2011 Motorcycle of the Year | Best New Product

Yoshimura R-77 Exhaust
The Future is QUIET

The writing is on the wall. In fact, the writing has been in a Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) order since 1983: “No on-road motorcycle shall produce noise in excess of 83 decibels.” It hasn’t been an issue thus far, but it won’t be long before authorities start cracking down and enforcing the law.

While every other aftermarket exhaust manufacturer is labeling its pipes “For Competition Use Only” to skirt the law and transfer responsibility to the buyer, Yoshimura has come out with a line of emissions-compliant pipes that bear the EPA’s seal of approval.

Making the slip-ons comply required hours of R&D; plus a stack of cash to get each application approved, but it’s just the sort of thing we expect from an industry leader like Yoshimura. Available in various stainless-steel, titanium and/or carbon-fiber combinations to fit most late-model sportbikes and even the BMW R1200GS, Yosh’s race-inspired slip-ons meet the 83dB sound rating while reducing weight and increasing power at the same time.

Alternative Take

SOLFX Faceshield
The SOLFX faceshield is a photo- chromatic wonder. It automatically adjusts to ambient light conditions, changing from clear to dark smoke in a matter of seconds and eliminating the need to carry a spare visor. We've tried similar products, but none work as well or are as durable. They're currently available exclusively for Bell helmets.