Installed a Catalytic Converter?

[stevec5000]

This year I had to install a catalytic converter in order to pass emissions.
I was wondering if anyone else has ever done that? It's not hard to do, pics are here. http://www.arizonasteve.netfirms.com/XS1100Carbs/

[DiverRay]

No, in California, the bike is old, and we don't test motorcycles....
If it didn't have anything when built, we do not need to add it.
Ray

[Crazcnuk]

That and you only need things like CC's on engines that are horribly inefficient. Generally most motorcycle engines are fairly efficient and don't require such emission controls.

I would seriously question who ever told you you needed one. First off because of what I said above, and 2nd, as the other writer pointed out, most places in North America don't require you to add them to vehicles that didn't have them from factory during thier year of mfg.

If your bike didn't pass inspection w/o a CC, I would have looked at a good tune-up!

[xschop]

room here

Move to Oklahoma, Land of NO inspections! I removed my catalytic converter from my z28 and my s-10 with the vette motor...ah the horses that were hidden...chop

[BOYZSBLUE]

AZ MUST SUCK

I LIVE JUST SOTH OF WASH,DC WHERE THE AIR HAS THAT FOGGY LOOK MOST OF THE TIME . THEY DON'T REQUIRE IT HERE AND PLEASE DON'T GIVE THEM ANY IDEAS.

[stevec5000]

Here in AZ they require passing emissions every year to get the tags renewed. No pass=no tags! Old bikes have to meet 5% CO and 500ppm HC same as new ones, whether we like it or not and the old XS1100 isn't getting any newer.
This year they even tossed out a new test for my Toyota pickup, besides CO and HC it now has to pass NOX also! It had never been tested for NOX before in it's life and I protested saying that it shouldn't have to pass that after all these years and if it needs to pass NOX they should have started testing it for that in '81 also along with CO and HC but they didn't buy it.

You guys just wait, it will be coming to your area as soon as they decide to do something about the smog or global warming problems in your areas!

[Crazcnuk]

Yes, but it shouldn't have any trouble passing those tests as is.

If you go to the hot rod sites, you'll find that a lot of 500+hp hot rods pass those tests w/o any extra emission controls.

Catalytic converters, and a host of other emission controls, are there to counter unburnt fuel going through the exhaust system. If your burning it all, you won't have any use for the converter.

CC's and EGR etc were designed back when your average 350cuin engine produced 150hp or so. Given that the design specification for the small block chevy, or any gasoline engine (back in 1954) was 1hp/cu in. You can see why the engine would have so much unburnt fuel!

The XS1100 is 67.3 cuin and produces 95hp. Well over the 1hp/cuin specification, meaning that it is very efficient at burning all the fuel you put into it.

This is why you still don't see any of those emission controls even on brand new bikes.

The only thing they had to put on motorcycles was the closed vent system on the gas tanks.

PS: for the NOx test, If your vehicle doesn't pass, but passes the other tests, try retarding your timing just slightly(2-4deg) before retaking the test!

[xschop]

cat on motorcycles

My friend's kawasaki Meanstreak came with a cat-conv... looks like a huge artficial heart....The catalytic converter is useless to the 80% of the population that only drive 15 minutes or less to work. What a scam. So if you do go to test, make sure your bike has been running and hot...also lean your carbs down a bit and see if that helps...

[stevec5000]

"The XS1100 is 67.3 cuin and produces 95hp. Well over the 1hp/cuin specification, meaning that it is very efficient at burning all the fuel you put into it.
This is why you still don't see any of those emission controls even on brand new bikes."

What nonsense!
There seems to be no end to stupid comments about emissions on here from lots of people who don't know anything about it and don't have to take emissions tests!
The reason brand new bikes don't have emission controls (yet) is because the standards haven't got any stricter since 1980!
The standard my '81 truck has to meet is a lot stricter than even new bikes. The XS couldn't pass the tests the truck had to take even with the cat!
Bikes are starting to be required to meet emissions as strict as cars in Europe, which requires a catalytic converter and fuel injection to pass, so you're going to be seeing that here soon.

[DiverRay]

Steve,
I agree with you on the new regs, but I don't like the fact that AZ makes you take a bike built years ago, and make it meet the NEW regs. As I did live in AZ in '72 and '73, before they had all the laws, I do know some of the mental attitudes toward bikes in the state.
As bad as California is, at least they understand people here will NOT put up with someone changing smog laws on older vehicles....
Ray

[xschop]

who acres

That's why I don't live in california... I believe Az in the last 20-30 yrs has become so populated, so quickly, that the regs got tightened so quickly....