EDMONTON – The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) will be conducting a noise level testing clinic for motorcycles to help owners determine whether their bikes are compliant with the city noise bylaw.
In 2010, the City of Edmonton amended the Community Standards Bylaw to deal with excessive motorcycle noise.
Cst. Vincent Pillay, with EPS Traffic Services, says the program was adopted due to “several citizen complaints about noisy motorcycles.”
Since July 1, 2010, there have been 371 tickets issued to motorists under the Community Standards Bylaw.
The EPS invites motorists to have their bikes’ noise emissions checked free of charge at the Motorcycle Excessive Noise Level Testing Clinic on Saturday, May 24 in the NAIT South Campus parking lot.
The motorcycle noise testing method, SAE J2825, is a stationary roadside test that involves holding a sound meter behind the exhaust outlet at idle, or at a set RPM.
The bylaw is based on industry noise standards of a maximum 92 decibel at idle and 96 decibels above idle.
Pillay says motorists encounter trouble with excessive noise only after they make modifications to their motorcycles.
“The first and foremost, and most common problem is aftermarket mufflers. The moment you put an aftermarket muffler on your bike, you’re asking for problems,” Pillay explains.
“If you buy a bike off the showroom they meet all the standards. You don’t make any changes whatsoever on the bike, you’ll past every test.”
Motorcycle owners whose bikes are not compliant with the Community Standards Bylaw will not be issued a ticket by police at the testing clinic, rather officers will advise owners on how to make their motorcycles quieter.
Noise testing for motorcycles is also available year-round from Echo Cycle at 15311 118 Avenue.
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