Is it illegal to modify a motorcycle's exhaust system?
2 Answers
It is illegal. Article 16, Paragraph 1 of the Road Traffic Safety Law stipulates that no unit or individual may assemble a motor vehicle or alter the registered structure, construction, or characteristics of a motor vehicle without authorization. Without the permission of the public security traffic management department, any modification to the motor vehicle's chassis, engine, suspension, transmission system, steering system, tire rims, lights, body color painting, or appearance structure, as well as any technical data of the motor vehicle that does not match the data announced by the competent department of motor vehicle products under the State Council, constitutes an illegal modification. (The announced data includes: vehicle steering form, body specifications and dimensions, fuel type, number of leaf springs, wheelbase, number of tires, tire specifications, total mass, approved load capacity, environmental compliance status, displacement/power, number of axles, and vehicle appearance photos). Article 56 of the Regulations on the Registration of Motor Vehicles stipulates that in any of the following circumstances, the public security traffic management department shall impose a warning or a fine of up to 200 yuan: The body or rear of the compartment of heavy or medium-duty trucks and their trailers is not painted with enlarged license plate numbers as required, or the enlarged license plate numbers are not clear; The motor vehicle is painted or pasted with markings or body advertisements that affect safe driving. Trucks and trailers are not equipped with side and rear underrun protection devices or pasted with reflective body markings as required. The motor vehicle has not undergone a safety technical inspection within the prescribed period. The body color is changed, or the engine, body, or frame is replaced, and the change registration is not processed within the time limit specified in Article 10 of these regulations. After the ownership of the motor vehicle is transferred, the current owner of the motor vehicle does not process the transfer registration within the time limit specified in Article 18 of these regulations. After the motor vehicle owner processes the change registration or transfer registration, and the motor vehicle file is transferred out of the registration place vehicle management office, the owner does not apply for the motor vehicle's transfer to the local vehicle management office within the time limit specified in Article 13 of these regulations.
I have been riding motorcycles for ten years and know that modifying the exhaust system is usually illegal. Traffic regulations strictly require that motorcycle exhaust pipes must comply with noise and emission standards, such as noise not exceeding 85 decibels or excessive emissions. Once the exhaust is modified, the increased noise can disturb the public, and neighbors may complain, leading to fines from the police. Annual inspections often fail, forcing owners to spend money restoring the original setup. This not only wastes time and money but may also affect vehicle warranties or insurance claims—insurers might deny accident compensation if they discover illegal modifications. In the long run, noise pollution harms hearing health, and excessive emissions pollute the environment, making the legal risks too high. It is advisable to keep the original setup or consult professional modifications to ensure compliance.
