Noisy exhaust - WoF rules

[mccool]

Last year there was a lot of comment on KB about the consultation about new WoF rules about noisy exhausts - to do with the street racing legislation. The proposed rules were basically going to make any non standard can illegal.

The new rules were supposed to be out in January. I can't find anything about them on ltsa.govt.nz. Has anyone heard anything?

Larry

[spudchucka]

Last year there was a lot of comment on KB about the consultation about new WoF rules about noisy exhausts - to do with the street racing legislation. The proposed rules were basically going to make any non standard can illegal.

The new rules were supposed to be out in January. I can't find anything about them on ltsa.govt.nz. Has anyone heard anything?

Larry

I'm not up to date with the exhaust noise issues, however there are new WOF emmission tests to be phased in over the next few years that will have a big impact on the use of aftermarket exhausts.

[aff-man]

Well for those of you who have heard my bike know that it's pretty loud, And when i went for my wof the guy said it's loud but i'll pass it. So i don't know what rules are in place but it seems to be a where you go sorta deal instead of a standard test thing.

[Deano]

I believe the noise levels are specified in one of the schedules of the Traffic Regulations 1976. There is also a specified method of measurement conforming to a british standard, but I don't think anyone is using it, just the old subjective ear of the police and the WOF tester. My VTR came out with standard pipes with a noise level of 85dBA, which is pretty much the standard/limit in the above reg's. Doubt if the Neptunes would meet that - just be careful where you take the bike for a WOF.

[Coldkiwi]

latest lies - err I mean facts - I saw from LTSA was that it was a subjective impression by the WoF officer as to whether the exhaust was 'louder than should be expected for that type of vehicle'. used to say 'than the original equipment' but that caused confusion on vehicles that came from than factory with loud pipes and got failed.

there are objective ways to test noise from exhausts and probably even affordable ways to get a decent spread and form of control on a wide range of vehicles in an appropriate manner, but I sadly don't think the LTSA are interested in providing (read paying for someone to sort it our properly) a fair and reasonable solution to what they seem to perceive is a high profile -small sector problem (boyracers). I say this not out of spite for the LTSA (thats only part of it) but because they/police in charge of this green stickered mallarkey previously consulted an expert in childhood hearing about assessing exhaust noise.

don't get it?? me NEITHER!

[Slim]

The proposed exhaust noise rule change was not in any way part of the Boy Racer law change that went through.

An LTSA rule is different to law.

The LTSA had so many submissions (in the thousands, I believe) about that specific change to the exhaust noise rules that they canned it.

It is completely subjective. If your exhaust is not obnoxiously loud, you could pretty much say, "Prove it" if they decide to fail you, or request that they retest outside the building (arguing acoustics may amplify your exhaust) or request the most recent hearing test results of your WOF guy.

HTH

[riffer]

Coldkiwi - you're an acoustic engineer - right?

Perhaps you could come up with a sensible method to test for noise, and this could be presented to LTSA.

[spudchucka]

I love the sound of a V-2 bike, inline fours as well. V-8 motors sound wicked but I HATE the sound of buzzy little jap cars with big bore exhausts & blow off valves being reved to the red line.

But the very worst sounding thing on the road has to be the Mazda rotary with a big bore exhaust fitted!!!!

[Motu]

Well,the manufactorers have done the testing - and that's the whole point,fit an aftermarket exhaust and the vehicle no longer comforms to it's build standard.It's all a matter of passing the buck until you find someone to take the rap.Not the manufacturer because now you have altered it from build specs,not you of course because you want to blame someone else - oh,how about the WoF inspector,he was stupid enough to give it a WoF in the first place.If the WoF inspector decides it's too noisy...it's up to you to come up with an acoustic test to show it's not noticably or significantly noisier than the original - best you keep him happy eh.

I've got a decibil meter - all bikes,even standard CB whatevers fail the so called test - don't push for it's introduction!

[Drunken Monkey]

The proposed exhaust noise rule change was not in any way part of the Boy Racer law change that went through.

An LTSA rule is different to law.

The LTSA had so many submissions (in the thousands, I believe) about that specific change to the exhaust noise rules that they canned it.

Slim is correct, the proposed LTSA 'noisy exhaust' rule has been binned.
There was some confusion at the start, as some testing officers were so scared of losing their license to issue WOFs, they were failing noisy cars. A few of the people (Skyline club members) annoyed enough to take the cases to court all had their cases ruled in their favour.
As participants in amateur motor racing, a group of us arranged written submissions to be posted to the LTSA recommending their proposed rule be binned in favour of a metered system similar to that currently used by motorsports nz. We then had this passed through as many clubs as we could contact, plus a couple of tuning shops like Mag & Turbo.
So in effect, if a WOF station fails you on a noisy pipe and it's an off the shelf model, tell 'em to go f**k themselves.

[Drunken Monkey]

I love the sound of a V-2 bike, inline fours as well. V-8 motors sound wicked but I HATE the sound of buzzy little jap cars with big bore exhausts & blow off valves being reved to the red line.

But the very worst sounding thing on the road has to be the Mazda rotary with a big bore exhaust fitted!!!!

Haha,

I'd drive my Supra past your house shooting the blow-off and laying patches if the f'n thing hadn't shit itself. I ride to work now ('cept when I tell my contractor monkey-boy to pick me up..."Driver! Driver! Take me to the client!")...

Then I'd get my flatmate to leave his rota idling next to your bedroom window at night, only the rota shit itself and he drives my old renault now...

Damn, where was this post going...

[What?]

Coldkiwi - you're an acoustic engineer - right?

Perhaps you could come up with a sensible method to test for noise, and this could be presented to LTSA.

This would require the LTSA to have a sensible person on staff. Even most cops will tell you that the LTSA does not employ anyone with a measurable IQ.

[Motu]

Slim is correct, the proposed LTSA 'noisy exhaust' rule has been binned.
So in effect, if a WOF station fails you on a noisy pipe and it's an off the shelf model, tell 'em to go f**k themselves.

Read my other post above - you have to prove it meets the requirments,all the WoF inspector has to say is...''I think it's too noisy''

[Cajun]

if any one hears our bandit 600 with a simple slip on kerker muffler would think its loud i think its loud, it was going down back straight of taupo and drowning out a gsxr600 and r6 full race bikes, which is shocking but its only a simple bolt on exhust, ever been pulled over on it yet, which is amazing cause it seams louder lower down in revs.

[Coldkiwi]

This would require the LTSA to have a sensible person on staff. Even most cops will tell you that the LTSA does not employ anyone with a measurable IQ.

I don't have as much of a problem with the supposed 'rev it to half way' test as such. what I have a problem with is the deplorable lack of research done to make the resulting limits reasonable... which is why stock standard asthmatic CB100's will fail a noise test. And as What? has pointed out... that requires someone with an IQ to work out!

Motus right (funny that) too when he says its up to you to prove it. The current wording puts the emphasis on the vehicle owner to make it work. This of course is VERY difficult to fight (hence keep your WoF man happy) given the stupid Police/LTSA guidelines that are being bandied round like the US constitution at a NRA rally vs Hippies debate in Houston! to meet those, many vehicles would need quieter than standard exhausts... which defeats the purpose of the WoF officers subjective opinion of 'yeah that sounds ok'.

the whole system needs a good square kick in the