Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech emissions-- ($going green$)

Just seen an interesting story on HLN this morning.People in Gorgia who own the Toyota Prius are now having to go through emissions.The catch to this green machine is it does not pass the test because the engine shuts off.They have to go through a hassle to get a wavier and $25 more, plus there time.Most of us in Arizona have to go through it every year if you own an older vehicle.It IS a pain in the a$$. Here you have people trying to do the politically correct thing and it bites them in the butt.I thankfully do not have to test my Speedmaster yet,but I am not looking forward to it.I personally think bikes should not have to go through it. I ride my bike to work almost everyday.Two cylinders put out alot less emmissions than eight from a 67 Chevy truck. Plus I get three times the fuel mileage on the bike besides the benefit of more fun. Point being I really think it is all about another way to make money.There are vehicles out there smoking and seriously polluting the air.Give those people a fix it ticket and a fair amount of time to do it in.(Just an idea to a hard sell idea.) !@#$%^ I guess I do feel better now!

Wow talk about nitwits at DMV, You'd think they'd make some kind of allowances for the greenest of the green.

Jack,

It is like we always talk about they sat down and said:

HOW DO WE MAKE MONEY OFF THIS THING.

I think everyone knows what I think about Global warming, but here is a guy that takes it seriously and wants to do something to help and they find away to screw him.

But what does the state of AZ. care they got their pint of flesh.

I can see why states with high concentrations of population want to reduce "polution", but most of the country is not densly populated. The truth is that the air quality has continually gotten better over the last century, mostly due to the fact that we don't burn coal or wood, plus over time our vehicles along with our manufacturing methods have become far more efficient.

That said, yes it is about PC and $$$$. As gasoline prices rise and more people buy "green machines", both federal and state governments, who by the way make more $$$ per gallon of gasoline than the oil companies, are studying taxing car owners by the mile driven as we speak.

MACMC,the taxes on the miles driven,another way to beat the average person down,sounds like big brother trying to control every thing(China).I grew up in KCMO you guys back there get taxed on all kinds of bullsh--.They use to have a city tag you had to have in your window or face a ticket if stopped.I heard they did away with that but what a rip.You guys do have some great roads for riding,and some beautiful countryside. I stopped in the Triumph dealer a couple of years ago.Funny after I got back the new issue of Torque came in the mail.It had an article on that shop suppose to be the oldest in the country.

CT has had numerous problems with their emissions program(s). Whatever the Feds threatened to withhold in highway funds for not doing emissions, we've probably spent 3 times over on the emissions buildings, corruption, fraud & graft, and two complete overhauls of the system, in addition to the initial program creation. In essence, we have spent hundreds of millions to test if "check engine" light bulbs are functional.

So who fails the emissions tests? CT residents with poverty level incomes who can neither afford late model cars nor the funds to repair their older cars are forced by big bro to spend hundreds of dollars on an old smoker, then they can get a waiver. I would believe it's a tough sell to tell that father who failed emissions that his family is eating Ramen noodles this month is doing their part to clean the air.

Somehow, I fail to see how mankind is served by this process. I would imagine we've spewed more pollutants into the air on the drive to the test stations to pass already compliant cars.

I agree. There are many people out there who can't afford to fix an old car or buy a new one with lower emissions. It is rediculous to think we (mankind) can change the atmophere of this planet that much in such a short time. 1 volcanic eruption spews millions of times more greenhouse gasses in a few seconds than we have since the internal combustion engine was invented. M O O N that spells Gore is a clown.

Speedblue, Yes KCMO is a great place to live, you can be in the country in minutes. But, like all big cities, the gov always trys to find ways to scr-w you.
The dealer, Engles Motors,featured in that Torque article are great. I've been doing business with them since to 60s. They sell BMW & Triumph and have a great crew. I always feel bad hearing members' dealer complaints, they haven't experienced the joy of doing business with Engles Motors.

Remember all the threats of "nuclear winter"? When the atmosphere becomes too clear, won't there be an EPA sumer?

You must be in Maricopa County if you have to get your bike emissions tested. We used to have to get tested here in Tucson, but that law was taken off the books just recently. I heard they tried to get the same deal for bikes up in Phoenix, but there were just too many of them registered to use the excuse of "minimal impact" like they did here.

If/when you get your bike emissions tested, and have some of the mods done like the Freak, pipes, etc., you might want to ask around and find a shop that has a gas exhaust analyzer so you can measure C02 emissions. Perhaps it can be tuned to pass, and then re-tuned to make it run right after you get your sticker. PIA though to have to do that every year or 2. FWIW, when I had Triumph off-road pipes, airbox with snorkel pulled, and 135 main jets, I was told by the tech at Cycle-Moto in Mesa, now Arizona Superbike in Chandler, that the bike would pass emissions after they hooked up their exhaust analyzer.

