Hey guys, what’s going on? Riding safe I hope. I’ve heard a lot of complaints about motorcycles and motorcyclists throughout my riding career. You know, the typical stuff: how it’s dangerous, you must be gang affiliated, you have a leather ass less chaps fetish, etc. etc.

But the most prevalent one is always about the excessive noise of aftermarket exhausts. While I somewhat disagree, since even the most obnoxious aftermarket exhaust for a sportbike is nothing compared to a cruiser straight pipe, I understand where the irritation by the non-rider community comes from.

So, a bill is sitting on Governor Schwarzenegger’s desk that could make it illegal to run a non-stock exhaust on motorcycles in California. SB 435 passed the state’s senate yesterday and, if made law, all non-EPA-stamped exhausts on 2013 and newer bikes will be subject to fines between $50 and $250.

The American Motorcycle Association (AMA) is opposed to the legislation, of course. They are arguing that EPA stamps are very difficult to find, and therefore fines could be issued without just cause, and that there’s a legitimate need for aftermarket exhausts for use as an affordable repair.

Should a motorcyclist be able to provide an EPA certificate in court, the ticket will be dismissed. But why waste everyone’s time and money for this?

It’s also interesting how some media outlets (motorcycle, no less) claim that it’s our own behavior as bikers that has brought on SB 435. And that we have nobody to blame but our fellow riders who choose to run offensively loud exhausts to thank for the legislation. We should also be thankful that SB 435 isn’t more severe.

Say what?!? First, SB 435 is discriminatory. Noise from a traveling motorcycle lasts for a few seconds while passing by and then it is gone. Yet lawn mowers, jackhammers, snow blowers and other tools with louder decibel levels than a motorcycle last for more than an hour. However, none of those tools are targeted for penalty by SB 435.

Secondly, if an EPA standard must be met, then it is the exhaust system manufacturers, wholesalers & retailers’ responsibility to ensure compliance and stamp their product accordingly. SB 435 wrongly puts that responsibility on unknowing consumers.

And lastly, since when are we a state that let a few bad apples ruin the whole bushel? Sportbikes are most likely to have aftermarket exhaust, and yet I believe it’s the cruisers with the straight pipes that are causing most the noise.

I don’t know about you, but if I am at home, work, or wherever, and I hear a sportbike, I like to guess what kind of bike it is just by the noise it makes. Whether, it’s an inline four, a triple’s burble, or a v-twin’s chuckle, it’s still not as annoying and cringe worthy as the chopper’s – well…noise pollution!

Don’t do it Arnie. You are a fellow motorcyclist. Don’t let the rich and snooty do this.

Stay tuned for more updates.

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Hi guys, Paul here again. For those of you who bought the Dark Knight Motorcycle Suit, you might be interested in also getting the Bat Pod Replica to live out your character fantasy.

It is equipped with working grappling hooks, turn signals inside machine gun flash suppressors, hidden instruments, and an automatic transmission. The folks over at Chopper City USA claim it works too, achieving impressive angles of lean on the nearly square tires.

Powering this contraption is the 76bhp, 54lb/ft liquid cooled v-twin from the Aprilia Mana 850. That engine is equipped with a ride-by-wire throttle and a switchable automatic transmission. Look closely and you can see they also carried over the Mana’s parking brake lever; don’t worry, your Bat Pod won’t roll away while you’re off fighting crime.

The Bat Pod was built by Dave Welch and Florida’s Chopper City USA. They’ll be auctioning it for charity soon, check out their website for details.

Stay tuned for more updates.

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What’s up people? Norton’s 961 Commando SE broke a land speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA, today by recording an average top speed of 129.191mph.

The bike, officially entered by Norton into the annual BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials was ridden by Alan Cathcart and claimed the record for the 1000cc Production Push-rod class. The previous record was set last year on a Buell reaching 126.398mph.

Cathcart said: “It’s nice to put Norton back in the record books for the first time in so many years. The fact we did it on a box stock bike exactly as delivered to any Norton customer makes it all the sweeter”.

The BUB Trials happen each year in the middle of the Utah Salt Flats. You can ‘Run whatcha brung’ and watch contenders attempt to break World Speed Records.

Stay tuned for more updates.

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Hi guys, for those of you following the races at Cadwell, you have probably noticed HM Plant Honda’s Josh Brookes jumping his motorcycle at the track.

“I do it because its the fastest way I know how to get over there,” Brookes explained simply. “I go as fast as I can and as a result I get air borne.”

Check out the video.

“As a bonus its fun and the crowd loves it,” Brookes continued. “I can see why people are scared to jump, it can go bad really easily. I know the years of motocross are an advantage. I know how to jump and not get to out of shape.

“I go through the turns before the jump just like any other. On the up ramp to the jump I use a lot of throttle but more importantly I keep a lot of lean angle even though its going to be leaving the ground. I stay sat down until the take off point where I stand up as the bike takes off.

Here’s one from his onboard camera.

How does he do it? “I get over the front a little because the acceleration makes the front comes up a bit. If the bike stays to level I may give it a rev in the air to get the front up. I like to land rear wheel first.”

Stay tuned for more updates.

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Hey guys, it’s Jon here again. Like most of you, it’s the end of summer and back to school for me this month. Anyways, on to today’s Essential Stuff item!

I found these while I was supposed to be buying my textbooks online. The folks over at Scott Sports are proud to release the long awaited Hustle Goggles featuring the patent pending SCOTT FIT SYSTEM. Check them out.

Not only do these goggles allow for adjustment to a rider’s individual cheek shape, but they also adjust the width of each individual’s nose bridge size. The customizations are screwdriver-adjusted and should only need to be set once. Well, unless you get fat or something.

The Hustle also claims improved peripheral vision thanks to a wider aperture and incorporates all the usual goggle features like anti-fog coating on the Lexan lenses and sweat-wicking foam.

We can’t wait to test them out in person. Send on over guys! I would totally switch to an open-faced helmet so i can rock a pair of these. Full faced helmets are just to restrictive for me while riding in the city.

Stay tuned for more updates.

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