smog checks for bikes

[budgie45]

Dont know if this is a repost,

I got this sent to me


The hearing for SB 435 has been postponed until at least June 21st. We're still gathering data on what they're planning to propose and from what we've seen so far it isn't pretty. Stay tuned and as soon as we know what the actual language is we'll send out another Action Alert with our strategy to combat it.




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sent May 28th

Action Alert: SB 435 - Motorcycle Smog Bill - Scheduled for June 14th!



Last year SB 435 passed out of the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee only after the author, Fran Pavley, agreed to remove the provision that would have required motorcycles to be included in the smog check program, same as cars. It then went to the Assembly Transportation Committee to be heard but was stalled there until this year. We now have a date for the hearing and are trying to get the revised language so we know what exactly what we're up against. The original bll only targeted model year 2000 and later but rumor has it that the revision will target exhaust system modifications to any make and model year.

We'll send out another Action Alert as information becomes available, most likely asking for phone calls and letters to the members of the Assembly Transportation Committee. Also, if it's possible for you to attend the hearing, plan to do so on June 14th at 1:30 p.m. in room 4202, 4th floor at the Capitol.

If you've got signed petitions protesting the bill it's time to send them to the State Office to be bundled up and sent to Sacramento. There's still time to collect more if you plan on going to any events this weekend but then don't delay sending them in.


Please pass this on to everyone you know who rides.

 

[LongGoneJohn]

I'll go out on a limb and say it: Why don't we smog all of our vehicles? I hate CARB as much as anyone else, but reasonable emission regulation isn't always bad.

What I don't understand is why one city will require you to SMOG your pickup, yet a city 10 miles north of that doesn't require it. Makes no sense.

 

[Vanilla_Gorilla]

Not trying to start a riot but why would smogging motorcycles be bad? I can see the performance/weight/motos are already fuel efficient don't discourage people using a vehicle that doesn't clog the roads arguments. But seriously, is it that big of an issue?

Discuss

 

[metrorollah]

All the details updated:
http://totalcapitol.com/?bill_id=200920100SB435
This bill has a lot better chance getting by anyone other than Arnie, unfortunately.

Digest: Existing law establishes a motor vehicle inspection and maintenance program (smog check), administered by the Department of Consumer Affairs, that provides for the inspection of motor vehicles upon registration, biennially upon renewal of registration, upon transfer of ownership, and in certain other circumstances. Existing law exempts from biennial inspection all motorcycles until the department implements test procedures applicable to motorcycles. Existing law also prohibits any person from disconnecting, modifying, or altering a motor vehicle pollution control device, including a catalytic converter on a motorcycle.

This bill would declare the Legislatures intent to enact legislation to increase enforcement, including, but not limited to, increasing penalties for tampering with pollution control devices on motorcycles, with regard to all relevant anti-tampering laws that apply to motorcycles

OLD BILL:

This bill requires the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR), beginning January 1, 2012, to incorporate Class III motorcycles that are a 2000 model-year or newer into the smog check program. In doing so, this bill:

1. Defines a Class III motorcycle as a motorcycle containing an engine with displacement of 280 cubic centimeters or greater.

2. Requires, by July 1, 2011, BAR, in cooperation with the Air Resources Board (ARB), to develop regulations, including testing procedures, for incorporating motorcycles into the smog check program.

3. Specifies that motorcycles subject to a smog inspection shall be tested using procedures determined to be appropriate by BAR in consultation with ARB.

4. Allows the Department of Consumer Affairs to pay, through the Consumer Assistance Program, up to $500 to a person who retires a motorcycle that fails the smog inspection program.

 

[red66chevy]

I'll go out on a limb and say it: Why don't we smog all of our vehicles? I hate CARB as much as anyone else, but reasonable emission regulation isn't always bad.

What I don't understand is why one city will require you to SMOG your pickup, yet a city 10 miles north of that doesn't require it. Makes no sense.

If SMOG regulations were simply about emissions maybe it would be ok to set reasonable limits, but currently the SMOG system is so asinine that one can modify their vehicle to make the emissions considerably better, but it is considered illegal and will fail the test.

