This page updated December 9, 2003

Most Californians breathe polluted air. The Air Resources Board's [ARB] mission is to protect public health and property from the effects of air pollution. Polluted air is not just an inconvenience, it is a serious health hazard. Smog and other air pollutants cause increases in respiratory diseases like bronchitis and emphysema.

Off-road vehicles contribute to air pollution. Off-road motorcycles and ATVs produce 118 times as much smog-forming pollutants as modern automobiles on a per-mile basis. Off-road motorcycles and All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) are comprised of 2 and 4-stroke models. The 2-stroke engines emit 10 times as much smog precursors as the 4-stroke engines for each mile of travel, and 90 percent of the 34 tons of smog precursors currently emitted each day by off-road motorcycles and ATVs comes from 2-stroke engines.

Off-road vehicles are operated in polluted areas. Off-road motorcycle and ATV recreation areas are typically located adjacent to or in urban areas suffering from poor air quality. For example motorcycles operated in Hungry Valley contribute to the poor air quality of Los Angeles. Similarly, Pismo Beach is adjacent to San Luis Obispo, and Ocotillo Wells is adjacent to San Diego. Controls for off-road vehicles were developed in cooperation with industry. Under both state and federal Clean Air Act requirements, the staff at the ARB developed emission control regulations for a variety of off-highway vehicles and equipment. These include equipment such as lawn mowers, chainsaws, and gensets, along with off-road motorcycles, ATVs, golf carts and other specialty vehicles. During the development of the Off-Road Recreational Vehicle regulation, staff conducted many workshops, both public and private, to determine the feasibility and impacts of such regulations. As a result of this cooperative effort, a proposal for the adoption of regulations for recreational vehicles, including off-road motorcycles and ATVs, was approved by the ARB in January 1994. Through the rule development process, it was learned that ARBs air quality goals coincided with industry's ability to introduce cleaner, more efficient new 4- stroke off-road engines. The adopted standards were based on the emission control capabilities demonstrated by the major manufacturers. It is important to note that these motorcycle manufacturers fully supported the new standards. Since the standards were adopted in 1994, the motorcycle industry has progressed with its development efforts. They expect to produce nearly the same number of models in the next few years as they did in 1996. Most will, of course, be 4-stroke. However, manufacturers will continue to produce a full line of 2-stroke competition models.

There is precedent for the off-road motorcycle and ATV standards. The ARB first introduced performance-based emission standards for on-road motorcycles in 1978. These standards did not ban or require any specific type of engine or control technology, but rather required manufacturers to meet cost effective and technologically feasible emission levels. The standards for off-road motorcycles are similar and also provide for corporate emissions averaging. By averaging the emissions of their product line, manufacturers are provided with the flexibility to produce some cleaner 2-stroke models for recreation.

Similar regulations have been adopted for other off-road sources such as lawn mowers and utility engines. In addition, the marine outboard motor and personal watercraft (jet ski) industry has agreed to national regulations which will require 75 percent emission reductions with a phase in beginning in 1998. Post-2000 personal watercraft will either be powered by advanced low-emission fuel injected 2-strokes, or by high performance 4-strokes.

Two-stroke engines: The adopted off-road standards do not ban 2-stroke engines. Two-stroke engines are inherently dirtier in operation than 4-stroke engines and both industry and the ARB understood that it would be difficult for the current models to meet the new standards without the use of advanced technology such as fuel injection or catalytic converters. This is identical to the situation faced in the late 1970’s when the ARB first introduced emissions standards for on-road motorcycles.

Other impacts: Citizens and businesses concerned about the implementation of the off-road motorcycle standards have cited adverse impacts such as reduced motorcycle sales, reduced accessory sales, and reduced use of state motorcycle parks, impacting state revenues. With respect to new motorcycles sales, the motorcycle manufacturers are confident that they can sell the new complying products, since they supported the standards and implementation schedule. Accessory sales track the size of the off-road motorcycle population and should be similarly unaffected. State motorcycle parks should continue to be heavily used, since the new products are specifically designed for off-highway use. It is also important to note that nothing in the regulation prohibits the use of any pre-1997/1999 motorcycle in off-road parks, and that special provisions were made in the regulations to ensure that 2-stroke motorcycles could continue to be sold and used for sanctioned racing.

Current activities: The ARB in cooperation with the Department of Parks and Recreation, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, Motorcycle Industry Council, American Motorcycle Association and the California Motorcycle Dealers Association have formed a working group to ensure that the concerns of users and business are addressed. The working group will develop guidelines for competition practice periods and track implementation, as well as working to ensure the availability of motorcycles and ATVs.

The following is a brief outline of the adopted regulations for Off-Road Motorcycles and ATVs. The following regulations apply to new off-road motorcycles and ATVs built on or after the dates given below. There will be no change in any activities or registration practices for pre-1997 or 1999 vehicles as applicable.

• ARB regulations apply to new off-road motorcycles and ATVs built from January 1, 1997 for vehicles with engines greater than 90 cc [1998 models] and from January 1, 1999 for vehicles with engines 90 cc and less [2000 models].

• Complying vehicles are eligible to receive a low-cost green sticker registration which allows them to be used in off-highway motorcycle parks.

• ARB regulations do not affect the purchase, sale, registration, or use of pre- 1997/1999 production vehicles. Those vehicles (equipped with both 2- and 4-stroke engines) may continue to be used as they are today.

• Manufacturers of off-road motorcycles and ATVs must ensure that their vehicles conform to the appropriate emission levels for a period of 5 years or 10,000 km (whichever occurs first). If the vehicles are found to be in violation of the standards, manufacturers will be responsible for the repair of the vehicle at no cost to the consumer.

• There is no ban on any engine type or configuration. Similar to on-road vehicles, all new 1997/1999 and later vehicles must meet the adopted emission standards in order to be legal for sale in California and be eligible to receive a valid registration (green sticker).

• All 1997/1999 and later new motorcycles and ATVs which do not meet the emissions standard may receive a transportation only (competition) sticker. Competition motorcycles may be used during sanctioned competition events and for practice.

• There are no restrictions on the purchase or use of replacement parts for pre- 1997/1999 off-road motorcycles or ATVs.

For more information about California’s off-road emission control programs, contact the Air Resources Board’s Public Information Office at: (916) 322-2990 or the Program Assistance Hotline at: (800) 242-4450.

Off-Road Emission Reduction Program