Are loud Harleys illegal?

All highway and off-road motorcycles manufactured since 1983 are regulated by federal law under the authority of the Noise Control Act of 1972, which is still in effect. Excessively loud motorcycles are the result of the deliberate action of their owners to alter their exhaust system–which is illegal.

Is loud exhaust illegal?

It is illegal to modify a car’s exhaust system to make it noisier than the level at which it passed type approval with. Most cars over 10 years old will not need vehicle approval however, including imports, so it’s unlikely a classic car owner will know for sure just how loud their exhaust is.

Why are Harleys allowed to be loud?

Why are Harleys so loud? Many Harleys are loud because the owners want them that way. New Harleys from the factory don’t exceed the 80db limit stipulated in the U.S. EPA Code. It is Harley owners who make several aftermarket modifications on their bikes to turn up the volume.

Are aftermarket motorcycle exhausts legal?

Is it now illegal to install an aftermarket exhaust system on my vehicle? No. The sale and installation of an aftermarket exhaust system remains legal in California so long as it does not exceed a sound level of 95-decibels when tested under SAE J1492 and complies with all other exhaust and safety laws and regulations.

How loud can your motorcycle be?

Vehicles under 6000 pounds that are not motorcycles must be quieter than 95 decibels, and motorcycles must not exceed 85 decibels. For comparison, 95 decibel sounds are about as loud as a power lawnmower or jackhammer.

How loud is too loud for exhaust?

What exactly is too loud? California state law has said that the absolute loudest a light vehicle can be is 95-decibels(dB) tested under the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) under test procedure J1169 (May 1998.) Vehicles with a gross weight less than 6,000 pounds and motorcycles are included in this state law.

What makes an exhaust illegal UK?

Most big-bore and sports exhausts are not legal on public roads in the UK due to their excessive noise levels and extra emissions. Drivers caught with an excessively noisy exhaust may receive an on-the-spot fine of £50, and could have their car taken off the road until the offending exhaust is removed.

What is the legal sound limit for an exhaust?

The current legal noise limit for car meeting type approval is 74 decibels, and it is it is illegal to modify a car’s exhaust system to make it noisier than the level at which it passed type approval with.

Are motorcycle exhausts illegal?

California Exhaust Law California law requires that all motor vehicles, including motorcycles, comply with state code with regard to sound emissions. All off-highway vehicles must be equipped with a silencer, or muffler, as well as an USDF approved spark arrestor.

Are loud exhausts on Harley-Davidsons a problem?

It baffles me that the drivers of the many Harley Davidson motorcycles which are equipped with excessively loud exhaust systems (or rather, exhaust systems which muffle very little) do not find them cited for disturbing the peace, if not having their motorcycles banned from street use.

Are Harley-Davidson exhausts street legal?

Harley-Davidson is not simply speaking out about the problems that illegal loud pipes cause for the entire motorcycling community. The Motor Company also offers street-legal accessory exhausts systems and exhaust components for its various motorcycle model families.

Are there New Noise Standards for motorcycle exhausts in California?

There were no new noise standards mentioned, but the California bill states that motorcycle exhausts MUST adhere to federal noise emissions standards.

Do motorcycles have to have a label on the exhaust system?

That bill requires that “ all motorcycles manufactured after Jan. 1, 2013 must have a label affixed onto the motorcycle or exhaust emission system indicating that the motorcycle or exhaust emission system meets all federal noise emissions standards. ”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CGqr_e_kMo