February 16, 2010 6:23 PM PST
Latest update from the Abate page:
While the smog check language has been removed from the bill for now, there are plenty of other reasons to remain concerned: the smog debate ended up being a noise debate on the Senate floor and there was much discussion about loud pipes. Not coincidentally, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) recently released a new standard for sound tests on motorcycles which will make it easy and consistent to test bikes. In addition, the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) has called for a focus more on noise than emissions - all of which means that we will have to look at all new legislation because it is very possible that there will be attempts at new sound standards and emission standards...and they could pop up anywhere."