On one of my old Harley's I'd fitted shotgun fishtails, which were simply open tubes with a shaped end piece, and I can remember riding just bumbling along through some flat countryside.
I glanced around the field as I knew that's where the road went and saw a girl astride a horse frantically trying to open a field gate and get the horse in. It was a few hundred metres away but even though I dribbled past the field entrance she shook her fist at me.
At this point you do one of two things. You either gun it & shoot off finger in the air style or just ignore her, and I'm pleased to think back because I just ignored her.
But...it did make me realise that we all need some discretion and share the same place. To me, the vee twin noise isn't as manic or harshly disturbing as a frantic screaming four on a sports bike.
In the same vein I agree with Andymot in that a burbly or thunderous V8 isn't as anti-social as a high revving hot hatch. Noisy yes, but not as frightening maybe?
On any trip longer than the local Co-op & back, any loud exhaust is a pain..
