I should mention that a lot of motorcyclists feel that loud exhausts are a way of protecting themselves from distracted drivers.
If generating incessant noise is your only way of staying safe on the road, maybe consider getting something not as risky. Drive a car or take the bus. It works for the vast majority of people, maybe they’re on to something eh?
...Because they don't care about that crap. They are way ahead of your efficiency, often even ahead of the efficiency of a bus. A bike can get 70mpg without very much trouble and some more than 100mpg, and they don't cause traffic congestion in the first place because they occupy little additional space beyond the rider.
Gee, Maybe they're on to something, eh?
No motorcycle causes hearing damage beyond the rider, and this is caused by wind noise not the engine.
The "weaving in and out of crowded lanes" is easily solved: don't be a selfish prick, give them some room..
Car safety for occupants and pedestrians has improved dramatically over the last few decades. The same cannot be said for motorcycles.
The simple fact that my own life is at stake, makes me much more aware of my surroundings. This is a well researched neurological fact. Also, a 450lbs projectile has a lot less impact then a 2 ton one at the same speed. It is also significantly harder to hit a child with a 3' wide vehicle then with a 7' wide one..
Car safety for occupants has increased and due to a side effect of aerodynamic design survivability of a pedestrian crash has marginally increased. Due to gigantic A pillars and a false sense of security, the amount of accidents has significantly increased and the safety of other road users is at an all time low.
(450lbs motorcyle + 160lb rider) vs 60lb child = death.
Riding a motorcycle while impaired, is one of the leading causes of motorcycle fatalities. Failing to wear PPE accounts for a significant number of potentially non-fatal accidents becoming fatal. Distracted riding is also on the rise. This doesn't seem to imply motorcyclists are inherently more aware of their surroundings or making better decisions due to the increased danger.
I am very aware of all the leading causes of death for motorcyclists. Your conclusion doesn't make sense though, there is a ridiculous amount of selection bias in there: they only looked at people who died... By and far motorcyclists are very safety concious people, they have to be: those who aren't tend to quit quickly, one way or another. Personally, I have ridden a motorcycle as my primary form of transportation for over 30 years without any meaningful incidents
Your comment was, literally, "what about noisy motorbikes".
Not a motorcyclist, but I’ve heard this from many places. Can say that as a bicyclist, my best pieces of biggest safety equipment were in roughly descending order of importance: having my head in a swivel (vigilance), perfecting a barking shout, really good brakes, and in last place, a helmet. If the helmet comes into play you’re already at least a little fucked.
If I could make bikes louder I probably would.
The one time I’m aware I cut off a motorcyclist, it was his engine that kept me out of his lane (to be fair, he was nearly in my blind spot, which is partly on him)