HarleyTechTalk

I read in the Sacramento Bee nespaper this morning that SB 425 is coming up for a vote this week in the Capitol in Sacramento. The link below was from May but sets forth the general terms of the proposed bill. Generally, motorcycles built after 2000 will be the focus of the program with annual tests required. The folks in Sacramento are specifically looking at motorcycles with unauthorized modifications to their exhausts and engines. That would be all motorcycles in California other than possibly mine. LOL.

For those of you California bikers who sold your stock mufflers and pipes on eBay the day after you bought your new Hog, I'd start looking for another set. While you're at it, you might want to look around in your shop and see if you kept your stock cams or not....I'm sure it won't take more than a couple of hundred hours of labor to get the old Hog back into shape so as to pass the test.....

The jury is still out on how porting, strokers, EFI to Carb changes and different igniton systems would affect the original specifications and one's ability to pass the tests.

In the present Eco-frenzy of feel-good legislation here and in Washington, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the bill passes and, if so, it would go into effect in 2012. That's plenty of time to move to Idaho or Nevada, LOL.

I'm sorry to be the bearer of such bad news since I do understand the joy of modifying one's bike. With all of the other crappolla going on nowadays, it's probably inevitable that they would start to focus on motorcycles. It's a good way to squeeze more money out of the people. The only good thing is that pre 2000 bikes will get a pass. Nice.

All of this is of course on top of the fact that the State of California is totally, completely, utterly flat broke and if something doesn't happen soon, will just close up and go out of business.  



http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2009/05/motorcycle-smog-check-proposed-for-california.html

CA Smog Bill
Phone #'s and e-mails are in red
Oppose SB 435 â€" Stop Smog Checks
for California Motorcycles
Reach the Transportation Committee Chairman at:
Senate Transportation & Housing Committee
Chairman Alan Lowenthal
2032 Capitol Building, Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 445-2209
Chair’s Office Telephone: (916) 651-4027 Chair’s e-mail:
senator.lowenthal@sen.ca.gov

Call & Fax Your Letter to Each of the Other Senate Transportation & Housing
Committee Members & Tell Them To
Vote NO on SB 435:

Committee Member Fax Number Capitol Phone E-mail
Senator Robert Huff (Râ€"Glendora)
(Vice Chair) (916) 324-0922 (916) 651-4029 senator.huff@sen.ca.gov

Senator Roy Ashburn (Râ€"Bakersfield) (916) 322-3304 (916) 651-4018
senator.ashburn@sen.ca.gov

Senator Mark DeSaulnier (Dâ€"Walnut Creek) (916) 445-2527 (916) 651-4007
senator.desaulnier@sen.ca.gov

Senator Tom Harman (Râ€"Costa Mesa) (916) 445-9263 (916) 651-4035
senator.harman@sen.ca.gov

Senator Dennis Hollingsworth (R-Temecula) (916) 447-9008 (916) 651-4036
senator.hollingsworth@sen.ca.gov

Senator Christine Kehoe (Dâ€"San Diego) (916) 327-2188 (916) 651-4039
senator.kehoe@sen.ca.gov

Senator Jenny Oropeza (Dâ€"Redondo Beach) (916) 323-6056 (916) 651-4028
senator.oropeza@sen.ca.gov

S e n a t o r Fran Pavley (Dâ€"S. Monica)
(Author SB 435) (916) 324-4823 (916) 651-4023 senator.pavley@sen.ca.gov

Senator Joe Simitian (Dâ€"Palo Alto) (916) 323-4529 (916) 651-4011
senator.simitian@sen.ca.gov

Senator Lois Wolk (Dâ€"Vacaville) (916) 323-2304 (916) 651-4005
senator.wolk@sen.ca.gov

Vote No on SB 435
B e c a u s e :

