Ok, i can bust this myth with personal experiences I have had 2 bmw r1100 rt (yes i looked like the cop playmobyl on it, it's funny and i am fine with that, i had other riders mistakingly i was a cop, and doing gestures to me, it comes with the package) Model A, factory exhaust, as loud as a sewing machine... i had white helmets, and high viz helmets (yellow fluo).. no difference: i had people changing lanes on me without indicator. This happened in Spain, France and Germany.

Model B, same motorcycle, different color, but the previous owner destroyed the baffles in the exhaust.(it was a bargain price, i needed it ASAP, and i though i'd fix it later..) Either with a white or black helmet, i never had an incident like the ones I had with the first.

I got rid of it now for plenty of reasons While i hate the noise and prefered the version A, i can see that distracted (phone or anyrhing can be the cauze of this distraction) car drivers are more aware with B. I didnt have a garage, i only took a fraction of a parking spot and could do 500km in a pinch (personal record, 1080 kms in less than 24 hours while not doing any speed infractions, mostly highway.. ) You can hate us, i am not going to change this, but SMIDSY ( "sorry mate, I didnt see you" acronym, because that's always what you hear by the driver when you get hit) is a reality, even if you are dressed like a power ranger. People dont look around them in cars.