Silencer marked 'Competition only'

Silencer marked 'Competition only'

Author
Discussion

jmn

Original Poster:

895 posts

279 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
I'm thinking about buying a Harley which has Vance and Hines slip on silencers marked 'Competition only'.

It will be due a first MOT next year. It doesn't sound particularly loud but would this marking cause a problem and potential failure?

Triaguar

831 posts

212 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
For what it's worth I had a bike with a similar akrapovic exhaust..it was last mot'd in October last year and it was Not an issue, nor had it ever been through its long life.. and it was loud..in discussion about it to the tester I was informed that noise was not part of the test. Someone with more technical.qualification may be able to help with that point

bunchofkeys

1,046 posts

67 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
They may bring you up on this.

Exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motor bicycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition (7.1.2)

I had this on an Aprilia RSVR Factory, with the optional Arka exhaust and were stamped road legal.
Took the bike to be tested at another garage, passed without an issue.

airsafari87

2,548 posts

181 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
Unless you get a right rsole of a tester you will be OK.

I've had multiple bikes tested at different MOT test stations over the years with competition use only cans fitted and the worst thats ever happened is 'Loud Exhaust' is shown on the advisories.

jjones

4,422 posts

192 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
The manufactures usually make the marks so that they come off which some vigorous cleaning (wire wool or autosol etc).

XR

279 posts

50 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
It 'should' fail under 6.1.2.(c)

Dremel it off like most people do or put some tape or a sticker over it and stick some decibel killers in it.


6.1.2. Exhaust system


You must inspect all motorcycles with an internal combustion engine, including hybrid motorcycles.

A minor exhaust leak from, for example, a connection joint or a pinhole does not justify rejection.

Exhaust noise is assessed under Section 8.1.1.

Defect Category

(a) Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure Major

(b) Not in use

(c) An exhaust silencer marked ‘NOT FOR ROAD USE’, ‘TRACK USE ONLY’ or similar words Major

bogie

16,342 posts

271 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
You can usually buy a "quiet baffle" for V & H exhausts...try ebay, not very expensive.

My HD came with V&H slip ons, which were open, and not neighbor friendly so I put the "quiet baffles" in ....they are not quiet like a OE exhaust, they just knock a few dB off wink

Never had any MOT issues at local bike MOT place.

catso

14,771 posts

266 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
jjones said:
The manufactures usually make the marks so that they come off which some vigorous cleaning (wire wool or autosol etc).
In the case of Termignoni the 'Race use only' often appears stamped on a steel band that is completely hidden when fitted to the bike but also it (allegedly) often 'wears' away when polishing. scratchchin

Waynester

6,324 posts

249 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
I had a similar concern yesterday with my ZX12R mot.. It has a full Ti Akrapovic exhaust and sounds a little ‘fruity’

It passed fine.

black-k1

11,889 posts

228 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
Harley? Competition only pipe? confused What competition?

I believe the MoT rules now are for the tester to decide if the noise is excessive so it's their personal opinion, not what's stammped on the pipe.

Smokysour

105 posts

141 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
black-k1 said:
Harley? Competition only pipe? confused What competition?
King of the baggers?

https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/content/even...


black-k1

11,889 posts

228 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
Smokysour said:
black-k1 said:
Harley? Competition only pipe? confused What competition?
King of the baggers?

https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/content/even...
Is that like https://www.barc.net/championship/british-truck-ra... ? biggrin Fastest of the slow things? wink

Abdul Abulbul Amir

13,179 posts

211 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
put some tape over it, the tester won't remove it.

PurpleTurtle

6,941 posts

143 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
1) find your friendly Harley indie for servicing
2) let him MOT it for you, having done a 'safety check' beforehand.

This is what I do, and mine has never failed in 20yrs.

Police are invariably too busy arresting people for saying some hurty words on Twitter than nicking people for loud pipes, if you are sensible with its usage.

Obviously if you scream through your local village giving it the biggun at all opportunities then you'll rightly get a Construction and Use telling off from a traffic cop. but most seem fairly laid back, provided you aren't riding like an idiot and are otherwise legal.

jmn

Original Poster:

895 posts

279 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
Thanks all. I've just found out that the owner has the stock cans which come with the bike.

I do wonder if noise regs are going to be tightened up at some point in the future. Noise cameras may be the beginning.

Jazoli

9,086 posts

249 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
jmn said:
I do wonder if noise regs are going to be tightened up at some point in the future.
I hope they are as my evenings are ruined by inconsiderate aresholes in cars during the night and my Sundays are ruined by inconsiderate aresholes on bikes.

I am alright Jack

3,691 posts

142 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
Jazoli said:
jmn said:
I do wonder if noise regs are going to be tightened up at some point in the future.
I hope they are as my evenings are ruined by inconsiderate aresholes in cars during the night and my Sundays are ruined by inconsiderate aresholes on bikes.
Living in ruralish Essex I hope so too.

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
I’m not sure what the standard noise output of a Harley Davidson is supposed to be. All the ones I see/hear are painfully loud so they either all have aftermarket exhausts or are that noisy to start with.

SteveKTMer

722 posts

30 months

Friday 27th May 2022
quotequote all
I wish aftermarket cans were illegal - now, not at some point in the future, when they inevitably will be illegal. It's ruining biking for the rest of us.




black-k1

11,889 posts

228 months

Friday 27th May 2022
quotequote all
SteveKTMer said:
I wish aftermarket cans were illegal - now, not at some point in the future, when they inevitably will be illegal. It's ruining biking for the rest of us.
I think that assuming all after market cans are loud and all loud cans are aftermarket is too simplistic. There a lots of good aftermarket cans that are no more or only slightly louder than standard and any standard can can easily be made to be extremly offensive.