Is Exhaust Decat Legal in USA? - Ducati.ms

donnybroz · Nov 16th, 2011, 9:23 am

Just wondering...is this tweek in gonna pass at Motor Vehicle Departments in the States. My experience: M.V. personel at my state inspection lanes were bikers and had their own bikes parked right next to where they did the inspections. I'm thinking, that's cool, but man, they checked out the bike like they were at an all you can eat smogasboard. Anyway, they turned out to be real nit pickers. I don't think you could get by those guys if it wasn't 100% legal. I know with cars, they do the exhaust computer analyzed emissions check too.

Just wondering if anyone knew for sure. confused:

jcns · Nov 16th, 2011, 10:56 am

cats are mandatory.
motorcycles are not subject to smog tests (at least not in California and not yet).
DMV inspection is not the same as smog tests.
DMV inspectors have a job to do; what they ride and what they do are two DIFFERENT THINGS.
Look up penalty for riding without a cat in your state.

DesmoDog · Nov 16th, 2011, 12:01 pm

No, it's not legal to modify the exhaust. But what you really want to know is can you get away with it in your state... but it sounds like they already inspected your bike?

FWIW "in the states" is pretty broad. Yes, I can get away with it in Michigan.

Team503 · Nov 21st, 2011, 2:10 pm

The short answer is that no, it is not legal to operate a motorcycle manufactured with catalytic converter(s) on the road with the cats removed. While your state's individual requirements may vary, this fact does not.

Beyond becoming annoyingly loud, and contributing to ruining our environment, what exactly do you hope to gain? 2hp? If you say weight savings and have more than 8% body fat, I suggest you start with yourself.

MTScott2 · Nov 21st, 2011, 3:15 pm

^^^
Hope to gain a better looking , running motor ,without that huge Ugly Hot running cat...
They should check out the old belching dump trucks and the Hundreds of running transports that sit idiling at the truck stops , while the huge fat bellied truckers grub up...
And stop trucking garbage , recycleable , compostable Garbage, hundreds of miles .. that would be a start to saving the planet rather than , ALL the noise pollution and SMOG from a motorcycle...

jcns · Nov 21st, 2011, 3:55 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTScott2

^^^
Hope to gain a better looking , running motor ,without that huge Ugly Hot running cat...
They should check out the old belching dump trucks and the Hundreds of running transports that sit idiling at the truck stops , while the huge fat bellied truckers grub up...
And stop trucking garbage , recycleable , compostable Garbage, hundreds of miles .. that would be a start to saving the planet rather than , ALL the noise pollution and SMOG from a motorcycle...

trucking industry spents millions of $ every lobbying against cats on the grounds that it hurts performance/fuel mileage.
The car industry had the same argument; initially smog equipment did hurt peformance, but they found a way around it with newer technologies.

MTScott2 · Nov 21st, 2011, 4:04 pm

Kind sir :
My point is that there is bigger fish to fry than a FEW Motorcycles...
I`m sure you can tell when an old Muscle car goes by you and you can smell the pollution they emit ,
they have made great strides with pollution , they could do a lot more with the trucking industry , ie: running trucks empty and hauling small loads with an 18 wheeler , they could do a better job with TRAIN service , being more effecient, if they wanted to ...
lots of people getting rich hauling garbage hundreds of miles...

HumboldtDuc · Nov 21st, 2011, 4:05 pm

The answer is no...and yes.

If you go to a DMV where they know their stuff, especially in Cali, no way. Some of the less informed DMVs or more laid back offices, sure, you might get away with it.

Technically speaking, it should have the EPA placard to be able to pass, along with an unmolested exhaust system. ANY mods to the pipe are considered to be illegal UNLESS the mods carry an exemption number, much like a CARB OE number you find on 50 state legal parts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcns

trucking industry spents millions of $ every lobbying against cats on the grounds that it hurts performance/fuel mileage.
The car industry had the same argument; initially smog equipment did hurt peformance, but they found a way around it with newer technologies.

incorrect, those may have been the reasons stated, but it absolutely was all about money, pure and simple. Diesel DPF (diesel particulate filters) and urea injection systems are expensive, usually $15k or more.... And thats assuming you dont have to do a complete re-power.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTScott2

Kind sir :
My point is that there is bigger fish to fry than a FEW Motorcycles...
I`m sure you can tell when an old Muscle car goes by you and you can smell the pollution they emit ,
they have made great strides with pollution , they could do a lot more with the trucking industry , ie: running trucks empty and hauling small loads with an 18 wheeler , they could do a better job with TRAIN service , being more effecient, if they wanted to ...
lots of people getting rich hauling garbage hundreds of miles...

In a sense, you're right, but EPA has left the motorcycle industry alone to voluntarily regulate itself for other reasons. First, there aren't a lot of motorcycles on the road, at least compared to cars, so there isnt a lot of money to be had. Secondly, and the bigger issue, is that they do not have a test method for emissions standards developed, nor are the testing stations equipped to handle motorcycles in terms of equipment and liability. If you get wind that the EPA is coming up with a test method you can bet standards are right around the corner, and you'll end up with bikes like the 2013+ cali ones, no exhaust mods...with evap canisters and such...

stubbicatt · Dec 7th, 2011, 1:43 pm

DPF and urea injection is expensive, but effective on removing particulates. At one point in 2010 I think, Caterpillar stopped producing power units for OTR tractors altogether due to the abysmal performance of their DPF systems, leaving the field open to Detroit Diesel or Cummins manufacturers.

My understanding is that the "big twin" domestic USA motorcycle manufacturer had convinced congress that they cannot pass the emissions standards, with cats or without, and that the loss of the "iconic" manufacturer will mean the loss of jobs etc., so congress has declined to extend the regulation to motorcycles.

But I could be wrong...

Ricoyam · Dec 11th, 2011, 7:52 pm

My money is on the man from Humbolt.
Simply, it is illegal to remove or modify any emmission control device on any emmission regulated vehicle. That pretty much means anything 50cc or larger operated on US highways originally sold after 1978. At least I think it's 1978.... but you get the idea.

Whether or not you get caught tampering is another story.

Overall motorcycles are the worst polluting form of vehicle on the road. They are also fairly inefficient as far as fuel economy wars go. Anyone feeling the right to preach to another motorcyclist regarding emmissions should either rethink what they're about to say or give up bikes. I mean no one likes to be known as a hypocrite, right?
That said, be as green as you can but don't try to make others follow lock-step.