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Derestricted Harley-Davidson Bikes Are Too Loud For Australia

If you own a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and have tampered with the stock exhaust is a way that it is louder, then we have to bring you some bad news. You will have to muffle it again as the Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) received a lot of complaints from the citizens and is taking action.
Custom Harley-Davidson exhaust 22 photos
Photo: Harley-Davidson
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EPA has released data showing that of the 5,000 noisy vehicles notices issued since January 1st, 2014, about 12 percent went to motorcycle owners. And Harley-Davidson possessors were found to be the top culprits. Yamaha, Honda, and Kawasaki are the other two makers to receive more than 20 notices.

The authority has issued notices to 465 owners, requiring them the have their H-D machines noise tested and to make any repairs or modifications to make them compliant with the Environment Protection Act 1970 and the Environment Protection (Vehicle Emissions) Regulations 2013.

“Provided the bike’s exhaust system has not been modified, all bikes manufactured from 2005 will need to pass their own specific noise limit as set within the Australian Design Rules,” EPA Regulatory Practice and Strategy Executive Director Chris Webb said. “A bike’s specific stationary noise test information must be displayed on the vehicle for motorbikes manufactured from 1 March 1988,” Mr. Webb said.

According to Webb, if a motorcycle made before 2005, or was manufactured after 2005 and has a modified exhaust, it should put out a maximum of 94 decibels (dB). Which should be equal to the noise a train makes while passing by with you standing on the platform.

As for older motorcycles, if they are manufactured before March 1st, 1985, the regulation says that they can’t exceed 100 dB, which matches the noise made by a jet taking off from 305 meters away.

And, no, simply rolling off the throttle when going past a police officer won’t cut it anymore, because the citizens can report you as well, and the authorities are encouraging the people to do it more often.

In case you get reported, you will receive a notice requiring you to take the motorcycle to an EPA-approved noise tester. If it’s more than the allowed limit, you’ll have to muffle it, and you’ll get a certificate of compliance that must be presented to the agency. If not, the EPA is empowered to suspend your vehicle registration.

If you ask me, I can say I love the sound of a 1200 cc V-twin breathing fire through a straight pipe, but there are others that get enraged when their car alarm starts or their water dances in the glass each time you blow by their house.
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