The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it is voiding its approval of up to 74,000 motorcycles and ATVs imported from China because of incomplete or falsified certification information. The vehicles were imported by Ohio-based Snyder Technology, Inc. and Snyder Computer Systems, Inc. and sold under the brand Wildfire Motors Corporation.

The EPA says it issued certificates of conformity to Wildfire Motors for numerous on- and off-road motorcycles and ATVs from 2006 to 2012. These certificates, issued to all vehicles before they can be imported or sold in the U.S., are issued to manufacturers and importers after they submit emission testing data showing their products meet federal emission standards. Of particular concern are emission levels for pollutants such as oxides of nitrogen (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO) and total hydrocarbons (HC) which contribute to smog and soot. Continue Reading »

The California Air Resources Board has agreed to settlements with Suzuki and Piaggio for selling motorcycles that the companies did not disclose could be modified to exceed the state’s strict emission standards.

Suzuki was hit with the larger of the two penalties, agreeing to a fine of $3,020,000, though the amount could be reduced by $1,812,000 if Suzuki follows certain provisions. The penalty is in addition to the previous fine of $885,000 levied by the Environmental Protection Agency for selling 25,396 LT-R450 ATVs and 62 RMX450Z dirtbikes with a racing map programmed into their ECUs that was not certified or tested. This racing map is not initially accessible to customers, unless they buy aftermarket devices to unlock the higher-performance engine mapping.

Under EPA and CARB regulations, manufacturers are required to disclose any such engine modifications when seeking approval to sell its vehicles. CARB did not specify the models involved in its own case, so other models besides the ones in the EPA case may be involved. CARB does say engine mapping significantly increases smog-forming emissions and therefore should have been disclosed. Continue Reading »

The European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favor of new rules that would increase emission standards and make anti-lock braking systems mandatory for all new large motorcycles, scooters and trikes and quads by 2016. The new regulations, which would still need approval from European Union member states, may only directly affect Europe, but they will have a wide-reaching affect on manufacturers’ product development for other markets. BMW, for example, has already made ABS standard for all its motorcycles for 2013.

Approved by a vote of 643 in favor and 16 against with 18 abstentions, the new rules would make ABS required for new street bikes produced in 2016 and beyond with engine displacements larger than 125cc. Smaller motorcycles will be required to have either ABS or a combined braking system. The European Parliament will revisit the issue pending a report on cost-effectiveness for ABS on smaller vehicles, expected for completion by 2019.

The legislation would also extend Euro 4 emission standards to new motorcycles by 2016 and Euro 5 by 2020. Motorcycles currently have to meet Euro 3 restrictions but the Euro 4 standard further tightens standards for carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides. By 2020, motorcycles will fall under the even stricter Euro 5 standard, meeting even lower nitrogen oxide levels and a new restriction for non-methane hydrocarbons. Continue Reading »

Are motorcycles more environmentally friendly than cars? Ask most people that question and their initial response would probably be “yes” because motorcycles are more fuel efficient, and they release less CO2.  But is that the whole story?

MythBusters‘ Jamie Hynerman and Adam Savage are going to find out on the Emmy-nominated show’s fall season premiere, Sept. 28 on the Discovery Channel. With the help of Kent Johnson, an emissions expert from the University of California, Hynerman and Savage will analyze the emissions of three cars and three motorcycles representing the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, to find out which mode of transportation is greener.

The show will be interesting to watch because MythBusters does a good job of making science entertaining, but we’re afraid the results won’t fall in favor of motorcycles.

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Alright, maybe this isn’t for everyone, but I thought it was obscure enough to warrant some interest to any motorcyclist.

TEZZMIN, a senior member over at the R6MessageNet forums, has posted a nice How-To on removing an ’03-’04 Yamaha R6 ‘s Air Induction System.

What does the AIS do?

“AIS takes clean air from the air box where it is distributed and pulled (under vacuum) past the reed valves and in to the exhaust port where it mixes with
the unburned fuel and ignites @ 1200 degrees it in the exhaust header. ” (quote by 04UpInFlames). Well said.

If you get allot of deceleration popping with a slip on or full system this removed will help reduce it. The AIS helps the bike put out “cleaner” emissions. That’s why a “racer” would have no need for it and if you get a after market pipe some choose to remove it.

Did you get all that?

Even if you don’t own a 2003-2004 Yamaha R6, it’s interesting to see how it’s done.  hit the jump for more pics.  Head to the thread to see the details and see the 11 pages of posts that followed.

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While there are certain countries around the globe that are known for their significant contribution to technological innovation within the motorcycle industry, Brazil has never been one of them. Until now, it seems. Brazilian Honda subsidiary Moto Honda da Amazonia Ltda., recently began sales of the CG150 TITAN MIX, a 150cc bike with the world’s first production flexible-fuel technology.

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