I just went to go get my 08 Kawi 650 inspected today, and they wouldn't do it because I have an aftermarket Arrow exhaust (db killer was in) on the bike. It is my understanding that even though these are 16 yo regulations, they will start to really enforce them now. Original exhaust systems cannot be tampered with.....including cars and trucks. If a new exhaust system is put on, it must meet, or be less than a certain db limit.....can't remember what that is, but exhaust noise must be "close to factory" to be legal. The systems cannot say "for racing only" or "not for highway use".
Actually, when I was at the shop this am there were a few Harleys having stock exhausts put back on!
Here's my question. What are you guys doing with aftermarket exhausts on your VFRs?
Reason I ask is that I just bought a 2008 VFR and it has a Two Brothers carbon exhaust on it. The bike is in the process of being shipped to me, so have not heard it yet. Anyway, I have no problem putting a stock set up back on, but was just curious as to the general consensus here on the board.
I just went to go get my 08 Kawi 650 inspected today, and they wouldn't do it because I have an aftermarket Arrow exhaust (db killer was in) on the bike. It is my understanding that even though these are 16 yo regulations, they will start to really enforce them now. Original exhaust systems cannot be tampered with.....including cars and trucks. If a new exhaust system is put on, it must meet, or be less than a certain db limit.....can't remember what that is, but exhaust noise must be "close to factory" to be legal. The systems cannot say "for racing only" or "not for highway use".
Actually, when I was at the shop this am there were a few Harleys having stock exhausts put back on!
Here's my question. What are you guys doing with aftermarket exhausts on your VFRs?
Reason I ask is that I just bought a 2008 VFR and it has a Two Brothers carbon exhaust on it. The bike is in the process of being shipped to me, so have not heard it yet. Anyway, I have no problem putting a stock set up back on, but was just curious as to the general consensus here on the board.
I'm not in Maine, but if you like the sound of the 2 bros I would put stock on for the test. Once you get your inspection sticker take it home and change back to 2 bros. Exhaust swap (not including headers) is about a 15 min job (tops). Very simple
Not from maine here either..... But for you and everyone that doesn't get the AMA Monthly mag. .... This is starting to spread through the U.S. ..... Save your stock mufflers.
I'm not in Maine, but if you like the sound of the 2 bros I would put stock on for the test. Once you get your inspection sticker take it home and change back to 2 bros. Exhaust swap (not including headers) is about a 15 min job (tops). Very simple
Well, up until today I normally wouldn't have a problem with this, however, I think things are really changing here in Maine when it comes to aftermarket exhausts. The owner of the shop I went to told me that hefty fines will be imposed if someone has an "illegal" aftermarket exhaust with a valid inspection sticker.....meaning when bike was inspected, it had a legit exhaust. If one is stopped with an "illegal" exhaust, it will be assumed the exhaust was changed after the inspection. No inspection sticker...$188 fine, "illegal" exhaust with valid inspection sticker...double that fine!
Not from maine here either..... But for you and everyone that doesn't get the AMA Monthly mag. .... This is starting to spread through the U.S. ..... Save your stock mufflers.
I saved my stock exhaust for the 650, but it looks like I need to go find a used one for my new VFR. Oh, well, not going to let this ruin my excitement for having a new bike!
Wow that sucks. Reminds me of a ticket I got back in the early 90's.
I was cruising through Hampton Beach NH when a cop on a Harley pulls me over. You could tell from the start he was a dick. I asked him why he pulled me over and he said I had an illegal exhaust. I asked him how he determined that and what was the decibel reading. He said "Tell it to the judge." I was dumbfounded. I immediately drove to the police station. I asked to speak to the Sargent. When he came out, I explained that I was given a ticket for a loud exhaust without the officer measuring the decibel level. He called the officer in and when he saw it was me he said "Oh it's you." and sped off on his Harley. WTF.
I left there and went directly to the local Honda and Suzuki dealers and to New England Performance for a sound check. They each gave me, in writing, a sound level output of 96, 100 and 98dB with 102 being considered illegal. Armed with this info, I headed back to the Police station where the Sargent told me to take it up with the judge. Public servant my ass!
Fast forward to my court day. The Prosecutor was taking all defendants into a back room to see if they wanted to plead guilty so he could go home early and make his guilty ratio look good. When he got to me I said that I would like to see the judge. He said he felt it was going to be a fairly cut and dry case that I was guilty.
I explained that RSA622A stated that you cannot alter your exhaust, but since I had a 10 year old bike, there was no way I could get a stock exhaust to replace the rusty one that had been on there and so an aftermarket one was my only recourse. I told him that, unlike cars, bikes don't have the advantage of going to a Midas to get a cheap muffler when the stocker rusts out. I showed him the three written dB levels, taken within 15-45 minutes of the ticket, that clearly showed my bike was in compliance. When I was done, he looked at me and said "You'll kill me out there. Case dismissed." I was happy to go but on my way home, I thought, "Hell, I had to take half a day off from work to deal with a crap ticket that should never have been issued in the first place just because some social studies teacher, who moonlights as a cop during the summer, thought he knew what too loud was.
I have to say though, there are a lot of Harley's that cruise by my house that have pipes that are WAY louder than my bike that seem to pass inspection with no problems, and because of that, I'd like to see them crack down on some blatant noise infractions. Hopefully Maine can find a policy that will keep the straight pipes out while still allowing some non-OEM alternatives that have reasonable sound levels.
I have to say though, there are a lot of Harley's that cruise by my house that have pipes that are WAY louder than my bike that seem to pass inspection with no problems, and because of that, I'd like to see them crack down on some blatant noise infractions. Hopefully Maine can find a policy that will keep the straight pipes out while still allowing some non-OEM alternatives that have reasonable sound levels.
I totally agree. Some bikes are just way too loud, and yes, action should be taken. It is my understanding that one can have an aftermarket exhaust as long as it is no louder than stock, but how the hell will they determine this? I have a memo written by the State Police that I'll attach here if anyone is interested.
Are they also sniffing the exhaust to see if you have a cat installed? Swapping the cans is one thing, but if you are running catless headers on a Y2K+, swapping them back and reinstalling O2 sensors every two years would be a major PITA.
AMA has / is working on this in a couple of ways.... 1 is to get a level standard for the whole U.S. ..... The other is to make sure that bikes aren't the only ones getting ticketed, which means they're bringing to light that the AMA is watching to stop the discrimination against bikes......... But anyway you look at it the states are moving in the direction to bring the noise down...Cars, or bikes......
AMA has / is working on this in a couple of ways.... 1 is to get a level standard for the whole U.S. ..... The other is to make sure that bikes aren't the only ones getting ticketed, which means they're bringing to light that the AMA is watching to stop the discrimination against bikes......... But anyway you look at it the states are moving in the direction to bring the noise down...Cars, or bikes......
I read the AMA brief and the Maine law is saying 62db at 50 feet. I think somebody could yell at you louder than that for 50 feet. Dunno how these laws are going to work out, but it seems like they will need specify how the test is run at what distance and at what angle or direction. Also, what rpm? Loud as you can get it or slow cruise?
Anyhoo the anti -loud pipe avalanche of regulations is just starting. Wait till the feds decide to jump in. (I have the stock muffer in the closet)
End of thread · 10 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 15 Nov 2014