Exhaust

If you are riding a motorcycle manufactured after 1st April 1983 you must have an exhaust pipe which complies with various British and EU regulations. Exhausts which comply are stamped, whereas non-complying exhausts are usually marked "not for road use" or "pre-1985 motorcycle only".

The full rules are laid down in the Motorcycle Silencer and Exhaust Systems Regulations 1995.

Making changes to your exhaust, whether to get more noise or performance, is likely to make it illegal. It is also likely to invalidate your insurance policy, in which case you are looking at a prosecution for no insurance also.

What am I looking at?

You are looking at a fine of up to £1,000.  However, you can not be given points on your licence for this offence.

What effect does this have on liability?

A conviction is not good when arguing over who was responsible. Unless you can show that the conviction had no bearing on the accident circumstances you are likely to be held at least partially responsible.

Ironically there is a strong argument that a defective exhaust may have made an accident less likely as the motorcycle should have been more audible.  If speed is not an issue a defective exhaust may be irrelevant or helpful on liability issues.

In any event, even if you were partly responsible that is not to say that the other person was not also to blame, even if they were not prosecuted or convicted. You need advice. Call us on 01296 662770 to speak to a qualified lawyer. If it goes nowhere there is no cost.