Harley Dealer family member fined in France
Recently we got a call from a key member of staff from one of the UK’s Harley-Davidson franchised dealerships. This person was on a mission to equip his own bike as quickly as possible, with a set of EU compliant ‘e’ marked slip-ons, for a fast approaching trip to France. Why? Because a close family member had returned from France the week before, having suffered a 180 Euro fine during a random stop at the hands of the French police, for riding with a non-compliant exhaust system. He had to pay up in Euros, there and then.
Exhaust law exists- EU enforcement now ramping up
To be clear, this penalty was not because of any new ‘French only’ law, such as those recently debated in the motorcycle press- just the application of general EU regulations that have been in place for more than fifteen years.
Recently we got a call from a key member of staff from one of the UK’s Harley-Davidson franchised dealerships. This person was on a mission to equip his own bike as quickly as possible, with a set of EU compliant ‘e’ marked slip-ons, for a fast approaching trip to France. Why? Because a close family member had returned from France the week before, having suffered a 180 Euro fine during a random stop at the hands of the French police, for riding with a non-compliant exhaust system. He had to pay up in Euros, there and then.
Exhaust law exists- EU enforcement now ramping up
To be clear, this penalty was not because of any new ‘French only’ law, such as those recently debated in the motorcycle press- just the application of general EU regulations that have been in place for more than fifteen years.
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| Remus exhausts- these are loud, and LEGAL! |
The point here is that, as Performance Parts Ltd has been stating in recent campaigns to UK dealers, while UK authorities have not been paying much attention to enforcing these regulations, in the last two years their enforcement in mainland Europe has been ramping up alarmingly. In the last two years many EU countries have introduced roadside ‘in service’ exhaust noise testing, using EU approved, portable equipment.
Failure of such a test incurs a fine and often leads to an inspection of the exhaust system for EU conformity as proven through the ‘e’ or ‘E’ mark. Failure here can involve seizure of the machine. So, for the last two years, while the supply of non-compliant exhausts in the UK has continued unabated, fuelled by us as customers asking for these (illegal) options in pursuit of getting the ‘authentic Harley’ sound, the supply of imported, non EU-compliant exhausts into mainland Europe has dropped massively. This is due to the ramifications and subsequent penalties to both supplier and rider.
The regulations being enforced are Europe-wide and therefore cover UK registered machines being ridden in Europe. It is worth noting that In France many franchised dealers have ceased selling aftermarket exhaust equipment without approved markings. You can imagine that no dealer takes the decision to stop such an income stream lightly or without reason.
Beating the System- and being loud, yet legal
For the past twelve months, in respect of this increase in EU enforcement, Simon Picken, Product Development Manager at Performance Parts Ltd (and former Harley-Davidson salesman) has been working in earnest with franchised Harley-Davidson dealerships, independent distributors and HOG chapters throughout the UK and Eire, in promoting to the UK Harley-Davidson riding public, some great EU compliant, ‘e’ marked exhaust options which have removable baffles and which will provide rider peace of mind and security from such threats.
Failure of such a test incurs a fine and often leads to an inspection of the exhaust system for EU conformity as proven through the ‘e’ or ‘E’ mark. Failure here can involve seizure of the machine. So, for the last two years, while the supply of non-compliant exhausts in the UK has continued unabated, fuelled by us as customers asking for these (illegal) options in pursuit of getting the ‘authentic Harley’ sound, the supply of imported, non EU-compliant exhausts into mainland Europe has dropped massively. This is due to the ramifications and subsequent penalties to both supplier and rider.
The regulations being enforced are Europe-wide and therefore cover UK registered machines being ridden in Europe. It is worth noting that In France many franchised dealers have ceased selling aftermarket exhaust equipment without approved markings. You can imagine that no dealer takes the decision to stop such an income stream lightly or without reason.
Beating the System- and being loud, yet legal
For the past twelve months, in respect of this increase in EU enforcement, Simon Picken, Product Development Manager at Performance Parts Ltd (and former Harley-Davidson salesman) has been working in earnest with franchised Harley-Davidson dealerships, independent distributors and HOG chapters throughout the UK and Eire, in promoting to the UK Harley-Davidson riding public, some great EU compliant, ‘e’ marked exhaust options which have removable baffles and which will provide rider peace of mind and security from such threats.
A loud but legal Remus
Both Remus and Akrapovič manufacture ranges of slip-ons which carry the EU required ‘e’ mark and which cater to 99% of Harley-Davidson models, some going back to the ‘90s. Many Harley-Davidson dealers are now fitting these EU compliant slip-ons to demo bikes so that you can see/hear and evaluate them for yourself. You can still achieve that authentic Harley sound and moderate it according to circumstance. Check out the options for your bike here: www.performanceparts-ltd.com/harley
Loud, legal and long-lasting exhausts
Akrapovič and Remus both manufacture from stainless steel which is a superior material for quality and longevity of finish, whether chrome or black and both manufacturers offer a two year customer warranty covering manufacturing defects.
Loud, legal and long-lasting exhausts
Akrapovič and Remus both manufacture from stainless steel which is a superior material for quality and longevity of finish, whether chrome or black and both manufacturers offer a two year customer warranty covering manufacturing defects.
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| Akrapovic Harley Slip-ons |
You may think that if you can find some way of reducing the noise on your US-imported system by obstructing the gas flow or by fitting a set of baffles, that you will gain a clean bill of health. Not necessarily. Although this may increase the odds in your favour (i.e. reducing your conspicuity), such action does not provide you with EU compliance. This is signified by the ‘e’ or ‘E’ mark followed by a four digit code, on the equipment itself. The code proves compliance for the model of bike to which the equipment is fitted. These markings regulations have been in force across Europe (covering all EU supplied machines), since January 1996 and ‘e’ or ‘E’ marks have been required on the original equipment from February 1996 (manufacturers usually mark them underneath or on the inward facing surface, to avoid detracting from aesthetics) and MUST be present on any replacement.
Justifying your Decision
One of the reasons for which dealers have found it hard to sell larger numbers of EU compliant slip-ons until recently is because, in the face of non-compliant competition, homologation approval (‘e’ marking) comes at a considerable cost to the manufacturer- something which non-compliant systems avoid. However, despite this, 2011 saw a 36% increase in Remus EU compliant equipment in the UK, as the message that law enforcement tolerance for non-compliant exhausts in Europe is decreasing, despite Europeans themselves being very biker friendly.
In the end the exhaust you buy is an individual choice which will be made by weighing up the facts, but just consider this: how many Euros do you need to keep with you while riding and how many fines do you need to pay before an EU compliant exhaust works for you- and why would you even risk seizure of a £12,000 + machine when there is a compliant option available, that does everything you want?
Justifying your Decision
One of the reasons for which dealers have found it hard to sell larger numbers of EU compliant slip-ons until recently is because, in the face of non-compliant competition, homologation approval (‘e’ marking) comes at a considerable cost to the manufacturer- something which non-compliant systems avoid. However, despite this, 2011 saw a 36% increase in Remus EU compliant equipment in the UK, as the message that law enforcement tolerance for non-compliant exhausts in Europe is decreasing, despite Europeans themselves being very biker friendly.
In the end the exhaust you buy is an individual choice which will be made by weighing up the facts, but just consider this: how many Euros do you need to keep with you while riding and how many fines do you need to pay before an EU compliant exhaust works for you- and why would you even risk seizure of a £12,000 + machine when there is a compliant option available, that does everything you want?
Performance Parts Ltd
Bionics for your bike.
Better, Stronger, Faster.
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