View Full Version : Baffle Removal, does it make your insurance invalid?
So i discovered how to take the baffle out yesterday (very easy), but what a difference it makes, sounds much nicer, but i was wondering if it makes your insurance invalid as your exaust is no longer road legal???
yorkie_chris
10-05-09, 07:31 PM
Nope.
Jamiebridges123
10-05-09, 07:33 PM
No it doesn't. Lol :)
madness
10-05-09, 07:42 PM
No it doesn't. Lol :)
Not sure myself. Insurance companies have a way of squirming out of paying on a claim. I'm sure that in the small print it must state somewhere that your bike must be road legal. Plus obviously if you have modified the bike?
Jamiebridges123
10-05-09, 08:29 PM
If your baffles are out that in no way affects the road worthiness of your machine, nor does it excuse the **** in the car who pulled out on you. And most bike insurance places know you change your exhaust and things, mine has £500 of free undeclared mods allowed..
gettin2dizzy
10-05-09, 09:30 PM
Anyway... the baffle must have fallen out as a result of the crash...
Not sure why everyone is so certain - if a road legal exhaust is rendered non road legal by baffle removal then surely that effects insurance. Based on legality of can, not the fact it is a modification.
rictus01
10-05-09, 09:46 PM
unfortunately it's not as simple as a yes or no answer.
Having spoken to a family friend who is a traffic officer, generally it'll make no difference and not be in the report unless it's a contribution factor.
However any baffle that can be removed is illegel even when fitted (so unless rivited or welded), no matter what markings it may have.
So in answer; I'd say if it wasn't mentoned in the accident report, you'd get away with it, but technically it does make your vehicle illegal and so the insurance could claim it voids your agreement with them ( although legally they can't refuse third party payout, but may seek to sue you for anything they pay).
Cheer Mark.
theshed
10-05-09, 09:47 PM
So is this a standard exhaust or one of the usual ones only read the post the other day about removing a standard one
yorkie_chris
10-05-09, 09:49 PM
but may seek to sue you for anything they pay).
Cheer Mark.
In which case I believe they'd have to explain why it contributed. You'd have to be bloody imaginative to explain how a couple more dB caused a crash.
rictus01
10-05-09, 09:49 PM
So is this a standard exhaust or one of the usual ones only read the post the other day about removing a standard one
you can't remove the baffles from a standard can without major surgery and a welder, so this'll be about an aftermarket can supplied with a fitted baffle.
Cheers Mark.
rictus01
10-05-09, 09:56 PM
In which case I believe they'd have to explain why it contributed. You'd have to be bloody imaginative to explain how a couple more dB caused a crash.
No they won't Chris, you have an agreement with them to insure a legal vehicle, you have broken that by modifying something ( which the accident report will prove), the insurance company has to legally pay third party claims even if you've voided the agreement, however they can get that money back from you in court and would win.
As to the contributory factor, that'll be down to the police investigator, and whether he "thinks" it was or not, he doesn't have to justify it to anyone, but if it makes it into the report the insurance company will see it and is more than likely to act as it saves them money.
Cheers Mark.
theshed
10-05-09, 10:10 PM
you can't remove the baffles from a standard can without major surgery and a welder, so this'll be about an aftermarket can supplied with a fitted baffle.
Cheers Mark.
the post i refered to was with this url to demonstate the baffle removal
http://www.emotoman.com/bikes/davemuffler/muffler.html
rictus01
10-05-09, 10:19 PM
the post i refered to was with this url to demonstate the baffle removal
http://www.emotoman.com/bikes/davemuffler/muffler.html
that's a standard pointy can they are butchering in that link, but no way will it pass anything but the slackest MOT.
Cheers Mark.
that's a standard pointy can they are butchering in that link, but no way will it pass anything but the slackest MOT.
Cheers Mark.
Why won't it pass?
Sounds shi t hot.
Jamiebridges123
10-05-09, 11:04 PM
Why don't you just buy a FUEL or a Beowulf can for all of £150 and then you'll have a nice can that you can either "lose" the baffle out of, or stick it in to pass the MOT, you'll be able to sell it for £70 when you come to sell the bike and you'll have a clean standard exhaust to refit for the new owner...
Don't EVER modify the ORIGINAL can for a bike..my opinion anyway.. :|
yorkie_chris
10-05-09, 11:10 PM
Doesn't matter how much gubbins you rip out of it, it'll still weigh about 5x as much as a proper can.
rictus01
10-05-09, 11:12 PM
Why won't it pass?
Sounds shi t hot.
Obviously modified is your answer, and you are half right with your answer.
Cheers Mark.
Meh well, better than stock anyways.
Still doesn't look/sound as good as a replacement can.
