| Author | Message | ||
     Buelluk |
From the New York Times Two-Wheeled Polluters With the advent of catalytic converters and other technological improvements over the past several decades, car engines have gotten noticeably cleaner. But pollution from motorcycle and motor scooter engines has not received as much attention, in part because there are far fewer two-wheelers than cars. A report by scientists from the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research details the extent of the pollution problem. The study, to be published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, compared emissions from eight two-wheelers (including a Vespa scooter and a Honda Shadow) with those from 17 cars. The study found that motorcycles had higher hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions than cars. Nitrogen oxide emissions, though less of a problem, were not negligible. While motorcycles are still only a small percentage of vehicles, their effect on emissions should not be overlooked, the researchers say. | ||
| Diablobrian |
A vespa 2 stroke will definitely skew (or screw) the persectages. Of course the fact that 2 stroke (real, street-highway capable) motorcycles have not been allowed to be imported for 20 years should not be allowed to interfere with the agenda of this study. Eco-Nazis really push my buttons.  (Message edited by diablobrian on December 21, 2005) (Message edited by diablobrian on December 21, 2005) | ||
| Tramp |
??? Ummm... they have to be a part of the study, as Europe is absolutely choking with their blue smoke. Bear in mind that much of the hydrocarbon emissions form the 2-strokers of FranCe, Italy, Spain, Portugaletc. etc. etc., hits the Swiss Alps and sits there, so...damn straight the swiss have a right to be pissed off and to acknowledge the problems caused by the little 2-strokes everywhere. Also, being a neutral state, the swiss are beholden to noone regarding THEIR studies, so they tend to be far more accurate than those carried out by other states. I belive the "agenda of this study" is healthier air in the Alps. walk up to the berghaus just outside the airport in Zurich. shirts, 5 minute walk from the terminal (on the RR side), look around at the pollution and take a sniff. smells like a jet-ski conevntion. I put a lotta time in in the swiss alps, and they have a definitive pollutioin problem as a result of the lousy air-quality control practices of their neghbouring states. | ||
| Bomber |
Eco-silly people also push my buttons -- this study doesn't seem to fall in that area, though -- if bikes ARE becoming a mjor source of pollution (I don't know if they are or not), they should be addressed, along with the big ol 18 wheelers, and city buses . . . . . . | ||
| Diablobrian |
I can see your point, but the agenda I was referring to is the publishing of this study in the New York Times. This data will be cited as reason for crackdown here in the states. Quotes out of context and irrelevant (to the US) studies are commonly used as excuses for new regulations by the fore-mentioned eco-nazis. | ||
| Diablobrian |
The smoke you see from diesel engines is not the same as that from a gasoline engine. It is largely just carbon. Ugly but ultimately very low on greenhouse gasses. The conversion of city busses and the like to propane is just window dressing in all but the largest cities. As far as motorcycles being a major contributor to pollution....The numbers don't hold up here in the states. 2 strokes are mostly gone the way of the dodo. Noise is the major source of pollution contributed by motorcycles. There just aren't enough of them being ridden for enough miles for them to make an impact. Motorcycle registration has been on the rise, but many of them are just garage ornaments. | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
I've read in the NY Times that some scientists believe that the shrinking polar ice caps may be due in part to the particulate emissions of fossil fuel burning vehicles - particularly diesel engines. Their theory states that the particulates collect on the surface of snow and ice and absorb the sun's energy, thus melting the ice/snow. This is the same concept as putting ashes from your woodstove on your driveway to melt ice. Diesel engines may be a bit more efficient at the pump, but they need to be outfitted with particulate filters to make them universally acceptable. | ||
| Tramp |
diablobrian. I get it. excellent point. that study should not be ascribed too strongly to N. America. JLB- Particualte filter son diesels should be a snap, and the expired filtrate can be put to use in asphalt. | ||
| Tramp |
you know what a pencil and a diamond have in common, right? 2 outta 3 | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Graphite, my friend. Pure Carbon. | ||
| Tramp |
bingo.lunchbox/johnny | ||
| Tramp |
switzerland rocks. CHRISTMAS in switzerland ROCKS!!!!!!!!!! | ||
| Ducxl |
Switzerland rocks alright! There's a reason they're sooo good at Cuckoo clocks.They're great machinists.And i'm scheduled to receive my second Tornos(of Switzerland)CNC screw machine this year on December 27th.WOOO-HOO!! Show me the money! My boss paid $175000 each.Cheap compared to the German(Index brand) machines i run at $875000 each,got 5 of them. | ||
| Tramp |
all i gots to say is, their wimminz is top notch. | ||
| Blake |
Good chocolate too, and watches, and knives.  | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Wasn't there a scooter out that was made my piagio or someone that had a stratified charge cycle? It had a second tiny piston in the head and one poppet valve. The carb had two throats: one big that only moved air and one small throat that made a REALLY rich mixture in a much smaller volume. This was directed to the tiny piston while the fresh air side went the normal route through the crankcase. I thought that was going to solve the smokin' Europe situation. so I gues it didn't? | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
A company called Orbital Engines based in Australia has been doing some good stuff developing lean-burn direct injection systems for two-strokes. They currently supply systems for various scooter marques (I believe Piaggio is one of them) and for the Mercury Optimax line of outboards. The Orbital system is reported to reduce emissions and increase fuel efficiency markedly. | ||
| Kdan |
Anyone concerned about the ecology needs to read Michael Crichton's, 'State Of Fear'. You will definitely have a different opinion on the fupped up job our beloved politicians are doing. It's now in paperback and I have a copy if anyone would like to borrow it. |
