Daily motorbike news, views & reviews
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 …
Victorian police launched Operation Muffler this month to crack down on noisy motorcycle and car mufflers after complaints from the public. The operation began on January 15 and will continue “for the foreseeable future”, says a Victoria Police media spokeswoman. “Operation Muffler was formulated in response to community feedback to the Police and the EPA …
Police have been known to hand out fines for noisy motorcycle exhausts, but in India you not only get a fine, the cops hammer the exhausts at the side of the road until they are useless. The police crackdown follows noise complaints by Residents in Bangalore and Mysore, according to Indian motoring website Rushlane.com. That seems …
Modern motorcycles are getting hotter and hotter which is not only an issue for rider comfort but also for reliability and performance. But there are things you can do to fix the problem. The reason modern motorcycles are getting hotter is the increasingly stringent emission rules. Most manufacturers are reaching emissions targets with water-cooled engines …
Honda has filed a patent for a V4 sports bike with an under-seat exhaust similar to those popular a couple of decades ago, signalling a possible return of the fashion. Racing bikes began using under-seat exhausts in the 1970s for a number of reasons: to cut drag, improve balance, place the outlet in the bike’s …