• Motorcycles do not contribute enough pollution
to warrant being included in a smog check
program.
• Motorcycles constitute less than 3% of the total
number of motor vehicles in California and travel
less than 25%, on average, compared to cars and
trucks.
• Motorcycles, because of their low mileage usage
and much higher gas mileage than cars and trucks,
represent only 1.5% of the total for all mobile
source emissions.
• Motorcycle smog checks are an unnecessary
intrusion into motorcycle riders’ lives.
• California motorcycle engine emission standards
were lowered drastically in 2008 making California
motorcycles already the cleanest in the nation.
• There is no evidence that motorcycles that have
been modified for performance or gas economy
reasons emit any more emissions than stock ones.
• The cost to implement and conduct a motorcycle
smog check program will cost California more than
the value of the emissions it’s estimated to save.
• A smog check program for motorcycles will
discourage new motorcycle purchases and
encourage owners, who use their motorcycles
infrequently, to stop using them.
• Motorcycle smog checks were eliminated in
one Arizona county after it was proven that the
program did not reduce emissions enough to
continue the program.
• If motorcycles have to be returned to stock
condition, finding original parts for older bikes
will be impossible because historically, not enough
spare parts were made when they were built.
The simplest way to Address your letters to the Committee Members is like this:
Honorable ____________________,
State Senate, State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
On February 26, 2009, state Senator Fran Pavley (Dâ€"Santa Monica) introduced SB 435 that authorizes
the inclusion of model year 2000 and newer motorcycles in California’s smog check program starting in 2012.
This is the most infamous and wide-reaching assault on California motorcycists since the Helmet Law in 1992.
No other state, or municipality in the country, save one county in Arizona has such a draconian
requirement for checking the engine emissions from motorcycles. This bill, as introduced, contains
NO details
about the program, only the authorization for it to begin in 2012. Those details will be left to the regulators at
the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the Bureau of Auto Repair (BAR).
M o t o rcycle owners will undoubtedly have to replace any non-stock emissions parts that were installed to
i m p rove performance and fuel economy, such as carburetors, fuel injection, charcoal canisters, air cleaners, and
non-catalytic convertors or c o n v e rt o r exhaust systems if catalysts came as original equipment when purchased new.
This program will probably work just as the Smog Check Program works forall other m o t o r vehicles. To re - re g i s t e r
y o u r m o t o rcycle after 2 0 11, you will need to provide proof of passing a smog check, or you won’t be able to re - re g i s t e r it.

What Can Be Done to Stop SB 435?
â€" Write, Fax, Call & E-mail the Chairman and Members of the
Senate Transportation Committee, T o d a y , Telling Them to Vote NO on SB 435 Using the Contact Numbers and
Talking Points Below! Calling and Faxing remain the most effective way of telling legislators what you want.

ABATEPAC, the Political Action Arm of ABATE of California, 10240 7th Ave., Hesperia, CA 92345 (760) 956-1669

Quote from: Ultrashovel on June 01, 2009, 08:36:05 AM

For those of you California bikers who sold your stock mufflers and pipes on eBay the day after you bought your new Hog, I'd start looking for another set.

I think I'll start looking for another state. I've about had it with the Peoples Republic of California.

When will that big earthquake happen and just make beachfront property of Arizona and Nevada?  The sooner, the better.  lol

Natural evolution of the free thinkers of Cali.  They have talked about doing this on lawn mowers and chain saws, as well as mopeds.  Not sure how the testing would work, but they do have emissions standards in place now for them, in order to sell in Cali.  So, just a matter of time before they do enforcement.  Bring you lawn mower to the smog shop annualy for a validation sticker.  lol

Damn, the insanity will never stop out there.  We need an earthquake!

menace (Cali native)

I left CA, (born and rasied there) back in 1986 and never looked back. Still have a few friends their but most have moved to Nevada

The bill, if passed, just changes current law to include MC's with the actual test procedure to come later.  if it's just a tail pipe test or ecm check, then you're jumping the gun saying you need stock pipes.  There is no equip inspection on 96 and later vehicles, they just look for check engine light and codes which indicate an emission failure.  If that would be the case for my '02 bike with aftermarket crap ,... it would certainly pass.....

Nevada will follow suit with CA cuz that's the people that live there now.  It is completely Californicated....


Here's the bill http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_0401-0450/sb_435_bill_20090226_introduced.pdf 

and the section dealing with test procedures.  They don't know what test will be so no sense in saying what equip you need to pass......


