New England Apes and Pipes laws
Thread Starter
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1st Gear
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: New Haven, CT
New England Apes and Pipes laws
Hello All,
I traded my 02 FXDL in for an 09 FLSTF that has stage 1 staights and 16" apes this year.
I live in New Haven, CT and hope to go riding in the Catskills, White and Green Mountains, and along the coastline this summer.
I am hearing different reports on how enforced ape height and pipe SPLs are in the different NE states.
Some say that they are rigidly enforced, some say that most cops are clueless to apes and pipes laws, some say it depends on the cop and your attitude, and some claim that if it is legal in your state then you cannot be ticketed.
While all of these could be correct, I'd like a little more personal experience based information from you all.
The general info is here: http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/...tate-Laws.aspx
My questions are:
1) How strict are the apes and pipes laws in your NE state?
2) How high are the fines if you get cited?
To be honest, while I love my apes, I'd rather spend 200 bucks on long beach bars than spend money on a ticket and then have to change my bars anyway in order to ride where I want to ride - hassle-free.
I welcome any and all comments.
Thanks in advance.
I traded my 02 FXDL in for an 09 FLSTF that has stage 1 staights and 16" apes this year.
I live in New Haven, CT and hope to go riding in the Catskills, White and Green Mountains, and along the coastline this summer.
I am hearing different reports on how enforced ape height and pipe SPLs are in the different NE states.
Some say that they are rigidly enforced, some say that most cops are clueless to apes and pipes laws, some say it depends on the cop and your attitude, and some claim that if it is legal in your state then you cannot be ticketed.
While all of these could be correct, I'd like a little more personal experience based information from you all.
The general info is here: http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/...tate-Laws.aspx
My questions are:
1) How strict are the apes and pipes laws in your NE state?
2) How high are the fines if you get cited?
To be honest, while I love my apes, I'd rather spend 200 bucks on long beach bars than spend money on a ticket and then have to change my bars anyway in order to ride where I want to ride - hassle-free.
I welcome any and all comments.
Thanks in advance.
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: New York
I live near the catskills and i never had a problem with a loud exhaust. If your bike is legal in your state i would argue that. since your bike is reg and inspected in your state you should be fine in all states.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 860
Likes: 28
From: southbury connecticut
I live in CT. I have 20in apes and 4in risers so they are very tall. i got pulled over once and he let me go because his boss was making him work on a holiday, he was standing in the road directing traffic at a fair. the law in CT is they have to be below the shoulders of the rider. they are even with mine i can slide up on the seat and straighten my back and i will be over the bars.
pipes are illegal too on both bikes. in places where the people complain alot . the pipes get enforced. if you are a nucklehead with your pipes you will get a ticket. for the most part they leave you alone. if 5 guys are screaming down main street you will get popped.
pipes are illegal too on both bikes. in places where the people complain alot . the pipes get enforced. if you are a nucklehead with your pipes you will get a ticket. for the most part they leave you alone. if 5 guys are screaming down main street you will get popped.
Thread Starter
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1st Gear
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: New Haven, CT
Thanks for the input DKEEGS and BIGWILLIE.
I bought Roxy in CT so, I can't imagine being targeted in my home state - although, I suppose anything is possible.
I read on another thread where someone advised against riding through Branford with loud pipes... I ride through Branford all of the time because I live 5 minutes from there.
But, like you say, BIGWILLIE, I'm not a knucklehead with my pipes so, maybe that's the difference for me.
My Roxy certainly isn't the loudest scoot in my neighborhood by any means either and I never see my fellow Staven bikers pulled over for anything.
Anyway...
I'd really like to hear from folks who have had experience in RI and VT.
Their laws of no bars 15" higher than the seat seams unrealistic.
My bars are 16" all on their own... not including the risers and distance between the neck and seat heights inherent on the soft-tail frame.
I'm wondering how rigidly they enforce these very specific Apes height laws?
Also... do any states enforce their "mufflers required by law" against straight pipes?
