Lots of noisy bikes on the Cannonball in 2023. One roadblock encountered, not in the high passes, suspect it was specifically for ballers! some got hammered with big fines for none standard parts/bikes. Anywhere in Germany/Austria you could be unlucky with noisy exhausts and obvious modifications..and be fined. As to noise specific stops/testing we encountered none. Though there were a load of on the spot fines, for other traffic related..’incidents’. If you have the homologation certificate for the exhaust, carry that with you. My GS had an Arrow can fitted and for peace of mind I carried the paperwork. Didnt stop me getting the 1st speeding fine of the group in Austria, though nothing said about the exhaust . Just the usual money collecting exercise.
Re speeding. My understanding AND experience is this: UK bike in Germany, Spain, France, Austria, Italy, you will get a fine, if pulled over for speeding. Speed cameras triggered have not turned in to a fine. Importantly. No points. French plate and living in France. Points and fines in FRANCE will find you. Fines ONLY for speed cameras from Austria. Dont ask how I know these things. Accurate in 2023
Remember ragging it back from Valencia moto gp to Santander in a day, set off all sorts of cameras, was like having the paparazzi chasing us and never heard a dicky bird. I will however steer clear of Austria.
As you're obliged to carry your V5 when abroad I guess it could be either. In addition, checking the V5 gives them more info on you and the bike for a roadside check and doesn't involve them bending down or kneeling... Oddly enough I have two VIN stickers on my bike's frame. Both have different stationary figures; 99 & 102dB. As well as drive-by figures (slightly different speeds, 2kph difference) of 81.1 and 80.5dB respectively. The V5 says 102 & 77db. Acedemic really as still above the limits for Tyrol zones but wondering why two stickers. Maybe it's because my Multi is a Pikes Peak and comes with the Termi end can, so readings for stock and factory fitted 3rd party 'silencer'. As we all know, on the Multi the silencing is really in the CAT. The end can makes little to no difference, possibly a very slight change in tone with the Termi... or maybe that's some confirmation bias creeping in.
Be aware also they have the power to remove your licence and right to drive on the spot. And they are not afraid to use it.
In Germany they can and do impound the bike/car if you can not silence it there and then. trouble is that if people want to run louder than stock systems then they need to accept it can gappen. I used to run my Ducati’s in Germany with non compliant systems but towards the end I put stock pipes on to save the hassle and grief of avoiding where police were likely to be. noise has always been a potential issue but us brits just don’t like rules.
Most can also impound the bike should the level over the limit be too high in addition to the country ban. I’ve known people that have been in this position.
^^ yep. Excess rule breaking will have consequences regardless of where you are from. We had a guy pulled over, 130 in a 50 ! Fine was around €1600 on the spot, IF they had been closer to town and not on the outskirts of what was basically a one horse, two hut village, the bike would have been impounded..
One of my mates had his bike confiscated, similar large fine and licence taken away while in France. 3 hour trip to Calais. The police don’t care how you carry on with your journey just as he didn’t care about their speed limits that he had annihilated shortly before. Costly exercise that you don’t repeat often!
Bottom line is. EU is turning into shit. Soon they will be expecting that green flowers will come out of exhaust.
Vehicle noise/emission laws are nothing new as are people that want to break laws. It’s just that most residents of countries that are mentioned abide by their laws so why should outsiders visiting their land be exempt?
What kind of outsiders are you referring to? The law is written for everyone. This Austrian law affects individuals who are not violating the law, such as those riding original, unmodified, older bikes. If noise is a concern, why doesn’t this law affect, for instance, those driving sports cars with open exhausts? Therefore, we can conclude that this law targets a specific group of riders. As far as I know, the EURO4 standard was the one that set a maximum noise level of 95 dB. Consequently, almost all bikes that comply with previous EURO standards become illegal on those roads.
Thee same people moaning about the EU stopping them doing what they want regardless of local laws will be the same ones moaning about immigrants. Strange world we now live in. Personally i think the EU have it right and we have it wrong.
Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought type approval was on the drive-by test result. My V5 states the bile is EURO4 and has this at 77bB. The Tyrol legislation is on the static figure.
Something of a sweeping statement there duke63... I think the real blame lies firmly at the feet of riders who insist on fitting raucous exhausts because THEY think it sounds nice. Using the excuse that it's a safety thing as other road users can hear them coming doesn't wash with me.
Yeh probably a bit too much but too many bikers seem to think its a right to ignore noise and speed limits but all rules apply to everyone else.
If riders are using loud pipes to save lives as it were they’re misguided. The 125 riders I encounter occasionally with a woefully sounding exhaust are a case in point.
Not wishing to be contrary but IME, riders who do big touring mileage rarely have exceptionally loud exhausts, mainly because they (or their riding mates) can't live it. So who is this restriction aimed at ? If my experience in the Eifel forrest in Germany is anything to go by, it's the indigenous population from the nearby provinces, just like it is, here in the UK with bike and car meets. My disappointment is that motorcyclists are being targeted to satisfy a minority of responders to the survey (read the link to see just how many complained ... 4%) and no effort is made to stop other vehicles. Again IME locally to where I live, the modified cars are far worse and more prevalent than the screaming R1s and GSXRs. A short sighted and very biased approach to a much wider problem. We have 2 choices, follow the rules or go somewhere else. I follow the rules but will be going somewhere else to spend my Euros. Andy
I also have a Rninet EURO 4 bike whose label states that it has 90dB noise at 3750 RPM. However, the measurement of the bike’s noise depends on the position of the microphone. Additionally, the methodology for measuring bike noise has changed according to EURO standards. Therefore, it’s unclear what exactly the police measure when they conduct noise checks. In my area, the police themselves take measurements. Another interesting fact is that my RnineT doesn’t have a tachometer.
