Motorcycle emissions. Bad?
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Road Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 34
From: Ca
Motorcycle emissions. Bad?
Anybody know the truth? Are motorcycle emissions as bad as they say?
My company won't include motorcycles in the save energy program (van-pooling, biking, etc.) because they say we pollute so much.
Last week it was the same excuse with the state.
It's not after market pipes, just all motorcycles. They changed the law a few years ago to be more strict, but there's no recognition of how bikes save, and no help in getting people to look out.
My company won't include motorcycles in the save energy program (van-pooling, biking, etc.) because they say we pollute so much.
Last week it was the same excuse with the state.
It's not after market pipes, just all motorcycles. They changed the law a few years ago to be more strict, but there's no recognition of how bikes save, and no help in getting people to look out.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 517
Likes: 0
From: Northern Virginia
learn something new everday... oxides of nitrogen
http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jun.../hy-throttle11
http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jun.../hy-throttle11
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,595
Likes: 8
From: Vancouver Island British Colombia Canada
If I drive my Silverado to work for 1 week I burn $50 in fuel. If I ride my Decker, I burn $16. If they don't see the math in that example, they should step aside so accurate stats can be reflected! Smaller engines, smaller carbon foot print!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 5,615
Likes: 9
From: Escondido, CA
Might make for a good Mythbusters episode. Doesn't seem possible that such a small motor could be producing so much more pollution.
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 77
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From: Downingtown, PA
Bikes may get better mileage than a car but without a catalytic converter they may be polluting more. I don't really know though, I look forward to hearing an informed opinion.
Just read the article someone linked to, this just doesn't make sense to me "Motorcycles and scooters are, on average, about twice as fuel efficient as cars. Compact and lightweight, their internal-combustion engines do a better job of converting fuel into energy that makes the vehicle move. But extracting more energy from the fuel has a downside. It produces greater amounts of a smog-forming emission called oxides of nitrogen.". How exactly is an internal combustion engine on a motorcycle converting fuel into energy better than a car engine? Bikes are lighter and their engines aren't powering air conditioning etc. but I wouldn't think the engine itself is doing anything different.
Just read the article someone linked to, this just doesn't make sense to me "Motorcycles and scooters are, on average, about twice as fuel efficient as cars. Compact and lightweight, their internal-combustion engines do a better job of converting fuel into energy that makes the vehicle move. But extracting more energy from the fuel has a downside. It produces greater amounts of a smog-forming emission called oxides of nitrogen.". How exactly is an internal combustion engine on a motorcycle converting fuel into energy better than a car engine? Bikes are lighter and their engines aren't powering air conditioning etc. but I wouldn't think the engine itself is doing anything different.
Last edited by martinbrody; May 1, 2010 at 09:29 PM.
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Advanced
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 77
Likes: 1
From: Downingtown, PA
This article seems pretty good...
http://ecomodder.com/blog/motorcycle...ronment-wrong/
"because most motorcycles and scooters are smaller and cheaper than cars, adding modern catalytic converters and emissions systems would add a tremendous amount of weight and cost to most 2-wheeled vehicles. This means that, unlike cars, motorcycle and scooter exhaust is heavily polluted."
http://ecomodder.com/blog/motorcycle...ronment-wrong/
"because most motorcycles and scooters are smaller and cheaper than cars, adding modern catalytic converters and emissions systems would add a tremendous amount of weight and cost to most 2-wheeled vehicles. This means that, unlike cars, motorcycle and scooter exhaust is heavily polluted."
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 583
Likes: 2
From: Eaton, OH
I am reasonably sure that a number of motorcycles have had catalytic converts for several years. Although motorcycles may be more fuel efficient, they may be putting out more pollution. It all boils down to the engine design and how well it works in regards to pollution.
Remember the two stroke bikes? The one I had got reasonable mileage but it burned oil as part of the design. I'm sure it put out a lot of unburned hydrocarbons.
The two articles were interesting but I'd like to see some actual measurements of different bikes compared to the standard for cars and actual measurements for cars.
Regulation of internal combustion engines in regards to pollution is going to get tighter and tighter whether we like it or not. Someone out there thinks keeping the air we breathe clean is worth the effort.
Remember the two stroke bikes? The one I had got reasonable mileage but it burned oil as part of the design. I'm sure it put out a lot of unburned hydrocarbons.
The two articles were interesting but I'd like to see some actual measurements of different bikes compared to the standard for cars and actual measurements for cars.
Regulation of internal combustion engines in regards to pollution is going to get tighter and tighter whether we like it or not. Someone out there thinks keeping the air we breathe clean is worth the effort.