Post by Jacine on Jan 19, 2008 23:00:19 GMT -5
Because of the hefty million dollar fine to Dynojet, the mod world is starting to progressively tumble. I have been inundated with emails from mom and pop shops who make items that will affect the emissions of two wheeled powered vehicles. These include exhausts, mufflers or lack there off, balasts, fuel modifiers, fuel savers, and the like. A number of producers have already discontinued R&D or new items, and are simply selling off current stock. The current ECMs are basically a black "flight" box, or as some friends say, a snitch box, that will report any modifications that were made from stock on the bike, even if they have been removed for state testing. No more can you take off the pipes, pass the test and then put them back on. Currently this only applies to EFI systems, so the fully carbed items as yet don''t have the snitch box installed unless they have included O2 sensors in the exhaust port. The big 4 will either be going full EFI for the 09s or add the 02 sensor ports by 2010 (2009) at which time there will also be a "snitch" box installed in the carbureted systems. This of course will prevent you from leaning out the system for testing, and then retuning afterwards.
So what does this mean to the developers of add in parts? Simply the parts will have to be developed for older style technology, bikes before EFI and carbed bikes before 2010, and probably Chinese bikes that don't have the technology, and are currently obtaining waivers of exemption or 2010. You will just have to hope that the owner remembers to lean out the system for testing. One of the major confounders to the testing system is the confusion of who made what bike and what standards are to be applied to the plethora of Chinese bikes. This may help or it may hinder, depending on the state.
Currently 18 states along with good old California have devised a very rigid EPA requirement the far exceeds the Federal EPA emissions and are suing the Federal government for it's laxity. I suspect that bikes will be lumped into various categories such as GY6, 172mm, etc and the best and highest fit standard will apply. So whoever makes the best GY6 least emission engine bike will become the standard. Look for a lot of confusion, political positioning, and a possible initial drop in market sales of bikes as we approach the 2010 implementation of EPA. Import confusion, and non licensing will most likely occur. On the other hand good sales may result.
So what does this mean to the developers of add in parts? Simply the parts will have to be developed for older style technology, bikes before EFI and carbed bikes before 2010, and probably Chinese bikes that don't have the technology, and are currently obtaining waivers of exemption or 2010. You will just have to hope that the owner remembers to lean out the system for testing. One of the major confounders to the testing system is the confusion of who made what bike and what standards are to be applied to the plethora of Chinese bikes. This may help or it may hinder, depending on the state.
Currently 18 states along with good old California have devised a very rigid EPA requirement the far exceeds the Federal EPA emissions and are suing the Federal government for it's laxity. I suspect that bikes will be lumped into various categories such as GY6, 172mm, etc and the best and highest fit standard will apply. So whoever makes the best GY6 least emission engine bike will become the standard. Look for a lot of confusion, political positioning, and a possible initial drop in market sales of bikes as we approach the 2010 implementation of EPA. Import confusion, and non licensing will most likely occur. On the other hand good sales may result.