Daily motorbike news, views & reviews
The news just gets worse and worse for riders who enjoy a fruity exhaust note as the noise crackdown intensifies across Europe. We recently reported on Germany’s crackdown with special noise cameras, no-go areas and an 80dB limit on motorcycle exhausts that could make all BMW motorcycles quieter. Now Austria will ban specific motorcycles with …
S&S Cycle has developed an Engine Control Manager system to add the engine modes of the FTR 1200 S to the base model. In 2018, the Wisconsin company was quick to develop a full exhaust system for the just-released Indian FTR 1200 similar to the prototype model that had everyone salivating. It cost a whopping $US1874.95 (about …
Germany is cracking down on noisy exhausts with special noise cameras, no-go areas and an 80dB limit on motorcycle exhausts that could make all BMW motorcycles quieter. The government is yet to vote on the proposals. If these measures are approved, it could have ramifications beyond its borders. Apart from other authorities copying the moves, …
The founder of the motorcycle exhaust company that brought music to the ears of many riders, Luigi Termignoni, has died, aged 75. Luigi founded the Termignoni exhaust company in 1969 in Predosa, Italy. His exhausts were made famous in the Paris-Dakar rallies of the ’70s and ‘80s and even the Le Mans 24 Hours Race …
Police are allegedly fining riders who remove the catalytic convertor or cat from their motorcycle, according to several motorcycle dealers. While the replacement of the muffler or exhaust system may contravene noise rules, removing the cat has nothing to do with noise, but with air pollution. The cat is that ugly metal box often underneath your …
A new motorcycle is a blank canvas that you can personalise and modify without making it illegal to ride, says RACQ technical and safety officer Steve Spalding. He recently bought a 2015 Triumph Bonneville SE (above) that he has been gradually “reworking” to his own tastes. “Motorcycles aren’t a one-size-fits-all product,” he says. “Modifications can …
If you think the cops are tough on noisy aftermarket exhausts here, try India where they hammer them flat by the roadside, or confiscate them and flatten them with a backhoe. Police in Bangalore take noisy exhausts off bikes and flatten them with a hammer by the roadside. Now police in Danvangere near Bangalore are …
Following a police crackdown in at least two states on motorcycle exhaust noise and heated discussion on our website, a Queensland sports bike rider has launched a petition to have the noise rules changes. Click here to sign his petition to Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads director-general Neil Scales. It has attracted more …
An information sign about motorcycle noise testing that has been posted at two Queensland police stations is incorrect. Queensland police have admitted there are errors in the sign, but say specialist officers have been fully trained in roadside noise testing and have been doing the tests since 2002. This follows recent blitzes in South East …
In the wake of recent fines for motorcycle exhaust noise and the controversy of roadside testing procedures, another issue that unfairly affects riders in some states is the lack of testing stations. Longtime motorcycle advocate Wayne Carruthers asks how riders can access test stations, particularly in country areas of NSW, Queensland and Victoria. “The issue …