Europe-4 standards in effect

[RBEmerson]

While the new Europe-4 emission standards may not have much immediate effect here, they do in Europe. Not too surprising, lower exhaust emissions are required. But this round also requires reduced exhaust noise. The "loud pipes save lives" clowns will not be happy with this one. With VW's ...ah... creative emissions programming, the Euro-crats mandated testing by done at speeds up to 80 km/h (40-ish mph). Which, of course, will jump up the cost of annual inspection. But there's more...

Several bikes or series of bikes will be dropped from production because there's no hope of bring these bikes into Europe-4 specs. Which means these bikes will also probably disappear in other markets.

There is, of course, grandfathering and running out current inventories, but essentially the motorcycle world has been forced to change significantly. Some newer bikes are already in spec (e.g., BMW).

Happy New Years Day from your Euro-pals in Brussels...  

[Sport-Touring]

[Baz]

I wonder how this is going to sit with a couple of the large manufacturers still making Air cooled bikes?

[GvG]

Exit air cooled Triumphs (Scrambler, America and Speedmaster).

But also exit Panigale, every Aprilia V2, V-Rod, CBR 600 RR.....the list is quite long.

[RBEmerson]

Kawasaki W800 is toast, too. The Tenere is also toast.

The right name is Euro-4-Norm - the OP was written while severely jet lagged - sounds like a good excuse, anyway.  

[Baz]

A good article explains things here....

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2016/january/mcn-plus---emissions-impossible-what-euro-4-really-means/

[GvG]

Kawasaki W800 is toast, too. The Tenere is also toast.

The right name is Euro-4-Norm - the OP was written while severely jet lagged - sounds like a good excuse, anyway.  

The correct name is "Euro 4".

Technically it's REGULATION (EU) No 168/2013 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL, that repeals 2002/24/EC (and 14 other Directives), replacing them with 4 Delegated Acts (3/2014  Regulation on Vehicle Functional Safety Requirements, 44/2014  Regulation on Vehicle Construction Requirements, 134/2014  Regulation on Environmental and Propulsion unit Performance Requirements and 901/2014  Regulation on Administrative Requirements).
It's the 134/2014 that has the emission regulations. Here is where it's called Euro 4 (and the future, 2020 one, is being called Euro 5 there).

Do note that cars are already on Euro 6 (to make googling this easier   ) And for buses and trucks Roman numerals are used. I think they're on Euro VI right now.

[RBEmerson]

I quoted Touren Fahrer but, as Bill Shakespeare put it, "what's in a name?" The bottom line is this change has, I think, made a bigger impact on the bike world, by ending so many models from so many manufacturers, then earlier changes. Or not. It's interesting to see how the VW emissions "misadventure" has shaped the new testing. How long will it take before green circles with "4" inside show up on windscreens, I wonder.