I do if anything...

Several years ago, it was commonly reported among airheads that EPCO's customer service/responsiveness left something to be desired. Perhaps it's gotten better.

If you are having close calls regularly, you need to change your riding. If you are not there, they can't hurt you. Don't be there! Believe and act as you are invisible. It is the way.

I am sorry , but I absolutely disagree with the invisible thing. In July I will have had my M/C licence for 40 years. I've been well over 100k mikes on motorcycles. (mostly BMW airheads). I wouldn't have lasted this long if I wasn't doing something right. I use my bike as often as possible and go everywhere I can on it all season. I am a safe sensible and courteous rider. I never split lanes and always "wait my turn" as if I was in a car. I know the intent is good, but being VISIBLE in this world of cell phones drivers without any licence, new drivers, air conditioning and loud radios is the key to survival.

I'm not saying that you shouldn't enhance your conspicuity. I'm saying it won't always help, and if you knew you were invisible to other road users, if you believed this with evangelical zeal, you would have a better chance. IMO relying on being seen or heard is a mistake. As far as loud pipes go, in modern vehicles with multiple audio distractions, sound insulated interiors, would they even know where a noisy pipe was coming from?

MC licence 47 years, over 500,000 touring KLMs
Canada Saftey Council instructor, Senior instructor, Progam manager 10 years.
Motorcycle safety video producer.
Owned and ridden 42 motorcycle so far. ect.

You are never visible. You are simply not there, as far as many drivers are concerned.

It is the nature of the human mind to discard information that it deems unimportant, such as a motorcycle approaching from a distance. The mind is busy with cell phones, shopping lists, getting laid, being late, larger vehicles posing an imminent threat.

Zombie Master wrote:You are never visible. You are simply not there, as far as many drivers are concerned.

I think accepting this is very important. Drivers will look at you, make eye contact and still pull out in front of you. Never presume they see you no matter what. The unexpected should be expected and accepted as normal because from driver to driver it's impossible to know what they'll do.

Agree Zombie & Steve. I misunderstood you. I was thinking for a moment there that maybe I should drive at night with the lights off One must never believe they see you even when you think they are looking right at you. I still hold to my experience that when passing through the inevitable blind spot that the added presence of being heard helps drivers to know that you are there. I will however never assume though that they know I am present...An escape route is always contemplated. Thanks.

Being riding 45 years etc and commute to work on a motorcycle.

As I get older I've given far more thought to my personal safety and began actively practicing enhanced awareness of other road users years ago but it was not enough on it's own. I may not have had an accident because I anticipated what others might do but there were a few near misses due to "not being seen" The one big improvement in recent years was swapping black leather for full Hi Vis. Since I started wearing a full Hi Vis jacket I haven't experienced a single incident of not being seen as evidenced by the usual pulling out in front of me or across my path. I realise it can still happen and I'm acutely aware that anything that makes you feel too safe is a recipe for misplaced over confidence.

My real worry is that modern car drivers with ABS, anti this, anti that and 57 airbags feel so safe they are invincible. Drivings modern cars feels just too safe and that's part of the problem.

I'll get to my point first, and then an explanation.
You should probably give Gibson some slack.
I would hazard a guess that most of you have not driven in Long Island. I live an hour away from the western edge and occasionally have to drive there to visit relatives. Otherwise, I'd never go there. Too much traffic. Crazy drivers. To me, the roads aren't fun. I would not ride there if I didn't have to. In fact, I don't like driving a car there. But the bottom line is that people get used to the environment they live in. When you live somewhere for a while, you get used to it and it becomes "normal". What's normal for me is not the same as for others.

Bottom line. I can understand why Gibson does not think a loud horn or hi-viz clothes would help. He needs to be noticed when people aren't looking and by the time you hit your horn, it's too late. And with all that traffic, there is no such thing as not being in someone's blind spot.

The further east in Long Island you go, the better off you are. Not sure where Gibson lives so what sort of roads he's got to ride on. But I'm sure they are not what most of us are used to.

Best of luck, Gibson, on your rides.

Thank you all!! Seth, I think everyone understands somewhat, but you really understand because you are familiar with the area. Thanks. I live in Western Suffolk County. I feel that this has been a very productive thread. I really appreciate all of the good input! I learned a lot, and thought a lot about what everyone has said. Everyone has raised some very good points.
The number of motorcycle fatalities here on Long Island has been greater this summer than I can ever remember. Tragically, I feel a lot of them could have been avoided if riders would consider and realize some of these important points. There is nothing that tarnishes motorcycling more than accidents. I have lived and ridden here all of my life, so the decline of this area as a riding location has been slow, however there still are many really beautiful, places to ride here.
I am still running the stock muffler, so it still sounds like a big sewing machine...