If you live in California and ride a motorcycle, I’ve got some bad news for you: a bill which would essentially mandate stock exhausts on motorcycles built after 2013 has passed and now goes to the Governator for signature. It’s expected that Governor Swarzenegger will sign it into law as soon as it crosses his desk.
The bill requires that exhausts used on 2013 and later motorcycles contain an EPA stamp, certifying the exhaust as both noise and emissions compliant. Violators would receive a fine and would have a certain number of days to correct the violation and submit their bike for re-inspection.
The bill was sponsored by Senator Fran Pavley, who obviously isn’t a fan of motorcycles or their riders. In her words, as reported by Autoevolution:
“The noise caused by illegally modified motorcycle exhaust systems is a major quality of life issue across the state. Basic common sense and decency dictates that when a motorcycle drives by and sets off every car alarm on the street, that is too loud.”
“Additionally, many of the modifications which are aimed at making a bike louder — for example removing the catalytic converter — also make the bike exponentially more polluting. This has direct, measurable and negative impacts on public health.”
Ironically, the bill has no provision to address loud exhausts on motorcycles built before 2013, so feel free to mod your bike as your budget allows for the next three years. In fact, you may want to take your V-Rod Destroyer for a few wide-open-throttle passes by the California State Capitol, just to show Senator Pavley how you feel about her representation of your interests.