I have a cobra megaphone exhaust, and i have read that many places you need stock pipes for noise controll, but the cobra is actually quieter. Do i have to put my stock pipe on or will they let me ride?

 

If your pipe is quieter then your stock- I think you'll be fine.

Aftermarket obnoxious loud pipes give atv'ers a bad name around here- it's the # 1 or 2 complaint, the other being destruction. (unless you live in the desert) Noise pollution has already shut down an MX track over hear near me on 146- people were tired of hering the bikes and pressed the town to close the track, and they did.

If your pipe is indeed quieter- it won't raise any suspicion- the trail police have no clue what a "stock" pipe looks like- but they can tell a stock sound from an aftermarket sound.
I wouldn't worry about a quieter pipe.

 

The only thing that I have ever seen posted around here is a decibal limit. The wording actually isn't stock or aftermarket but what the decibal reading is at idle. I know around here and maybe other places they are definitely wanting everyone to run a spark arrester.
Mudslinger2

 

around here I've seen signs that state "unmodified exhaust" and they also post a decibal max.

 

I firmly believe if they make a "stealth" atv, we'll start to see riding areas return.

aside from my dirtbikes & sport quads- my rincon was the quietest- could not hear it 50' away in the woods- my renegade was the loudest, it had a deep bass that would rumble the woods 1/2 mile away.

 

Having a quiet, maintained exhaust system is a very easy way to work towards maintaining responsible access. Many states are now using a J-1287 stationary sound test, and limiting exhaust emissions at 96dBa or less. This can vary state-to-state, so definitely worthwhile to bounce a quick phone call off State Parks, USFS, or BLM offices locally to find out for sure.

Also, in addition to limits on sound emissions, keep in mind that all OHVs operated on public lands must also have a Forest Service approved spark arrestor as well.


For what it's worth, I've personally tested a lot of bikes, and the FMF Q-series pipes have been doing very well.

 

Where we ride there is nobody around to hear your exhaust even if it fell off. The trails even when patrolled in the winter allow 2 stroke Snowmobiles with aftermarket cans and it does not get louder than that.

 

TLC... If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around, does it still make a sound?


My point with that is that just because no one is there, it is not a reason to not have a spark arrestor and a quiet(er) machine. That said, as I mentioned, different areas have different regulations and requirements. Just be aware of what those rules are where you are, please.

 

Every state is different, but I think the direction everyone is going is to have them be quiet. Nobody will stop you if it is quieter than stock, but few are. I think the easiest thing to legislate is to leave them stock. That is an enforceble baseline.

 

My pipe is stock and odds are will remain stock. But if they ever made a aftermarket pipe that was quieter than stock with some power gains I would have it. Most slip on pipes are a waste of money, 3-4 hung. For that pice you can get a high compression piston and a cam, then you would have some real power.
Like tread lightly said most states are 96db, with no real tools (trail side)to measure the db and no real procedure.