Are my exhausts legal or illegal, they are louder than stock pipes

Basics:

All Councils in the UK have the power under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to take action in respect of a noise nuisance caused by unreasonable use of motor vehicles used off road. Following the service of a legal notice (an Abatement Notice) councils have the power to seize the offender's vehicle and take prosecution proceedings.

If you have an exhaust silencer that is an after market type which has no markings such as OEM No's, E marks or race only it's not illegal. Even if it is slightly louder than the OEM silencer.

The recent change in regulations in essence say that the only issue regarding the type of exhaust is that it should not contain any notice on it which indicates that it is not for road use. As far as the noise is concerned the regulations are quite wordy but boil down to the Tester being able to fail the exhaust if the noise emitted is “clearly in excess”, of what would normally be expected. You might get an "adviser", the Tester might fail it!

The regulations have been relaxed on non standard systems, the Tester now decides if the exhaust is too loud. As far as the exhaust is concerned the Tester can now decide whether or not the exhaust is acceptable. As far as a police check is concerned it's unclear what the rules the police apply. Generally if the police believe a vehicle is not roadworthy they issue their own certificate and ask that the vehicle is checked for whatever items they think are of concern at an MOT Testing station. It should be noted that this is very much a police issue and actually has nothing to do with the MOT Testing Scheme and Testing Stations are not obliged to carry out the checks * and understandably charge if they do indeed check the items. The police have simply decided of their own volition to use MOT Testing Stations as the best way of checking that a vehicle’s ‘roadworthiness’ items are in acceptable condition.

Lost Your Motorcycle Exhaust Identification? Have your exhaust pipe markings disappeared, are they obscured by age,
wear and tear, crash damage or simply polished off?

The new MOT legislation requires that the vehicle tester is able to see the standard (original makers stamp) or aftermarket exhaust fitted to the bike is marked with the obligitory BSAU 193a and the European "E" mark. If your Exhaust can does not carry these markings, it could lead to a failed MOT and if you are stopped by the Police it can lead to a fine and points on your licence.

The law says that your bike will fail the MOT if:-
a. Any part of the exhaust system is missing or excessively deteriorated.
b. A leak in an exhaust system which causes excessive noise to be emitted.
c. An exhaust system mounting missing or one which is in such a condition that it does not fully support the exhaust system.
d. silencer which is in such a condition or is of such a type that the noise emitted is clearly in excess of that which would be produced by a similar machine fitted with a standard silencer in average condition.
e. A silencer fitted to a motorcycle first used on or after 1 January 1985 which is not marked with either:-
* The make and type specified by the motorcycle manufacturer.
* British Standard classification BSAU 193 or BSAU 193a or an EEC approval number prefixed by a small 'e' marking or an ECE approval number prefixed by a capital E.
* A silencer marked 'NOT FOR ROAD USE', TRACK USE ONLY' or similar words.

Loud pipes save lives, quiet ones don't. You decide whether its worth the risk, I say stick em on and wake the dead

Absolutely mate. Thanks for the clarification too

clear as mud

edit: your effort into laying it out for us is greatly appreciated though Crash! I think I'll wait till the hangover is gone and read again

The way I see it is like this: We find it easy enough to get our bikes MOT'd with overly loud pipes, even though they are not strictly legal because we find bike friendly MOT testers. However would they put their stamp and signature on a road worthy certificate that has just been issued by the police and is going straight back to the police, I very much doubt it.
However if you were issued with a road worthy certificate because of noise, all you have to do to be on the safe side for the tester to stamp and sign it is either swap over the pipes to stock ones for the duration of that specific test or stuff a load of fibreglass up the hole until its done and then pull it back out again.

Right...the hangover is long gone, day was beautiful and I took my lovely wife for a ride.

She loves the new exhaust and that's enough for me to keep it on
Crash, Dave - I appreciate your thoughts on this matter.

So it is, in fact, clear as mud. Loopholes, workarounds, etc. :)
I'm up for that.

Good thing is that there always has to be some form of notice or as you mentioned Dave, a "road worthy" certificate from Police, a notice from a council if someone will complain...

As usual, I'm too concerned about things...even my wife told me off and said to take it easy

I love the sounds, I love the fact that cars are keeping the distance now, I love the fact that my wife likes the noise too...

All is good for now.

Marcin you can always challenge the verdict of the police for they do not carry decibel machines with them,their version of loud is not enough evidence (this is my opinion)it is the same with their speed camera's they are supposed to be checked every day before use and calibrated,how many motorists ask for the written evidence.

Well that was damn short-lived fun lol

I had a conversation with the owner of the house we're renting, who happens to be a Policeman as well.

He's an ex biker and hot rod builder and he loves the pipes and the way they sound and he wouldn't even budge if I rode past him but his mates don't share the passion and would stop me.

He also mentioned that the guy from MOT station I have at hand would not pass them, regardless of what he said as they got him pinned if they would stop me with these pipes AND with passed MOT.

Not to worry... pipes are coming off and I'm wrapping the baffles to convert that screeching metallic thunder into deep rumble...if I'll manage to DIY it.

Good news though...he said that there's no problem whatsoever to move the reg plate to one side.. in fact that was the first thing he said about the bike... get rid of everything on the fender and put the plate on the side lol
Size - yes, there can be a problem, but placement - no legal problem at all.
Cool.

