KTM doing a big emission cheat

[Benni]

Hello,

I read about this in german newspapers a week ago, now something is available in english :

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/les-decodeurs/article/20...

Street-legal enduro bikes are derestricted by factory dealers and produce much more emissions and noise than allowed.

Decat, lambda delete, software, air filter, exhaust.

Is this known in GB , is it a non-story because it only violates EU laws, or does it affect GB emission zone bikes as well ?

[MDUBZ]

Benni said:

Hello,

I read about this in german newspapers a week ago, now something is available in english :

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/les-decodeurs/article/20...

Street-legal enduro bikes are derestricted by factory dealers and produce much more emissions and noise than allowed.

Decat, lambda delete, software, air filter, exhaust.

Is this known in GB , is it a non-story because it only violates EU laws, or does it affect GB emission zone bikes as well ?

Exhausts and mapping control fueling and airflow. Modification is as old as bikes...

UK MOT:
The exhaust system and silencer should be in such condition, or of such a type, that the noise emitted from the motorcycle is not clearly unreasonably above the level expected from a similar motorcycle with a standard silencer in average condition.

It should also not be marked for track use.

If you take a UK bike to the continent you need to comply by the local laws.. driving a car modified with non TUV approved bits in Germany can get it' driver into trouble.

Edited by MDUBZ on Tuesday 2nd June 18:33

[FezSpider]

Good for KTM. "Highly polluting" they say
About time the rebel was put back into motorcycling.

[Bodo]

It's a non-story since customers have to give permission to their dealer to do it.
It's not even the customer cheating when he uses his motocross two-stroke bike only off roads

[scorcher]

Any dealer fitting non road legal exhaust systems at the request of a buyer/owner that remove the cat and produce more noise is probably on dodgy ground unless the owner is signing a disclaimer to say they’re not using it on the road.

[hiccy18]

Sounds far removed from "Dieselgate". As per the lead perpetrator of the afore mentioned scandal:

VAG said:

The indication of the homologation of an exhaust/accessory in a particular country is restricted to that country only. For the rest of the world, the same exhaust/accessory is to be considered “racing” and therefore designed for racing vehicles used exclusively in closed circuits. It is forbidden by law to use the motorcycle with this exhaust/accessory installed outside of closed circuits, and it is therefore not permitted to install the exhaust/accessory on motorcycles intended for road use.

Even better:

VAG description said:

An accessory developed to enhance the performance and untamed spirit of the DesertX on- and off-road.

Followed by:

VAG Type-approvals statement said:

This accessory is not approved for road circulation

Track use only - The product marked with this symbol may only be used on racing vehicles and in closed circuits Check with the individual circuit for any additional limitations. Motorcycles where this accessory is fitted cannot be used on the road.

This product is intended for vehicles used only in closed-course competition. Operation on public roads is prohibited by law.

Not picking on Ducati, theirs was the first website that came to mind. Let's not start on Harley Noisemachines. BMW are angels, all their sports exhausts are type approved; at least, they're not saying they're not....

[Bob_Defly]

I think the only incriminating piece of text (if it's true) is:

"All our motorcycles come restricted as standard, but we have to remove the restriction for the engine to work. KTM delivers them with a different exhaust system: We immediately change the entire configuration. The restricted mode is just to pass European tests and anti-pollution standards."

So if 100% of the motorcycles need modification prior to sale to make them usable, and this isn't just the dealer fitting an exhaust/ECU flash etc. at the request of the customer, then yes, this is an issue.

Is KTM really shipping a full exhaust with every bike?

[catso]

Bob_Defly said:

I think the only incriminating piece of text (if it's true) is:

"All our motorcycles come restricted as standard, but we have to remove the restriction for the engine to work. KTM delivers them with a different exhaust system: We immediately change the entire configuration. The restricted mode is just to pass European tests and anti-pollution standards."

So if 100% of the motorcycles need modification prior to sale to make them usable, and this isn't just the dealer fitting an exhaust/ECU flash etc. at the request of the customer, then yes, this is an issue.

Is KTM really shipping a full exhaust with every bike?

Reads to me that the bike dealer said this, not KTM so not official policy.

In which case they're no different to many other bike brands, none of my bikes have standard exhausts fitted and fuelling has been altered to suit so, you could argue that the bikes are more 'usable' now.

And, if there were emissions tests based on a maximum of 1% CO and 80 dB (or whatever the limits are), they would fail.

I don't really see this story as news, at least not here where it's pretty much the norm to fit aftermarket exhausts, at least to sportbikes.

Might be a bigger deal in France, Germany etc.?

And I'd be very surprised if every KTM came with a free full system.

[Bob_Defly]

catso said:

none of my bikes have standard exhausts fitted and fuelling has been altered to suit

Same here, but that's totally irrelevant. If emissions law says one thing and the bikes are being sold OEM/stock with modifications to circumvent the law, then that's an issue. Like I said, I don't know if it's true or not.