• stoy@lemmy.zipEnglish
    131·
    4 months ago

    This is the classic argument for loud bikes, and it shows a lack of understanding physics and human nature.

    Physics, the sound is generated by the exhaust pointing backwards, this means that the sound doesn’t propagate well ahead of the bike, but way better behind the bike.

    Human nature, human nature when hearing a loud sound is to find the source, however, by the time a driver has heard the sound the source have often passed, causing a needless distraction. Also, bikes tend to make a very basy sound, this is terrible for humans to hear the direction of.

    Finally, if bikers are so concerned about being noticed by other drivers, why don’t they wear high visibility vests and trousers?

    • iamdefinitelyoverthirteen@lemmy.worldEnglish
      22·
      3 months ago

      Most bikes are not bassy it’s mostly thumpers and harleys that are bassy. Just wait until you get passed by a bunch of squids on sport bikes with parallel twins and I4s, those are much higher, and represent a large percentage of the bikers out there.

      Also, I’m grateful that my bike is loud. I don’t rev it to high hell though, but an additional sensory input for the fuckhead texting on the freeway is not a bad thing. A lot of people where I live (Seattle) don’t pay attention on the road and it’s pretty scary on a bike surrounded by them sometimes. Sometimes it is simply not possible to have a decent safety bubble when there’s traffic.

      • stoy@lemmy.zipEnglish
        1·
        3 months ago

        Most bikes are not bassy it’s mostly thumpers and harleys that are bassy.

        Fair critisism.

        Just wait until you get passed by a bunch of squids on sport bikes with parallel twins and I4s, those are much higher

        I know, they attract idiots who refuse to keep the playtime to the track, and endanger everyone else.

        an additional sensory input for the fuckhead texting on the freeway is not a bad thing.

        The depends on the stimuli, a sudden loud noise as a bike zooms past a distracted driver is a TERRIBLE “sensory input” as you say, it could easily cause the driver to swerve causing a big accident which would not happen if not for the noise triggering it.

        You could, and should argue that the distracted driver should not have been driving distractedly, I would however add that the biker should not have driven past at so high speed that they other drivers only notice them once they have passed.