Never knew Peter Kay had an SV
http://www.emotoman.com/bikes/davemuffler/images/IMG_4131.jpg
theshed
11-05-09, 07:26 AM
So i discovered how to take the baffle out yesterday (very easy), but what a difference it makes, sounds much nicer, but i was wondering if it makes your insurance invalid as your exaust is no longer road legal???
i personally didnt like the idea but the way the original question was asked wondered if this is what j2unk had discovered and was refering to?
What Rictus says is true. I scouted though the construction and use regulations for exhaust cans once and it is a mine field. An exhaust can has to meet certain criteria for use on UK roads, noise, shape (Probably now more volume than shape), material and construction being the main ones. Anything that can be modified technicaly is illegal for use on a uk road, regardless of stamps, marks or whatever. The BS/E stamped cans with removeable baffles are only that when they have the baffle in, when its removed it no longer falls under the certified banner and could be deemed illegal, therfore face prosocution in extreme cases, however most of the times, a Rectification notice will be issued. We all kno that as long as the can is not marked with 'For competion use only' or 'Not for road use' and it falls in the 'accepatble' noise limit, then it may/will pass an MOT. This does not mean however, that the can is legal to be used on a public highway which is odd to say the least. Exhaust companies now that if they sell the can with a riveted baffle and BS/E marked, then they are not breaking the law in thier process and its down to the user to make the decsion as to if they want to break the law!
This said its all crap, as most traffic cops really dont know the ins and outs of all this, so will just look for stamps/marks etc, and you'll be on your way. I have race cans on my SV and have had for over 7 years now and to date (Touches wood) not had an issue with them. They get swapped over at MOT time, and thats it.
I seemed to have striked up quite and arguement, my can isn't standard, its the scorpion high level.
It seems to be a bit of a grey area from looking at this thread.
I deal with lots of provisonal drivers who drive alone and who are insured. Having spoken to some insurance compaines. I can add, if you have fully comp insurance and have broken the rules and crashed the insurance company will only cover the 3rd party costs (eg the other vehicle involued) They will however not cover your costs.
Ch00
ArtyLady
11-05-09, 09:51 AM
I deal with lots of provisonal drivers who drive alone and who are insured. Having spoken to some insurance compaines. I can add, if you have fully comp insurance and have broken the rules and crashed the insurance company will only cover the 3rd party costs (eg the other vehicle involued) They will however not cover your costs.
Ch00
Unless the insurance co. has agreed to insure your bike with it's mods? I looked into this and changed my company specifically so I was covered with the mods I have, and they wrote and confirmed this.
yorkie_chris
11-05-09, 11:00 AM
I was pretty paranoid about this so got my insurers to write me a letter to confirm they know about the modifications to my bike and that it doesn't affect my cover.
I'm TPFT but that was just simply to ensure no liability for me if I did have an at-fault accident.
madness
11-05-09, 11:10 AM
While we're on the subject of modifications, pleading ignorant and saying that the previous owner must have done them doesn't work. A guy I know bought a car which he had an accident in. His insurance company found that it had been 'chipped' (by a previous owner) and refused to pay out as they had not been told of the mods.
joshmac
11-05-09, 03:25 PM
Why won't it pass?
Sounds shi t hot.
Obviously modified is your answer, and you are half right with your answer.
Cheers Mark.
Should that be sounds sh!t and gets hot? He was almost there :p:lol:
sv-robo
11-05-09, 03:28 PM
Nope.....whats a baffle?;)
joshmac
11-05-09, 03:51 PM
No idea... I'm baffled! :rolleyes:
I'll get my coat :lol:
whats the worst that can heppen if you get lifted with them out?
thedonal
24-01-10, 03:32 PM
I'd suggest that it's really down to-
The amount of noise it's making,
The way you were riding,
The officer who pulled you.
When I got pulled for speeding before Christmas, the officer asked if the baffle was out- he has a pointy with a Fuel can. I just said yes, it's not that loud really, compared to an IL4 without a baffle and to give it a go. He left it at that.
sunshine
24-01-10, 05:23 PM
i got pulled for noise red lining first behind a car who pulled out infront of me and then next thing i know blue lights up turn up behind me ask whats the noise is about i said he pulled out infront of me and i was making sure he could hear me, they laughed jumped in there car a drove off get a bit down the road and there they are tell the guy in the car off i dont know if they did anything about it i carried on riding pass.
Dont crash and you wont have to worry if taking your baffles out voids your insurance policy will you? thats my way of thinking anyway! :D
Red Herring
24-01-10, 07:05 PM
However any baffle that can be removed is illegel even when fitted (so unless rivited or welded), no matter what markings it may have.
That's news to me Mark. An exhaust that is marked and sold as road legal will continue to be road legal provided you don't modify it. Removing the baffle is modifying it, the fact that it involves cutting a weld, drilling out a rivet, or undoing a bolt is immaterial. My Leo Vince can has a removable baffle held in with a bolt and it's most definitely legal when the baffle is in!
vBulletin® , Copyright ©2000-2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.