UK Exhaust law! Catalytic converters

[claypigeon101]

Hi guys! Newbie to BCF here, how are you all doing.

Can anyone explain to me a brief summary of UK exhaust law?

Specifically what's the deal with catalytic converters. Are after-market exhausts illegal now because of catalytic converters not being present?

I'm on Ls on a 125 at the moment, looking at a 250 like the Ninja or the Hyosung GTR, taking my test this summer. Next bike I have needs to be light on fuel but powerful enough to cruise motorway miles from London to Stoke on occasion and other than that just quick enough to be fun and a good step up from my CBR125. That's why I thought of a 250.

Anyway that aside the first thing I'd do is put a nice sounding exhaust on my bike, 250 or otherwise. A great sound means a lot to me.

If my bike had a cat as stock, I presume putting a slip-on on would incur removing the cat and therefore would I be riding something illegal?

Can anyone shed any light as I did a bit of googling and mustn't have found the right pages cos I'm no clearer on it than I was an hour ago.

Thanks!

PS If you have any bike suggestions for first big bike let me know because I'm after something that's not too brutal for a first bike but has the power to cruise at 60-70 if I go 160 miles home for the weekend etc.

[Taught2BCauti...]

Catalytic converters are usually fitted closer to the headers, so are not part of the end-can.

In a fully 'closed loop' system, there will be an O2 (or Lambda) sensor before and after the 'Cat' so you should be able to locate it easily by looking for where the wiring goes - but you should find that changing the end can and link pipe doesn't affect the Cat.
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Honda Varadero XL125(V8)
www.TheFutureIsHere.eu

[claypigeon101]

That's brilliant, thankyou!
If anyone wants to elaborate on first bike ideas then please do.

[grant965]

on my z750 the catalytic converter is in the end can, only found out when I cut 9'' of the can off and realised I had a divider splitting the converter from the silencer.

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Ex bikes: 05 Suzuki En 125, '98 Yamaha Thundercat, '08 Honda cbr125, '05 Kawasaki z750, '03 Triumph Daytona 600, '91 Kawasaki ex250, '03 Hyosung Comet 125
Current Bike: '02 Suzuki TL1000R

[Taught2BCauti...]

Make sure your 125 is suitable for the standard (25kW) test, or you could end up with just a 'light' category licence and be restricted to 125cc and 11kW until you take another test. See Here for more info.

I would suggest you look for at least a 400cc bike for that sort of distance on the motorway - maybe even thinking about getting a 600cc with a 25kW restrictor kit fitted.

I don't think a 250cc machine would be up to the task.

Someone will be along soon to suggest you do your test on a bigger bike and getting an un-restricted licence at the first go - but I'm guessing you will still be under 21 by Jan 19th?
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Honda Varadero XL125(V8)
www.TheFutureIsHere.eu

[lihp]

[Benson_JV]

Don't get a 250.
You may as well get a 500 commuter (GPZ500, GS500, CB500, ER5) as the price difference will be negligible, slightly worse on fuel (only very slightly!) yet the consumables will cost the same, yet underneath you is a machine with quite a bit more oomph that'll gobble motorway miles.
Plus, as of 2013 they will be worth, precisely, shit.
____________________
Willson - "If you go out on that CBR600 in the winter, you're going to do more miles on your side than on your wheels."
Riding: CBR600FW Driving: Audi A6
Previous Bikes: '96 Bandit 600, '96 GPz305

[MarJay]

There is currently no emissions test for motorcycle MOT's, so the cat only has to be present at manufacture. This is likely to change soon though.
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Kickstart]

[claypigeon101]

Thanks so much guys that's loads to think about.

To answer some questions yes I'm 19 at the moment so the DAS or whatever the big bike test is is out.

Also I'll take it on the instructor's bike rather than mine, I like his YBR.

What's the 2013 change you're talking about?

[0l0dom0l0]

Just take your test on a 125, you can then ride any motorcycle as long as the power output is no more than 33bhp for 2 years. Then get a 500/600cc commuter and restrict it to 33bhp.

There is no market for 250's at the moment, because they are stupidly priced and don't really serve any purpose.

The change in 2013 means that you will no longer to be able to take that test, and for 2 years you will be restricted to a 125. Then a bike with no more than 45bhp (can be restricted from no greater than 90bhp) for another 2 years and ride any size motorcycle after that.
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CBT Passed: 30/08/2009, Theory Passed: 31/08/2010, Mod 1 Passed: 6/9/2010, Mod 2 Passed: 13/09/2010. Restriction ended 13/09/2012.

Bikes: 2007 Derbi GPR 50, 1998 Yamaha Fazer 600 (written off), 2002 Yamaha Fazer 600, 1994 CBR 600F, 2003 Triumph Daytona 600, Kawasaki ZX6R J1.....Current: 2006 Yamaha FZ6, 1998 Suzuki TL1000R and a Honda VFR 400 NC30.

[Walloper]

The Cat can cost you a bit of power due to volumetric efficiency.

I took the cat out the system of my BMW R1200GS and fitted Remus pipes and can.
Passed two MOTs without issue.
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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[stevo as b4]

[Rogerborg]

Having gone from a 305 making just about 25kW (which rides much like a Ninja 250 that I tried) to a 500, I would recommend that you go the restricted 500+ route. The bigger bike is more stable, much nicer to ride, and won't become unsellable next year.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike