Cheap easy HP gains?

[mikefocke]

Recall that you ears are only good for so many vibrations before you begin to ask people to repeat themselves. You get to choose what you spend those vibrations on and how long to extend your natural hearing.

Every time I pull up next to a car whose vibrations I can feel in mine with the windows closed I wonder at the choices people make. Same goes for loud motorcycles. Think those drivers will look cool with hearing aids?

And pollution controls are good for all of us, every time I hear of someone bypassing them, again I wonder. For a seldom used race car...sure. Can't be a fanatic or not have some fun. But for a car that is just going to the store? And I sure can't feel 6 HP difference in HP or whatever it is. Maybe its just the 'my pipe is bigger than yours' thing, da ya think?

[shadrach74]

Originally Posted by mikefocke

Recall that you ears are only good for so many vibrations before you begin to ask people to repeat themselves. You get to choose what you spend those vibrations on and how long to extend your natural hearing.

Every time I pull up next to a car whose vibrations I can feel in mine with the windows closed I wonder at the choices people make. Same goes for loud motorcycles. Think those drivers will look cool with hearing aids?

And pollution controls are good for all of us, every time I hear of someone bypassing them, again I wonder. For a seldom used race car...sure. Can't be a fanatic or not have some fun. But for a car that is just going to the store? And I sure can't feel 6 HP difference in HP or whatever it is. Maybe its just the 'my pipe is bigger than yours' thing, da ya think?

Mike, I don't think anyone was advocating running catless on the street. It was a technical discussion based on my perception that some folks believe that the back pressure from catalytic converters actually broadens the power band. A properly designed exhaust system without cats will always produce more power than one with cats.

As for the noise, I share your disdain for overly loud pipes regardless of the vehicle. My town is plagued with Harley D-Bag wannabes on bikes so loud they will startle other drivers. While I find these riders terribly annoying, in the case of motorcycles, a certain amount of noise increases the awareness of other driver's to a cyclist's presence. As someone whose been street riding for 20 years, I'd prefer some noise over over quiet when riding a bike in traffic.