SalMaglie,right you are.We are in Maicopa,Buckeye area.You can see that beautiful nuck plant from my house.I got an 05 Speedmaster so I have three years left before I really got to worry about it.Before this I had a beater CB900C Honda,an 82 I believe.I had that bike for five years I had to screw with emissions every year.What a pain that was.I think they see something sometimes that doesn't look pretty and they try to fail it.I know I can not prove it,but it sure seems that way. I've owned some real jewels in the past.I still think it is all a money thing.

I will find out in December. Good thing I didn't throw away all of the AI stuff. I did leave the evap. cannister on though. Maybe a good tune-up and they won't know to look for the AI. Probably wishful thinking.

Bummed in Buckeye.

I hope Iowa never gets the regulation bug, or my car and bike collection and major good time hobby is toast!

In MO if your vehicle fails the emissions test and you spend a minimum of 250 bucks to fix it and it still fails, you pass anyway. This year they are starting to test diesels on emissions, my diesel vw gets 45mpg but I have to take it in and pay the fee to prove its at least as good as a new car on gas that gets 17mpg.

Here in CT, we've fairly written the book on how not to administer an emissions program. I could go into all the lurid details of state ineptitude, corruption, and general mishandling of the program(s), but upon reading the details, it is likely the reader's head would explode. Just to throw a couple bone out there - When a vehicle in CT passed an emissions test, a decal was placed in the windshield to indicate the car had passed the test. Now comes the good part -- When the program started, every car in the state received a decal in the mail indicating that the vehicle had NOT yet been tested for emissions. Think about that one for a moment, then multiply it by eleven. Diesel cars were exempt, but they had to report to the station, and buy an emissions decal at full price. Clean air? Ha ha ha - smells like revenuers "same as it ever was" to me.

Whatever shell game and dollar amount within the usual threat of withholding highway funds the feds throw around when they want their way could likely have been supplanted 3 times over with the amount of money we in CT wasted upon the various incarnations of vehicle emissions, CT style. If I recall, we started and stopped four separate and dysfunctional emissions programs since it started.


The primary issue I have a hard time with is that the overwhelming majority of vehicles do pass, except for the vehicles of those who cannot afford a newer car, and so those of unfortunate financial circumstances take it between the eyes.


When you boil it down, an emissions test as administered to a modern car is basically to determine if the "Check Engine" light is functional.

Thank God we don't get ALL the government we're paying for.

Rich, as you may know, because of certain areas within the state of California where the meterological phenomenon of "inversion-layer" holding down auto emissions close to the ground is quite common, California, where the term "Smog" was coined, was one of the first states to begin this emission-check process in the country.(those "wacky ol' Californians", you know how THEY can be, don't cha?! ), and CA still has one, if the THE most STRICT emission control laws on their books ANYWHERE.

And the REASON I bring THIS up is that even HERE in what many of the "Heartlanders" who in this country often derisively call this WARM and SUNNY place "The People's Republik of Kalifornia", has ON THE BOOKS in Sacramento and within the C.A.R.B.(CA Air Resources Board) Regulations themselves, a provission which EXEMPTS owners of pre-1975 automobiles(and let's face it...they're are FEW cars made after 1975 that are good-lookin' enough to even be called "Classic", RIGHT?!...but I disgress ) to these emission standards, and so a classic, such as the 1969 El Camino which I owned up until last year ) DO NOT REQUIRE this process to be done...EVER!!!

(and remember...THIS is out here in that "wacky place known as California" ...so I doubt those more "down-home-types" there in Des Moines would EVER go more strict in these kinds of regulations than HERE...RIGHT???!!!)



(BTW...this last "laughing gremlin" of mine is only here because I often times crack myself up with how many tangential points such as my love of "WARM and SUNNY California"[where BTW it's 80F degrees today] AND my general dislike for POST-1975 cars, which I can insert into one of my postings and STILL be "somewhat" ON TOPIC!!!...and so....I THINK I'll DO IT AGAIN.... ....hey remember...I AM one o' those "wacky Californians" AFTERALL!!!)

I think that one of the most interesting programs that Calif. had was the "old car buyback program" a few years ago. ( At least I think it was Calif. and mayge just some area's there?) The gov. gave people so much movey just to get old cars taken to the junkyard! I suppose this was the death of many a "future" classic. But I'm sure glad you guys are around, cause we midwesterners love to talk about the "wackos out west". (Of course, this doesn't include you and other trumpet riders, Dwight!)Hey! Do ya think you could get Arnie on a trumpet? It'd be great press, and Lord knows we don't get much press!

Another ancient thread resurrected. YAY.

Please don't necro old threads