Exhaust legal noise level.

Law regarding db levels for road use. Bit of a subjective question. If you have an EU stamped exhaust but with the Db killer removed how do the police now if your bike is making over the legal noise limit without noise recording equipment?

 

I would imagine it would be more of why they had reason to stop you in the first place would bring a bearing on whether they are going to take an interest on exhaust note/volume.

Was at a bike night few months ago, a couple of old boys I chat to stated that they knew it was me arriving by exhaust note/volume and that it's quite loud.

As we were talking 2 newish Harleys started up, usual open pipes, coffee cups nearly vibrated off the table..

"not as loud as those I bet" said I....the reply was a rye smile and a shake of the head "no!"

I think us sportsbike boys have to go a long way to outshine those open pipes in the decibel stakes, how many Harley's do you see at the side of the road with the boy's in blue sticking the decibel meter up the pipe..

 

Because you've removed the baffle you've modified the exhaust from the standard it was at for the bike and that exhaust to get type approval, technically you're in breach of that approval. There's no requirement to measure the db's just the opinion of an officer that the system is non standard and is significantly louder than a standard one fitted to the vehicle would be.

But, and it depends on the circumstances of how you came to the attention of the aforementioned officer,( i.e. was he dealing with you anyway for a separate offence, just walking around (like that ever happens anymore!),neighbour complaint etc, ) if you've got a valid MOT and you say oh well I took that bit out to clean the can etc but I'll put it back now, that's a nice pair of reflective shades you've got there, are you channelling Erik Estrada? You should, in 99% of situations, be ok.

 

Erik Estrada? Showing your age there fella!

 

Not been stopped yet. But son is thinking about a new end can for his new bike and being 20 obversely what's to remove the baffle. Thinking about the potential scenario if or when he gets stopped by the heddlu