Here's the AMA list again: http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/...tate-Laws.aspx
I value your input and and personal experiences.
I bought Roxy in CT so, I can't imagine being targeted in my home state - although, I suppose anything is possible.
I read on another thread where someone advised against riding through Branford with loud pipes... I ride through Branford all of the time because I live 5 minutes from there.
But, like you say, BIGWILLIE, I'm not a knucklehead with my pipes so, maybe that's the difference for me.
My Roxy certainly isn't the loudest scoot in my neighborhood by any means either and I never see my fellow Staven bikers pulled over for anything.
Anyway...
I'd really like to hear from folks who have had experience in RI and VT.
Their laws of no bars 15" higher than the seat seams unrealistic.
My bars are 16" all on their own... not including the risers and distance between the neck and seat heights inherent on the soft-tail frame.
I'm wondering how rigidly they enforce these very specific Apes height laws?
Also... do any states enforce their "mufflers required by law" against straight pipes?
Here's the AMA list again: http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/...tate-Laws.aspx
I value your input and and personal experiences.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 114
Likes: 1
From: Connecticut
Hi Raido,
Here in RI, the handlebar law says 15" above the seat, but the rule of thumb is no more than shoulder height. However, I see guys (and girls) reaching a few inches higher regularly.
The pipes are governed by sound level. Anything above 86dB from 50ft can get you a ticket.
http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/...spx?stateid=39
HOWEVER, I find that the other posters are right - unless you're being an ***, or driving through a very restrictive community, police don't bother you much.
That being said, a buddy of mine was shocked when he got 3 tickets on his Shovel with his 23" apes.
Here in RI, the handlebar law says 15" above the seat, but the rule of thumb is no more than shoulder height. However, I see guys (and girls) reaching a few inches higher regularly.
The pipes are governed by sound level. Anything above 86dB from 50ft can get you a ticket.
http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/...spx?stateid=39
HOWEVER, I find that the other posters are right - unless you're being an ***, or driving through a very restrictive community, police don't bother you much.
That being said, a buddy of mine was shocked when he got 3 tickets on his Shovel with his 23" apes.
Ive never heard of apes being illegal but I'm kinda new to this. LOL that's just silly sounding to me.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,584
Likes: 52
From: Here and there
You won't have any issues in NH (or Mass for that matter) unless you're being an ***. I've never been bothered by cops about my apes, and have an exhaust that's on the louder side.
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 842
Likes: 47
From: New Hartford CT
Apes have pretty much always been illegal in CT. When I first started riding and got my MC license many moons ago we had to read a bunch of MC specific stuff in order to pass the test. As I recall, the CT law back then was the same as RI's is now - 15" above the seat. It has since been relaxed to 'shoulder height'.
Back then there were far fewer bikes on the road and cops took more notice of them. I got a ticket in 1972 for loud exhaust and had to not only pay the ticket, but get a stock muffler and get the bike inspected to prove that I had fixed it or else lose the registration. Sometime in the early 80's I was riding a bored-out '68 Bonneville with TT pipes and no mufflers or baffles. That thing was LOUD. I never did get a ticket on it, but was always expecting to. These days there are a bazillion bikes out there that are just as loud or louder and cops don't even give them a second glance.
Back then there were far fewer bikes on the road and cops took more notice of them. I got a ticket in 1972 for loud exhaust and had to not only pay the ticket, but get a stock muffler and get the bike inspected to prove that I had fixed it or else lose the registration. Sometime in the early 80's I was riding a bored-out '68 Bonneville with TT pipes and no mufflers or baffles. That thing was LOUD. I never did get a ticket on it, but was always expecting to. These days there are a bazillion bikes out there that are just as loud or louder and cops don't even give them a second glance.
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
From: NH
Sometimes on the weekend along the coast in NH they have cops out with decibal readers to measure the sound but those are few and far between. I used to have 16 inch apes with 3 inch risers and never was spoken to about them.