Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
Recently California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, signed SB 435 into law (without comment).
Sure, I’ve got an opinion. I’ve got thoughts, but I decided not to write anything at the time because I just wasn’t in the correct mood. Content is important, but feel is key. How do the words flow together, I’m I overly biased, is the reader gripped?
Isn’t this how it always happens. You’re having a grand old time, enjoying the moment and then someone announces their child peed in the shallow end of the pool as you watch everyone exit the water and wonder about the level of chlorination.
The fact is that laws which regulate the motorcycle aftermarket have been in place for many years and specifically on aftermarket exhausts, the Feds mandate (in the Code of Federal Regulations Part 86, Subparts E and F) that new on-road motorcycles are required to meet limits on specific chemical emissions and that all motorcycles built after 1985 meet a stationary noise limit of 80dB. Furthermore, under Section 203 of the Clean Air Act, it is illegal for any person to remove or bypass (“tamper” with) any piece of equipment that helps a vehicle meet the above standards. To eliminate confusion, manufacturers are required to use matching standardized labels on both the frame and exhaust of any motorcycle to meet these requirements.
It’s true that the aftermarket exhaust manufacturers are quite adept at including detailed disclaimers with their products as being “closed-course-only” use and clearly stating that installation would violate federal law. But, I’m not aware of any dealer in the northwest who has discontinued selling and/or installing aftermarket performance exhaust/parts. It seems there is this entire segment of the motorcycle industry operating in a gray area of the law that now have their days numbered.
Harley-Davidson 2012 models will launch in 10 months (August 2011) and this new law does not bode well for riders across the country. Why? Historically, California emissions laws developed by the California Air Resources Board tend to become federal law (for example: EPA New Emissions Standards).
Laughing photo courtesy of Mr. Schwazenegger.
Sooner or later we riders of the V-Twin persuasion just might have to come to grips with the fact that performance exhausts do not have to be loud! Motorcyclist need to stop and look at what the aftermarket car exhaust industry has done. The new performance exhaust systems from all of the major manufactures for cars are not loud. They sound throaty and improve performance.
The whole loud pipes save lives nothing more than a weak justification for those riders with the “look at me syndrome” who want to be obnoxiously loud. Lets admit it, really loud pipes are nothing more than a riders intentional effort to to upset the general public on the road.
We V-Twin riders would be more than a little smart if we were to self regulate by moving to using stock or at lest baffled aftermarket pipes to take the heat off of ourselves rather than waiting for state or federal government government to pass “hush” legislation making all bikes sound like stock BMW’s !
Hey,
My name is Victor Macias and I am the co-founder of MaleStandard.com. We’ve just released an exclusive article on Chuck Frederick, owner of Renegade Wheels. Renegade Wheels recently developed a set of custom wheels for Paul Jr. Designs of American Chopper. The article covers the story behind his business as well, his new relationship with Paul Jr., and the unveiling at Sturgis 2010
Thought your readers might find it interesting.
http://www.malestandard.com/a-rebel-with-a-cause-the-man-behind-renegade-wheels/
Thanks
Victor, thanks for the note and link. Good article and interesting to learn more about the man behind the curtain. I like my set of Renegade Wheels and blogged about it last year at: https://nwhog.wordpress.com/2009/07/07/a-new-ride-versus-customize/
Cheers,