The Noise Police
Our poor friends down under are about to get a further crackdown on what can and cannot be done out on the asphalt. The Aussies are set to put into place a series of roadside microphones to crack down...
View ArticleCalifornia Considering EPA-Style Exhaust Regulation
A California State Assembly committee has endorsed legislation that would to require motorcyclists in the Golden State to have an EPA-compliant exhaust system on their 2011 or newer motorcycles. Two...
View ArticleGov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Signs California Exhaust Bill into Law – Nothing...
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has seemingly just terminated loud and free flowing exhaust systems on motorcycles in the Golden State of California. Affecting only motorcycles and aftermarket parts made in...
View ArticleRumor: 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R Getting Horsepower Reduction for the American Market
Immediately after the launch of the 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R, which claimed a 207hp figure at the crank with ram-air (197hp sans the air), rumors began to swell that the new ZX-10R’s peak performance...
View ArticleAMA Spits Some Venom at Gov. Schwarzenegger During AMA Motorcyclist of the...
The AMA has announced its AMA Motorcyclist of the Year, and the organization that represents all American motorcyclists has chosens Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California for its yearly distinction....
View ArticleThe Noise Snare Photo System – Loud Pipes Beware
The next hot-button issue concerning the EPA and motorcycles is not gas and particle pollution like you might expect, but instead simply noise. There’s always been a battle between the straight-pipe...
View ArticleIs Your Motorcycle Helmet Making You Deaf?
I ride bikes for a living, in case you didn’t know this already. I ride more miles on two wheels in a year, than the average American does in their automobile (I put more four-wheel miles down a year...
View ArticleThe Eleven of 2011 – A Year in Review
Well, 2011 as a year is finally over, and for the motorcycling community it was quite a year. As we begin 2012, we here at Asphalt & Rubber are of course not immune to the desire to summarize and...
View ArticleToo Loud for Japan – The Ducati 1199 Panigale Gets Ruined for the Japanese...
We have to feel sorry for our Japanese readers today, as a crime against motorcycling has occurred in the Japanese motorcycle market. The bike of 2012, and arguably one of the more beautiful designs to...
View ArticleSorry, The Japanese-Spec Panigale is Not a Hoax
Never underestimate the power of denial. When we first published photos of the Japanese-spec Ducati 1199 Panigale, the immediate reaction from readers was that the machine had to be a hoax. Oh no dear...
View ArticleCrimes Against Motorcycling: MV Agusta F3 – Japan Edition
Remember when the Ducati 1199 Panigale hit the shores of Japan, and the Bologna Bullet got an ugly mid-pipe and exhaust can welded into place, whiled the underslung exhaust cans welded shut? It was...
View ArticleOh No, Not Again – Ducati 899 Panigale: Japan Edition
If you’re in the market for a Ducati 899 Panigale, and have the misfortune of living in Japan, the above is what you will be forced to buy. You see the Ducati 899 Panigale, like the Ducati 1199...
View ArticleSena Noise Control – Finally a Noise-Cancelling Helmet
People who ride with me know that I'm obsessive about wearing earplugs, as nothing ruins your hearing better than a motorcycle helmet. If we cut the marketing BS, there is really no such thing as a...
View ArticleDucati 959 Panigale Gets Normal Exhaust for the USA
Judging by the amount of traffic the story is getting, we imagine the sight of the 2016 Ducati 959 Panigale at the EICMA show has ruffled a few feathers. That’s understandable, since the Euro4 emission...
View Article2016 Motorcycle Deliveries Delayed? Thanks Volkswagen
Are you waiting for a 2016 model year motorcycle that hasn't arrived yet? You might have Volkswagen to blame. Asphalt & Rubber has been contacted by several motorcycle manufacturers who have said...
View ArticleNo Mandatory Noises for Electric Motorcycles, Yet…
In a world with increasingly stringent emission and noise standards, vehicle OEMs are continuously tasked with making their automobiles and motorcycles quieter. Such regulations have brought us some...
View ArticleUS Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Close the EPA by 2018
A bill has been presented to the United States House of Representatives that would seek the closure of the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) by 2018. Proposed by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R - Florida), HB 861...
View ArticleParis Adds Noise Cameras to Catch Loud Exhaust Pipes
The French government is looking into ways that it can automatically enforce sound limits on vehicles, including motorcycles. The post Paris Adds Noise Cameras to Catch Loud Exhaust Pipes appeared...
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