In the January 2011 Super Streetbike Magzine there is a Street Rubber Review in it. I can't get the link to come up.

Superstreetbike.com

HELP !

* Last updated by: Black1 on 2/9/2011 @ 11:27 PM *

Supper Streetbike dot com

I see California now bans aftermarket exhausts on all models starting in 2013 (not retroactive) unless the EPA approves them.

Wonder what kind of deal the governator made to buy his support for this little gem.

Once it is clear if the law will withstand court challenge, if it does, expect many other States to do the same, like always.

Whoever put this together is brilliant. By having the State pass the law, and administer the program, and only using EPA as a testing component, they make it impossible to challenge on Constitutional grounds. State's rights aren't being restricted, the State is doing it to itself.

I've been saying for years, you kids keep running those loud pipes (which almost always reduce horsepower) and we are all going to be hurt.

In 2013 I will still be able to buy a CT-Duals exhaust system, it will just have to have the plugs riveted in permanently if titled in CA, and it will cost $1,000 more than it does now because Brocks will have to institute EPA certification procedures. Or quit making them for CA bikes.

Privateer, thanks for that my friend.

That is crazy we will see if they enforce it. Maybe it will start to make these company make pipes change it up to get more power for use it is not the end of pipes not even close!!!

Brock has proven you can get the best power out of a pipe that is NOT insanely loud but generally, the best hp comes out of a the best flow and that means less packing a/o baffles and that means loud.

Happy with my Cannon and it is loud as all hell. They would be chasing me out of Cali before I even got there.

I think making a blanket statement like that, "I've been saying for years, you kids keep running those loud pipes (which almost always reduce horsepower) and we are all going to be hurt." is false. Just because a pipe is loud doesn't necessarily mean it restricts horsepower. Or were you just being sarcastic and I was too dense to catch it? Here are the two sides to the coin:

Remember those cherry bomb pipes back in the early 70's that all the folks would put on their trucks (mostly) and cars? They actually hindered performance because of the way the baffle trapped air from the engine.

The new Borla exhausts (the ones you hear on the latest ricer cars mostly) that have been dubbed fart cans actually drastically improve performance because of the increased pipe diameter vs stock, but, more importantly, the baffle design improves the directional flow from the engine because it doesn't incorrectly trap that air.

I honestly don't understand not only the legality of this new law, but the justification. What's to be done with all those folks driving hot rods, souped up trucks and other obscenely loud vehicles out on the road in California right now? If you don't want to look like an ass toward motorcyclists, I would think you'd have to reciprocate those same restrictions to any vehicle legal to drive on public roads. As privateer stated, I think there might be a hidden agenda here. Perhaps "Ahnuld"'s pockets are being padded by specific special-interest groups which is basically how Congress runs.

"NOT FOR ROAD USE"

Thank you DogoZX, firstly, almost all aftermarket exhaust systems are sold as "Race Use Only", every vehicle I have seen clearly states on it that "it is illegal to modify the exhaust system of this vehicle" so I'm not sure if this "new" law is really breaking any new ground.

Personally I support the idea of this law, I never liked the idea that a lot of people remove emission reducing features from their vehicles to improve power at the expense of the environment. Some aftermarket exhaust makers have already started producing EPA/DOT approved systems that still increase performance at a reasonable price while maintaining acceptable emission levels.

What's funny is, over the years, I've owned about a dozen aftermarket motorcycle exhausts... The Harris is the only one, I can recall, that has been stamped... but also the only one to come with a Db killer.

My RK tuned came with Db Killers, they lasted long enough to get them out!

My leo-vince are stamped and certified !! they come with a EPA emissions EURO/WORLD and DB level certificate that is kept with my bike all the time to state there legality ! so as not to get any BullShit from a Copper here

* Last updated by: bean07 on 2/11/2011 @ 5:46 PM *

Good range of experiences. The point is, this has been building for years. It takes time for it to get to the point where government will do something about it.

It is a fact, if none of us, ever, changed the exhaust systems our bike came with from the factory, we would not have this law. But what fun would that be?

Look at the lead gas history. For years, the auto industry resisted the push to go lead-free. The industry knew it would cost them a lot of money to build cars and exhaust systems to run unleaded gas. But finally the weight of the press, the EPA, green groups (actually the start of them), etc. made it impossible for government to overlook anymore, and in one stroke of the presidential pen, we got unleaded gas.

California led the way on that one, too.

Someone said open (hence loud) pipes reduce back pressure so improve performance. Not so much on your basically stock (even counting a piggy) engine they don't, really. Maybe a couple HP. Certainly not as much as a set of much quieter CT-Duals. To really take advantage of the reduced back pressure, you have to open up the ports, push more air-fuel mixture in, and increase the flow of exhaust out the exhaust port.

Just opening up one side of the combustion chamber isn't going to make it go faster. It will just be louder, and run hotter probably.

So when I see a real drag bike and I have to put my earplugs in, I know why and it makes sense.

When a Harley with open drag pipes or even a sportbike with a loud exhaust (you know them, they blat and blast, but don't sound remotely good) I watch the motorists around them frown.

And that is EXACTLY where the California law came from.

The point is, this has been building for years. It takes time for it to get to the point where government will do something about it.

Almost 32 years w/o any update to the law, here in WA.Chapter 173-62 WAC, Motor Vehicle Noise Performance Standards

My leo-vince are stamped and certified !! they come with a EPA emissions EURO/WORLD and DB level certificate that is kept with my bike all the time to state there legality !

No need for that here...yet.
Even with that Harris being stamped "Not For Road Use", looks like to prove a case, a LEO would have to have me come to an off road facility for a test. PITA, but unlikely. Even an Alien Head wasn't loud enough to get me pulled over around here. Infact, IMO, the AH isn't even loud enough to be considered obnoxious at lower RPMs... and anyone rapping out their bike, in town, needs to be cited for being an obnoxious person... not for having an obnoxious exhaust.

Say I make a long story short. If within a few hours of endurance racing without any ear plugs and with over 114db in the right ear for so many set stints, I lost partial hearing WOT did you say?

I've got some hearing loss too, Hub. I can't separate sounds anymore... but it's from too many loud concerts in small clubs and running power equipment. Don't wear earplugs when I ride. A good lid deadens enough sound, IMO.

+1 dogo way to go dead right my black/bird was insanely loud idle 96 db, 145 db @ 5k rpm I fired her up at the servo next to to leo's filling at the next pump, I was nervous as I fired her up but kept the revs low, the leo looked at me and gave me the thumbs up,I thought in hindsight they were too loud on long day trips ( missus hated them lol ), but all my mates and where I bought my ZX from loved the sound they even sold it on at a later date as is !! as my mate quotes "Different Strokes for Different Blokes" !

* Last updated by: bean07 on 2/12/2011 @ 3:58 PM *

I can't separate sounds anymore... but it's from too many loud concerts in small clubs

What? Same here. It's the price I pay for doing sound engineering for rock and metal bands in little pubs. Lotsa fun at the time, bit a pita now :(