1970s 2 strokes and the london ULEZ
Discussion
Apparently by some amazing loophole old knackered 1970s 2 strokes can pass the emissions test and go into the london ULEZ without paying.
This does seem far fetched due to the amount of pollution they pump out.
It seems the argument is that they have lower nox emissions than more modern stuff.
After puzzling why my understanding is that the nox emissions are due to more modern engines running leaner mixtures and hotter temperatures in burning fuel the byproduct being the excessive nox emissions.
Old knackered 2 strokes run rich and belch out less of these apparently.
Trying to find info I happened on this article
https://scooterlab.uk/ulez-good-news-for-london-2-...
All very plausible looking and one TFL appointed National Emissions Testing Centre is available in london.
You apparently pay them £175 to test the the bike and they certify it.
I can only imagine if it fails they richen the mixture up a bit to near plug oiling levels to get it to pass.
£175 Seems a bit steep as surely any mot testing centre can check emissions during an mot for £37.80.
Obviously personal experience of this is welcome as otherwise it does look like a bit of opportunism.
Is it just low key so the clueless mayor of london doesnt notice?
Anyway if it helps here is where you book the test if its not just a nice way to make £175 out of a conveyor belt of fails.
https://www.nationalemissionstestcentre.com
This does seem far fetched due to the amount of pollution they pump out.
It seems the argument is that they have lower nox emissions than more modern stuff.
After puzzling why my understanding is that the nox emissions are due to more modern engines running leaner mixtures and hotter temperatures in burning fuel the byproduct being the excessive nox emissions.
Old knackered 2 strokes run rich and belch out less of these apparently.
Trying to find info I happened on this article
https://scooterlab.uk/ulez-good-news-for-london-2-...
All very plausible looking and one TFL appointed National Emissions Testing Centre is available in london.
You apparently pay them £175 to test the the bike and they certify it.
I can only imagine if it fails they richen the mixture up a bit to near plug oiling levels to get it to pass.
£175 Seems a bit steep as surely any mot testing centre can check emissions during an mot for £37.80.
Obviously personal experience of this is welcome as otherwise it does look like a bit of opportunism.
Is it just low key so the clueless mayor of london doesnt notice?
Anyway if it helps here is where you book the test if its not just a nice way to make £175 out of a conveyor belt of fails.
https://www.nationalemissionstestcentre.com
Great news!
I really miss ragging my RD Yamahas around London back in the 70s and 80s, and my KH500 in the 90s.
With a house move on the horizon to something with a garage I'd love another bike. A T500 or GT500 looks appealing even if just for a change.
It may be less detrimental to the environment than my BMW Z4M that produces 292g/km but is also exempt becuase it's Euro 4 compliant.
Although to be fair I'd rather avoid London these days!
I really miss ragging my RD Yamahas around London back in the 70s and 80s, and my KH500 in the 90s.
With a house move on the horizon to something with a garage I'd love another bike. A T500 or GT500 looks appealing even if just for a change.
It may be less detrimental to the environment than my BMW Z4M that produces 292g/km but is also exempt becuase it's Euro 4 compliant.
Although to be fair I'd rather avoid London these days!
I think its because some gasses are deadly and some are just annoying. The government never seem to get this emissions thing right and then shrug their shoulders and say the were following the science.
TBH as much as it seems like you could save a few bob running a old 2 stroke the 30mpg and gallon of 2t oil every 20 gallons of petrol will make it a bit expensive. Not to say the constant breakdowns that will sap the nerve to go anywhere than a couple of streets way.
TBH as much as it seems like you could save a few bob running a old 2 stroke the 30mpg and gallon of 2t oil every 20 gallons of petrol will make it a bit expensive. Not to say the constant breakdowns that will sap the nerve to go anywhere than a couple of streets way.
Fundoreen said:
TBH as much as it seems like you could save a few bob running a old 2 stroke the 30mpg and gallon of 2t oil every 20 gallons of petrol will make it a bit expensive. Not to say the constant breakdowns that will sap the nerve to go anywhere than a couple of streets way.
...My 2 year old BMW has needed to return to the dealer 3 times in my ownership and the electrical woes I see on the Ducati FB page are enough to put anyone off a more modern one of those , christ knows how much work/money a modern superbike will need in 30-40 years time...Around London ,my LC would use less fuel than my car for sure and around a litre of 2T oil for those 20 gallons, not a whole gallon... ...Not that id want to do it but the maths work, granted I cant see (m)any classic bike owners doing it .
To be fair I wouldn't want to commute on a 2-stroke because I'd be too worried about it getting nicked! They are valuable now, were never that thief-proof and most aren't that heavy.
When I commuted from Sutton to Victoria in 1988/99 I left my RD400 and KH500 in the garage and used a scruffy looking XJ550 that I bought for about £300 as it was in a bike parking area on a side road. A colleague had a Honda NT650 and wanted to avoid using that, so he bought a new 125cc scooter - IIRC it got stolen within 6 months!
Apparently the crims would use a van with a tail-lift and just manhandle bikes onto the lift and away.
Still my employer relocated to Windsor in 2000 where we had a private car park so then I did use the smokers from time to time.
But at least if they are exempt they can still be used to go the to Ace Cafe!
When I commuted from Sutton to Victoria in 1988/99 I left my RD400 and KH500 in the garage and used a scruffy looking XJ550 that I bought for about £300 as it was in a bike parking area on a side road. A colleague had a Honda NT650 and wanted to avoid using that, so he bought a new 125cc scooter - IIRC it got stolen within 6 months!
Apparently the crims would use a van with a tail-lift and just manhandle bikes onto the lift and away.
Still my employer relocated to Windsor in 2000 where we had a private car park so then I did use the smokers from time to time.
But at least if they are exempt they can still be used to go the to Ace Cafe!
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