Is My Motorcycle Muffler Too Loud?

The Motorcycle Legal Minute™ was created by Jason Waechter, THE Motorcycle Lawyer, to explain Michigan’s motorcycle law in a short and easy to understand way.

 

Let’s talk about the Michigan laws pertaining to how loud motorcycles can be. First, motorcycles must have mufflers that are in good working order, they must prevent excessive noise and “annoying smoke.”

 

You are NOT allowed to remove or damage the baffles in the muffler, nor can you use a muffler cutout or bypass. Muffler sound is measured in dBAs. 

 

dBA stands for A-Weighted Decibels. dBA is based on intensity and how the human ear responds.

 

A motorcycle going under 35 mph, can’t exceed 82 dBAs. If going faster than 35 mph, not more than 86 dBAs and, under stationary run up test, 95 dBAs. Not all police departments have decibel meters, so they can’t write this specific ticket. Royal Oak does, so be careful if you attend its Thursday Bike Nights.

 

Pasted here is the Michigan statute pertaining to motorcycle mufflers and prohibited noise:

 

257.707 Muffler, engine, power mechanism, and exhaust system; requirements; prohibitions.

Sec. 707.

  (1) A motor vehicle, including a motorcycle or moped, shall at all times be equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise and annoying smoke. A person shall not remove, destroy, or damage any of the baffles contained in the muffler, nor shall a person use a muffler cutout, bypass, or similar device upon a motorcycle or moped on a highway or street.

  (2) The engine and power mechanism of a motor vehicle shall be so equipped and adjusted as to prevent the escape of excessive fumes or smoke.

  (3) A motor vehicle shall at all times be equipped with a properly operating exhaust system which shall include a tailpipe and resonator on a vehicle where the original design included a tailpipe and resonator.

 

 

257.707c Noise limitations; prohibitions.

Sec. 707c.

  (1) After April 1, 1978, a motor vehicle shall not be operated or driven on a highway or street if the motor vehicle produces total noise exceeding 1 of the following limits at a distance of 50 feet except as provided in subdivisions (b)(iii) and (c)(iii):

  (a) A motor vehicle with a gross weight or gross vehicle weight rating of 8,500 pounds or more, combination vehicle with gross weight or gross vehicle weight ratings of 8,500 pounds or more.

  (i) Ninety DBA if the maximum lawful speed on the highway or street is greater than 35 miles per hour.

  (ii) Eighty-six DBA if the maximum lawful speed on the highway or street is not more than 35 miles per hour.

  (iii) Eighty-eight DBA under stationary run-up test.

  (b) A motorcycle or a moped:

  (i) Eighty-six DBA if the maximum lawful speed on the highway or street is greater than 35 miles per hour.

  (ii) Eighty-two DBA if the maximum lawful speed on the highway or street is not more than 35 miles per hour.

  (iii) Ninety-five DBA under stationary run-up test at 75 inches.

  (c) A motor vehicle or a combination of vehicles towed by a motor vehicle not covered in subdivision (a) or (b):

  (i) Eighty-two DBA if the maximum lawful speed on the highway or street is greater than 35 miles per hour.

  (ii) Seventy-six DBA if the maximum lawful speed on the highway or street is not more than 35 miles per hour.

  (iii) Ninety-five DBA under stationary run-up test 20 inches from the end of the tailpipe.

  (2) A dealer shall not sell or offer for sale for use upon a street or highway in this state a new motor vehicle manufactured after April 1, 1978, which produces a maximum noise exceeding the following limits:

  (a) A motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 8,500 pounds or more—83 DBA.

  (b) A motorcycle or a moped—83 DBA.

  (c) A motor vehicle not covered in subdivision (a) or (b)—80 DBA.

  (3) A person shall not operate a vehicle on a highway or street if the vehicle has a defect in the exhaust system which affects sound reduction, is not equipped with a muffler or other noise dissipative device, or is equipped with a cutout, bypass, amplifier, or a similar device.

  (4) A person, either acting for himself or herself or as the agent or employee of another, shall not sell, install, or replace a muffler or exhaust part that causes the motor vehicle to which the muffler or exhaust part is attached to exceed the noise limits established by this act or a rule promulgated under this act.

  (5) A person shall not modify, repair, replace, or remove a part of an exhaust system causing the motor vehicle to which the system is attached to produce noise in excess of the levels established by this act, or operate a motor vehicle so altered on a street or highway.

  (6) A dealer shall not sell a used or secondhand motor vehicle for use upon a street or highway which is not in compliance with this act.

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