Ever nicked for a loud exhaust - abroad?

[Dipper]

Following on from the other loud exhaust thread, I'm off for a trip across Europe soon and was wondering if anyone has had any bad experiences with a loud can and foreign law enforcement?

....or for that matter it would be good to hear from anyone who has blatted across Europe trouble free with an ear splittingly loud can?

I'm not sure an ear splittingly loud can would be the best idea if your going touring and racking up a lot of miles, purely from a headache perspective!

[Dipper]

Originally Posted by Pricey12

I'm not sure an ear splittingly loud can would be the best idea if your going touring and racking up a lot of miles, purely from a headache perspective!

2500 miles of V twin, 'twill be music to the ears ......that and a set of earplugs

[embee]

I tour abroad quite a lot, and my philosophy has always been to do as little as possible to annoy the local plod, they aren't the cuddly variety we have here in Blighty. Given sufficient excuse they'll have your bike off you and/or march you to an ATM for a few hundred Euro on-the-spot fine. Why go out of your way to draw attention to yourself?

...and I agree with the comment about a loud exhaust being a pain in the harris after 8 or 10hrs.

Just my view, but I'm a boring old faart.

[Dipper]

Maybe I painted the wrong image the "ear splitting" remark being a poor attempt at humor, I'm a boring old faart too that has a moderately loud Blue Flame can that caused me no problems of the ear bleeding variety on a 2000 mile tour of Scotland last year and to be honest I like the "company" of the V twin rumble as I bimble along.

It's not that I want to draw attention but the can is louder than standard and as I don't have a standard can or want the faff of sourcing or fitting one for the trip if I don't have to, I hope the org's wealth of knowledge can help?

[PyroUK]

never been on the bike in europe but i was in Barcelona for the GP a couple of weeks ago. Now i dont know if it was because it was the GP and the plod was easy going or if they are generally not that fussed, but i heard plenty of bikes out and about that i reckon would easily get pulled over here, one guy pulled up on a ducati 9 something with what appeared to be no cans (couldnt see any and i could barely hear anything else) next to 4 coppers, 2 bikes and a car, asked directions and they sent him on his way. Again it may just be that they made concessions because of the event

that being said, from my past experiences of being in europe they are generally more accepting and considerate of bikes and the associated noise.

Switzerland is not good and very strict on this,be it bike car or a truck even

[embee]

Ah, right, I got hold of the sticky end of the stick there then. If it's a bit louder than std but not offensively so, and you aren't doing anything to make them stop you it's very unlikely they'll pull you just for a slightly noisy can.

While away last month in France we had the opportunity to ask a local gendarme what the score was with the reflective patch on helmets law. He was quite open and said they've got better things to do than pull bikers for not having the stickers and it would only be another throw-in item if they had reason to do you for something more serious or you got really arsey. I imagine they're not going to bother about a slightly noisy can unless you give them reason to.

As DT says, Switzerland is a whole different ball game.

[STRAMASHER]

If you are in a 30 mile radius of a Spanish GP, don't fret.

The majority of the locals exhaust cans seem to disappear Thursday to Sunday night. Along with their higher gears.

I will second DTs statement that the Swiss cops are the worst. Especially the border cops. I got a bit of special attention paid to a full race system at the border (possibly from arriving at 3 figure speeds too) but a immediate producing of passports, a smile and some perfectly accented 'Weegie Franglais turned their frown upside down.

Job jobbed.

Stay calm and carry oan.

[L3nny]

People bemoan Switzerland but I spent all day tearing around it with an unbaffled Remus can on my Fireblade and the only Police who gave me any attention were the two on bikes who flew past me on the motorway inches away from each other, and that was with a friendly wave.