30-09-11, 09:01 PM
I used to love loud cans or even straight through pipes on my bikes, but I'd make sure I kept the noise down in residential areas. Sadly a lot of local bikers dont have the same consideration and tear up and down my local roads (urban 20 MPH) with no baffles which makes me cringe, as a biker as I can only expect my neighbours judge me as a biker based on the behaviour that other bikers display. I'd say that well over 50% of the time I'm out on my bike I'll see a young kid spot me and then defensively put their hands over their ears expecting to be deafened (even though I have my baffle in), and I can only think that excessively loud bikes being ridden without consideration are not only putting these kids off riding but enforcing a negative image of bikers with their parents, other pedestrians, and residents. Because of this I now only ride with my baffle fitted.