Shops unable to install exhausts in CA?

L

Lambaru

Seasoned
I just called the shop where my motorcycle is currently receiving an insurance estimate on. My moto was stolen and they stripped my Yoshi RS4 exhaust and power commander off it and StateFarm told me to tell my shop to include the cost of those parts and labor into the estimate instead of the OEM.

I just called my shop and they said they cannot do that because they cannot install any aftermarket exhaust on any motorcycle in California right now.

As far as I was aware I thought it was only on bikes newer than 2013. What law doesn't allow aftermarket exhausts to be installed?
 
budman

budman

General Menace
Staff member
I don’t think there is one. Factory Shops however face a big fine for violators. Try a independent race shop (they still do but address the law specifically vs. we won’t do it.

Good luck.
 
Surj

Surj

Uneasy Rider
"Cannot install any aftermarket exhaust" is an extremely dumbed-down version of the truth. CA-compliant aftermarket pipes can be installed, but as we're early in the industry pulling their heads out of the sand and getting their shit together on this, compliant pipes aren't available for many bikes.

The reality is that shops (and people) have been legally limited in what exhausts can be installed on road-going bikes for some time. Track-specific bikes are different, but that loophole was so overused that it got goatse-esque, and that's a big part of how we got here. More info here.

If you had a non-compliant pipe on your bike, you're gonna have a hard time getting a shop to put that pipe on again (and that probably applies to the PC as well). According to my research in this area, Yoshimura seems to be leading the industry in making California-compliant pipes, but they don't seem to have one for your bike—note the race-only acknowledgment on the page for the 2012 - 2016 Ninja 650 Race RS-4S pipe.
 
Last edited:
NB0tt

NB0tt

Well-known member
So what if they can't actually do the work. They should still include it as part of the insurance estimate so you can get reimbursed.
 
Triple R

Triple R

DVN Motorsports
Some shops will do the work as long as your bike is "towed in" and used for "closed course" recreation only. Same goes with dyno work. :shhh
 
L

Lambaru

Seasoned
It is an independent shop. Evolution to be exact. I'm trying to get them to just write it as an estimate. Same with the power commander that was ripped off when my bike was stolen. I had previously installed the RS4 exhaust myself. I thought that any bike older than 2014 had less restrictions on exhaust, even though Yoshi clearly states on their website racing only... had to get a loud pipe.

Does anyone know what specific law it is and which law I am thinking about that relates to bikes newer than 2013?
 
Last edited:
W

wfo439

AFM 439
Triple R said:
Some shops will do the work as long as your bike is "towed in" and used for "closed course" recreation only. Same goes with dyno work. :shhh
Click to expand...

^^^ This. When I wanted SJ BMW to install a mid-pipe/ full exhaust and race ecu on my 2014 HP4, they didn't know me from Adam. Wanted the bike towed in and towed away to do the work. They have known me for 3 years and had no issues installing a full exhaust on my 2020 S1000RR. I towed it in and towed it away so everything was copacetic. :)
 
MX500

MX500

Pooter
Lambaru said:
I just called the shop where my motorcycle is currently receiving an insurance estimate on. My moto was stolen and they stripped my Yoshi RS4 exhaust and power commander off it and StateFarm told me to tell my shop to include the cost of those parts and labor into the estimate instead of the OEM.

I just called my shop and they said they cannot do that because they cannot install any aftermarket exhaust on any motorcycle in California right now.

As far as I was aware I thought it was only on bikes newer than 2013. What law doesn't allow aftermarket exhausts to be installed?
Click to expand...

Call a better shop.
 
m0t0_ryder

m0t0_ryder

RYD!
Multiple issues with aftermarket exhaust in CA.
First, most major suppliers won't ship to CA address.
Shop's can get fined from $10K - $50K for getting caught installing after market exhaust on street machines. That's why many shops just won't go there. (Including the one I used to work for).
When I was writing damage estimates I'd write the estimate with whatever you wanted on it (given it was truly damaged or stolen) with footnotes indicating aftermarket exhaust availability and "no install" policy.
I told many folks the closest place to get after market exhaust installed on their bikes is to go to Reno. i.e.; out of state
 
Pking

Pking

Humble Rider
Weird. When I got rear-ended last year and had muffler damage, the repair shop called me and said the OEM muffler was on back order and may take a while to arrive, but they have some new spanking Yoshi's, and do I want to wait on the OEMs or do the Yoshi. I told them if they have the carbon fiber version to go ahead and throw them on...thank you very much!
 
Aware

Aware

Well-known member
Pking said:
Weird. When I got rear-ended last year and had muffler damage, the repair shop called me and said the OEM muffler was on back order and may take a while to arrive, but they have some new spanking Yoshi's, and do I want to wait on the OEMs or do the Yoshi. I told them if they have the carbon fiber version to go ahead and throw them on...thank you very much!
Click to expand...


Is the Yoshi DOT approved? If the aftermarket pipe is DOT approved then it is legal.
 
afm199

afm199

Well-known member
Pretty much covered. All the shops I have done business with no longer do dyno or pipes on street bikes, period. The fine is huge.

Most will do an obvious race bike.
 
Starpower

Starpower

Well-known member
A shop can work on a modded bike done by the owner without issue correct? They just cannot do the mods as I understand it.
 
buellistic

buellistic

Well-known member
If your just getting a estimate. OEM replacements usually cost more
Than aftermarket.
Get the check first.
 
afm199

afm199

Well-known member
Starpower said:
A shop can work on a modded bike done by the owner without issue correct? They just cannot do the mods as I understand it.
Click to expand...

The issue isn't work. It's modifying the existing emissions equipment. That means no dyno tunes, no carb changes, no muffler swaps, etc. Of course they can change tires, adjust valves and so on.
 
R

ryangemini

New member
With the new law in place, has anyone experienced any issues with aftermarket exhausts? I just got a 2018 Yamaha XSR 700 and the stock exhaust sounds terrible and was thinking of trying to find a place to buy it from and install myself. Not sure how strict cops are these days.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top