Most any city with it's own Police Dept. (and most of the beach cities do...) are gonna give you a hard time, especially if you like rappin the throttle. I'm a mellow rider, dont rap the throttle and was hasseled with Rinehart TD's on my 07 in Newport, Huntington, Dana Point & Long Beach! Only one that gave me a ticket was Huntington Beach for a novelty helmet but still lectured me about my pipes. Keeping the stockers on the RG for now.

 

Beach communities in SoCal are full of libtards. The LEO's in those communities are only following the orders of the city councels. The local residents don't like all the traffic and certainly don't like the noise. Unfortunatley the urge to crack the throttle in slow traffic when there are lots of folks around, especially young female types in less than modest clothing overcomes the senses and many of us throttle jockeys can't resist. I myself remain very conservative in those areas and keep my revs to a minimum however, there are so many bikes on PCH on a summer weekend that you will be Guilty by Association. I don't much ride that highway anymore for that reason alone. And it's a shame because it's a beautiful ride.

 

+1 on HB, that place is awful...

 

This link should answer your question about California law and loud pipes.

http://www.ph.ucla.edu/mc/exhaust.html

Any motorcycle other than a motor-driven cycle .... 77 dbA

77 dbA is about as loud as a vacuum cleaner at 10 feet or a car passing you at 25 mph. A normal conversation is rated at 60 dbA. With all that said, there is no way any of us are in compliance with CA code. Kinda of ridiculous isn't it!!

 

Straight from the States mouth:

V C Section 27202 Motorcycle Limits


Motorcycle Limits

27202. For the purposes of Section 27200, the following noise limits shall apply to any motorcycle, other than a motor-driven cycle, manufactured:

(1) After 1969, and before 1973 .................................................. .................................................8 8 dba
(2) After 1972, and before 1975 .................................................. .................................................8 6 dba
(3) After 1974, and before 1986 .................................................. .................................................8 3 dba
(4) After 1985 .................................................. .................................................. ...............................80 dba


Amended Ch. 356, Stats. 1982. Effective January 1, 1983.

AND

V C Section 27151 Modification of Exhaust Systems


Modification of Exhaust Systems

27151. (a) No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the motor of the vehicle so that the vehicle is not in compliance with the provisions of Section 27150 or exceeds the noise limits established for the type of vehicle in Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 27200). No person shall operate a motor vehicle with an exhaust system so modified.
(b) For the purposes of exhaust systems installed on motor vehicles with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of less than 6,000 pounds, other than motorcycles, a sound level of 95 dbA or less, when tested in accordance with Society of Automotive Engineers Standard J1169 May 1998, complies with this section. Motor vehicle exhaust systems or parts thereof include, but are not limited to, nonoriginal exhaust equipment.

Amended Sec. 10, Ch. 92, Stats. 2001. Effective January 1, 2002.


Which can be found at:

http://dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc27202.htm

and

http://dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc27151.htm


That said, I have V&H Quiet version exhaust which is a lot louder than the stock exhaust and have never ever been given a second look by LEO's.

 

I have V&H True Dual with Fishtails (not real loud), V&H Big Shot Longs (real loud), and V&H 2 into 1 Pro Chrome Pipe (loud) and have never been given a warning or ticket. Just don't be a jerk when turning the throttle unless you are on the freeway and you should be fine. SJ Ron

 

I have V&H Fishtails and I never have any issues. Of course I live in a capitalist state ...