NSW: Blue slip inspections for bikes

Damien is of the opinion:

Yeah, they get all finicky about all your ID numbers. Apart from that, not
much. Bloke at mine got me to do a lap to show the brakes worked[1], and
got me on the weighbridge because they needed to pay it off... ahem, I mean,
because I didn't have a weight value for the bike.

If all your ID numbers (engine, frame, underpants) are visible and your bike
would pass a pink (sounds painful) then you'll have to troubles.

Certainly wasn't on mine, and my pipe is fairly obviously "not stock". Not
that the inspector would have known it.

You might get an odd look if, when you start it up, you smash a couple of
windows down the street, but other than that, I'd be very surprised if any
fuss was made of it. It's the bloody EPA you've got to worry about on that
score.

[1] How f**king stupid would I have to be to ride a bike with no brakes?

- Matt

 

Since my bike is currently registered in the ACT, it is regarded as being
unregistered according to the NSW registration procedures, requiring a blue
slip inspection instead of the usual pink slip. I haven't been able to find
any detailed info on just what this involves, other than it being a bit more
comprehensive than the inspections for a pink slip.

The main point of concern is exhaust noise, and whether this is something
that is tested during a blue slip inspection? I know my bike is on the loud
side, and I'd love to be able to make it quieter (preferably with a
Staintune pipe, the one with the removable restrictor), but being a poor
soon-to-be uni student, I don't have the funds for a $600 pipe on top of the
already expensive prospect of getting the bike registered here in the first
place! (especially as NSW has the stupid policy of only allowing 12 month
registration, as opposed to the ACT which had options for 3 and 6 months as
well).

Damien
GPX250 (stolen) -> CBR600

 

Yep, that's all fine. There's only three AUVIS places in Bathurst, and
they're all car mechanics, so hopefully all will be good! If it was only a
pink slip I needed, it wouldn't be a problem, since they're only safety
checks (and therefore exhaust noise levels aren't an issue at all), and I
could get that done at the bike shop over the road from my place - already
spoke to the guys there, and they're a pretty good bunch (and much better
prices than the Honda shop in Canberra too!).

Yeah I know, that's one reason why I want a quieter pipe, so I can stay off
their radar. Also, when you start work at 5am, you really don't want to wake
the neighbourhood just by starting the bike! I keep the noise right down by
not sitting their idling for longer than necessary and short-shifting up to
about 4th as quick as possible and keeping the revs down when I move off,
but it'd be really nice to not have to go to those lengths to avoid being
anti-social. At least with the Staintune you've got the option of being
noisy or quiet, depending on the circumstances, but that'll have to wait a
while unfortunately. :-(

Damien
GPX250 (stolen) -> CBR600

 

In aus.motorcycles on Wed, 19 Nov 2003 20:38:40 +1100

Well....

Theoretically they *should* be part of the check, but the RTA issued an
"its too hard" ages ago, which is still in force.

If the tester considers the pipe makes "excessive noise" then they can
refuse to pass the bike, and if the pipe doesn't have maker info on it,
they may also refuse to pass it.

Most testers seem to have a reasonable view of "excessive noise", if
it's an ear-bleeder they'll knock it back, if it's mostly OK you should
pass.

Zebee

 

Hi Damien,

It's probably worth seeing if any of the dealers have a stock pipe lying around
that you can borrow. When they do a changeover for aftermarket pipes the owner
doesn't always ride away with the stocky over his shoulder.

Cafe Racer had an original R1 pipe and can there for a while. I thought about
putting the can on my Suzuki as my minimalist home-made can is a bit snarly.
Decided I like snarly until the rego guys decide otherwise.

I've always found Muldoons good to deal with (they've knocked the price down for
gloves, jackets, boots that I've bought there over the years), also Whitemans in
town are a friendly bunch who often discount bike parts for me.

Kim

 

Noise isn't specifically tested with a meter however a blue slip inspector can
ping you for "excessive noise" and require you to get it tested and prove you're
under, or else fix it. Note you'll also want to have a muffler compliant with
the bullshit labelling laws - you may or may not get pinged for this (most of
the inspection stations aren't really up on the regs even though they;re
supposed to be) - I'd just go and try it on and see what happens - go to a car
place not a bike place.