"44012.5. Beginning January 1, 2012, the department shall
include model-year 2000 and newer motorcycles, registered for
on-road use in California, in the inspection and maintenance
program established pursuant to this chapter. The department, in
cooperation with the state board, shall adopt regulations to
implement this section, including prescribing test procedures for
motorcycles by July 1, 2011."

That gives me plenty of time to get the **** out.

so if this  passes how does it affect someone riding through California is it only for residents ?
egc

Quote from: egc04 on June 01, 2009, 02:01:22 PM
so if this  passes how does it affect someone riding through California is it only for residents ?
egc

It only affects residents.  The inspection/emissions-testing would be part of the yearly registration process.

-Craig

I wonder how this will affect people who have swapped in S&S motors

Quote from: IBARider on June 01, 2009, 11:37:50 AM
The bill, if passed, just changes current law to include MC's with the actual test procedure to come later.  if it's just a tail pipe test or ecm check, then you're jumping the gun saying you need stock pipes.  There is no equip inspection on 96 and later vehicles, they just look for check engine light and codes which indicate an emission failure.  If that would be the case for my '02 bike with aftermarket crap ,... it would certainly pass.....

Nevada will follow suit with CA cuz that's the people that live there now.  It is completely Californicated....


Here's the bill http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_0401-0450/sb_435_bill_20090226_introduced.pdf  

and the section dealing with test procedures.  They don't know what test will be so no sense in saying what equip you need to pass......


"44012.5. Beginning January 1, 2012, the department shall
include model-year 2000 and newer motorcycles, registered for
on-road use in California, in the inspection and maintenance
program established pursuant to this chapter. The department, in
cooperation with the state board, shall adopt regulations to
implement this section, including prescribing test procedures for
motorcycles by July 1, 2011."

They want to start testing by 2012 to they'll have specification in place by then. If you are in California, you know that when automobiles are tested, they check configuration before they test for emissions. That is, they look at the fuel gas cap, the mufflers, the catalytic converter, the air cleaner and see if there are any non-standard parts. If those are wrong, they won't even test for emissions. The configuratoni items are checked into the computer when they begin the test.

With that as a background, there's no way they are going to pass a motorcycle that has non-stock mufflers and air cleaner. They will fail the bike at the outset. The last time I had my Dodge Dakota tested, it failied initially because the fuel cap had a vacuum leak in it. Fortunately the testing station sold me one and the vehicle was tested and passed.

So it's configuration and emissions.

Want To Buy, 1 each 1999 twincam frame, softtail  and 1 each electraglide frame

They want to start testing by 2012 to they'll have specification in place by then. If you are in California, you know that when automobiles are tested, they check configuration before they test for emissions. That is, they look at the fuel gas cap, the mufflers, the catalytic converter, the air cleaner and see if there are any non-standard parts. If those are wrong, they won't even test for emissions. The configuratoni items are checked into the computer when they begin the test.

With that as a background, there's no way they are going to pass a motorcycle that has non-stock mufflers and air cleaner. They will fail the bike at the outset.
So it's configuration and emissions.


[/quote]

I wonder if they will be looking for the charcoal canisters that were attached to a gasline vent....and if they will be comparing the existing tire size with what it states on the VIN tag on the down tube

Quote from: apes on June 01, 2009, 05:45:17 PM

They want to start testing by 2012 to they'll have specification in place by then. If you are in California, you know that when automobiles are tested, they check configuration before they test for emissions. That is, they look at the fuel gas cap, the mufflers, the catalytic converter, the air cleaner and see if there are any non-standard parts. If those are wrong, they won't even test for emissions. The configuratoni items are checked into the computer when they begin the test.

With that as a background, there's no way they are going to pass a motorcycle that has non-stock mufflers and air cleaner. They will fail the bike at the outset.
So it's configuration and emissions.



I wonder if they will be looking for the charcoal canisters that were attached to a gasline vent....and if they will be comparing the existing tire size with what it states on the VIN tag on the down tube

If asked to guess, I would say that they will probably not care about tire size. I do think, however, that items such as canisters and associated tubing would be a consideration for the testers sicne they are a part of the emissions system. The way it works is the computer has a script for each different vehicle. It asks the technician about certain items that are specified as having to be present.

