@ TG, while there are no guarantees, watch some AMA racing sometime... those guys go down @ speeds upwards of 200, and usually walk away... So don't fool yourself into thinking your odds are the same with or without gear. your odds of walking away, rather than being carted away, are MUCH MUCH MUCH better with gear on. Loud pipes don't save lives, gear does. I'm totally against mandating it, but I'm all for reccomending it.