I've just read some articles saying, "Motorcycles produce 10x more pollution than SUVs" such as

https://www.latimes.com/news/la-hy-t...n11-story.html

Now clearly it is total b/s and bad reporting, especially when considering motorcycles only do 1% of the miles that cars do, but the downside of it is that now some local governments are now angling at charging for motorcycle parking, whereas before they were always free. Like charging the same for a bike as a car. I'm trying to fight it.

Does anyone know what or where the original research is, and what the breakdown of mcs by capacity is? It's a California Air Resources Board thing.

 

It's a 5-year-old BS article written by a California half-wit for the LA Times, but it does cite that without catalytic converters (CC), motorcycles can release un-burned hydrocarbons:

"As with other passenger vehicles, there are technologies to offset motorcycle emissions, such as catalytic converters, but those technologies tend to be too big, too heavy or too hot to fit on a motorcycle and work as effectively as similar systems on larger, enclosed vehicles that have more space to accommodate them. That’s why the EPA and the air board are more lenient on bikes than they are on other passenger vehicles."

All newer HD bikes have had catalytic converters installed as original equipment for years beginning with 2010 touring models. Other models followed soon thereafter. Granted, many folks change their exhaust systems and eliminate the CC.

California has the most restrictive pollution standards on cars, trucks, motorcycles (etc.) in the USA. Lots of controversy about this, including efforts by the Trump administration to dis-allow California to issue it's own emission standards. Unfortunately, manufacturers like Harley Davidson have to cater to California standards to make 50-state-legal machines.

As these anti-motorcycle measures continue in California and Europe, the futures of motorcycles is threatened, in my opinion. I urge all to support suspension and easing of such BS requirements or we'll all be riding electric bicycles in the future.

 

I completely agree it is total, illogical b/s. However, the they want for a parking permit is too real. Then if you commute from one state to another (it's called driving thru a tunnel in NJ), there's a chance your going to end up paying two permits.

One of the thing that gets me about these surveys is that it may very well be true ... of some bike or another, at some rpm ... however, if a bike only does a 2,000 miles a year and an SUV does 15,000, then surely shuold the equations be based on a annual figure, eg 1/7th. Ditto, what about a 125cc scooter versus a 350ci motor (6,000cc). Surely it can't be "10 times more).

Then the big one of how much pollution 4 wheelers cause all backed up behind each other, when a bike just gets there, and the damage to the roads they do.

I know in CA, and I suppose elsewhere, their having a problem with unregulated Chinese bikes. I think it relates to NOX only. It's just I can't find the original report to tight it with.

The problem is, there are many council members that have not got a clue about basic math, and many that just hate motorcycles fullstop. They see is as one person, one tax and why should bikers pay too.

 

All the green weenies are worried about greenhouse gases and global warming / cooling / climate change or whatever the latest name is for it. Here's a way to compare how much greenhouse gas an internal combustion engine produces: every gallon of pump gas burned produces 19.6lbs of greenhouse gases and every gallon of diesel (or Jet A) produces 22.4 lbs. So take the average fuel economy and average annual miles driven of sample vehicles and calculate the annual fuel burn to calculate the tons of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere. Then explain to me how motorcycles produce more pollution.

Source: https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhous...and-references

 

Air cooled motors, I do believe pollute much more than modern car engines. On a 1-1 basis. But that's just my thoughts.

 

I live in the Milwaukee, Wi area. I have watched the Anniversary Rallies over the years, with upwards of 250,000 un-regulated motorcycles coming to town for a week, and the pollution index never moves. !!!???

 

Really, I wonder how that works.

Sorry for the delay but I actually took the time to contact the California Air Resources Board and query them about it.

Firstly, it generally appears to be correct which surprised me a great deal but the calculations are very simplistic and highly theoretical. That's to say, they are based on a gallon per mile comparison and go by the sheets provided by the manufacturer. I'm following the issue up with them, eg the average annual milesage of a 4 wheeler in CA is 14,000+. It's not unusual to see a 15 year old Harley with 14,000 miles on it.

Therefore, total pollution per vehicle produced has to balance out quickly.

 

Another thing to consider is that normally the first mod done to a bike is to the exhaust. So, no more catalytic converters and up go the number of hydrocarbons. Also, NOx are formed when the combustion temperatures exceed 2370 degrees. A water cooled car engine will normally only do that under a light to medium load. A diesel will do that all the time. An air cooled motorcycle engine tends to get much hotter than either and will produce NOx especially during extended idles. Ironically, When you richen up the mixture as most tuners do, you also drop the combustion temperatures, thus reducing the NOx produced. Unfortunately, you are also increasing the hydrocarbons (unburned fuel) and may also increase the amout of CO (partially burnt fuel).

 

 

So much bs when all the MCs together here in the USA wouldn’t put out a tiny portion compared to all other vechicles. As per factual MPG/ total pollutants compared to all other vechicles. It always some one with a hard__ for MCs, and don’t even want them in precious little world. They try their hardest to blast us with non facts. Lead others to line of bull. Of course as time goes on there is always more uninformed public that has no interest in MCs, so what happens,happens. Sorry for my bitchen, but man I’ve seen a lot of this over the past 10-15 yrs. I guess you younger guys are gonna have a real fight as time goes on. Good luck outgunning the nitwits.