London has an 'Ultra Low Emissions Zone' which requires motorcycles to meet the Euro 3 emissions standards (2007+ vehicles), or you pay money to drive through the zone (which may expand next year).

My K6 GS500 supposedly doesn't meet the standards, whereas K7 and K8 versions do.

I thought that the GS's emissions didn't change after the '04 carb upgrades and PAIR system etc. Is anyone aware of other changes for K6 vs K7+, or is it likely that the ULEZ just see newer than 07 = good, earlier = bad?

AFAIK the last changes in the US were in 2006 with the addition of a catalytic converter. '04 had the pair system and 3 circuit crabs and throttle position sensor.  I'm surprised the GS500 ever met Euro 3 (I also thought euro 3 kicked in later than 2007 but what do I know I'm on the other side of the Atlantic) but maybe they didn't add the catalytic converter in Europe until a year later in 07? I can see Suzuki not spending money on the cat until absolutely necessary. In the US our moto emission standards got tighter for the 2006 model year, them tighter still in 2010, which killed the GS and many other bikes for sale here.

I dont think the GS has a cat. Like any year in the US versions. The change in the exhaust post 04 was the addition of a double walled pipe to the muffler from the collector. My 2017 SCR 950 doesn't have a cat.

A cat on a bike will look like a corrugated cardboard scroll about 2" long. Its made of nickel and has a thin coating of platinum on it. It also has to receive high temp exhaust at full flow speed. Which means its in the muffler ~2" from where the pipes merge.

I've gutted a ZX10 ~2004-05 that had one of those. You need to like spread one of those corrugations bigger and bigger and grab it with a long nose pliers and scroll it out. You cant drill or cut or any of those things cos the metal will fold over and be a general PITA. Maybe you can use a torch, but the pliers are easier.

Its possible that the part that is missing on the 06 vs the 07 bike is the ... wait for it ... The sticker that says its compliant to that thing they made up in 2007. Get a sticker made to match the original and viola you're home free.

Cool.
Buddha.

I did a bit more digging into this and found that the NOx emissions stated on my logbook/V5C are actually below the requirements (0.104 g/km vs 0.150 g/km). A quick application to Transport for London and I've just been exempted from the ULEZ charges!

However, I don't think the GS500 K6 is fully Euro 3 compliant. The logbook states CO emissions of 1.310g/km vs 2.000g/km Euro 3 (so it passes), but HC emissions of 0.360g/km vs 0.300g/km Euro 3 which is a fail.

Would be interesting to know what numbers are stated on a K7 or K8 logbook to see if they pass the HC requirement.

Thanks for the correction Buddha. I knew there was a change in the exhaust for '06 and just assumed it was a catalytic converter because new emission standards were kicking in but double walled to limit noise also makes sense. I think noise limits were part of the 2006 and 2010 standards.

Quote from: max on August 20, 2022, 08:30:51 AMLondon has an 'Ultra Low Emissions Zone' which requires motorcycles to meet the Euro 3 emissions standards (2007+ vehicles), or you pay money to drive through the zone (which may expand next year).

My K6 GS500 supposedly doesn't meet the standards, whereas K7 and K8 versions do.

I thought that the GS's emissions didn't change after the '04 carb upgrades and PAIR system etc. Is anyone aware of other changes for K6 vs K7+, or is it likely that the ULEZ just see newer than 07 = good, earlier = bad?

Max, I've only just caught your post/thread, as it's my first time back in over 1yr 

Ironically, I was having a 3hr chat with my mate Steve who lives in Dagenham (formerly, Essex)

He's been telling me that he's having to get rid of TWO of his precious beloved bikes

Triumph 955 Tiger & an old but MINT A.F Honda CBR.1000 with 36,000 miles on the clock

Both apparently fail Sadiq Khan's newest "incoming in August 2023" ULEZ rating

Guess THIS is really gonna "crock" riders of pre-2007 bikes, of which there are many.

I moved away, but I still own a GPz.900-R, CB.900-F, GS,1000-E & my smallest, a 'K.2' GS500

DSC_0616 by Hornchurch_Aerodrome, on Flickr

I know for sure that the first three (larger) bikes I've mentioned would "all fail"

Curiously, my Dad's ageing 2002 Nissan Micra actually (curiously) DOES pass the test 

A lot of ground covered in 'three hours of jawing' 

Anyways, he explained...

The final TWO YEARS (model years) of the Suzuki GSX.1400 "pass" but the older ones "fail"

This, despite the engine configuration & exhaust output "being the same" (he assures me)

We also spoke about Honda CB.1300's & it's a similar story there...

Basically mate, "it's all bollocks, complete bollocks"

Many bikes ARE sharing same layout/output, yet some models fail whilst others pass !!

It's a complete "lottery" & shows just how shambolic this whole "clusterf**k mess" is

Steve also owns a 4.6 litre V.8 Lexus & laughably, THAT PASSES  =  W.T.F ?

How can a 4.6 Litre V.8 bang out LESS fumes & toxins than a 1,000cc bike ?

Despite ME being a hardcore born/bred Londoner, am effing GLAD I moved out when I did

Back then (2003), I wuz Married, several Kids & TWO gorgeous 1,000cc Jap' sportsbikes

Today tho', I'm MUCH older/fatter (I was once slim A.F)

Also I've now got FIVE M/cycles & ALL would fail this incoming ULEZ law.

All this "Electric Car" nonsense is getting me down, as NO blighter can afford one.

If ya (ever) get the chance mate, just MOVE outside the M.25 & ya should be ok.

Me, I moved 100-miles North, by & near the North Sea & old WW.II American airbases

Sadiq Khan can shove his stupid byelaws up his anus, sideways - (A GSX.1400 will do)

.

They have to draw the line somewhere. To make more sense,  the line should really be drawn somewhere like 2013 when motorcycles started having some semblance of true emissions standards.  There would just be too much backlash setting such a recent date. In the 00's bikes still emitted crazy amounts of particle emissions. Mythbusters tested this and found, "For the most recent model year vehicles tested -- from the '00s -- the motorcycle used 28% less fuel than the comparable decade car and emitted 30% fewer carbon dioxide emissions, but it emitted 416% more hydrocarbons, 3,220% more oxides of nitrogen and 8,065% more carbon monoxide." From the perspective of local government, the motorcycle's ridiculous detriment to local air quality is more important than the lower global carbon dioxide emissions. California did a study and found that motorcycles contribute 10% to overall vehicle pollution despite only accounting for 1% of vehicle miles traveled in the state.

You can drive a 2-stroke dirt bike for 10 miles and emit more total pollution than driving a Toyota Prius across the entire United States. Same with running a 2 stroke leaf blower. Engine size is not a good way to guestimate pollution. There is way more to the story than fuel consumption and CO2 output. It wasn't until the most recent Euro 5 that bikes have to be as "green" as cars.

My family owns two electric cars that each cost us 50% less than the average new car in America, so most people buying new cars could have bought electric. The fueling cost is 6x less per mile.  First maintenance is at 150,000 miles and its just to change the battery coolant. I did the math and the electric cars eventually pay for themselves vs continuing to drive the car I already owned. You don't even have to compare them to a similar new gas car for the math to work out. I also own 3 carbureted motorcycles, including some awesome bikes from the 80's. I love my motorcycles but can't wait until I can afford to replace even one of them with electric. I'm so over worrying about clogged carbs, valve clearance checks, and oil changes.

I enjoy working on my bikes but also look foroward to owning an electric (n+1 😉)