michaelanderson4@sympatico.ca

Motorcycles emit 'disproportionately high' amounts of air pollutants

Motorcycles collectively emit 16 times more hydrocarbons, three times
more carbon monoxide and a "disproportionately high" amount of
other air pollutants compared to passenger cars, according to a Swiss
study to be published in the Jan. 1 issue of the American Chemical
Society's journal Environmental Science & Technology.

The study, by Ana-Marija Vasic and Martin Weilenmann of the Swiss
Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research, found both
two- and four-cycle motorcycle engines emitted significantly more of
these pollutants than automobile engines.

Particularly worrisome are the high levels of hydrocarbons emitted by
Japanese, German and Italian two-wheelers, according to the study. Some
hydrocarbons have been linked to global warming, while others are
suspected of being carcinogenic. Motorcycles aren't a primary means
of transport in most developed countries, the authors note. As a
consequence, they say, "the importance of [motorcycle] emissions has
been underestimated in legislation, giving manufacturers little
motivation to improve aftertreatment systems."

Until recently, for instance, U.S. emission standards for highway
motorcycles hadn't been updated in 25 years, despite the fact that
these vehicles produced more harmful exhaust emissions per mile than
cars or even large sports utility vehicles, according to the
Environmental Protection Agency. However, a new EPA rule, which goes
into effect in January, will require manufacturers to reduce combined
emissions of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides in motorcycle exhausts by
60 percent. When the rule takes full effect in 2010, the EPA estimates
it will reduce emissions of these pollutants by about 54,000 tons a
year, and save approximately 12 million gallons of fuel annually by
preventing it from evaporating from fuel hoses and tanks.

Source: American Chemical Society




This news is brought to you by PhysOrg.com

.boB

michaelanderson4@sympatico.ca wrote:

> Motorcycles emit 'disproportionately high' amounts of air pollutants
>
> Motorcycles collectively emit 16 times more hydrocarbons, three times
> more carbon monoxide and a "disproportionately high" amount of
> other air pollutants compared to passenger cars, according to a Swiss
> study to be published in the Jan. 1 issue of the American Chemical
> Society's journal Environmental Science & Technology.


You can't really believe that's true, do you?

Next, they will be "Bad for the Children".

--
..boB
On Order: 2006 FXDI, Red.
1997 HD FXDWG - Turbocharged Stolen 11/26/05 in Denver
1HD1GEL10VY3200010 CO License J5822Z
2001 Dodge Dakota QC 5.9/4x4/3.92
1966 Mustang Coupe - Daily Driver
1965 FFR Cobra - 427W EFI, Damn Fast.

Jim Warman

Looking outside... across my veranda, the "moose" thermometer is hovering
around 12C (that's +10F0. which OK... after all it was -20 this morning
(-4F). I'm fairly sure that my scooter was one of many NOT spewing filthy
clouds of fetid fumes and such skyward......I can't say the same for the 20
or so cars and light trucks patiently waiting to warm and start their day
that I can see from my front door.

I dare guess that my little bike wont see pavement until May, at the
earliest (and that's because I pull my bike out about a month before most).
So, you are quite safe up until then..... unless you happen to come to a
stop near one of those clean burning gutted cat, O2 simulator equipped,
overcammed daily drivers we hear about.

Last year, weather and chores allowed me to ride my scooter to te Ford
Training Centre in Edmonton only once. The trip down and back plus three
evenings of visiting in the city... the DP about fell out of his chair when
I turned in gas receipts for 11 bucks.... the same trip in my pick up costs
ten times that.

Now.... let's bear in mind that this study seems to have been done in
Europe... where, AFAIK, there is very little in the way of emissions
controls, nothing even similar to the CAFE standard and gasoling quality may
be suspect. With these assumptions in mind, I might even agree with the
study and opine that perhaps those damned Europeans should clean up their
frigging act.

FWIW, Harley Davidson started using emissions control some time ago.... it
started with preset mixture adjustments on carbs on all models and by about
03, the large displacement scooters had even fuel injection available and,
from what little I can find to read, are fitted with catalytic converters.

Now... what was it you were saying?

Zombywoof

On Tue, 20 Dec 2005 05:02:19 GMT, "Jim Warman"
<mechanic@telusplanet.net> wrote:

>Looking outside... across my veranda, the "moose" thermometer is hovering
>around 12C (that's +10F0. which OK... after all it was -20 this morning
>(-4F). I'm fairly sure that my scooter was one of many NOT spewing filthy
>clouds of fetid fumes and such skyward......I can't say the same for the 20
>or so cars and light trucks patiently waiting to warm and start their day
>that I can see from my front door.
>
>I dare guess that my little bike wont see pavement until May, at the
>earliest (and that's because I pull my bike out about a month before most).
>So, you are quite safe up until then..... unless you happen to come to a
>stop near one of those clean burning gutted cat, O2 simulator equipped,
>overcammed daily drivers we hear about.
>
>Last year, weather and chores allowed me to ride my scooter to te Ford
>Training Centre in Edmonton only once. The trip down and back plus three
>evenings of visiting in the city... the DP about fell out of his chair when
>I turned in gas receipts for 11 bucks.... the same trip in my pick up costs
>ten times that.
>
>Now.... let's bear in mind that this study seems to have been done in
>Europe... where, AFAIK, there is very little in the way of emissions
>controls, nothing even similar to the CAFE standard and gasoling quality may
>be suspect. With these assumptions in mind, I might even agree with the
>study and opine that perhaps those damned Europeans should clean up their
>frigging act.
>
>FWIW, Harley Davidson started using emissions control some time ago.... it
>started with preset mixture adjustments on carbs on all models and by about
>03, the large displacement scooters had even fuel injection available and,
>from what little I can find to read, are fitted with catalytic converters.
>
I have an `06 Electra Glide Classic that is indeed equipped with
catalytic converters and O2 sensors. In it's stock form one can
barely hear it running as it now has to meet some noise standard as
well.