JL

 

Sorry not true - compliance with noise laws and stupid bloody labels is part of
the pinkslip process although most of the examiners dont know that.


...snip

 

Go to a car place where the guy rides a motorbike.

Kim

 

In aus.motorcycles on Wed, 19 Nov 2003 21:11:48 +1100

As far as I know the RTA "this is too hard" directive is still in place.

THe EPA didn't know it existed, so didn't do anything about it...

Zebee

 

Haven't been to Whitemans, but Muldoons are pretty good (well, from my few
dealings with them so far at least). If I remember, I might wander over to
Cafe Racer and have a word with them, and check out their tyre range and
prices while I'm at it (that being another expensive reason why I don't have
the cash for a new pipe right now!). It's nice having two bike places within
walking distance of home!

Damien
GPX250 (stolen) -> CBR600

 

What's your recommendation? There's only three places that do blue slip
inspections in Bathurst, so the choices are fairly limited, but knowing my
luck I'd still pick the wrong one!

Damien
GPX250 (stolen) -> CBR600

 

The directive about the labels may still be in place - guy implied differently
the other day but i didn't think to question. The noise laws compliance has
definitely had a circular recently though - when I got my blue slip the other
day the guy commented he'd had something about it.

The EPA are incompetent morons who should be executed via the death of a
thousand cuts

JL

 

The only time I've had a hard time with a Blue slip was with my wifes K75s,
the belly pan had been rubbing against the engine number pad making it
illegible. Had to go visit the Police to check it wasnt a tampered with
stolen engine etc, they rissued a new engine number which I had to stamp on
(and obliterate the old one).

A Blue slip is the same inspection as a pink slip, except they also have to
verify the vehicles identity, so they check all the numbers, so it takes a
little more time.

Al

--
Al

"Go soothingly on the grease mud, as there lurks the skid demon. "

Remove *ME* before replying

 

My used-to-be car mechanic rode a Harley. He considered my noisy pipe quite
OK. Then he decided to become a real estate agent with a Honda 750. Not much
good for pink slips any more.

I don't know who the three guys are who do the blue slip. Call me at work
tomorrow, perhaps I'll know which one not to go to. I've got your number here
somewhere, do they mind you taking mobile calls at work?

Kim

 

When I went and got a blue slip to change from ACT rego I went to a
local mechanic in Freemans Reach. All the guy did was check if the
lights worked and then check the engine and chassis numbers. I don't
think all places are as tough though.
__


Cheers
The Happy Drunk
K100RT

 

Hey, that¹s not nice picking on CX riders!

Hammo

 

Too busy for phone calls while I'm working, but I'm finished by 8am, so any
time after that is just fine!

Damien
GPX250 (stolen) -> CBR600

 

Doesn't sound like there's too much to worry about then! If that's the only
difference, it seems a bit stupid (if not altogether unexpected) of the RTA
to not let any vehicle inspection place do blue slip inspections as well -
that way I could just go over the road and get it done at the bike shop,
instead of riding all the way across town[1].

Damien
GPX250 (stolen) -> CBR600

[1] which is a real hardship, considering it's a good 5km away! :-D It's the
principle!!

 

You should suggest that they get accredited. Not fair?

Hammo

 

In aus.motorcycles on Thu, 20 Nov 2003 09:46:48 +1100

Bod I go to does pink anf blue the same, pretty much. Checks numbers on
both.

Checks all lights, checks front and rear suspension gives and returns,
watches me ride in so knows the brakes mostly work and the noise isn't
earsplitting. Checks tyre wear, and looks for oil leaks.

But he's been doing my bikes for years now, he's fairly relaxed.

It's been my experience that fronting with a clean unbroken bike is half
the battle.

Zebee
- who notes that a bike doesn't have to *run* to get a RWC, having had
one for the baby Beemer that while it did get to the tester under its
own steam did not depart that way.