Which Exhaust

[Lez72]

Decided to contact SP Engineering myself and see what they had to say, this is how it went:


Hello there, there’s been a bit of a discussion on a bike forum I use about the legalities of your exhausts on the road and was wondering if you could give me a definitive answer?
I know your website says “BSAU marked Road Legal” and I purchased one of your Moto GP end cans because of this, but rather than having that nagging doubt in my mind I thought I’d ask the question direct.
Many thanks
Darren Silvester

Hi
Many thanks for your email, Please confirm the make, model, and exact model of exhaust we have supplied?

[color=rgb(31, 73, 125)]I bought the stainless Moto GP (stubby) for my Yamaha FZS 600[/color]

These are not marked road legal although have db killer for MOT use. The XLS range is slightly chunkier, (100x300) these are BSAU marked.
Hope this helps.

[color=rgb(31, 73, 125)]Mine does have the BSAU markings.[/color][color=rgb(31, 73, 125)]I haven’t had any problems with MOT’s and I’ve never ridden on the road with the baffle out as it sounds a bit too lively, as you know.[/color][color=rgb(31, 73, 125)]I wasn’t aware of any exhaust can actually being marked as “road legal”, or are you saying that the BSAU marking is enough as far as the police are concerned?[/color]


Exhausts are very GREY area! no stamp is required for MOT, would need to check with law, each application or view of policeman can vary!
Kind regards

David Pepler
SP Engineering Motorcycle Exhausts & Accessories Ltd
Unit 5 Keyford Court,
Frome,
Somerset,
BA11 4BD


So, pick the bones out of that?

Not really the definitive answer i was looking for but i do appreciate that some police will overlook things, whereas if you've just flown past them at 140mph then they might not be as forgiving!
I think having the BSAU markings is a huge bonus if they do get a bit funny though, and i will continue carrying my paperwork stating that it's okay for road use with the DB killer fitted.  mokin

That's interesting Darrsi. Like you say, it's not really a definitive answer from SPE. I bought mine through Ebay from SPE and I distinctly remember the advert stating that the exhaust was BS stamped and road legal. I guess SPE are now suggesting that although it is BS stamped its not marked 'road legal' ? I don't know any bike exhausts that are  :rolleyes . In fairness, my MOT tester didn't say it was illegal he just said it was too loud and gave me an advisory.
confused.com  :rolleyes

[darrsi]

I've read quite a few times that replacement exhausts should be no louder than a stock exhaust in which case the mass majority should fail an MOT but it's down to the discretion of the tester.
As i said earlier my work mate's Harley takes the piss as far as noise levels go, as do most Harley's, but they still seem to be riding the streets legally with admiration for their noise so yer man from SPE isn't wrong when he says it's a very grey area.
I think the trick is to be as polite as possible to Mr Plod and maybe carry fresh doughnuts as a peace gesture.  :b

[Lez72]

The reason that Harleys scrape through the noise regs is due to the firing order of the engines and therefore the tone of the exhaust. Its due to the fact that it is not a constant drone and is more intermittent. Whereas an inline 4 has a constant exhaust note at any given rpm.

[darrsi]

The reason that Harleys scrape through the noise regs is due to the firing order of the engines and therefore the tone of the exhaust. Its due to the fact that it is not a constant drone and is more intermittent. Whereas an inline 4 has a constant exhaust note at any given rpm.

Noise is noise as far as i'm concerned!  :look 


I can honestly say my neighbours would hate me more if i owned matey at work's Harley than my bike!

[JoeRock]

Must admit I don't see the fuss that people have with cans. It's now entirely up to your MOT tester what he'll pass, providing of course that the can doesn't have "race use only" stamped on it. I've had some pretty damn loud bikes over the years, and as most of my MOT testers have been sensible types, provided I stick the baffle back in before I go they're absolutely fine (the proper type of MOT tester that isn't fussed about slightly smaller plates and aftermarket exhausts, but instead checks the important bits of the bike that actually make it road worthy).
Only bike I've ever had that I thought I might not get through an MOT as it was SO bloody loud was my ZX9R, it started off with an SP Engineering tri oval stubby with a removable baffle - I used to run it without the baffle as it had been jetted to suit and lost about 8hp with it in, but that was loud. Stuck that in for its first MOT and it went through as the baffle was in, although the MOT tester did ask me to take it out just so he could hear how it sounded without! Then got the chance to pick up a full akrapovic racing system for it off eBay, with one of their race (no baffle fitted) cans. It did originally have a "not for road use" strap on it, so took that off and fitted a blank, then took it to the MOT centre to get it checked out (can was also slightly cut down, so by god that roared), and he said as it didn't have a baffle fitted as standard, but wasn't marked "not for road use", it'd be fine!

Just depends where you get your MOT done to be honest, I'm of the opinion that get whatever you like the sound of, and just find an MOT tester that isn't a bit of a nob!

[darrsi]

Must admit I don't see the fuss that people have with cans. It's now entirely up to your MOT tester what he'll pass, providing of course that the can doesn't have "race use only" stamped on it. I've had some pretty damn loud bikes over the years, and as most of my MOT testers have been sensible types, provided I stick the baffle back in before I go they're absolutely fine (the proper type of MOT tester that isn't fussed about slightly smaller plates and aftermarket exhausts, but instead checks the important bits of the bike that actually make it road worthy).
Only bike I've ever had that I thought I might not get through an MOT as it was SO bloody loud was my ZX9R, it started off with an SP Engineering tri oval stubby with a removable baffle - I used to run it without the baffle as it had been jetted to suit and lost about 8hp with it in, but that was loud. Stuck that in for its first MOT and it went through as the baffle was in, although the MOT tester did ask me to take it out just so he could hear how it sounded without! Then got the chance to pick up a full akrapovic racing system for it off eBay, with one of their race (no baffle fitted) cans. It did originally have a "not for road use" strap on it, so took that off and fitted a blank, then took it to the MOT centre to get it checked out (can was also slightly cut down, so by god that roared), and he said as it didn't have a baffle fitted as standard, but wasn't marked "not for road use", it'd be fine!

Just depends where you get your MOT done to be honest, I'm of the opinion that get whatever you like the sound of, and just find an MOT tester that isn't a bit of a nob!

Agreed it's just a chimney at the end of the day, it does all seem a bit of a fuss about nothing, unless you really take the piss with the noise.
I'd love to go out and try my Moto GP exhaust without the baffle just out of curiosity, but i think i'd be embarrassed quite frankly, and would expect to be "silenced" by the police.  top 

[nick crisp]

Personally, I like Pete Gibson's copies of full factory pipes, no baffles. I don't wear earplugs when I ride cos I normally have the Motorhead turned up to max, and my helmet doesn't fit too well so it's always competing with the wind noise at about 140 mph through our village, and the induction roar from the open, unfiltered carbs kind of adds to it a bit, but you don't notice it too much when you're pissed, the MOT tester round here "lost" his hearing aid (strangely about the time of my last visit there  :\ ), and can't bend down anymore to read what's stamped on the can anyway cause he's about 90. But as the local copper is also the president of our club (Bastards From Hell), we don't get too much grief anyhow.
PS I've got 2 PA speakers mounted on my top box rack, do these have to be stamped BSAU?

:evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil :evil

[Doubleclix]

:rollin :rollin :rollin :lol  Haha! Bastards From Hell sold it too me!