To add to the misery though, while we were in the garage chatting, a truck pulled over on the opposite side of the road with several blokes.
He said to me to close the roller door immediately however they already had a good look inside. He concluded they were local gypsies, always on a lookout for nick.
Now I'm shitting my pants...

marcin it sounds to me like you need more government control over there. I guess I am spoiled living in Texas. The Socialist Republic of California is all about control. Those pipes sure sound good. hate to see you have to take them off. i remember when I was sixteen I had a 50 model Chevy with straight pipes. They lasted about a week. Cops didn't like them near as much as I did. My cousin had a 55 Chevy with straight pipes. He would get a warning ticket ,told to fix them and bring it to Police station. He would shove steel wool pads up in the tail pipe. go get it checked. he would leave the Station and floorboard it. Blow the steelwool out of it and here we go.

I wouldn't worry about them Marcin, I've never been pulled for loud exhausts in my biking lifetime, There's a lot louder than yours out there! and they don't give a toss about them, your a thoughtful person and wouldn't scream down the street at full revs so shouldn't worry yourself.

MarcinG wrote:

He also mentioned that the guy from MOT station I have at hand would not pass them, regardless of what he said as they got him pinned if they would stop me with these pipes AND with passed MOT.

To that all I will say is show me a biker or a garage that has ever been done for using or passing an aftermarket exhaust. I have been a biker for 30 years and most people I associate with are bikers and I know of nobody in either category. Used as a reason to stop bikes and give them the once over yes but prosecuted, never.
Coppers on bikes in my experience are as a rule a bunch of self righteous twats.

Hmm I feel I was fed a bunch of bullshit.
I appreciate your comments gents.

I completely agree with Dave and Sim.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
Leave them on, ride as you normally would until you get pulled, which is highly unlikely, then, and only then, would I change them back to originals.
No harm done.

We shall see how it goes.

I'm visiting a friend this weekend and he demands to hear them and then there's Peterborough show on 19th where I want to have them on... in fact that will be a great place to compare against other loud bikes.

I'm hoping I will pick up some quality baffle wrap at the show for peanuts as I want to make them rumble much deeper.
I'm considering the lollipop mod that Bluesman did as well - for those early starts or late arrivals.
Damn you Peacemakers for not making one that fits our Intruders :/

Anyway I'm more concerned about the gypsies now than anything else....
Why can't a man feel safe in his own house!!!

Get a Doberman. Thieves hate Dobermans :)

I shouldn't probably say this: a 12 gauge propped up in the corner with 5 equalizers loaded in it might help. ok Tex your going to get in trouble again.

They'd probably nick the shotgun too

wish someone would sell me a loud exhaust :-(

Marcin I am not sure how it would work with your pipes but I think it would work the same as the Cruzers that dave and alfie have cause they are similar pipes. Dave and Alfie both have additional baffles in there pipes, dave has has HK quiet baffles in his and Alfie has some in his that he made from the measurements that dave put up on the site. I think you could just buy some extra baffles off ebay or somewhere and fit them. That would reduce the DB down a bit but still sound nice. daves pipes are less aggressive sounding on tick over and when riding but still roar when given a bit of throttle. Someone mentioned on here a while ago that no one makes a pipe with a db level between stock and the average aftermarket pipe but fitting a secondary baffle would give you that, worth a though mate

Pic off the net


.

Here are the measurements and drawing that Dave (Mr Intruder) did for Alfie



I did look for what alfie made but he has deleted the photos

My tick-over is great...it's the slightest touch of throttle that unleashes a beast :)
I've had a listen to Dave's before/after video with HK's and I'm not sure that would be enough...tone wise... Since I'm playing I will want to achieve the deepest sound possible, hence the research on stuffing and other options. (not to mention that HK cost a bit :S

I'm off to garage to take out the baffle that's screwed in to have a look what I can do with it.

It must be God of bikers granting me strength to do that as I just finished over 2 hours of gardening and I literally crawled up the stairs to my room.
Bloody garden and bloody tenancy agreements demanding garden care..

I used this type of stuff in my Pro Pipe when I first got it, just wrapped around the baffle then tied with wire, It substantially reduces the volume and makes the tone variable with the amount you put round.

What stuff Sim? Link please :)

Oops sorry I forgot the link
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Exhaust-Silencer-End-Can-Wadding-Baffle-Packing-Re-Pack-Wool-FREE-GIFT-/130899047089?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item1e7a30f2b1

Hi Marcin i agree with the others leave your pipes on and see what happens, the biggest problem i see are the bloody gypos make sure every thing is locked securely

simbo wrote:

Oops sorry I forgot the link
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Exhaust-Silencer-End-Can-Wadding-Baffle-Packing-Re-Pack-Wool-FREE-GIFT-/130899047089?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item1e7a30f2b1

Ordered.

I managed to get the fuker out from the pipe.
It took me the longest to work out how the hell can I tap it out.... then it dawned on me... handle from my Liftmaster.
Ideal length, holes at the end. I used the screw that was holding the baffle, screwed it at the end of the hangle, showed it in, it caught the corner and then it was just a matter of bashing the handle until it came out...

No wonder these are so loud and sound metallic.... it's just a 30cm piece of punctured pipe. Packing should do the trick.

Tomorrow shopping... need another screw for the other baffle and a solid drill to drill out the rivets.
I really can't be asked to take the exhaust off for drilling so the bike is going on the lift and I'll drill like that. My mate will secure the bike in case I push too much and it should work. Excited now....

The design made me think... there are two rivets/screw holes in each... one screw is enough to hold the baffle in.. so I can utilise the other one for a lollipop mod.