California may soon allow aftermarket exhausts for motorcycles
Click above for more shots of the Victory Vision 10th Anniversary model
The nation watches as California sets its own standards when it comes to vehicles and emissions. It is often the case that other states, and sometimes the entire rest of the country, follow that far-left State's lead as it progressively makes decisions affecting our vehicles, including motorcycles. There are quite a number of bikes which cannot be sold in California due to its specific motorcycle emissions regulations, a fact which surely dismays many a manufacturer. Of the bikes that can be sold there, they cannot be modified in any way without CARB's green light. As you may know, it is rather common for motorcyclists to change their exhausts, but this cannot be done without using a CARB-certified exhaust fitted with a catalytic converter. There are many hurdles to making it happen, but meetings between manufacturers, dealers and legislators are currently underway which could allow motorcycle buyers a legal outlet to modify their bikes.
[Source: Dealer News via Cyril Huze Blog]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Hilary Green 10:11AM (9/09/2008)
I'm from PA and know someone who has actually gotten pulled over for having an aftermarket exhaust. How the cop spotted it, I have no idea but luckly he got away with just a warning.
Hilary Green
http://www.carsforgirls.com
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MikeW 1:30PM (9/09/2008)
Maybe he heard the exhaust first.
Tyler 12:55PM (9/09/2008)
I'm normally not a fan of legislation that limits what you can do w/ your own car because it typically makes it very hard to do things that are actually beneficial. I understand the intent, and I appreciate that it can keep pollution out of the air, but they are often so complex that I it would prevent me, for example from building a vehicle for myself only that might not pollute at all!
Anyway, allowing exhaust modifications on motorcycles concerns me because the OEM's make very reasonable exhausts these days and I have never seen anyone replace the factory one w/ something better. It is invariably an earsplitting(my favorite is when the rider does this, then puts in earplugs... yes, I've seen it many many times), cat-eliminating piece of junk. If they get together, require that cats work as well as AND noise levels not exceed OEM, then I'm all for it... but isn't that pretty much allowed anyway?
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Rod 5:04PM (9/09/2008)
Tyler has never owned a motorcycle. The earplugs are not because the pipes are loud. It's the wind noise when you are above 50 mph. Depending on the type of helmet you wear, the wind noise can get so loud at highway speeds you can't hear your own exhaust, even if you had open pipes.
Peter Kelly 12:54PM (9/09/2008)
Far left state? Leave the opinions out of your articles and focus on the facts. Of course we should let everyone do everything they want to. It won't cause the planet to self-destruct... until after you're dead. As a motorcycle rider, CARD rules may get in the way of some exhausts, but just like cars, there are TONS of options available that ARE CARB certified.
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Trev 4:56PM (9/09/2008)
Have ya looked at a map recently?
Dave 1:21PM (9/09/2008)
Like Peter said, keep the political commentary out and stick to the facts, please. It's completely unnecessary.
The only reason California has even half-way decent air quality across the state is because of the "far-left" and "draconian" laws established by CARB which set restrictions on emissions and engine modifications which 9 times out of 10 result in significantly higher emissions than stock.
And while air pollution is also a concern of mine, the larger concern for me as it's more noticable (living in a medium-high density population area) is noise pollution which serves as a constant reminder of other people's disregard for those around them. Aftermarket exhausts on cars and motorcycles is probably the largest source of high noise levels in my area and are very frequently disturbing to me and my family while resting.
I don't have anything against the aftermarket, and consider myself an enthusiast (having modified my own vehicles), but what needs to be done is to establish reasonable testing procedures and guidelines to allow aftermarket manufacturers to create goods that meet regulations without unnecessarily disturbing the environment around them.
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Whopper 2:11PM (9/09/2008)
Geez, couldn't you find something other than a Victory Vision for a photo? Any other Victory bike would have worked but that monstrosity is grotesque!
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Brad 2:35PM (9/09/2008)
California is on the left-hand side of the continental US. Am I the only one who known geography, or am I the the only one without a political stick up my butt?
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rg 4:10PM (9/09/2008)
I would have to say that while I'm not geographically challenged and do in fact know my right from left, both literally and politically, I too don't have a political stick up my butt. It's easy to tell who's on what side politically when people respond way they do. They'll get over it. Of course I also pride myself in always being "right"!
mroverlord 5:33PM (9/10/2008)
As I have said many times before, CARB is just a self-sustaining beuracracy (sp?) that makes crap up to keep itself relavent. Sorry, but installing a cold air intake on your car is NOT going to effect emmisions, nor is installing ANY cat-back exhaust.....but you still need a CARB number to sell it. That way they get to charge you money, and justify their existance. Has anyone asked why thier "new" mileage standards are tougher than the Feds "new" upcoming standards?
Answer: If they EVER agree with the Feds they would immediately render themselves irrelevent.
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MotorMouth 10:28AM (9/19/2008)
As said before, there are plenty of options out there that are CARB certified. However, some of the best are not. It my core I am partial to the downfall of CARB all together, but I do realize that is is in the best interest of the people that we have CARB. With that, I submit to their tyranny and have purchased a CARB certified exhaust for my own ride.
MotorMouth, staff
http://iwblogger.com
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Linda 9:50PM (7/12/2009)
Hi all, I have a question. I will be moving to California from Texas and own a GSXR 600. I'm wanting to put on an after market exhaust, but after some research found out that there is a db limit in the State of California.
Can anyone tell me of an after market exhaust that would be legal in California? I'd like to get the bike street legal before my move while I have the resources and networking to get it done at a decent price.
Thanks!
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