>Now... what was it you were saying?
>
>

--
Zombywoof

Si vis Pacem, Para bellum

Hairy

"Zombywoof" <Zomby-Woof_dogs_@cox.net> wrote in message
news:jhmfq11adq71u400h4bg4rq8kmpp3mhbqa@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 20 Dec 2005 05:02:19 GMT, "Jim Warman"
> <mechanic@telusplanet.net> wrote:
>
> >Looking outside... across my veranda, the "moose" thermometer is hovering
> >around 12C (that's +10F0. which OK... after all it was -20 this morning
> >(-4F). I'm fairly sure that my scooter was one of many NOT spewing filthy
> >clouds of fetid fumes and such skyward......I can't say the same for the
20
> >or so cars and light trucks patiently waiting to warm and start their day
> >that I can see from my front door.
> >
> >I dare guess that my little bike wont see pavement until May, at the
> >earliest (and that's because I pull my bike out about a month before
most).
> >So, you are quite safe up until then..... unless you happen to come to a
> >stop near one of those clean burning gutted cat, O2 simulator equipped,
> >overcammed daily drivers we hear about.
> >
> >Last year, weather and chores allowed me to ride my scooter to te Ford
> >Training Centre in Edmonton only once. The trip down and back plus three
> >evenings of visiting in the city... the DP about fell out of his chair
when
> >I turned in gas receipts for 11 bucks.... the same trip in my pick up
costs
> >ten times that.
> >
> >Now.... let's bear in mind that this study seems to have been done in
> >Europe... where, AFAIK, there is very little in the way of emissions
> >controls, nothing even similar to the CAFE standard and gasoling quality
may
> >be suspect. With these assumptions in mind, I might even agree with the
> >study and opine that perhaps those damned Europeans should clean up their
> >frigging act.
> >
> >FWIW, Harley Davidson started using emissions control some time ago....
it
> >started with preset mixture adjustments on carbs on all models and by
about
> >03, the large displacement scooters had even fuel injection available
and,
> >from what little I can find to read, are fitted with catalytic
converters.
> >
> I have an `06 Electra Glide Classic that is indeed equipped with
> catalytic converters and O2 sensors. In it's stock form one can
> barely hear it running as it now has to meet some noise standard as
> well.
>

My '04 Deuce is FI but no cats.

Dave

LJ

"Hairy" <hairy@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:40rs6rF1c0ps7U1@individual.net...
>
> "Zombywoof" <Zomby-Woof_dogs_@cox.net> wrote in message
> news:jhmfq11adq71u400h4bg4rq8kmpp3mhbqa@4ax.com...
>> On Tue, 20 Dec 2005 05:02:19 GMT, "Jim Warman"
>> <mechanic@telusplanet.net> wrote:
>>
>> >Looking outside... across my veranda, the "moose" thermometer is
>> >hovering
>> >around 12C (that's +10F0. which OK... after all it was -20 this morning
>> >(-4F). I'm fairly sure that my scooter was one of many NOT spewing
>> >filthy
>> >clouds of fetid fumes and such skyward......I can't say the same for the
> 20
>> >or so cars and light trucks patiently waiting to warm and start their
>> >day
>> >that I can see from my front door.
>> >
>> >I dare guess that my little bike wont see pavement until May, at the
>> >earliest (and that's because I pull my bike out about a month before
> most).
>> >So, you are quite safe up until then..... unless you happen to come to
>> >a
>> >stop near one of those clean burning gutted cat, O2 simulator equipped,
>> >overcammed daily drivers we hear about.
>> >
>> >Last year, weather and chores allowed me to ride my scooter to te Ford
>> >Training Centre in Edmonton only once. The trip down and back plus three
>> >evenings of visiting in the city... the DP about fell out of his chair
> when
>> >I turned in gas receipts for 11 bucks.... the same trip in my pick up
> costs
>> >ten times that.
>> >
>> >Now.... let's bear in mind that this study seems to have been done in
>> >Europe... where, AFAIK, there is very little in the way of emissions
>> >controls, nothing even similar to the CAFE standard and gasoling quality
> may
>> >be suspect. With these assumptions in mind, I might even agree with the
>> >study and opine that perhaps those damned Europeans should clean up
>> >their
>> >frigging act.
>> >
>> >FWIW, Harley Davidson started using emissions control some time ago....
> it
>> >started with preset mixture adjustments on carbs on all models and by
> about
>> >03, the large displacement scooters had even fuel injection available
> and,
>> >from what little I can find to read, are fitted with catalytic
> converters.
>> >
>> I have an `06 Electra Glide Classic that is indeed equipped with
>> catalytic converters and O2 sensors. In it's stock form one can
>> barely hear it running as it now has to meet some noise standard as
>> well.
>>
>
> My '04 Deuce is FI but no cats.
My 2004 twin cyl Beemer has a CC and the preceeding models for at least a
decade have as well. What the article missed is that the polution standards
are lower in Europe, hence the higher % of diesels.