Street Legal 2 Strokes & Emission Requirements
- Thread starter Eric K
- Start date
Eric K said:
Do a google search. There are tons of links regarding motorcycle emission standards. This is why all those scooters are 49cc. BTW, after 2010, they are banned as well.
A 2 stroke as we know it can NOT pass emission standards. I know that there is some experimentation with direct injection it will be way too cost prohibitive to make a 2 stroke pass. Snowmobiles are getting away with Semi direct injection but their standards are no where near as tough to meet as motorcycles and cars.
The only 2 strokes that are allowed to be sold in the US right now must be deemed "closed course competition models". They are not allowed to have headlights, spark arrestors etc... This is the reason that KTM dropped the EXC line and went to the XCs for 06. According to the letter of the law, it is illegal to ride a 2006 and newer 2 stroke on public land. Fortunately, this law is not being enforced anywhere....yet.
Go over to KTM Talk and do a search on this topic. There are hours of reading with tons of links to the EPA and CARB standards.
Sadly, the US govt is NEVER going to let a 2 stroke on the road again.
Go over to KTM Talk and do a search on this topic. There are hours of reading with tons of links to the EPA and CARB standards.
Sadly, the US govt is NEVER going to let a 2 stroke on the road again.
ScottyR said:
I want to be clear on what the US federal regulations cover.
US highway motorcycles are regulated under Title 40: Protection of Environment, PART 86—CONTROL OF EMISSIONS FROM NEW AND IN-USE HIGHWAY VEHICLES AND ENGINES. There are stringent emission requirements for highway motorcycles. However, there is no specific ban of 2 strokes from highway use. The regulation can be seen at...
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/tex...n=div6&view=text&node=40:18.0.1.1.1.5&idno=40
For off-road motorcycles, refer to US Federal Regulation, TITLE 40--Protection of Environment, PART 1051--CONTROL OF EMISSIONS FROM RECREATIONAL ENGINES AND VEHICLES. There are stringent emission requirements for off-road motorcycles. However, there is no specific ban of 2 strokes from public off-road use. The regulation can be seen at...
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/tex...gn=div5&view=text&node=40:31.0.1.3.11&idno=40
Manufacturers of snowmobiles have made 2-stroke snowmobiles that meet the regulations. Motorcycle emission standards are tough to meet whether a 2-stroke or 4-stroke. Motorcycle manufacturers have chosen to use 4-stroke engines to meet the emission requirements. That does not mean that a 2-stroke engine can not meet the emission requirements. Injection technology continues to improve making lower emissions achievable.
For now, it appears that motorcycle manufacturers are not working to develop 2-stroke engines that comply with the new US emission standards. Perhaps, GasGas can do so by procuring the appropriate injection technology.
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Mark Tracy
New member
Thank you all for the updates - I really would like to stick with a 07 300 Gas Gas that has Lighthts and a Spark Arrestor when I purchase it. My freind has a 06 KTM XC-W and bought the light kit and spark arrestor, but that adds more cost, but still an option. "Stop scarring me 
" I still have a grey area in my brain that is thinking 4 stroke, although I have never steet legalized any of my "real" dirt bikes before....
" I still have a grey area in my brain that is thinking 4 stroke, although I have never steet legalized any of my "real" dirt bikes before....
For what it is worth..in Virginia if you get caught riding a 2 stroke in the national forest it is a 500.00 fine ..i race a 2 stroke in enduros,hare scrams,mx and i love them..i have a 05 de 300 and have a deposit on a new 07 300 gasser..but for dual sport riding a four stroke is the only way to go..i rode a gas gas 450 and was amazed at the power and feel..why would you want to buzzz down the street..when you could roar..i truly believe that gas gas should look into building a 350 4 stroke for the woods racer..i had a ktm 400 and they are just too much in the tight stuff..a 350 that weighed in around 240 had fuel injection with the same great handling chassis and suspension..wow ...well i can at least dream..thanks rick
Mark Tracy
New member
eff said:
The double irorny is "they" let millions of cars from Mexico with no polution control what so ever cross our borders daily...
Mark Tracy
New member
gassman said:
Yes many of us agree that a 300 to 350 enduro 4 stroke based on a 250F frame and lighter weight motor would be the ultimate for many of us. I would own one, less rev, higher reliability, less mass than a 450, etc. I believe it would sell great and that is what consumers want.
