Pulled over - Exhaust noise

[Matt06]

Not long just come in after riding my bike. Nothing special, just went for a quick spin as its been quite nice weather and light until 8pm.

On my way back home I noticed a Ford Mondeo staying really close and following me everywhere. I wasnt going particularly fast anywhere and this car was really pissing me off basically tailing me everywhere. Stopping at some lights I looked over and I noticed straight away there were 2 cops in the car. They continued to follow me all through town for quite a while eventually pulling me over.

I couldnt think why they were pulling me over, but thought it might have been a couple times I opened up while they were behind. However, the one cop started looking at my Akrapovics straight away.

It went something like this......

"Did these come with the bike?"
"Errrr... yeah"
"So you bought the bike with these on?"
"Well, no.... but they were an accessory from the dealer"
"I see..... They are for the race track only"
"Right"
"They arent road legal and you are supposed to only use them on the race track. You can tell because the bike pops and bangs all the time"
"Actually, thats an engine characteristic"
"Not with these exhausts it isnt"
"Oh, I see"
"Now this wouldnt pass an MOT would it?"
"Im not sure"
"Well, I could request one and the bike wouldnt move from here. But im only going to give you a verbal warning. If you were pulled over by someone else they might do a P Something and the bike wouldnt move from here unless something was done about the exhausts."
"Right, okay"
"Those exhausts are for the race track only and not the road"

Then they both get in the unmarked car and piss off. I have been pulled over before by a bike cop and nothing has been mentioned. The Akras are road legal, but the baffles arent in.

Is there any truth to what the cop was saying? That my bike wouldnt move? I mean, he obviously didnt know what he was talking about constantly stating they are for the track only. And that the bike was popping and banging because of the exhausts.

Its annoying too that they followed me for so long before pulling me over. Almost as if they were waiting for something to get me for seeing as exhaust sound would be apparent straight away.

Fucking police....
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Current: MT-10, Bandit, Grom, GPZ500
Previous: YBR125, GSXR400, ZXR400, MT-03, NTV650, R6, z750, ZX6R, MT-09

[southeastpete]

some people reckon that my micron can isnt road legal, i have no idea. the place i bought it from gave it an mot prior to sale, so i'll just go back there for future mots. then if they say anything i can just tell them thay passed it last time. also if the poo lice stop me can say it was given an mot with that can without lying. its not way loud though so i dont see a problem...
if i was you, i would'nt worry too much, they were probably just bored. on the other hand, next time they see you, having told you once they might be nasty... o well. don't let it stop you being you i say!

[.Chris.]

I think it's in this sort of situation you'd need to ask for a "deferred test".

AFAIK the only way they could stop you from moving your bike on account of its condition is if they issue a 'prohibition notice'. Not sure under what circumstances they can issue these but I'd have thought they'd have to find some serious safety flaw in the bike rather than just because they think the exhausts are a bit loud.
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Chris
1985 Kawasaki Z550F

[Ariel Badger]

I think he was nicely telling you to put the baffles back in. Next time he pulls you (and he will) he will not be so nice.
I would take his advice.
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[Hetzer]

Two coppers in a car to tell somebody their exhaust is popping, gotta love that use of resources.
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"There's the horizon! Ride hard, ride fast and cut down all who stand in your way!"

[TUG]

[Pie-Roe]

[Matt06]

Thanks for the replies.

I havent put the baffles back in and I dont intend to unless I am 'made' to do a test. However, I did want to know exactly how much truth is in this leaving the bike at the roadside business. My thinking was always that if anything comes from having the baffles out, I will put them back in and then take them back out after its tested or whatever.

The thing that really annoys me about the situation is the circumstances in which they pulled me over. Until I had a chance to look into the car I didnt know they were police and up until that point I presumed it was some car driver trying to race me or being generally annoying. I would rather them pull me over with something to say than follow me around looking for something.
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Current: MT-10, Bandit, Grom, GPZ500
Previous: YBR125, GSXR400, ZXR400, MT-03, NTV650, R6, z750, ZX6R, MT-09

[ZRX61]

CHP Oinker: That pipe is obnoxiously loud!

Me: Thank you Officer

CHP Oinker: It wasn't a fucking compliment!!

Me: Oh

[binge]

My Carbon Can Co exhaust has a BSAU mark on it making it road legal. But in the booklet it says it only stands if the baffles are in.

Which they aren't.

My plate is also illigal, Bikes illigal to be honest. Its not 33bhp, Nor is it registered as blue. And its insured as "stock".


However, I dont get pulled. And If I do, They say,

"Alright Ben, Hows your Dad. Havnt seen him in a while, Is he still based at the local Nick?"

[Finglonga]

[binge]

Meh, if they want to be picky they can pull the carbs off and see they aren't even restricted. Thus not been insured or having a legit license.

It was assessed after I was rear ended by that R6. The Assessor was a bike assessor too. And he didn't even pick up on anything. Just said "yep its a write off, blah blah".