This just happened to my uncle. He put a dual ignition system on his car from a later model year. His fuel mileage increased by 5mpg, and it's emissions are far below the standards due to the increased efficiency of the new ignition system. Failed the visual. He was then sent to a SMOG referee who supposedly can approve the modifications since the emissions are so low. There he was told that modifications to the emissions system are illegal regardless if it makes the vehicle's emissions less or not. Please return the vehicle's emissions system back to stock (higher emission) form or it will not pass.

What the hell kind of sense does that make???

 

[LongGoneJohn]

I'm not arguing that CARB in its current state is just a giant bureacracy who's main objective is to jsutify its existance.

All I'm saying is I'm not against reasonable emission controls. Plus, how much does it really affect us anyway? We still put our pipes on, will just take them off to SMOG them and put them back on. That's the reality of it.

 

[bluenoser]

I'll go out on a limb and say it: Why don't we smog all of our vehicles? I hate CARB as much as anyone else, but reasonable emission regulation isn't always bad.

What I don't understand is why one city will require you to SMOG your pickup, yet a city 10 miles north of that doesn't require it. Makes no sense.

Because every law starts out with good intentions, then goes through a process where it is so perverted from the original intent that it defeats the original purpose.

In this case, it looks to encompass vehicles that currently are exempt from smog testing:

This bill would require the department to include model-year 2000and newer motorcycles in the smog check program beginning January 1, 2012.

 

[LongGoneJohn]

I wouldn't even begin to understand how that's legal....

But again, I'm not against reasonable emission control. Reasonable being the key word.

 

[MysterYvil]

Regardless of what I think about smogging motos, I think that CA smog tests are a joke.

In her later years, my '99 Saturn burned a quart of oil per tank of gas; more than once drive-through vendors thought something was on fire. However, it passed the smog test just fine...

(We junked it anyway, just because we didn't want to be "those people.")

 

[FlewbyU]

I'll go out on a limb and say it: Why don't we smog all of our vehicles? I hate CARB as much as anyone else, but reasonable emission regulation isn't always bad.

What I don't understand is why one city will require you to SMOG your pickup, yet a city 10 miles north of that doesn't require it. Makes no sense.

I can think of a several reasons why.

Why should I have to pay more money to someone/government just to ride my bike.

Why should I have to take more time out of my day just to get my bike smogged.

Why should I have to get rid of my old bike simply because it pollutes more then a new bike, even though at best it might get ridden 2000 miles a year.

Why should we create more government oversight (expense) just to make sure that fuel efficient motorcycles are not polluting.

We don't have money in this state of educate our kids but we have money to make sure motorcycle get smogged.

The government has lost its mind.

Throw the bums out of office in November.

 

[Marlowe]

Personally, I can't wait for the new generation of 279cc superbikes.

arty

As for smogging bikes, I do it here, although AZ is considering discontinuing the program for its questionable benefit. I guess failing the test is rare enough, and usually by a small enough margin, that they are not sure there is enough air quality benefit to offset the costs.

 

[aszrael1266]

What about bikes that never came with a cat. I don't think they became standard on bikes till like 04 or 05. At that point would they just go off what the manufacture stated the emissions were and base it off that?

 

[Ray]

If SMOG regulations were simply about emissions maybe it would be ok to set reasonable limits, but currently the SMOG system is so asinine that one can modify their vehicle to make the emissions considerably better, but it is considered illegal and will fail the test.

This just happened to my uncle. He put a dual ignition system on his car from a later model year. His fuel mileage increased by 5mpg, and it's emissions are far below the standards due to the increased efficiency of the new ignition system. Failed the visual. He was then sent to a SMOG referee who supposedly can approve the modifications since the emissions are so low. There he was told that modifications to the emissions system are illegal regardless if it makes the vehicle's emissions less or not. Please return the vehicle's emissions system back to stock (higher emission) form or it will not pass.

What the hell kind of sense does that make???

Very similar thing happened to me recently - I took my 1981 Dodge Van in for a Smog test. It passed the smog test with flying colors as the previous year I had installed a new catalytic converter. The test station then proceeded to FAIL my van. Why? Because they claimed the installed catalytic converter was for the wrong model Dodge Van - same year catalytic converter, same make vehicle, but the wrong serial number for my van. I asked what the hell is the point if the van passes the emissions test (and did so FAR BELOW the required numbers)?

