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Petrus

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Joined
Jul 18, 2025
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Location
Vva. del Rosario - Málaga - España
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Bike
R18, Nimbus Type C sidecar, Vespas
Because EURO emission levels including sound are published wáy in advancce BMW designed the R18 to meet the 2025 Euro5+ norms. Hence p.e. the extreme intake noise damping, the double valve covers and not least the electronically managed exhaust baffels.
Euro5 models are just that bit more audible.
To illustrate the fact even J&H exhausts are different between Euro5 and Euro5+.

There is a more detaiked thread about it on the German forum:

 
So which year R18's started with Euro5+? The 2025 or did they design all model years to meet the 2025 Euro5+ standards right from the start?
 
As I understand, per m.y. 2025 is Euro5+.
Before is Euro5.

Ofcourse the R18 was desígned to be able to meet 5+ just did not need to be silenced to that level untill it became effective.
It is nothing R18 nor BMW specific ofcourse. Applies to Royal Efields or Vespas too p.e.

Over here in the EU the noise level for periodic inspection is in the registration docs.
That has not changed; the decibel upper limits are the same. Only the measurement methods have changed. The stationary noise remains unchanged as usual. In terms of driving noise, still 77 db/a, but massively changed. For example, measurements are now no longer only up to 50 km/h but up to 100 km/h and also in all gears. So far, the vehicle and exhaust manufacturers have been able to "optimise" the actual sound by means of flap technology and electronics / software. That should be over now. Even if the legislation is basically right that the specification of the volume has not changed, it was only measured in very specific parameters. So there were loopholes that made more sound under the not measured conditions possible. Those loopholes have now been closed.

How this affects the R18 exhaust servo/flaps I cannot say with certainty, nor do I know how this affects other markets.

p.s. the German link is quite extensive and crystal clear.
 
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