There. Back to the 'draconian' emmissions, Germany already started testing motorcycles for emmissions, with plans to install cats for motorcycles with larger engines - which is not the case for North America yet.
Umm, Bauer... dunno how to break this to you, dude, but...
I'm an ASE Master Tech with an L2 (advanced engine performance) certificate. My bread and butter is diagnosing and fixing drivability and emissions problems. Emissions problems often come in the form of people failing the Kalifornistan loaded emissions test required every two years, and a waste of time and money - it's horribly designed and executed, which is what you get when you have fanatics (from only one side, no less) and politicians (especially California's corrupt and inept politicos) working together.
That said, I know my way around a 3-way cat and a closed-loop system. However, that site claims a "closed-loop 3-way catalytic converter." Closed-loop refers (mainly, usually) to the fuel control, whereas the cat isn't really a system, and there sure is no loop to close, though with OBD II (required as of 1996 in the US), there is an oxygen sensor downstream of the converter (each converter, if multiple.. usually) to keep track of its efficiency. Maybe that's where they think it's a "closed-loop cat?" Dunno.
I'd be interested to hear if Europe has anything similar to the OBD II standard... for part of which - the generic communication protoco - we have the fine (I say that with tongue FIRMLY in cheek) German automakers to thank, since they flat refused to give access to their comm protocols at anything less than astronomical prices. I have read about people wanting to import 96 or newer cars "Gray Market" to the US and getting stymied because they live in an emissions-testing state where, if it's a 96 or newer, it MUST have an OBD II connector and compliant system.
BTW, the US does indeed have emissions testing for motorcycles, and even scooters. This is manufacturer-level, though, to get a Fed-mandated emissions certificate for the model. I keep hearing the CARB (California Air Resource Board) throwing around the idea of emissions (AKA smog) testing for motorcycles at the consumer level. At state levels, the next big thing seems to be emissions certification of lawn equipment! OMGWTF!?!?!
Kalifornistan has absolutely tight-assed laws concerning vehicle emissions. The flaws in that testing system I mentioned? OBD II is one hell of a computer system. Like I said, it monitors cat efficiency, and everything else emissions for that matter. Still, our "leaders"
demand that the more urban areas of the state submit our cars to a loaded-state smog test. They put your car on an eddy-current dyno and test the tailpipe at 15 and 25 MPH. The big problem? OBD II cars, they require to not only do the loaded test, but a plug-in test of the failure monitors. In case you didn't catch it (nobody does,) this is completely redundant. If an OBD II car passes the trip monitor and codes test, it's going to pass a loaded-state test, period. The system requirements are THAT GOOD. I've seen cars with multiple failure codes and the multiple problems that go with 'em PASS the loaded test with no problem.
The $40,000 machine needed for this testing means that your smog certificate will cost you at least $50 more toward renewing your registration. And $50 is a fairly cheap test, that's what I pay for it (I pay shop prices.
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I could probably write a friggin' book about some of the more idiotic things I've seen when it comes to vehicle emissions regulations (for the one that takes the cake, though, look up CARB's "Exemption Order..." Which is nothing but a "the state wants money, so PAY, beeyotches!" fee.), but I think I've hijacked enough for now.
Except to say... find me a pic of an Atom running a catalyst, please. I've not seen any evidence that they're so installed.
