Despite protests from the American Motorcyclist Association and thousands of riders, California has passed a law that targets motorcycle exhausts. On Sept. 28, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law Senate Bill 435, which states that motorcycles must display an exhaust system label certifying the motorcycles meet federal sound limits. All street motorcycles registered in the state and built on or after Jan. 1, 2013 will fall under the guidelines.
If you are thinking that you can sidestep the law with a new slip-on, forget it. The law also states that aftermarket exhaust systems made on or after Jan. 1, 2013, are to display the EPA sound emissions label. Violators face fines of up to $100 for a first offense, and up to $250 for subsequent offenses.
I am no fan of obnoxiously loud exhausts, but I am less of a fan of laws that single out motorcyclists. There is no such labeling law for car and truck exhausts. So if you drive a car, you can modify your exhaust any way that you want. No one will be crawling under your vehicle to check for labels.
Give us your thoughts AAB readers. Did the Terminator just sign away more of our freedom?
Comments
Anyway this law is a huge blow against motorcycle manufacturors and motorcycle parts manufacturors ie bad for sales and an economy that is already in the dumps and bankrupt. It is already more difficult to make bikes that pass California emissions. The trickle down affect is less sales and less jobs needed. Do you think this type of bill would pass if it was for cars? I dont think so. Whats really bites is that law or no law the same guys who ride with loud pipes will continue to do so, there attitude is obvious... they dont give a crap.
What has happened to the Terminatior? He liked cool rides as much as the next guy but seems to have been transformed into a pussy Democrat by his wife. He dumped logical, conservative thinking long ago.
LOUD PIPES SAVES LIVES IS ALL HOGWASH. YOUR COMMON SENCE AND GOOD JUDGEMENT SAVES YOU FROM AN ACCIDENT ON A MOTORCYCLE,NOT LOUD PIPES AND BEING A NUT OR A JACKASS FOR THAT MATTER.
MARK SAN FRANCISCO CALIF.
Rebel against a government run amok!
That's why we bikers support other bikers and try to elect them when we can, that makes sense right. So I am not sure which pisses me off more.
(1) So is he supporting the motorcycle community as well as it's vendors who make and sell products like exhaust that we bikers tend to purchase.
(2) As a biker he should appreciate that loud pipes help dumb cagers hear what they can't see, that's one motivation for replacing the quiet pipe in the first place.
(3) Lastly, that better be an old photo cause it's his freaking state that started the smoking ban in the first place and there he is puffing on a stogie.
I was at a BMW Rally a couple of years ago. You could alwayd tell when the Harley rider started up. The BMW's? never heard them unless they honked the horn.
Loud pipes save lives? If the cage riders would turn the stereo down from 11, turn off the cell phones, open the windows, they might hear you, if they aren't too busy smoking a joint or having a fight with their beloved, reading their work papers, shaving, polishing their nails, looking at their shopping.............
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