When Arnold, the King of California crashed his side car Harley and had no motorcycle license, I thought he was a bike guy.
In some of his movies, he's a badass on a bike.
I thought he was a biker.
This stunt makes it illegal to install aftermarket pipes on a bike that does not have the California noise & emission sticker.
Where goes california ...... 
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Senate Bill 435 yesterday that will authorize state law enforcement to ticket motorcyclists who have swapped out their stock pipes for non-EPA-approved aftermarket exhaust. The new law will make it a
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill yesterday targeting aftermarket motorcycle exhausts that don't meet EPA noise and emission standards. crime to operate a motorcycle manufactured after January 1, 2013, that does not meet federal noise-emission standards. Motorcycles will be required to display a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) label certifying that the exhaust system is clean burning and does not exceed 80 decibels. First-time offenders will face fines up to $100 while subsequent infractions can run up to $250.
The bill is meant to target motorcyclists who remove federally mandated, factory-installed emission control devices and replace them with custom aftermarket parts. Aftermarket pipes generally increase power output, but they are also usually louder and less environmental-friendly. The EPA’s position states that the legislation is “aimed at quieting the deafening roar of modified rides and at reducing emissions.”
The bill was proposed by Sen. Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills, who claims that residents in her district have complained about the noise from motorcyclists who enjoy riding through the twisting roads and canyons of Malibu, Calabasas and Agoura Hills.
California has 826,000 registered motorcycles. How this will affect motorcycle dealerships, aftermarket suppliers, custom motorcycle builders and motorcycling tourism is up to speculation.
Companies like Cobra USA, who makes high performance motorcycle exhausts and is based in Yorba Linda, California, said it will take a pro-active approach to the situation and will work with local governments and entities like the Motorcycle Industry Council to make a more “responsible pipe.”
Schwarzenegger, the man who signed the legislation into law, ironically is an avid motorcyclist who reportedly has a collection of motorcycles and has been known to frequent the same Malibu hills Pavley says her complaints come from. Whether his motorcycles meet federal noise requirements is unknown.
The times, they are a-changin'. Used to be the rally cry was “Loud Pipes Save Lives.” Nowadays, though, it’s “Loud Pipes Risk Rights.”
It's a plot to silence us and kill us off with cars!
thank god..... I wish more states would enforce noise restrictions on bikes. I'm a bike guy and if I have to hear one more straight piped couch ride buy that's so loud it makes my head want to explode I might scream.
I swear that putting those open exhausts must cause some weird issue where the bikes won't idle anymore. What else would explain the constant need for their rider's to constantly rev them while at a standstill?
I also see a surge of 2012 bikes, which might just be sold for 2-3 years after they are "old".
From my understanding as a california resident, come 2012 all 2008-later bikes will have to undergo smog inspection. My mom just bought a little honda 230 dirt bike, the thing has air injection and catalyst. Even my buell originally came with charcoal canister.
This bill sounds like an extension of smog testing because if you change your air injected catalyzed exhaust your bike will no longer be smog legal. Nowadays you can change out the exhaust with no ill affects as there isn't any smog testing. Basically it is a free for all, do what you like how you like. In california, motorcycles are the only on road vehicle you can modify without fear of reprisals, until now(2012 the end of the bikers world).
I just do not understand why people live in that state it seems like a real kill joy kind of place. Law after law , just to much for me.
Paul B
I think this type of law was inevitable in California, and as a biker who hates loud bikes, it doesn't really bother me. My issue is that small businesses will probably not be able to afford the EPA certification fees and red tape and will go out of business, leaving only Vance & Hines and a few other large outfits.
California is Europe Lite. And that's not a good thing in this context.
Ever see the little 'e' followed by a number in a circle on various car and bike parts? That's the 'e mark' approval. It's on a lot of exhaust parts too. Here's the deal: over there, an exhaust has to have the e mark for it to be installed on a bike for road use. It does not matter if the exhaust is as quiet or quieter than the OE, no squeal of approval and the rider is in deep crap. Kalifornia has been trying to do the same thing for years. Now they have finally done it.
The problem surfaces worst with older bikes which may no longer have new OE or aftermarket with the squeal of approval. That means the (otherwise just fine) bike gets parked. That happens with catalytic converters as well, there are very few '50 state' catalysts made. That means if you have an older car that runs just fine but pops a Check Engine light with a P0720 catalyst efficiency code, you MUST find either a '50 state' or OE cat. Or your car can't pass inspection and be licensed for road use EVEN IF IT PASSES THE EXHAUST SNIFFER.
Sheesh.
California is a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there.