WoodsRider
New member
Lots of myths out there. Two-stroke technology is not banned. There are a few four-stroke off-road motorcycles that do not meet the 2007 exhaust emission requirements and will be sold as closed-course only models. Engines under 50cc's are exempt from emission requirements until 2010. California has the most stringent exhaust emission requirements of any state (typically two years ahead of U.S. EPA requirements) and, AFAIK, you can still get a red sticker for your 2006 2-stroke motorcycle to ride on public land.
If you receive a ticket for riding a two-stroke off-road motorcycle on public land, find out what specific law you are breaking. Again, California only allows the red sticker for two-strokes, which means you can only ride on public land at certain times of the year and in specified areas. I don't know of any state that has more stringent restrictions.
If you receive a ticket for riding a two-stroke off-road motorcycle on public land, find out what specific law you are breaking. Again, California only allows the red sticker for two-strokes, which means you can only ride on public land at certain times of the year and in specified areas. I don't know of any state that has more stringent restrictions.
new to me
Man, all this 2 stroke regulation stuff is new to me. I'm not saying it's not true, but I have done research to find out what the reg's are, and I have never found anything specific for my area of the country, the southeast. I'm going to buy an mc250 and put it on the road in Georgia. It can be done, I'm not sure how yet. There are plenty of counties that are too small to have emissions tests out here, but they do have tricky registration and title laws in GA. Some are tough, but then some are real slack.
Man, all this 2 stroke regulation stuff is new to me. I'm not saying it's not true, but I have done research to find out what the reg's are, and I have never found anything specific for my area of the country, the southeast. I'm going to buy an mc250 and put it on the road in Georgia. It can be done, I'm not sure how yet. There are plenty of counties that are too small to have emissions tests out here, but they do have tricky registration and title laws in GA. Some are tough, but then some are real slack.
I'm in my third season riding. I have a new '05 gg450. Went from a Drz400s at 290 dry to a xr440r which I still have with a kickstart. I'm short so I don't have the leverage for the heavier bikes to keep them from falling over going slow without a good foot hold.
Once I started to gain knowledge about our sport I've been getting closer and closer to buying a EC 300. But I need it to be street legal. I ride right out my door here in the Cascade foothills of Wa. state and I'm finding single track within 10 minutes.
I'm fine with my new 450. It's an awesome bike and made me a better rider right off the bat. But lighter weight would be even better. So I'm gonna sit on the fencepost and see what comes down. If Epa outlaws the newer 2t's then I'm 100% with Mark T. and Gassman.
I sit here and watch as our freedom's and hope's are dashed by a stroke of a pen and my hard earned money is given to a lot of undeserving programs. Now at age 57 I could use that light low speed lugging EC300gg!
Once I started to gain knowledge about our sport I've been getting closer and closer to buying a EC 300. But I need it to be street legal. I ride right out my door here in the Cascade foothills of Wa. state and I'm finding single track within 10 minutes.
I'm fine with my new 450. It's an awesome bike and made me a better rider right off the bat. But lighter weight would be even better. So I'm gonna sit on the fencepost and see what comes down. If Epa outlaws the newer 2t's then I'm 100% with Mark T. and Gassman.
I sit here and watch as our freedom's and hope's are dashed by a stroke of a pen and my hard earned money is given to a lot of undeserving programs. Now at age 57 I could use that light low speed lugging EC300gg!
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Jap 2t's
A KTM dealer told me that Kawi made a bunch of '05 KDX200's(or were they 220's, or both?) and now the KDX is no more- the last Japanese 2 stroke enduro. I saw a new KDX on a dealer floor, but never checked the year,so it may or may not be true.
Jap bikes have tell-tale serial numbers, that's why GG and KTM's are the only bikes you'll see plated, at least in the states I'm familiar with. In the '90's, I had a IT250 I was able to get titled as an XT250, and got the license plate for it, but when I went to get insurance, I was told it came back as "competition only". That was in georgia. They have no vehicle inspection statewide and no emmissions in many counties. Getting a title is tricky though.
gasgasman said:
A KTM dealer told me that Kawi made a bunch of '05 KDX200's(or were they 220's, or both?) and now the KDX is no more- the last Japanese 2 stroke enduro. I saw a new KDX on a dealer floor, but never checked the year,so it may or may not be true.
Jap bikes have tell-tale serial numbers, that's why GG and KTM's are the only bikes you'll see plated, at least in the states I'm familiar with. In the '90's, I had a IT250 I was able to get titled as an XT250, and got the license plate for it, but when I went to get insurance, I was told it came back as "competition only". That was in georgia. They have no vehicle inspection statewide and no emmissions in many counties. Getting a title is tricky though.