Motorcycles in California may soon need smog tests
For several decades, drivers in California have had to go through an annual ritual of getting the emissions systems of their cars tested to make sure they comply with state regulations. While air quality in the Golden State has undoubtedly improved since the 1960s, smog is still a major problem in places like Los Angeles. In an effort to address that, the California legislature is now considering expanding those smog checks to motorcycles.
If passed in its current form, motorcycles larger than 280 cc and newer than model year 2000 would be required to go through annual smog checks beginning in 2012. While cars and trucks have eliminated more than 99 percent of noxious emissions (hydrocarbons, NOx, particulates, etc) since the 1970s, motorcycles are still estimated to produce more than 15 times the emissions per mile.
While bikes have gotten cleaner in as-delivered condition from the factory, many riders have modified their bikes. The annual checks are meant to ensure that even if they are modified, bikes would still need to pass the regulations in effect when they were built.
[Source: Green Car Congress]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jason 1:32PM (5/04/2009)
This just doesn't seem very realistic to me.
Most motorcycle exhausts couple the catalytic converter and muffler into one unit, which is, in most cases, a slip on. Riders will simply slip on the stock exhaust, ride over and get checked, ride home, and put the racing exhaust back on.
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Jason 1:56PM (5/04/2009)
You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. More restrictive exhaust, while annoying, actually makes power delivery smoother. Also, while it will slow you down, a moderately less responsive engine will make for smoother acceleration and compression braking. The only place it has bad safety implications is in mid-corner shifting, and that flat out isnt necessary on the street.
gorr 1:33PM (5/04/2009)
This is a dangeurous thing to do, falsifiate the power delivery of motorcycles. Motorcycles
power delivery have to be carrefully controlled by the rider at any time while on the road, expecially in the curves. It's a question of instant equilibrum, if not you end-up doing abrupt surge in power after having mess with an irresponsive engine for 2 seconds then no compression when needed, etc, then you might have serious problems. I know that all car certified by epa since 2000 have these problems, no one noticed anything because no ones know mechanical engineering and politics and only behave to what the goverment say.
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Jason 1:56PM (5/04/2009)
wow, now I feel special. I meant to reply to gorr, not myself
jpm 1:36PM (5/04/2009)
Another way for greedy, wasteful politicians to raise state "revenues". Come to LA, most people ride around in air conditioned SUVs. It's surprising to see so few motorcycles compared to the bay area.
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Jon 2:54PM (5/04/2009)
To be honest, you have to have a deathwish to ride a motorbike in LA.
why not the LS2LS7? 1:59PM (5/04/2009)
I thought you already covered this? AB did.
There's no reason why bikes shouldn't have to pass the same measures as cars, and there's no reason this should be a big onus either.
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jharlan 2:36PM (5/04/2009)
I was worried about GORR, I hadn't seen any of his crap for days. I have the solution. I'll trade my 400 in on a 250
Falsifiate?
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gorr 10:47AM (5/05/2009)
I said and i repeat that motorcycles should be carrefully controled by the rider, especially in the curves to maintain a precise speed, the torque applied to the rear wheel should be felt by the rider and corrected instantly and gently which zealous pollution control artifacts can impede. With the laws and political projects that bloggers here have provoked in real u.s.a society and have kill auto industry and maintain a high pollution rate and many economic castastrophes, then at least don't kill the motorcycles market. Just buy a volt or a tesla or a prius and don't impede real technology like suzuki hyabusas, harley-davidson road kings and gazeous non-polluting and no fuel cost hydrogen cars and trucks and ships and tractor-trailers and airplanes and trains and electrical generation.
harlanx6 11:44AM (5/05/2009)
Gorr:
I kind of agree with most of what you said, except I really don't think there will ever be anything close to "no fuel cost hydrogen", In fact it will probably be the most expensive fuel you could possibly use.
FitFan 2:32PM (5/04/2009)
FWIW, the smog tests for cars are biannual.
It will be very easy for motorcyclists to cheat these tests. It just means that they'll need to hold on to their stock pipes.
I think this is more of a revenue issue for California.
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james 3:03PM (5/04/2009)
Perhaps this will help enhance the market for the battery electric motorcycles we've been hearing so much about.
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harold 2:15AM (5/05/2009)
In the san francisco bay area one third of the polution in the air is from china.it takes two to three weeks to get here. i think china should clean up there air before we do anything more.
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Nick 1:06AM (5/05/2009)
It's about time motorcycle emissions are regulated better! BTW it's bi-annual, not annual checks.
Another way to improve air quality would be mandating Diesel Particle Filters (DPF) on older Diesel vehicles, just like in Europe. It doesn't make sense that all new diesel vehicles have to be ultra-clean while an older one can still belch smoke.
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LEE SPILLMAN 9:30PM (5/05/2009)
I REBUILD ANTIQUE BIKES,THANK GOD THEY WILL LEAVE ME ALONE TO DO MY THING.THIS WORLD IS BEING RUN BY DUMMIES THAT ARE TRYING TO DUMMY PROOF THE WORLD.I SAY GET RID OF POLITICAL DUMMIES AND THE WORLD WILL FALL IN PALCE IN A POSITIVE WAY.
RIDE IT LIKE YOU JUST MADE THE LAST PAYMENT.
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