It's no secret that the wonderful new eco-frenzy and need for cash will be driving the concept of testing motorcycles in Califonria and elsewhere. I say elsewhere since as you know from reading the newspapers and hearing it on TV that the "Gummint" has recently "ordained from on high" that we wll no longer have 49 state cars and California. The new "Obamamobiles" will be 50 state compliant.

This testing is being pushed by the Eco-Nazis is even though you and I know that the contribution of motorcycles to the pollution problem is rather small when compared to the automobiles on the road. I can see that all vehicles after a certain year of whatever number of wheels will be tested eventually.

The concept of testing motorcycle brings to mind some potential for risk for the technicians involved. As we all know, we motorcyclists are somewhat "territorial" about our bikes. We don't like other people touching them, sitting on them, poking them or, worse yet, scratching them with improper handling techniques, particularly where tools and sharp items are involved.

Can you imagine what would happen if one of those folks running the tests were to scratch or dent somone's motorcycle, like maybe the motorcycle of the president of the local HA chapter? Hee Hee. I'd pay to be there and see it.

I have a sidecar on my Ultra. I sure hope they don't want to have me remove the sidecar for their test, especially if it's something like running a dyno to check emissions at higher engine reve. I'm not taking the damn sidecar off so some moron can test my motorcycye. They will have to come up with a test for three wheelers or they can KMA.

So there.  

living out in the country here in CA the vehicles get a more "relaxed" emissions test, if your address is not in the "enhanced testing" areas you do not get the dyno testing, just a sniffing of the exhaust and a couple other items, there is a nice small tune up shop we use, the owner is a rider and a darn nice guy, I'm sure if it all comes down to testing bikes I will have little problems, of course my '91 FXR will be a "no need to test" bike

Quote from: seattledyna on June 02, 2009, 08:44:58 AM
living out in the country here in CA the vehicles get a more "relaxed" emissions test, if your address is not in the "enhanced testing" areas you do not get the dyno testing, just a sniffing of the exhaust and a couple other items, there is a nice small tune up shop we use, the owner is a rider and a darn nice guy, I'm sure if it all comes down to testing bikes I will have little problems, of course my '91 FXR will be a "no need to test" bike

That's right. Some counties are relaxed as you say. Also, the rule if any will be bikes built in 2000 and later. It will be interresting to say the least.

California is looking for money anywhere they can get it. My registration for the Ultra went up $50 bucks from last year. It's a disgrace as far as I'm concerned. There is no effort to root out the waste in government. Just charge everybody for everything and then raise the prices whenever. Ouir sales tax is approaching ten percent. If you add a Value Added Tax on tiop of that, it will finish us off. I think they mean to screw us until we are dead.

Howdy Folks

Good morning Boys and Girls

Senate Nixes Mandatory Motorcycle Smoke Tests - Politics News Story - KCRA Sacramento

Best,

Shadowdog

Yep, this bill suffered a serious beatdown today. Cali politicians are worried about their jobs and they got a harsh wake up last Tuesday.
Seems the only thing they are going to let this bill do is require you to keep your catalytic converter if your bike has one.
My .02 is it will be another equipment violation if you get stopped for something, kinda like if a cop is having a bad day and writes you for too high apes or loud pipes.
We shall see.

good deal

I have noticed how much taxes, etc. have gone up in the one year we have lived in CA, WA has very high sales, liquor, gas..you name it taxes but no state income tax, it sux here to have a state income tax on top of all the assorted other taxes

Unfortunately the bill passed, here's the link 

http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_0401-0450/sb_435_vote_20090601_0334PM_sen_floor.html

Quote from: Just_T on June 02, 2009, 08:21:37 PM
Unfortunately the bill passed, here's the link 

http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_0401-0450/sb_435_vote_20090601_0334PM_sen_floor.html

Thanks, Frankly I was very surprised when it was reported initially that it hasd been defeated. Now the fun starts!