To add insult to injury the smog inspection station even stated that they had to use a mirror to identify the serial number because it was so hard to get to. They were quite proud of themselves.

Long story short, I took it to a different inspection station and it passed.

CARB is out of control and we NEED to turn everything over to the EPA!

 

[madsen203]

WOOT! Stock exhaust FTW.

I like a quite bike. The po-po don't hear you coming 5 miles away. And when you wear ear plugs, getting low in corners feels like flying.

 

[auntiebling]

i dont have a problem with requiring smog tests on motorcycles, but i do have a big problem making smog checks go back 1-5-10-20 model years before testing is implemented. it's just wrong

What about bikes that never came with a cat. I don't think they became standard on bikes till like 04 or 05. At that point would they just go off what the manufacture stated the emissions were and base it off that?

it would be the same as a car: whatever equipment was there to meet the emission certification requirements for that model year will need to be present to pass the visual. if it never had a cat, it won't need a cat

Very similar thing happened to me recently - I took my 1981 Dodge Van in for a Smog test. It passed the smog test with flying colors as the previous year I had installed a new catalytic converter. The test station then proceeded to FAIL my van. Why? Because they claimed the installed catalytic converter was for the wrong model Dodge Van - same year catalytic converter, same make vehicle, but the wrong serial number for my van. I asked what the hell is the point if the van passes the emissions test (and did so FAR BELOW the required numbers)?

To add insult to injury the smog inspection station even stated that they had to use a mirror to identify the serial number because it was so hard to get to. They were quite proud of themselves.

Long story short, I took it to a different inspection station and it passed.

CARB is out of control and we NEED to turn everything over to the EPA!

that's a fairly new rule, perhaps even as of 2010, there are model specific replacement converters. i had to get some exhaust work done on my landcruiser earlier this year and was asking the exhaust guy about it. apparently CARB came in and confiscated all of his brand new replacement cats that didn't meet the serial number requirements (reimbursing pennies on the dollar) and he had to get new stock that complied with the rules. re-tard-ed

 

[thesnaf]

If the language in the senate bill removed motorcycle compliance and the house bill includes it, they need to work out the difference before it can be signed by the governor.

and call me crazy, but doesn't Cali already require specific emissions for bikes to even be SOLD in California?

 

[Deucer]

If SMOG regulations were simply about emissions maybe it would be ok to set reasonable limits, but currently the SMOG system is so asinine that one can modify their vehicle to make the emissions considerably better, but it is considered illegal and will fail the test.

This just happened to my uncle. He put a dual ignition system on his car from a later model year. His fuel mileage increased by 5mpg, and it's emissions are far below the standards due to the increased efficiency of the new ignition system. Failed the visual. He was then sent to a SMOG referee who supposedly can approve the modifications since the emissions are so low. There he was told that modifications to the emissions system are illegal regardless if it makes the vehicle's emissions less or not. Please return the vehicle's emissions system back to stock (higher emission) form or it will not pass.

What the hell kind of sense does that make???

Weird, that just happened to my uncle too.

I'm over making my shit not stock or buying shit that's not stock. It was fun in high school and all, but that was when I had enough free time to deal with the hassle. At this point in my life, I'm happier just riding stock stuff that typically works fine and keeps working.

 

[auntiebling]

If the language in the senate bill removed motorcycle compliance and the house bill includes it, they need to work out the difference before it can be signed by the governor.

and call me crazy, but doesn't Cali already require specific emissions for bikes to even be SOLD in California?

they must meet emissions standards to be sold new in CA, however there is no check-up later. thus, those that realize there is a law with no consequences or enforcement for those that break it (aside from the odd LEO that cares/wants to make your life miserable) have modified their vehicles. the ones that have done so are in a pickle if testing is required for machines manufactured before the system is implemented

 

[SLu]

CARB Sucks!!!
Just set an emissions standard for different vehicles by year and model. Test purely by what comes out the exhaust. Most everything else from CARB is BS. Those goons are just making up crap to keep themselves employed.

 

[Ray]

CARB Sucks!!!
Just set an emissions standard for different vehicles by year and model. Test purely by what comes out the exhaust.

I LOVE this idea, let's create a bill and vote on it!