Loud pipes....damn loud!

[AllanB]

I was there when my America (with aftermarket Harris pipes) got it's last wof. Was asked to hold throttle steady around 2500 - 3000rpm (of course I used the lower of the two), he stood a couple of meters away (not sure exact distance) with his electromeasurethingymajigg & told me 93db. Aparrently the limit was 95. Pass...yes. Not sure on the rules & regs though, because on a sprot bike, 3000 is barely ticking over whereas it's not far off half my redline.

The limit for CARS is 95 - bikes get 100 ear splitting dbs. Sounds like your WOF chap needs to read up on the regs.

[Headbanger]

Volume and tone are not the same f'kin' thing. My pipes sound nice and deep but wouldn't piss anybody off. I just don't get the need some have to be so inconsiderate of others.

So, If I find 10 people who find your exhaust tone not to be to their taste, would that make your point and thus your post null and void?

[Molly]

So, If I find 10 people who find your exhaust tone not to be to their taste, would that make your point and thus your post null and void?

Tone's not the issue. It's the volume.

[Headbanger]

Tone's not the issue. It's the volume.

I was really going for the point that what's acceptable varies from person to person, You have your own ideas of what you want to hear and think thats where to draw the line, Others will have completely different views and there is no doubt I could find a gaggle of people who would be pissed off by the sound of your bike, No matter how much you think its the perfect sound.

But really I'm just fuckin with ya.

[Molly]

... no doubt I could find a gaggle of people who would be pissed off by the sound of your bike...

I guess so. I'm increasingly noticing that there really are some joyless fuckers around.

[Motu]

The limit for CARS is 95 - bikes get 100 ear splitting dbs. Sounds like your WOF chap needs to read up on the regs.

I think you are the Chap who needs to read up on the regs,

[AD345]

Lend me bike and I'll find it and report back.

'snot there I tells ya:

[johnben2]

it’s because of this disunity and discussion here that Mr Ltsa and all their and our Govt leaders get us, we can’t even stand for each other and maintain ground in defence of each other on any subject that may cause a weakness and eventually all our rights on the road, rego costs etc, the same goes for firearm laws, even SKY with superbike and MotoGP coverage, we just get walked over, just imagine how hard it would be if we just agreed to disagree and stood up for each other.
I used to love our culture here in NZ but it’s starting to suck, bad.

example, my son failed a WOF on his GN250 because the new muffler (Taiwanese) was non standard. F%$ off. How does he feel!

[scumdog]

I used to love our culture here in NZ but it’s starting to suck, bad.

example, my son failed a WOF on his GN250 because the new muffler (Taiwanese) was non standard. F%$ off. How does he feel!

I note your location is Auckland, 'nuff sed.

[modboy]

You could always buy Arrow pipes - most (if not all) come with a removable (replaceable) db baffle. Circlip, remove and pull out the baffle - when it comes to WoF time - just put it back in.

[Molly]

I see you've one of the new Thruxtons. Jolly nice. Did you get it with Arrow pipes? I put Triumph Off Road mufflers on my '06 Scrambler but they sounded bloody horrible.

Anyway, should we all now assume that WoF stations are going to knock back any non-standard muffler?

[Motu]

If it makes more noise than the standard system,then yes....that is the rule.(thank you Boi Racer) If they have a db meter they can test and fail if over 97db....however the limit is 100db.

[AllanB]

Noisy vehicle


Your vehicle failed a warrant of fitness because of a noisy exhaust
Why is checking the exhaust noise part of the WoF inspection?
When your vehicle was manufactured it was fitted with an effective exhaust system, including a silencer. Exhaust gases produce a significant amount of noise. Silencers, as well as any catalytic converters, muffle this noise to an acceptable level. Governments specify the maximum noise levels that vehicles must not exceed when they are manufactured.

When the original exhaust system is modified, replaced or repaired, its effectiveness may be compromised, making the exhaust system louder than the one originally fitted by the vehicle manufacturer. A WoF inspection ensures that the vehicle’s exhaust system is checked regularly for noise output and meets the legal noise requirements.

What are the legal noise requirements?
Until now, an exhaust system was allowed to be noisier than the original exhaust system, provided it was not significantly noisier. As a result of public complaints about the number of noisy modified vehicles on the road, and the difficulty in assessing what ‘significantly noisier’ means, the government has introduced more stringent requirements relating to exhaust noise effective from 1 June 2008.

A vehicle will comply with the new law if the noise from the exhaust system is similar to or less than the noise from the exhaust system that was originally fitted when the vehicle was manufactured.

