We all know the walls have ears.....

I grew up when v8s were the norm and the gurgling of a finely tuned (or not so finely tuned) was something even the older generation admired.  Seems to me we're doing that lazy policing thing again where it's just easier to grab everyone who isn't "in the box" rather than hitting the streets and grabbing the guys who are running obviously obnoxious gear.

So since we're all destined to become pussies are there any pipes that give the rumble without the dbs when the revs go up?

oops. posted my stuff below and just saw Hilly's post above, must have gone in while I was typing, great article, thanks Hilly.

A lots been raised here. 

The following's a bit dull but I like to know the rules at least as well as Mr Plod who often knows very little about legislation.

The full test guidelines are available, google up

but basically the microphone is set 500mm back from the bike at the level of the exhaust and at a 45 degree angle to the side of the bike. For HD's the revs are 2500, (don't know what you do without a tacho)   For a bike built after 1985 the Db level should be no more than 94Db, for pre 85 bikes it's 100Db.

As for defects, other than noise I can't find anything in the vehicle standards legislation or regs (at least in SA) that prevent running after market or even home made pipes.  So giving a defect solely on the grounds that your pipes are not genuine shouldn't stand up in court.  People have been telling me that pipes must have the compliance stamp or you'll get defected but so far I can't find that requirement in any legislation, has anyone else found it?

Yeah avoid the Latte strip..??

I got pinged for noise (redlined it past a cop car), when I went for testing it failed, stock factory exhaust... it had no baffles, was straight through and loud as fck.

Problem came up, ADR testing has something to do with displacement X power = dB at xyz revlimit.

Meant a little 125 was tested at 4000rpm. These bikes idled at 2000rpm, powervalve opened at 8000 and redlined at 11000.

It was fckn loud, ear splitting loud at 8000.

So regardless of it being the factory exhaust, unmodified and passing adr, it wasn’t complying with local testing, was a nightmare that saw me sell the thing on as someone else’s problem.

Goes to show how stupid the state vs federal systems were.

I have only ever been defected for noise once, & was on my old Shovel, all the info cop gave me turned out wrong. wrong phone # for EPA. but got in touch with EPA they told me shovel could be over 100db as older. went to muffler place had a test, got a form from them went to rego. guy there took defect off said, the cops don't know & waste there time so carry the form he filled out, to show any cop that stops me in future. has never happened since. but I've never liked the look of these new pipes, a lot fit, can understand why people use them, but I've never needed too. QLD Cops from what I've seen throw a curved ball, or it might be the state government . but last year I road top to bottom or QLD not one problem saw less cops than I see patrolling in NSW. but I'll give FNQ bikers the thumbs up, ( they still know how to nod or wave to another biker on the road. sad to say NSW don't.

If you got a iPhone there are a few descent apps to download which will give you a idea of what noise your putting out. Mine will fail either way V&H big rads mixed in with a stage 3

Sorry OZdan I didn't get to reading your earlier post mate

Db readings on my iPhone App are comparable but as the mic doesn’t have any wind protection like the Db meter, (foam ball) it’s only useful in the garage on maybe on a very still day. 

There's loud and obnoxious and then there's that sweet rumble.  I don't care if they take all the obnoxious pipes off the road but FFS don't go down the path or V8s went where half of them sound like bees farting.