Aftermarket Pipes...

Ok,, I Have Vance And Hines Pipes On my Harley, With The "Optional Quiet Baffles" Installed,, I Got A Sticker With Them,, But If I Read The Law Right, That May Be Useless Depending On The Cop...

 So Does This mean The @ 18,000 Bikes ( I'm Guessing Low..out of over 46,000 in Maine)Will Have To Go Buy Stock Pipes?

 

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Permalink Reply by Jeff Neil MBN Founder on June 21, 2011 at 11:05am
Aftermarket pipes are still legal. As long as they don't say Off Road Use Only. Most bikes that can get stickers should be OK as long the riders are not TRYING to be loud. That is just a general statement for all of us.
Permalink Reply by Mark Elliott on June 21, 2011 at 6:42pm
But just because the dealer put a sticker on it, doesn't mean they should have.....that's part of the problem.
Permalink Reply by Jeff Neil MBN Founder on June 21, 2011 at 6:50pm
That is, and always will be true Mark. The biggest point I want to make is don't panic. I don't want to see lots of people spending a ton of money replacing exhaust when they don't have to.
Permalink Reply by Mark Elliott on June 21, 2011 at 8:31pm

It will take a while for everyone involved to learn and understand the importance of their part in all this. We have to keep cool, LEOs have to enforce, and inspection stations need to follow the book. Take just one of those out of the equation and we will have this same battle again and again and again......I don't think we all want to do that. We keep Josh busy enough as it is.

 

You're right though, don't panic about it. Just keep your cool. I just spoke with a guy tonight that has Vance & Hines Long Shots on his bike. Clearly not inspectable as there is no muffler, just a drag pipe with baffle. He got a sticker and keeps cool when he rides in town and has not had a problem but he worries as well.

Permalink Reply by JD Blaine on June 21, 2011 at 8:38pm

I recently worked at a local (Bangor) HD dealership, and we talked to a lot of local police on this subject...there is no set line on the revised noise ordinance. No set dB level, no set policy on brand of pipes, (agreed with Jeff tho, Off-Road are not allowed, never have been) or anything in writing. Like Jeff said, as long as you're not causing hate n discontent, you should be all set.

One line in the revised law states that you cannot be louder than surrounding vehicles. They also did a dB test on a stock 2009 Dodge pickup (diesel) and 5 feet away, with the hood shut and idling, it was almost 120dB. Most bikes are around 90-100 dB while cruising, less while idling.

So I guess after all that rambling and panicking, it's just safe to say "Don't worry, Be happy"...and just ride safe! JD

Permalink Reply by Mark Elliott on June 23, 2011 at 5:15am
@ JD, this years legislation (2011) added an affirmative defense in the event a summons was issued. There is now a baseline per the SAE J2825 test procedure as LD477 was amended for just that. Review here -> http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_125th/chapters/PU...
Permalink Reply by JD Blaine on June 23, 2011 at 9:06am

Good call Mark...Thanks for pointing that out. I hadn't kept up as much as I'd like with the new amendments. On the other hand, I don't think that the local areas will be able to afford the cost of outfitting each individual officer with a dB meter to "fully enforce" this number.  =-)

Common sense ain't so common anymore, is it? Hahahahaaaa...Ride on Brothas!

Permalink Reply by Mark Elliott on June 23, 2011 at 10:29am
The use of meters is for us, not the officers. They won't have to purchase any.
Permalink Reply by Gerry Alden on June 25, 2011 at 12:16am

Jeff can you reference the general muffler provision statute that prohibits "off-road use only" marked pipes?  I believe you are mixing MMVIM guide procedures for failing a Class C vehicle upon exhaust validation, when the muffler is marked for off-road use only, with muffler violations in general motor vehicle law.  Others here are mixing, violations in Title 29a sec. 2079 with sec. 1912, one is a violation for making purposeful noise, and the other is for violations of loud equipment use.  Easy to get confused isn't it?

Jeff Neil MBN Founder said:

Aftermarket pipes are still legal. As long as they don't say Off Road Use Only. Most bikes that can get stickers should be OK as long the riders are not TRYING to be loud. That is just a general statement for all of us.
Permalink Reply by Jeff Neil MBN Founder on June 25, 2011 at 4:59am
No Gerry I will not reference anything. Few people care WHICH law ..... They just don't want a ticket.
Permalink Reply by Bill Groder on June 25, 2011 at 7:47am

Personally I Was Always Happy with "Unneccessary Noise" As a Law,, But I Guess It Wasn't Good Enough...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Permalink Reply by Gerry Alden on June 26, 2011 at 9:17am

Police enforce the laws, inspection technicians support the rules. People read the laws to interpret the intentions and to guide their actions to avoid the penalties for being found in violation.  To safely not be found in violation of a low-noise-emission product regulation, don't haphazardly remove the noise controls of a new vehicle or don't  acquire, build or purchase one used and operate it with its noise controls missing. All manufacturers build original exhaust to far exceed the federal standard to safely pass, by wide margins, the distance pass-by noise emissions requirements for its products to never be found in violation of CFR 40 part 205 spot checks. This means original exhaust perform beyond the requirements, which insures relatively quiet operation free from enforcement efforts.  If you don't understand the use of a technical product, then read the Owner's Manual.  The purpose of all Motorcycle Owner's manuals is to provide directions on use and maintenance and contain information on general safety.   All motorcycle owner's manuals contain the manufacturer's noise emission warranty and warnings against tampering, removing, altering or rendering inoperative the noise emission controls.  Which shades of noise color use are "ME ok", when tampering? Read the product information on the after-market system that warns that its use is not intended for public way, anywhere, or is 50-state noise emission approved with strict conditions.  Still not sure the "noise shades" are ok, measure muffler performance with the instruments at a J1169 participating sound measuring inspection station, using the SAE J1287 "comparison measurement" procedure, to compare your original muffler's decibel reading with the modified muffler's reading at the same rpm.  If the "noise shade" is not measured higher with the modified pipes, if is safe to say the muffler performance is similar.  Note-The vehicles noise controls may be found to be removed by other noise emission components missing, because the federal applicable noise limits at the time of manufacture, and while in use, are for the whole vehicle, and not just for the performance abilities of the exhaust.  Maine does not enforce the federal noise controls for the vehicle, only the noise performance of the operated muffler to not exceed what the original muffler was designed to perform its proper sound pressure attenuation levels, and enforce the performance that is defined to exceed the SAE J2825 recommended decibel limits for owners contesting a fine.  (obviously a J2825 pre-test may determine which "shade of noise" is "ME ok", but these levels may attract enforcement attention compared to original equipment)

Jeff is correct most people just don't want a ticket. Do the above and you shouldn't get one.

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