2007 Texas Chopper

[Mr H]

Thanks, and i'm sure you will very soon, I'll tell you what, this is already a great place to be. Lots I could be asking but I'll wait till the bike arrives, thanks again everyone, really appreciate it.
H

[Blue Chopper]

Mr H: I'd like to see the people's face when you ride your Texas Chopper through England. There's not another bike in the world that looks like it!

[Mr H]

Ha, ha, I know, i cant wait. I have to get it legal here first and that will take a week or two, then it's new pipes and off to bike night, i think it should turn a few heads. Bit worried about some of our roads and corners though! I'll keep you posted regarding the reactions. H

[wideslammer]

I'm curious about what sort of things you will have to do to make your Texas Chopper legal for riding in England.

You mentioned cornering --- you will find that it will corner differently with a 280 rear tire than with the narrower tires that you are used to. Also, the longer wheelbase of the TC will require a little more space in which to make a U-turn.

[Mr H]

Ok, because the vehicle is not form the European Union (EU) it does not conform to EU standards, therefore it has to be examined by the 'powers that be' any thing that does not meet EU standards has to altered before it can be registered with a British license plate and then insured. So, the rear indicators are red, they will have to be orange, the pipes are too loud so some work there, that should be it for the TC, the joke is once its passed, the noisy pipes go back on and you have the bike the way you want it but avoid the Police as much as possible. It's a game the Authorities make us play over here.
I rode the bike today and wow it's different, but it's already my favourite bike ever.

[wideslammer]

Do you think the stock 2-into-1 pipes are going to be too loud to pass inspection in England? If so, do you plan to quiet them somehow? I noticed that you mentioned "new pipes" in one of your posts. What's the plan there?

You mentioned the need to switch from red to amber for your rear lights. I assume that is for signaling a turn. But what about brake lights --- won't they have to be red? I hope it won't become a matter of having a separate pair of red lights for braking and another pair of amber lights for signaling. I think the amber lenses used on AIH bikes are the same as those used by Harley-Davidson so they should be easy to locate if that's what you will need.

[Mr H]

When I purchased the bike the pipes were damaged, it looks like the last owner dropped the bike, so the price was reduced, that was ok because i wanted a pair of v and H pipes. To pass the SVA test i could lash any exhaust from any bike to the TC and as long as its not too loud it would pass (sorry, yeah the standard pipes will be too loud) it would look ridiculous but that does not matter. So with the damaged pipe i could extend it and put some more baffles in it or whatever so long as its not too loud, once the SVA is passes I'll change the pipes....sorted!
As for the indicators, the TC has all three (brake, running and signal) in the one, but they are red. LED's are available with a red centre and amber outer ring, i have ordered them and if they fit i'll wire them in - problem solved, if that don't work its a new license plate holder with running and brake light and as you say the harley inserts for amber indicators, it will all be sorted one way or the other. Stupid British legislation, i only want to ride my bike!!!!!

[dave mickley]

probably easier to get an American bike passed in the U.K. then a U.K. bike passed in America. Both govts. tend to act like lttle Barney Fifes and show the little guy [you and I] how much power they have.

[TJAH]

Congratulations on the new TC Mr H !

I hate to be the bearer of the bad news, but...
If the legistation in UK is anything like here in Finland, you might be facing
some more serious modifying, than just changing the pipes. Your bike being
a 2007 means that the regulations are going to be more restrictive than
say pre June 2003. Further more, the deciding date is not necessarily
the manufacturing date, more likely it is the first registration date
on the tittle that decides which rules apply on the bike.

Everything else is manageable, but the emissions might prove to be
the biggest obstacle on your way. EPA-rules were acceptable until
june 2003 in most of the EU, then they made new E-standard emission
codes. And I sure hope that a catalytic converter was not required in
UK in 2007. I think the emission levels went so lo that also bikes needed
a catalytic converter. A lot of exceptions and extensions on the rules were
granted, depending on the EU member country. If you run in to a lot of
trouble, you might have to try get your bike legally registered first somewhere else in the EU,
and then again in UK. But if they don't
want to recognise those exceptions granted by a different country,
they don't have to...

Then there are ofcourse exemptions on bikes less than 5000 imported
in the EU-market you might want to refer...

The AIH was never introduced to the EU and so it was never typerated here.

A lot of pain in the A, but I wish you luck with the project and
keep us informed how it goes.

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/...3L0077:EN:HTML

[Mr H]

Thanks TJAH, I know the emissions are going to be the biggest problem, but... the bike will be worth the effort, a bit of TLC (time and loads of cash) and i'm sure the bike will get through, fingers crossed anyway. Still lots to do on the easy stuff but i'm working away at the moment so time is limited. I'll keep you all up to speed with the progress and thanks for your comments. Mr H