The exhaust system may be noisier than the original one provided that:
the noise output either remains well below the legal noise limits, or
an Objective Noise Test proves that the exhaust system does not exceed the legal noise limits.
How is exhaust noise checked during the WoF inspection?
The WoF inspector uses his/her experience to assess the noise output of the vehicle compared to other identical or similar vehicles in original and good condition.

If your vehicle is noisier than it was originally, it will fail its WoF unless it is able to pass a Noise Quick Check. If the WoF inspector has a hand-held noise meter he/she will use the Noise Quick Check to find out if the vehicle is well below the noise limits.

If your vehicle has failed its WoF because of a noisy exhaust, it may be referred to undergo an Objective Noise Test.

What is the difference between the Objective Noise Test and the Noise Quick Check?
The Objective Noise Test is a stationary tail-pipe noise test procedure based on international standards and can only be carried out by an approved low volume vehicle (LVV) certifier. If your vehicle passes the Objective Noise Test the LVV certifier will attach a label to the vehicle and issue a certificate. The cost of the test is about $130–200, depending on location. It is a one-off cost provided the exhaust system is maintained in good condition and is not modified further.

The Noise Quick Check procedure is a simpler and quicker version of the Objective Noise Test, making it suitable for WoF. It is used to assess whether the vehicle is well below the noise limits or referral for an Objective Noise Test is required. The Noise Quick Check can only be carried out by a WoF inspector who has an appropriate noise meter. A fee may be charged for this check.

What do I need to do to pass the WoF?
Replace, remodify or repair the exhaust system so that the noise output is less than or similar to the noise output of the exhaust system that was originally fitted by the vehicle manufacturer, or
Undergo an Objective Noise Test if you wish to have an exhaust system that is noisier than the original exhaust. However, you may still need to replace, remodify or repair the exhaust system to bring it below the legal noise limits. An Objective Noise Test is not required if the vehicle can pass the Noise Quick Check.
Should my vehicle get an Objective Noise Test even though it has passed the Noise Quick Check?
If your vehicle’s exhaust is louder than its original exhaust system and close to the permitted noise limit, then it is recommended that you have an Objective Noise Test carried out. By presenting the label and certificate to the WoF inspector you may avoid the inconvenience and cost of failing a WoF or having to go through a Noise Quick Check at every WoF inspection.

What are the noise limits?
In order to pass an Objective Noise Test, the vehicle must not exceed the following noise limits.

Vehicle type, Maximun
noise level (dBA)
Motorcycle or trike with an engine capacity of 125 cc or less - 96
Motorcycle or trike with an engine capacity of more than 125 cc - 100
Light goods or passenger vehicle (eg, car, MPV, minibus, ute or van)

First registered in NZ before 1 June 2008 - 95
First registered in NZ on or after 1 June 2008, and:
manufactured before 1 January 1985 - 95
manufactured on or after 1 January 1985 - 90

What if I disagree with the decision?
If you disagree with the decision to fail your vehicle, you should first try to resolve the issue with the inspecting organisation or the LVV certifier concerned. If you are still not satisfied, you may raise a complaint with Land Transport NZ, phone 0800 699 000, or download a complaint form (PDF, 64 KB).

Where can I get more information?
A list of approved LVV certifiers can be viewed on the Low Volume Vehicle Technical Association website: www.lvvta.org.nz

[Motu]

The Noise Quick Check procedure is a simpler and quicker version of the Objective Noise Test, making it suitable for WoF. It is used to assess whether the vehicle is well below the noise limits or referral for an Objective Noise Test is required. The Noise Quick Check can only be carried out by a WoF inspector who has an appropriate noise meter.

''Well below the noise limits'' - This is why for WoF purposes and the Quick Noise Test,the limit is 97db.

[AllanB]

''Well below the noise limits'' - This is why for WoF purposes and the Quick Noise Test,the limit is 97db.

Fair enough too, as a hand-held WOF noise test will always have a fair margin of error.

I was talking to a local guy who does the full tests, it's all carefully set up and documented including photos. Costs $150 and you get certificates of approval (if it is indeed legal).

They have actually though about this aspect pretty well and give you the opportunity to have the tests done to certify your ride if the pipes are modified.

What has not been considered and IMO is a fault is they have no allowance for automatically passing imported pipes that pass a lower standard. For example: I could spend $1600 on a set of Leo Vince slip-ons for my bike which pass EU standards (with quiet insert) which are a lot lower than NZ motorcycle noise standards, however this would not be recognised here.

Possibly this will change as a similar thing happened when they started getting tight on braided brake lines, basically failing all unless factory fitted. They now have a set of standards that are accepted with aftermarket lines.

At the end of the day the person doing the WOF check will have the final say if you do not have documents verifying the pipes noise, as it is their ticket on the line.