Development of A Low Emission, High Performance Motorcycle

It has been already scheduled to apply exhaust emission regulations onto motorcycles, intending to make exhaust gas cleaner. Several South-East Asian nations issued new regulations in 1996, then Japan in 1998, and European nations are planning to start stricter regulations from early 2000.The required emissions level of these new regulations are so strict that it is estimated that no engine will be able to pass the regulation without installing complicated devices, and a catalytic converter as well. The development of new technology in this category has become an urgent subject.

This paper describes our development of an exhaust system including a honeycomb-type catalytic converter for large displacement 4 stroke motorcycle engines to meet even the proposed future regulations in Europe (EC Stage II) without sacrificing its performance.

This paper also reports on observed troubles and our solutions during the development.