If I declared all my mods my insurance would be through the roof I would of thought.

[virus]

Prohibition of use order.
Basically they make you fix it and pay an mot place to stamp a bit of paper to prove it.
Id chuck one baffle in and see what it is like, it is pretty loud.
Cheers
john
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own: 81 xs1100g...
owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.

[G]

They may well be able to hold it.

Popping and banging is most likely due to cans - original cans rarely do it unless the jetting is way off.
Legally the cans are for 'track only' if you don't have the baffles in.
Sounds like he knew what he was talking about from that side.

He let you go on your way with just a warning and nothing official; I wouldn't be complaining too much .

[Matt06]

So what exactly is the law on illegal exhausts?

I have been searching through some of the forum, but havent really been able to find a straight answer.

I read that all road legal exhausts need to have a stamp on them, which mine do not. They are road legal with the baffles in though.

So lets say im pulled again and unluckily by the same copper. He sees I havent stuck the baffles in or changed the exhausts, whats the worst he can do?

Im still pretty sure they were following me trying to get me for speeding because they followed for so long. Exhaust noise would be apparent straight away. I have been pulled before without mention and usually around town I keep revs and speed down low.

As for the popping, the bike doesnt pop/bang any more than it did with the standard cans. Its just a bit louder. The bike always bangs/pops when closing off the throttle.
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Current: MT-10, Bandit, Grom, GPZ500
Previous: YBR125, GSXR400, ZXR400, MT-03, NTV650, R6, z750, ZX6R, MT-09

[G]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Sounds like you got away lightly. They could have done you quite easily.

Legally the exhaust must be quiet and must be stamped to say they comply with the law. The baffles must not be removeable (which is why Akrapovic put a tiny tack weld on the bolt holding the baffles in, so the are technically welded in place). Removing the baffle means you have modified them and again they are illegal. Old marking used to be BSAU193T* (where the * was a number), but the relevant E mark is acceptable now.

If they are not stamped then they are no road legal, however quiet they are.

Popping and banging is probably down to either air leaks in the exhaust and / or the fueling not set up for the cans.

Reality is that probably half the bikes on the road have exhausts that are illegal for road use.

Most of the time you will get a fine and / or a defect ticket (get it fixed and a form stamped by an MOT station then take that form in to the police). However they could probably get away with issuing a prohibition notice of some kind to stop you using it on the road if they wanted to be really awkward.

Current noise limit is (from memory) 82db in a ride by test (something like full throttle, half peak power, specified gear) which is VERY quiet. For comparison a 98db limit at a quiet trackday is over 30 times louder (although measured a different way).

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Matt06]

Thanks again for the replies.

Im not sure where the E mark is supposed to be, but I havent see anything on my cans. They are road legal according to Akrapovic.

I have put the baffles back in now to see what it sounds like. I pretty much wipped them out as soon as I put the cans on so im not too sure how it sounds with them in. Not as good im sure .

The popping and banging is supposed to be there or at least its always been there. It did it with the standard cans and most singles I have heard pop and bang all the time.
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Current: MT-10, Bandit, Grom, GPZ500
Previous: YBR125, GSXR400, ZXR400, MT-03, NTV650, R6, z750, ZX6R, MT-09

[neatbik]

So what happens if you make your own exhaust? I remember reading a post by nath where he had a homemade exhaust on his ratbike. If i remeber correctly he had to fashion a silencer from a beer can to make it pass the mot, which it did - but obviously its not going to have a 'road legal' stamp even though it passed an mot...?

[Ariel Badger]

You can buy the stickers on Ebay.
The Badger has one but the sticker does not make it at all quiet.
____________________
Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[kb-zxr]

I thought the law changed so it was only illegal if it said NFRU, competition use only etc.

If it has no markings I thought it was down to MOT discretion.

Old 400 had Mot advisory - can louder than standard fitment, but passed. ( No markings)

I think placing road legal badges on a non legal can is perverting the course of justice or something,.

[tutton]

Havnt read the other posts apart from OP so ill tell you what happened to my brother.

On the way to taunton got pulled over by 2 traffic cops, they went over his car with a fine tooth comb because hes a boy racer.

He had a new buddyclub bumper on the front and hadnt finished fitting it properlly, so on full lock it ws scrubbing the bumper, they issued a proabition on the car, and wouldnt let it be moved from the spot, brother had to get it trailered away, as the police said it was unsafe for the road.

So it does happen not nessasarily to bikers maybe, but cars sure.
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Past: '05 Peugeot XPS '99 Aprillia RS125 '94 FZR600R
Current: '02 ZX636 A1P '51 CCM R30

[Finglonga]

[virus]

[scorps]

according to the local chap who moted my bike, the exhaust no longer needs to be stamped to be road legaland its up to thier discretion as to whether it is too loud or not, however i know mine is illegal as the baffles are out, the paperwork that came with the can stated this exhaust is only road legal if the baffles are in place.
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